What’s New in Cardiac MRI?

July 07, 2026 · 95 articles · 15 research themes · covering June 30, 2026 – July 07, 2026

Overview

Across this week’s set of studies, a dominant theme is the push toward earlier and more individualized risk prediction—using both advanced imaging biomarkers and data-driven stratification. In cardiovascular disease, multiple papers emphasize that “subclinical” disease can be detected before overt events: polygenic scores can identify older adults who may net-benefit from aspirin for ischemic stroke prevention; CMR-derived metrics such as extracellular volume (ECV), atrial/ventricular coupling indices, epicardial adipose tissue, and feature-tracked atrial strain are positioned as tools to detect early remodeling and refine prognosis in conditions like HFpEF, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and atrial fibrillation. Parallel work highlights that standard clinical pathways can be undermined by variability—such as inconsistent stress-test ischemia interpretation across sites—reinforcing the need for harmonized assessment and better mechanistic phenotyping.

A second major thread is the expanding role of cardiac MRI (and multimodality imaging) both as a diagnostic engine and as a platform for methodological innovation. Several studies focus on inflammatory and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies—myocarditis, Takotsubo syndrome, Lyme carditis, and myocarditis as a possible first presentation of inherited desmosomal cardiomyopathy—where CMR tissue characterization and serial imaging help distinguish reversible inflammatory phenotypes from fixed substrate. Meanwhile, engineering and physics papers (low-field CMR, magnetization-transfer-aware fingerprinting, diffusion tensor imaging acceleration, 4D-flow modeling assumptions, and spatial-resolution effects in T2* iron detection) show how technical advances are directly aimed at improving reliability, accessibility, and interpretability of quantitative imaging.

Finally, the digest reflects a broader movement toward structured decision-making and translational integration. Reviews and frameworks address when to use invasive vs noninvasive diagnostics (e.g., endomyocardial biopsy in sarcoidosis), how to select patients for structural interventions (e.g., M-TEER in secondary MR), and how to incorporate viability testing in modern revascularization strategies. Outside cardiology, the set also includes public health surveillance (Asian American youth suicide differences), occupational cancer burden (asbestos and ovarian cancer), and health-system/engineering efforts (trauma data harmonization, AI-enabled imaging workflows, and cost-effectiveness considerations), underscoring that better outcomes increasingly depend on both better science and better implementation.

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Personalized prevention & risk stratification (polygenic/biomarkers)

Prevalence and prognostic impact of unrecognized myocardial infarction detected by cardiac magnetic resonance in Thai patients with obesity.

This cohort study evaluated the prevalence and prognostic impact of unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) detected by cardiac magnetic resonance in 1,053 Thai patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) without prior MI or coronary revascularization. It found that CMR-detected UMI was common in this population and was associated with worse outcomes during follow-up. The significance is that CMR screening can identify high-risk, previously unrecognized MI in obese patients, supporting earlier risk stratification and prevention efforts.

Chayanopparat P, Siriphiphatcharoen P, Laohabut I et al. · PloS one · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Prediction of hypertension and restenosis under guideline-directed management in aortic coarctation: development and validation of machine-learning models.

This development and validation study investigated machine-learning models to predict hypertension and restenosis in patients with aortic coarctation (CoA) under guideline-directed management. Using routinely collected electronic health records plus cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and follow-up data from 160 individuals (218 visits) in Berlin, Germany, it trained and tested models including CatBoost, XGBoost, random forest, support vector classifiers, and neural networks to forecast long-term outcomes. The significance is that it aims to enable individualized risk prediction for recurrent hypertension and restenosis after CoA care using real-world clinical and CMR data.

Fierley L, Versnjak J, Gabel G et al. · EClinicalMedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Mortality Risk Among U.S. Veterans Receiving Dialysis With Diabetes.

This cohort study examined whether continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use versus non-CGM use is associated with mortality among U.S. Veterans receiving dialysis who also have diabetes, using linked national VA, US Renal Data System, and Medicare data. The key finding was that CGM use was associated with a survival benefit compared with non-CGM use in this dialysis population with diabetes. Clinically, CGM may provide outcome-relevant glycemic monitoring in a group where traditional markers are less accurate and less convenient.

Narasaki Y, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Zisman-Ilani Y et al. · Diabetes care · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Polygenic Risk Identifies Older Adults Who May Benefit From Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke.

This study performed a post hoc analysis of the ASPREE randomized trial in 12,031 European-ancestry participants aged >70 years without prior cardiovascular disease to test whether an integrative polygenic score (iPGS) derived from >1.2 million variants could identify who benefits from daily 100-mg aspirin for primary prevention of ischemic stroke. The key finding was that iPGS stratification can pinpoint an older subgroup with net benefit from aspirin despite overall bleeding-risk concerns in routine use. Clinically, this supports using polygenic risk to personalize aspirin decisions for ischemic stroke prevention in older adults.

Yu C, Hussain SM, Fransquet PD et al. · Stroke · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

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Suicide epidemiology & public health surveillance

Intentional self-harm mortality among 15-24 year olds in Asian American subgroups, 2005-2022: a population-based incidence study.

This population-based incidence study analyzed U.S. National Center for Health Statistics mortality data (2005–2022) to compare intentional self-harm (ICD-10 X60–X84, Y87.0) mortality among Asian American youth aged 15–24 years across six subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) using American Community Survey denominators. The key finding was that suicide mortality rates differed meaningfully by Asian American subgroup rather than being uniform across Asian youth. This is significant for public health surveillance and targeted prevention strategies that address subgroup-specific risk.

Uy LA, Chang E, Desai S et al. · Lancet regional health. Americas · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Prenatal cardiology imaging (fetal CMR/echo integration)

Fetal MRI for cardiopulmonary anomalies: what the pediatric cardiologist and surgeon need to know.

This review evaluated how fetal cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can be integrated with expert fetal echocardiography for prenatal assessment of complex cardiopulmonary anomalies. The key finding was that fetal CMR provides high-resolution, multiplanar imaging with superior soft-tissue contrast and wide field of view, improving diagnostic or prognostic information when echocardiography is limited by technical/physiologic factors. Scientifically and clinically, it provides an evidence-based framework for when fetal CMR should guide counseling, delivery planning, and postnatal management.

Dadoun SE, Mokha S, Kooraki S et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI in myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathies

From inflammation to inheritance: rethinking myocarditis as the first signal of desmosomal cardiomyopathy.

The study reviewed emerging evidence that acute myocarditis can be the first clinical presentation of inherited desmosomal cardiomyopathy, focusing on desmosomal gene dysfunction (variants in desmosomal genes, truncated in the abstract) and integrating molecular genetics with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and translational pathology. It found a substantial overlap between myocarditis phenotypes and desmosome-related inherited cardiomyopathies, suggesting myocarditis may signal an underlying genetic substrate rather than only an acquired inflammatory process. This reframes diagnostic and risk-stratification strategies by supporting earlier genetic evaluation in selected myocarditis patients to identify desmosomal cardiomyopathy and guide management.

AbdelMassih AF, Sankari AC, Mallouka G et al. · The Egyptian heart journal : (EHJ) : official bulletin of the Egyptian Society of Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A hidden threat in the apical shadow: a case report regarding Loeffler endocarditis mimicking NSTEMI.

This case report studied a 71-year-old man with long-standing idiopathic hyper-eosinophilia presenting with chest pain and progressive dyspnoea, to evaluate Loeffler endocarditis (a cardiac manifestation of hyper-eosinophilic syndrome, HES) that can mimic NSTEMI. Cardiac MRI demonstrated apical endocardial fibrosis with intracavitary thrombus, leading to diagnosis of Loeffler endocarditis and distinguishing it from acute coronary syndrome. Clinically, it highlights the importance of CMR in suspected NSTEMI-like presentations in patients with HES to enable timely corticosteroid and vitamin K antagonist anticoagulation.

Caruzzo CA, Rigamonti E, Scopigni FR et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Lyme Myopericarditis With Effusive-Constrictive Physiology: Serial CMR Identifies a Reversible Inflammatory Phenotype.

This JACC case report studied Lyme carditis presenting as myopericarditis with effusive-constrictive physiology in a 45-year-old man after a tick bite. Serial cardiac MRI and clinical course supported a reversible inflammatory phenotype rather than fixed constriction, with ECG findings of diffuse ST-segment elevation and PR-segment depression guiding initial pericarditis treatment. The significance lies in demonstrating that serial CMR can distinguish inflammatory effusive-constrictive physiology in Lyme disease, which has direct implications for management and prognosis.

Alhirtani N, Bigham G, Fabrizio C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Prognosis of acute myocarditis beyond hospitalization: Results of a long-term prospective study.

This prospective single-center study evaluated long-term prognosis after hospitalization for acute myocarditis in 158 patients (mean age 32±12 years) followed from 2007–2022. It found that severe complications such as cardiogenic shock or arrhythmic storm occurred in 3.6%, and follow-up using treadmill testing, Holter monitoring, and echocardiography was used to characterize outcomes and predictors. The clinical significance is that it informs risk assessment beyond the acute hospital phase for patients with acute myocarditis.

de Freitas Vilela MM, Martins AM, Cazeiro D et al. · Revista portuguesa de cardiologia : orgao oficial da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia = Portuguese journal of cardiology : an official journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Myocardial Calcification as a Rare Cardiac Sequela: When Sepsis Leaves Its Mark.

This case report studied a 33-year-old woman who developed myocardial calcification after severe sepsis from disseminated Streptococcus pneumoniae. The key finding was that repeat chest computed tomography four weeks later showed new extensive left ventricular and papillary muscle calcifications despite normal coronary angiography and marked troponin elevation during septic shock. Scientifically and clinically, it highlights sepsis-related myocardial calcification as a rare sequela that can cause persistent structural and functional cardiac impairment.

El-Hamad A, Sene PM, El Mehdi El Yamani M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

CMR Reveals the Influence of Trigger and Classification on the Myocardial Tissue Response in Takotsubo Syndrome.

This CMR study investigated how trigger type and the InterTAK classification (including the newer primary vs secondary Takotsubo syndrome concept) influence myocardial tissue response in patients with Takotsubo syndrome. The key finding was that myocardial edema and injury patterns varied according to trigger and classification, indicating distinct pathophysiologic mechanisms between primary and secondary TTS beyond the standard InterTAK framework. This is significant because it supports more mechanistically informed TTS phenotyping that could refine prognosis and management strategies.

Gotschy A, Cammann VL, Schweiger V et al. · Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Septic cardiomyopathy: Fact or fiction?

This narrative review examined whether septic cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a distinct clinical entity (“fact or fiction”) in the setting of sepsis. It summarizes that SCM involves acute myocardial dysfunction driven by inflammatory, metabolic, endothelial, and microvascular mechanisms and may be reversible within days, but lacks standardized diagnostic criteria and overlaps with conditions such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. The review highlights the need for clearer definitions and diagnostic frameworks to reliably distinguish SCM from other acute cardiomyopathies.

Naimi A, Rodriguez M, Qadeer YK et al. · American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Unexplained Supraventricular Tachycardia and Myocardial Injury After Bitter Orange Supplement Use in a Young Woman.

This case report studied a 38-year-old woman who developed supraventricular tachycardia and myocardial injury after using a bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) weight-loss supplement containing p-synephrine. She had ECG-confirmed SVT treated with intravenous adenosine and a marked rise in high-sensitivity troponin, consistent with acute myocardial injury despite initially unremarkable echocardiography and exclusion of pulmonary embolism by CT pulmonary angiography. The report is significant because it documents a potentially serious cardiotoxic effect of p-synephrine-containing supplements, supporting caution and prompt evaluation of chest symptoms and troponin elevation after use.

Plaitis A, Grigoraki E, Karakosta M et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A case report of nonrheumatic myocarditis following group G streptococcus pharyngitis.

This case report described a 22-year-old man who developed nonrheumatic myocarditis after group G streptococcal pharyngitis, with diagnosis supported by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showing focal myocardial hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging and elevated T2 values. The key finding was that post-bacterial (group G streptococcus) myocarditis can present with chest pain shortly after pharyngitis and can be characterized using CMR T2-based inflammation markers. This is significant because it highlights a rare etiology of myocarditis and supports CMR as a useful diagnostic tool for guiding management and prognosis.

Perkins SJ, Lim JGS, Gans C et al. · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac MRI physics & acquisition/reconstruction methods

A Physiologic Left Ventricle Flow Phantom for 4D Flow MRI Applications and CFD Verification.

The study developed a subject-specific, MRI-compatible left ventricle (LV) flow phantom using a PVA-based hydrogel in a closed-loop circulation system to reproduce cardiac motion for 4D flow MRI and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) verification. It found that the phantom can generate robust end-diastolic and end-systolic geometries with MRI-relevant contrast and stable, leakage-free long-term operation suitable for high-fidelity model validation. This provides a practical platform to reduce in vivo verification limitations (scan time and motion artifacts) and improve the accuracy of 4D flow MRI and CFD pipelines.

Wiegand M, Obermeier L, Dillinger H et al. · Annals of biomedical engineering · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging assessment of Del Nido versus cold blood cardioplegia in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing combined coronary artery bypass graft and mitral valve replacement: Early outcomes.

This single-center prospective study compared Del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) versus conventional cold blood cardioplegia (CBC) in 42 patients with LVEF <45% undergoing combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and mitral valve replacement (MVR), using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to assess early myocardial functional recovery. The key finding was that CMR-based measures of early myocardial recovery differed between the two cardioplegia strategies, favoring one approach for improved functional recovery in this low-ejection-fraction population. This is clinically relevant because cardioplegia selection during CABG+MVR may influence early post-operative myocardial function in patients at high risk.

Gode S, Polat M, Eroğlu Polat A et al. · Turk gogus kalp damar cerrahisi dergisi · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A Comparison of Tissue Property Values Estimated Using Conventional Cardiac MRF and MT-Cardiac MRF.

This study evaluated whether explicitly modeling magnetization transfer (MT) during reconstruction of cardiac magnetic resonance fingerprinting (cMRF) improves tissue property estimation of T1 and T2. Using simulations, phantom validation, and in vivo data from 14 healthy subjects, the key finding was that MT-cMRF (with free-water pool T1f/T2f and bound pool fraction parameters) produced different and more accurate tissue property estimates than conventional cMRF dictionaries that ignore MT processes. This is important for quantitative cardiac MRI because MT-aware reconstruction can reduce bias and improve reliability of T1/T2 mapping for clinical and research applications.

Kaplan S, Liu Z, Hamilton J et al. · Magnetic resonance in medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

The importance of spatial resolution in detecting chronic myocardial iron remnants following hemorrhagic myocardial infarction with T2* MRI.

This study investigated how spatial resolution affects detection of chronic myocardial iron remnants after hemorrhagic myocardial infarction (hMI) using T2* cardiac MRI, combining digital phantom simulations and ex-vivo swine hearts (n=10) with 8-week hMI. Lower in-plane voxel sizes and slice thickness influenced iron-deposit detectability across multiple signal-to-noise ratio levels, demonstrating that spatial resolution materially changes performance for identifying chronic iron. Scientifically, the results provide imaging-physics guidance for optimizing T2* MRI protocols to improve sensitivity for post-hMI iron detection and, by extension, risk stratification.

Zhang X, Yang HJ, Dharmakumar R · Biomedical physics & engineering express · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

In vivo evidence of blood flow slippage: failure of the no-slip boundary condition assumption.

Seven healthy adult volunteers underwent 4D flow CMR of the descending thoracic aorta, with blood modeled using Navier–Stokes equations and wall shear stress computed from measured near-wall velocity fields to test the in vivo validity of the no-slip boundary condition. The study found evidence of “blood flow slippage,” with tangential wall velocities estimated at approximately 30–80% of the measured near-wall tangential velocities, indicating failure of strict no-slip behavior in vivo. This challenges a foundational assumption in cardiovascular fluid dynamics modeling and may affect how wall shear stress and related mechanobiology are interpreted clinically and experimentally.

Jarolímová A, Hron J, Tůma K et al. · American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Sustainable Low-Field Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Changing Healthcare Systems-An Update.

This review/update summarized advances enabling sustainable low-field cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), focusing on ~0.55 Tesla systems and how optimized hardware and AI-driven reconstruction can maintain diagnostic performance despite lower signal-to-noise. The key finding was that low-field CMR can achieve strong diagnostic capability for cardiac structure/function and tissue characterization through improvements in gradients, RF systems, and reconstruction algorithms. Scientifically and operationally, this supports broader CMR access in low- and middle-income settings by reducing cost and infrastructure barriers.

Umair M, Marey A, Murali S et al. · NMR in biomedicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Simultaneous multi-slice Cardiac Diffusion Tensor Imaging with variable CAIPIRINHA shifts and artefact-aware AI.

This methodological study developed and tested ORCAS, a simultaneous multi-slice cardiac diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI) framework using variable CAIPIRINHA shifts and artefact-aware AI reconstruction. The approach targets long acquisition times from repeated averaging by improving signal-to-noise and reducing inter-slice leakage artefacts inherent to conventional SMS acceleration. The scientific significance is that ORCAS can make in-vivo myocardial microstructure imaging more feasible while preserving image quality for cDTI analyses.

Tänzer M, Lim EJ, Qiu HH et al. · Medical image analysis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Optimizing Cine Cardiac MRI: Technical Advances and Clinical Applications.

This article reviewed technical advances for cine cardiac MRI, focusing on optimizing pulse sequence parameters (TR, TE, flip angle, and bandwidth) to improve signal-to-noise ratio and temporal resolution, particularly for balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) at ≥3T where off-resonance effects, SAR limits, and susceptibility artifacts can degrade performance. The key finding was that sequence optimization can mitigate these limitations and expand cine MRI’s clinical utility for cardiac function assessment. Scientifically, it provides a practical roadmap for improving image quality and reliability in routine and advanced cardiac MRI applications.

Dehghani S, Rajabi A, Rahmati A et al. · Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI quantitative biomarkers (ECV, strain, coupling, adipose, perfusion)

Association between CMR-derived pulmonary artery pulse wave velocity and pulmonary risk factors: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis COPD study.

This prospective cohort study assessed whether pulmonary artery pulse wave velocity (PA-PWV), derived from cardiac magnetic resonance, is associated with pulmonary risk factors—particularly smoking history—in participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis COPD cohort. Using 2-D phase-contrast CMR flow and semi-automated PWV software to measure main, right, and left pulmonary arteries, the study evaluated relationships between PA stiffness and smoking exposure. The significance is that PA-PWV may provide a CMR-based quantitative marker of pulmonary vascular risk linked to smoking-related disease burden.

Huurman R, Xie E, Ohyama Y et al. · Magnetic resonance imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Fully quantitative CMR rest perfusion reveals myocardial perfusion abnormality in Kawasaki disease: Association with left ventricular Remodeling.

The study examined myocardial perfusion abnormalities in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) using fully quantitative CMR rest perfusion, measuring myocardial blood flow (MBF) corrected for heart rate–blood pressure product (MBFcor), and related these findings to left ventricular (LV) remodeling. In a prospective single-center cohort of 87 KD patients (mean age ~7.5 years), it found that perfusion abnormalities were present and associated with patterns of LV remodeling (specific results truncated in the abstract). This supports quantitative CMR rest perfusion as a physiologic biomarker for myocardial injury and remodeling risk in pediatric KD.

Zhou Z, Ye P, Wang C et al. · International journal of cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac MRI-based strain analysis for the assessment of left atrial dysfunction in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The study evaluated whether cardiac MRI feature tracking (CMR-FT) left atrial (LA) strain parameters can detect early LA dysfunction in atrial fibrillation (AF) beyond conventional static measures. In 113 AF patients and 52 matched healthy controls, it found that AF patients showed impaired LA strain metrics (εs, εe, εa) and that AF subgrouping based on LA structural/functional status (AF1 vs AF2) helped identify sensitive indicators of early dysfunction (details truncated). This suggests CMR-FT LA strain could improve early detection and characterization of AF-related atrial myocardial impairment.

Zhou H, Zhu D, Hao S et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Enhanced risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy through the integration of extracellular volume fraction on cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

The study investigated whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) extracellular volume fraction (ECV), reflecting diffuse interstitial fibrosis, improves prognostic risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) beyond late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). In 990 consecutive HCM patients undergoing CMR (2012–2024), it found that integrating global ECV with LGE provided incremental prognostic value for HCM-related events (SCD events, HF events, and HCM-related death) over a median 3.2-year follow-up (event counts truncated). This supports using quantitative ECV to better capture diffuse fibrosis and refine risk prediction for adverse outcomes in HCM.

Lee HJ, Gwak SY, Lee S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Diagnostic and Prognostic Utility of Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis studied the diagnostic and prognostic utility of mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) across imaging modalities. It synthesized evidence that MAPSE—measured by transthoracic echocardiography (and also by transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac CT)—is a fast, simple longitudinal function metric with good agreement with cardiovascular magnetic resonance. The significance is that it evaluates whether MAPSE should be incorporated into clinical decision-making despite the lack of routine guideline endorsement.

Falconer D, Fröjdh F, Wyeth N et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Integrative Observational and Genetic Evidence From the UK Biobank Supports Carotid Intima-Media Thickness as a Window Into Cardiac Remodeling.

This study used UK Biobank participants with carotid ultrasound and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (n=46,102) to test phenotypic and genetic associations between carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), aortic/cardiac traits, and cardiovascular disease, excluding prevalent heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and other confounders. cIMT showed associations with early cardiac remodeling and shared genetic architecture with cardiovascular disease-related traits. These findings support cIMT as a noninvasive “window” into cardiac remodeling processes and provide genetic evidence linking subclinical vascular disease to cardiac structural changes.

Chong SH, Saccoh AF, van Vugt M et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Computational modeling of left ventricular flow using PC-CMR-derived four-dimensional wall motion.

This engineering study developed computational models of left ventricular (LV) blood flow by integrating cardiac MRI-derived four-dimensional wall motion with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The approach uses imaging-driven quantification of LV structural motion from MRI modalities to create individualized LV flow models, aiming to approximate hemodynamics without fully coupled fluid–solid simulation. Scientifically, it advances a pathway toward personalized, MRI-informed LV hemodynamic characterization that could improve understanding of cardiac disease mechanisms.

Peighambari SB, Mukherjee T, Mendiola EA et al. · International journal of engineering science · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Assessment of left atrioventricular coupling index in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: improving risk stratification with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

This retrospective study analyzed 2,240 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients to assess whether the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI)—defined as left atrial end-diastolic volume divided by left ventricular end-diastolic volume—predicts sudden cardiac death (SCD) and adds prognostic value beyond guideline-based risk models. The key finding was that LACI derived from CMR was associated with SCD events and provided incremental prognostic information beyond established risk stratification variables (including LGE and LVEF). Clinically, LACI may improve SCD risk prediction in HCM using routinely acquired CMR volumetric measures.

Zhang D, Qian Y, Gu Z et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Analysis of cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics in patients with ejection fraction preserved heart failure.

This retrospective study analyzed cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics in 117 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), 65 healthy controls, and 62 high-risk individuals, with follow-up for readmission or death. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume measured by CMR was assessed for associations with left ventricular function/strain and prognosis. The study is clinically significant because CMR-quantified EAT may serve as a biomarker linking metabolic/inflammatory fat depots to HFpEF outcomes.

Zhang Y, Li Y, Yang X et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac magnetic resonance-derived atrioventricular coupling index for predicting left ventricular reverse remodeling in dilated cardiomyopathy.

This retrospective study evaluated whether a cardiac magnetic resonance-derived left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) predicts left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in 64 hospitalized patients with dilated cardiomyopathy receiving standardized guideline-directed therapy. Patients were stratified by echocardiographic LVRR over one year, and multivariable models tested LACI alongside other CMR/strain measures. The work is significant because a CMR-derived coupling metric could improve prediction of which DCM patients will respond with reverse remodeling.

Ke J, Zhang C, Wang X et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Cardiac MRI for arrhythmia risk & electrophysiology guidance

Identifying the Presence and Characteristics of Mid-Myocardial and Epicardial Fibrosis From Intracardiac Electrograms in Patients Undergoing Ventricular Arrhythmia Ablation Using a Transformer-Based Self-Supervised Classifier.

The study evaluated whether intracardiac electrograms during ventricular arrhythmia ablation can be used to detect mid-myocardial and epicardial fibrosis in patients undergoing catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmias. A transformer-based self-supervised machine-learning classifier inferred nonendocardial scar characteristics from electrogram data, aiming to overcome limitations of delayed-enhancement cardiac MRI in patients with implantable devices. This could enable more accurate, real-time substrate identification during ablation and potentially improve procedural success by targeting fibrosis beyond the endocardial surface.

Liu X, Qayyum A, Bandyopadhyay S et al. · Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Improving arrhythmic risk prediction using cardiac magnetic resonance within deep learning in ischemic heart disease.

The study assessed whether deep learning applied to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) improves arrhythmic risk prediction in ischemic heart disease (IHD), using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE-CMR) scar burden/heterogeneity alongside conventional clinical markers. Across two independent IHD cohorts (including REVIVED-BCIS2-derived Dataset 2), it found that CMR-based deep learning models provided incremental prognostic value beyond standard measures such as left ventricular ejection fraction. This could improve sudden arrhythmic death risk stratification in IHD by leveraging LGE-CMR information through automated pattern recognition.

Sen A, Jones RE, Morgan H et al. · NPJ cardiovascular health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Revisiting the Link Between Substrate and Ventricular Tachycardia Rate: The Critical Role of Conduction Isthmus Structure and Function.

This prospective cohort study enrolled 62 patients undergoing ablation for scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) and used high-density electroanatomical mapping plus late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance to compare global substrate metrics versus conduction-isthmus-specific features for predicting VT rate. The key finding is that conduction isthmus structure and function provided critical predictive information beyond global substrate measures for VT rate dynamics. This is significant for improving risk stratification and refining ablation targeting by focusing on local conduction-isthmus properties that govern VT behavior.

Guichard JB, Castrillo-Golvano L, Molero-Pereira S et al. · Heart rhythm · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Treatment of Premature Ventricular Contractions: A Review of Medical Therapy, Catheter Ablation, and Emerging Treatments.

This narrative review studied the clinical management of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) across patient populations with and without structural heart disease, focusing on medical therapy, catheter ablation, and emerging treatments. It found that PVC clinical impact varies with symptom burden, PVC frequency, ventricular function, and underlying myocardial disease, and that diagnostic workup typically uses ECG, ambulatory monitoring, echocardiography, exercise testing, and cardiac MRI. The significance is that it provides an integrated, risk-stratified approach to selecting therapy to prevent PVC-induced cardiomyopathy and reduce risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

Elattar S, Hodhod A, Basha NR et al. · Cardiology in review · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A Case of Brugada Syndrome… or Something Else? Behind Type 1 Brugada Pattern.

This case report studied a 51-year-old man with syncope during a febrile illness who had a transient spontaneous type-1 Brugada ECG pattern. The key finding was that Holter monitoring revealed multifocal ventricular ectopy including non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, and the clinical narrative emphasized that overt myocardial scar/arrhythmogenic substrate should prompt consideration of diagnoses other than classic Brugada syndrome. This is clinically important because it underscores the need for deeper structural and arrhythmia evaluation when Brugada-like ECG patterns occur transiently.

Scarà A, Borrelli A, Romano S et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Malignant Mitral Valve Prolapse With Life-Threatening Ventricular Arrhythmias: A Multidisciplinary Team-Guided Stepwise Management.

This case report studied a 45-year-old woman with bileaflet myxomatous mitral valve prolapse, mitral annular disjunction, and mild mitral regurgitation who developed life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias despite no severe MR and no detectable myocardial fibrosis on cardiac MRI. She experienced recurrent ventricular fibrillation and multiple ICD shocks despite medical therapy, prompting a multidisciplinary stepwise management strategy. The clinical significance is that malignant arrhythmogenic MVP can occur without CMR-detected fibrosis, emphasizing the need for combined electrical and mechanical risk markers to identify imminent sudden cardiac death risk.

Javadi N, Jahangir A, Galazka P et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Valvular heart disease & structural interventions (including T-TEER/TPVR)

Characteristic flow of different right ventricular outflow tract morphology in repaired tetralogy of fallot patients studied by 4D-flow cardiac magnetic resonance images.

This retrospective CMR study analyzed 120 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot to characterize right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) morphology and its flow patterns using 4D-flow cardiac magnetic resonance. RVOTs were classified as tubular or pyramidal (with other morphologies rare/absent), and the work focused on differences in hemodynamic flow characteristics between these morphologic groups relevant to transcatheter pulmonic valve implantation planning. Clinically, defining how RVOT shape affects flow may improve patient selection and procedural planning for PPVI in repaired TOF.

Srivichean A, Chungsomprasong P, Sanwong Y et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Trileaflet mitral valve in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: A rare anatomical variant requiring surgical intervention.

This case report studied a 68-year-old woman with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) who had a rare mitral valve anatomical variant—a trileaflet mitral valve with leaflet restriction/clefting—requiring surgery. Multimodal imaging (cardiac MRI and echocardiography) showed asymmetric septal hypertrophy with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (resting gradient up to 87 mmHg) and severe mitral regurgitation with systolic anterior motion, and symptoms persisted despite beta-blocker therapy. The significance is that it documents an uncommon mitral anatomy in HOCM that can drive obstruction/regurgitation and may necessitate surgical intervention when medical therapy fails.

Kumar UA, Sitaranjan DR, Taghavi FJ · Perfusion · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

One Anatomy, Multiple Valve Choices: Interobserver Agreement in Selecting Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve.

This study investigated interobserver agreement in selecting transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPVR) device type, size, and position using 3D patient-specific anatomies derived from cardiac magnetic resonance images. Six experienced observers from three regions independently assessed 60 reconstructed anatomies (pediatric and adult) for valve type (self-expanding, balloon-expandable, or surgical approach) and positioning, quantifying agreement with statistical measures (e.g., Cohens kappa as reported in the methods). The significance is that it identifies variability in TPVR planning and supports a framework to standardize device selection to improve procedural consistency and outcomes.

Pérez-Cualtán CE, Cabrales J, Garay F et al. · Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Heart failure staging, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies

Targeting Arrhythmogenic Late Sodium Current by FHF1A-Derivative FixR in Heart Failure Cardiomyocytes.

The study examined whether an engineered peptide inhibitor, FixR (an FHF inhibiting x region derivative), can target the arrhythmogenic late Na+ current (INa,L) pathway in human heart failure cardiomyocytes and in translational HFrEF and HFpEF animal models. It found that INa,L modulation involves FHF1–4 splice isoforms (assessed by reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR) and that FixR suppresses the FHF-dependent regulation of INa,L, aiming to reduce proarrhythmic electrical remodeling in heart failure. This supports a gene-regulatory/isoform-targeted therapeutic strategy for heart failure–associated arrhythmia risk by directly interfering with FHF-mediated late sodium current control.

Hegyi B, Angsutararux P, Chakouri N et al. · Circulation research · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Diagnostic Tests for Stage B Heart Failure.

This 2026 review studied diagnostic strategies for Stage B heart failure (SBHF) in the context of guideline- and evidence-based clinical practice. It found that transthoracic echocardiography—particularly speckle tracking echocardiography—remains the cornerstone for detecting subclinical myocardial remodeling, while circulating biomarkers such as natriuretic peptides and high-sensitivity cardiac troponins can identify early injury before symptoms. The review is significant because it supports earlier detection pathways for SBHF, potentially enabling risk stratification and earlier intervention.

Dang HNN, Luong TV, Huynh Q et al. · Current cardiology reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Clinical Course and Predictors of Heart Failure in Asymptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

This multicenter retrospective study investigated predictors of progression to symptomatic heart failure in 341 asymptomatic patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (NYHA class I, LVEF >50%, LVOT gradient ≥30 mmHg). It assessed clinical and echocardiographic variables using transthoracic echocardiography across four centers (2003–2023) to identify factors associated with subsequent heart failure development. The significance is that it aims to refine risk stratification in asymptomatic obstructive HCM, potentially informing earlier preventive management.

Schulz A, Maron MS, Peng LW et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Polypill for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: the POLY-HF randomized trial.

The POLY-HF randomized trial studied adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF ≤40%) in an open-label, two-center design enrolling a predominantly underserved population, comparing a once-daily polypill versus rapid uptitration of individual guideline-directed medical therapy. The key finding is that the polypill strategy was tested to improve cardiac function and potentially overcome low real-world utilization of guideline therapy. If effective, this approach would be significant for simplifying HF medication delivery and improving outcomes in underserved patients.

Pandey A, Keshvani N, Rizvi SK et al. · Nature medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac Imaging Predictors of Ventricular Recovery in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Aortic Valve Intervention for Regurgitation.

This retrospective study examined pediatric and young adult patients (<30 years) with moderate-to-severe chronic aortic regurgitation undergoing aortic valve surgery to identify preoperative echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) predictors of postoperative left ventricular (LV) recovery. The key finding is that specific baseline imaging parameters from echocardiography and CMR were associated with the likelihood of LV reverse remodeling after intervention. Clinically, these imaging predictors could help refine timing of aortic valve intervention in younger patients rather than relying on adult-derived surgical thresholds.

Flerlage EK, Huma LC, Gandhi R et al. · Pediatric cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Ischemic heart disease: imaging interpretation, viability, microvascular disease

Viability testing for guiding revascularization in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

This review examined the clinical role of myocardial viability testing for guiding revascularization in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, focusing on evidence from contemporary revascularization strategies and guideline-directed medical therapy. It found that major trials such as STICH and follow-up showed CABG improves long-term survival largely independent of viability status, challenging the assumption that viability predicts functional recovery and benefit. The implication is that viability testing may have a more limited or selective role in modern decision-making for revascularization.

Li KY, Dhingra NK, Patel R et al. · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Molecular mechanisms of coronary microembolization-induced MINOCA.

The study investigated the molecular mechanisms by which coronary microembolization (CME) leads to myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), focusing on why diagnosis is often delayed until cardiac MRI is performed days after the event. It found that CME is a major underlying pathology in MINOCA but that the specific molecular pathways driving CME remain insufficiently defined, limiting rapid diagnostic tools and targeted therapy development. Scientifically, clarifying CME molecular mechanisms could enable earlier MINOCA diagnosis and more precise, mechanism-based treatment strategies.

Iske J, Thau H, Mesfin JM et al. · Basic research in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Stratified Medicine with Eplerenone for Myocardial Infarction or Injury and No obstructive Coronary Arteries: A Registry-Based Basket Trial.

This registry-based basket trial targeted patients with MINOCA (myocardial infarction with no obstructive coronary arteries) or nonischemic myocardial injury to assess prevalence of coronary microvascular dysfunction and to test endotype-informed stratified treatment with eplerenone. The key finding is the trial design/strategy to identify coronary microvascular dysfunction as a treatment-relevant endotype and then evaluate whether eplerenone improves outcomes in that subgroup. Scientifically, it addresses the evidence gap for targeted therapy in MINOCA/nonischemic myocardial injury by linking a mechanistic phenotype to a specific drug intervention.

Sykes R, Tan D, McKinley G et al. · American heart journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Right ventricular thrombus following a left anterior descending infarction: a rare case report of a common culprit.

This case report studied a 39-year-old man who developed a rare right ventricular (RV) thrombus after an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The key finding was that coronary angiography showed thrombotic occlusion of the mid-left anterior descending (LAD) artery in a left-dominant coronary system, with advanced cardiac imaging supporting the RV thrombus diagnosis despite the atypical infarct territory. Clinically, it is significant because it broadens the recognized infarct-extension patterns for RV thrombus and highlights the diagnostic value of advanced cardiac imaging in unusual post-MI complications.

Bigvava T, Hoechli A, Anabitarte P et al. · European heart journal. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Variability in Cardiac Stress Test Interpretation: Agreement Between Enrollment Sites and Core Laboratories in the Global ISCHEMIA Trial.

This study evaluated how myocardial ischemia interpretation varied between ISCHEMIA trial enrollment sites and independent core laboratories in patients with chronic coronary disease and moderate-to-severe ischemia. The key finding was that substantial variability existed in stress-test ischemia interpretation across sites versus core labs, indicating imperfect consistency in classifying ischemia severity. This matters because trial eligibility and downstream treatment strategy in ISCHEMIA depend on ischemia assessment, so harmonization of stress-test reading is important for both clinical trials and real-world risk stratification.

O’Keefe E, Sperry BW, Jones PG et al. · Circulation. Population health and outcomes · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Comparison of Cardiac MR with PET CT in Evaluation of Myocardial Viability: Single-Center Experience.

This prospective single-center study compared cardiac MRI viability parameters (end-diastolic wall thickness, regional wall motion, and late gadolinium enhancement) against PET-CT in 28 adults with perfusion/metabolism matched or mismatched defects. Cardiac MRI measures—particularly EDWT assessed manually and with semiautomatic software, along with LGE and wall motion—were evaluated for their ability to identify infarcted/viable myocardium relative to PET-CT. The findings support cardiac MRI as a noninvasive alternative to PET-CT for myocardial viability assessment, potentially reducing reliance on PET in clinical decision-making.

Arafath MY, Debi U, Singhal M et al. · The Indian journal of radiology & imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Stress native mapping does not distinguish patients with previous myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries from healthy volunteers.

The study investigated whether non-contrast adenosine stress native T1 and T2 CMR perfusion mapping can distinguish patients with prior myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) who had normal CMR from age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. In 15 MINOCA patients (59±7 years, 60% female) and matched controls, stress native T1/T2 (and quantitative perfusion mapping at rest and during adenosine) did not differentiate MINOCA patients with normal CMR from healthy volunteers. This suggests that stress native T1/T2 mapping alone may be insufficient for identifying coronary microvascular dysfunction in MINOCA when standard CMR is normal.

Andersson DF, Johansson RS, Tornvall P et al. · Clinical physiology and functional imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiac imaging in rare/complex systemic diseases (amyloid, sarcoid, Fabry, HES, NET, etc.)

VCAM-1 as a biomarker of early cardiac phenotypic changes in Fabry disease.

This exploratory cross-sectional study investigated whether vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), an endothelial activation biomarker, reflects early cardiac phenotypic changes in adults with Fabry disease carrying the GLA p.Arg363His variant. In 14 genetically confirmed FD adults matched to 30 healthy controls by age and kidney function, VCAM-1 was assessed for association with early cardiac changes. The significance is that VCAM-1 could serve as an early biomarker of vascular/endothelial involvement preceding overt cardiac progression in Fabry disease.

Lino DODC, Meneses GC, de Almeida IM et al. · BMC cardiovascular disorders · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Takotsubo-Like Cardiomyopathy as the Initial Presentation of Primary Carnitine Deficiency.

This case report studied primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) presenting in an 18-year-old woman who suffered ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest with a Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy phenotype. Genetic testing identified a homozygous pathogenic SLC22A5 variant (c.43G>T; p.Gly15Trp), linking defective carnitine transport to the acute presentation, with cardiac MRI supporting the Takotsubo-like pattern. The finding is clinically significant because it highlights SLC22A5-related PCD as a rare but treatable cause of sudden cardiac death and stress cardiomyopathy-like imaging in young patients.

Talasani N, Przybylski R, Delaney MA et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Multidisciplinary approach in cardiac sarcoidosis: to biopsy or not?

This narrative review assessed the contemporary diagnostic role of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) versus noninvasive imaging in cardiac sarcoidosis, focusing on heterogeneous clinical presentations and patchy myocardial involvement. The key finding is that EMB remains important in a multidisciplinary diagnostic framework but has limited sensitivity and can yield false negatives, driving increased reliance on imaging-based strategies in modern practice. Clinically, the review supports a more tailored decision about whether tissue diagnosis is necessary, balancing diagnostic yield and procedural risk.

Pericao A, Sharma R · Current opinion in pulmonary medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A case of cardiac lymphangioma: diagnosis suggested by cardiac CT and MRI and successful conservative management.

This case report studied a 78-year-old woman with cardiac lymphangioma, a rare benign tumor, using multimodality imaging to guide management. The key finding was that cardiac CT showed a lobulated, non-enhancing mass along the right coronary artery and CMR showed a multilocular cystic lesion with high T2 signal consistent with lymphangioma, enabling successful conservative management. Clinically, it is significant because it demonstrates how CT/CMR can establish a diagnosis in the absence of standardized protocols and support non-surgical treatment when appropriate.

Kurosaka E, Matsuda J, Yanagiya N et al. · Journal of cardiology cases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cardiac Safety Outcomes in Delandistrogene Moxeparvovec Clinical Trials for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Up to 5 Years of Follow-up.

This analysis assessed cardiac safety outcomes of delandistrogene moxeparvovec (gene transfer therapy delivering functional dystrophin) in clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with up to 5 years of follow-up. Across trials 101, 102, ENDEAVOR, and EMBARK (excluding LVEF <40%), adverse events and serial echocardiography (including regular troponin I monitoring) were used to characterize cardiac safety, with the key finding being an overall cardiac safety profile consistent with ongoing monitoring requirements over the follow-up period. Clinically, these data support longer-term cardiovascular surveillance strategies for DMD patients receiving dystrophin gene therapy.

Veerapandiyan A, Bourke J, Soslow JH et al. · Cardiology and therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Use of advanced cardiovascular imaging in rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

This retrospective multi-centre quality improvement project studied real-world use and practice variation of advanced cardiovascular imaging—cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), CT coronary angiography (CTCA), and positron emission tomography (PET)—in adults with less common/rare rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) in the UK. The key finding was that imaging utilization differed across IMID diagnoses and hospitals, reflecting substantial variation in how and when advanced imaging is applied. This is significant because it identifies evidence gaps and targets for future studies and guideline development to standardize cardiovascular assessment in these rare rheumatic conditions.

Gumber L, Meghji MA, Kakkar V et al. · Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Incremental Prognostic Value of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Beyond Biomarker Staging in Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

This retrospective multicenter cohort study assessed whether adding cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters improves prognostic prediction beyond National Amyloidosis Center (NAC) serum biomarker staging in 266 patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). The key finding was that CMR variables provided incremental prognostic value for time to death over NAC staging alone, improving risk stratification. Clinically, this supports using CMR alongside biomarker staging to better identify patients who may benefit from advanced heart failure therapies and emerging disease-modifying treatments.

Chiou T, Minga I, Subashchandran V et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Atypical Case of Takayasu Aortitis Presenting as Embolic Stroke With Concomitant Massive Thoracic Artery Aneurysm.

This case report studied a 44-year-old woman with hypertension who presented with embolic stroke and was found to have a massive thoracic artery aneurysm along with Takayasu aortitis. The key finding was that surgical pathology demonstrated granulomatous inflammation consistent with an autoimmune or infectious etiology, and the patient underwent open repair with a Dacron graft. This is significant because it illustrates an atypical presentation of Takayasu aortitis that can mimic embolic stroke and requires careful vascular and pathological evaluation.

Henson JC, Myers JH, Cummins M et al. · Clinical case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Extracellular Volume Mapping by Cardiac MRI Predicts Sudden Cardiac Death in AL Amyloidosis: A South Asian Cohort Study.

In a South Asian ambispective cohort of 188 patients with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis, the study assessed whether cardiac MRI extracellular volume (ECV) fraction measured at diagnosis predicts sudden cardiac death. Among the 22 patients with evaluable ECV, abnormal ECV (≥25% by T1-mapping-derived ECV) was present in 17 and was used to correlate with subsequent sudden cardiac death risk. This supports ECV mapping as a clinically actionable cardiac MRI biomarker for identifying AL amyloidosis patients at higher risk of sudden cardiac death.

Pattnaik SA, Ahamed H, Gutjahr G et al. · Indian journal of hematology & blood transfusion : an official journal of Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Cardiac MRI Identifies Subclinical Myocardial Tissue Abnormalities in Individuals With Hepatitis C Regardless of Myocardial Damage Markers or Fibrosis Stage.

This study used 3T cardiac MRI to measure extracellular volume (ECV) fraction as a marker of inflammation/fibrosis in 10 untreated individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prior to therapy. Compared with age-matched healthy volunteers, HCV-infected participants had higher ECV fraction (0.30±0.03 vs 0.26±0.03, p=0.0036) regardless of myocardial damage markers, hypertension, smoking pack-years, or fibrosis stage. The results suggest early extrahepatic cardiac involvement in HCV before overt fibrosis or myocardial injury, supporting early HCV treatment to mitigate systemic effects.

D’Amore A, Sirajuddin A, George N et al. · Journal of viral hepatitis · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Multi-Chamber Strain Analysis by Cardiac MRI in Amyloidosis.

In 47 retrospectively included cardiac amyloidosis patients, the study evaluated whether multi-chamber myocardial strain by cardiac MRI provides diagnostic and prognostic value and how strain correlates with native T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) using Query Amyloid Late Enhancement (QALE). The key finding was that strain parameters across ventricles and atria correlated with native T1 and QALE/LGE measures and had diagnostic/prognostic utility for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). This supports multi-chamber strain as an imaging biomarker that may improve risk stratification in amyloidosis alongside established mapping and LGE techniques.

Chilkuri SK, Dsouza R, Houbois C et al. · Journal of thoracic imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Pathological Q Waves in a Young Patient Without Ischemic Heart Disease.

This JACC Case Reports report described an 18-year-old asymptomatic man with pathological septal Q waves but no ischemic heart disease on initial evaluation. The key finding was that multimodality cardiac imaging—particularly cardiac magnetic resonance for tissue characterization—was central to differential diagnosis and risk stratification when ECG findings were atypical. The clinical significance is that pathological Q waves in young patients require careful imaging-based evaluation to identify non-ischemic causes and guide management.

Figueroa-Galván FS, Alanís-Naranjo JM, González-Najera MF et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in ATTR Val142Ile Carrier: When Genes and Phenotype Diverge.

This case report described a 61-year-old African-American man with longstanding apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) who was found to carry the pathogenic transthyretin (TTR) V142I variant, highlighting divergence between genotype and phenotype. The key finding was that technetium-99m pyrophosphate scintigraphy (H/CL 1.01, visual grade 0) and cardiac MRI confirmed apical-predominant hypertrophy with patchy LGE, effectively excluding transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) despite genotype positivity. This emphasizes the need for imaging confirmation to distinguish ATTR-CM from phenocopies like apical HCM to avoid inappropriate management.

Khayat O, Moumneh MB, Salman O et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Filamin C Genetic Cardiomyopathy Presenting as Acute Myocardial Injury.

This case report studied acute myocardial injury in a 46-year-old man with nonischemic cardiac MRI findings, followed by genetic testing. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed extensive ring-like subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement without myocardial edema, and subsequent sequencing identified a pathogenic FLNC (filamin C) variant with persistent fibrosis on follow-up. The report highlights that FLNC genetic cardiomyopathy can present as acute myocardial injury with a distinctive ring-like LGE pattern, supporting early genetic evaluation when CMR is nonischemic.

Alexandrino FB, Curtis B, Nguyen C et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Discordant Cardiomyopathy Phenotypes in Siblings With Homozygous FKRP c.1100T>C.

This case report studied two South African Afrikaner siblings with homozygous FKRP c.1100T>C (p.Ile367Thr) to examine why cardiac phenotypes can diverge despite the same genotype. The brother developed progressive nondilated cardiomyopathy to dilated cardiomyopathy with extensive late gadolinium enhancement over years, demonstrating a more severe cardiac course than his sibling (discordant phenotype). The findings suggest that additional modifiers beyond FKRP genotype influence cardiac severity in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R9, informing risk stratification and surveillance.

Mahon N, Coad S, Kiamanesh O · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

FDG PET for cardiac sarcoidosis: Protocol optimization, quantification, pitfalls, and multimodality imaging integration.

This review studied how FDG PET is used for diagnosis and management of cardiac sarcoidosis within a multimodality imaging framework. It summarizes protocol optimization, quantification approaches, common pitfalls, and how PET findings integrate with echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance to improve clinical decision-making. The article is significant because standardized PET methodology can reduce false results and better support treatment decisions in a heterogeneous disease with high risk of arrhythmias and sudden death.

Wopperer SB, Kronzer E, Ivare J et al. · Seminars in nuclear medicine · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Imaging of Myocardial Carcinoid Metastasis.

This JACC case report series studied two patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors presenting with isolated myocardial carcinoid metastases. Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET/CT identified the cardiac lesions, which were then characterized by cardiac magnetic resonance, while transthoracic echocardiography had limited sensitivity. The clinical significance is that multimodality imaging—especially DOTATATE PET/CT plus CMR—can detect otherwise occult myocardial metastases and guide management in NET patients.

Ranganath S, Ynalvez L, Ryoo Ali HJ et al. · JACC. Case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Advanced imaging workflow & AI/automation for cardiac imaging

Transforming Cardiac Imaging With Artificial Intelligence: Automation, Precision, and Clinical Integration in Echocardiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

This narrative review studied how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform cardiac imaging in echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), synthesizing 22 peer-reviewed studies from 2020–2026. It found that AI enables automated image acquisition, chamber/valve segmentation, and left ventricular ejection fraction measurement with accuracy comparable to experienced echocardiographers, while reducing interobserver variability and analysis time, and that automated global longitudinal strain can detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction. The scientific significance is that it supports clinical integration of AI-driven quantitative imaging workflows to improve precision, efficiency, and early detection of cardiac disease.

Choker AH · Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Leveraging natural language processing artificial intelligence for automated data extraction of ejection fraction and strain from cardiovascular imaging reports.

This retrospective observational study applied natural language processing (NLP) to extract ejection fraction (EF) and related strain/functional parameters from free-text cardiovascular imaging reports in cancer survivors across echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) over 2000–2020. The key finding was that NLP was feasible for automated extraction of EF and related cardiac imaging measurements from multi-modality reports in a large academic EHR dataset of >4000 patients. If validated, this could enable scalable, longitudinal phenotyping of cardiac function (including EF/strain) in cancer survivorship research without manual chart abstraction.

Brown SA, BagheriMohamadiPour M, Sparapani R et al. · American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Evaluation of new vectorcardiography algorithms for identifying left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired systolic function.

This prospective study evaluated new vectorcardiography (VCG) algorithms for identifying left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and impaired systolic function, using cardiac magnetic resonance as the reference standard. The goal was to determine whether VCG can detect early or subtle structural abnormalities more accurately than routine electrocardiography in a scalable screening context. The scientific significance is that improved VCG algorithms could enable faster, lower-cost identification of patients with LVH or systolic dysfunction who might otherwise be missed until later disease stages.

Salatzki J, Schwarz AK, Wolfsteller S et al. · Journal of electrocardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Clinical decision frameworks, guidelines, and consensus methods

An integrative approach to patient selection for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in secondary mitral regurgitation.

This review synthesized evidence to build a structured patient-selection framework for mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) in secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR), integrating randomized trial data (notably MITRA-FR and COAPT), proportionality concepts, and multimodality echocardiography. The key finding is that differences in trial outcomes largely reflect echocardiographic selection and the degree of left-ventricular remodeling, implying SMR severity should be interpreted relative to ventricular size and regurgitation context. Scientifically and clinically, the proposed framework aims to identify patients most likely to benefit from M-TEER despite variability in SMR mechanisms and remodeling.

Brusosa M, Flores-Umanzor E, Horlick E · Current opinion in cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Adopting common data elements (CDEs) for the National Trauma Research Repository (NTRR): the results of an epidemiology Delphi survey.

This Delphi-survey study involved a 10-member multidisciplinary workgroup of military and civilian trauma researchers and data scientists to identify and reach consensus on common data elements (CDEs) for the National Trauma Research Repository (NTRR). The key finding is that consensus-driven review of existing trauma databases and codebooks, using a three-round Delphi process, produced recommended baseline CDEs for inclusion in the NTRR data dictionary. This is significant for improving harmonization and interoperability of trauma epidemiology data across studies and systems.

Gurney JM, Medrano NW, Bailey JA et al. · Trauma surgery & acute care open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A Global Consensus Conference on Surgical Management of Primary Uterovaginal Prolapse and Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: Combining Evidence with Expert Opinion.

This global consensus conference studied best-practice surgical management decisions for primary uterovaginal pelvic organ prolapse (U-POP) and associated lower urinary tract dysfunction, using geographically diverse expert committees and a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov (2000–Dec 2025). The key output was an evidence-informed framework to standardize pragmatic surgical decision-making while explicitly identifying controversial areas and unanswered clinical questions for future research. This is significant because it aims to reduce variation in U-POP surgery and improve the quality of subsequent systematic reviews/meta-analyses that guide patient care.

Gupta A, Grimes CL, Badlani G et al. · International urogynecology journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Stroke and its consequences: protocol and pilot data of the observational Berlin Long-term Observation of Vascular Events (BeLOVE) stroke stratum.

This protocol and pilot analysis studied long-term outcomes after stroke by establishing the Berlin Long-term Observation of Vascular Events (BeLOVE) stroke stratum, enrolling adults with acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. The key finding from the first phase was the feasibility and design of a prospective, longitudinal, hospital-based observational cohort to capture major adverse cerebro-/cardiovascular events (MACE) and cognitive, mental, and patient-reported outcomes over time. This is significant because it addresses major evidence gaps about long-term consequences after different stroke subtypes and supports future outcome-driven risk understanding.

Nolte CH, Weber JE, Ahmadi M et al. · BMJ neurology open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Non-cardiac/other clinical research & health systems (oncology, trauma, exercise, infections, cost-effectiveness, etc.)

Frontiers in Ocular Therapy: Linking Nanoparticles to Patho- Therapeutic Outcomes in Keratitis Treatment.

This article reviewed how nanoparticle-based ocular drug delivery strategies are being linked to patho-therapeutic outcomes in keratitis caused by bacterial, fungal, or viral pathogens. It highlights that conventional antimicrobial therapy is limited by poor corneal bioavailability, rapid tear clearance, and emerging drug resistance, while nanotechnology may improve delivery, targeting, and combination approaches. Scientifically, it frames nanoparticle design as a way to better match keratitis pathogenesis with therapeutic exposure at the ocular site.

Tiwari R, G D, Mohan VK et al. · Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Prevention of arterial catheter-related bloodstream infections: current evidence and future directions.

This review studied the evidence base for preventing arterial catheter-related bloodstream infections (AC-CRBSI) in patients requiring arterial catheters for hemodynamic monitoring and blood sampling. It found that, unlike central venous catheter prevention, AC-specific surveillance and guideline recommendations are limited and inconsistent, with most strategies extrapolated from central line data and few direct AC trials. The significance is that optimizing insertion and maintenance practices for ACs could reduce AC-CRBSI risk, but stronger AC-focused research is needed to define best practices.

Donner V, Sadeghi CD, Catho G et al. · Critical care (London, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cost-effectiveness of imaging modalities in coronary heart disease: A comprehensive review.

This comprehensive review studied the cost-effectiveness of coronary heart disease imaging modalities, emphasizing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using SPECT or PET. It found that economic evaluations increasingly require careful selection of imaging tests as healthcare costs rise and imaging technology advances, with cost-effectiveness depending on clinical context and modality choice. The significance is guidance for clinicians and health systems on which nuclear cardiology imaging strategies may provide better value for CHD diagnosis and management.

Milan E, Giubbini R, Vitola J et al. · Seminars in nuclear medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Fluoropyrimidine Cardiotoxicity: Role of Uridine Triacetate and Pharmacogenomic Insights from a Case of 5-FU-Induced Cardiogenic Shock.

This case-based review examined fluoropyrimidine cardiotoxicity, focusing on a patient who developed 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced cardiogenic shock and discussing the potential role of uridine triacetate and pharmacogenomic insights. It highlights that fluoropyrimidines can cause severe cardiovascular toxicity beyond coronary vasospasm, and it uses the case to illustrate how uridine triacetate may be considered for management while pharmacogenomic factors may inform susceptibility. Clinically, the work underscores the need for rapid recognition and targeted therapeutic strategies for life-threatening fluoropyrimidine cardiotoxicity.

Filomia S, Del Buono MG, Saponara G et al. · Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography for suspected acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department.

The study characterized and assessed outcomes of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in the emergency department. In a retrospective cohort of 198 consecutive ED patients (Jan 2020–Dec 2022), it evaluated a composite major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) endpoint including all-cause death, acute myocardial infarction, or myocardial revascularization (full results truncated). This informs how CCTA findings and patient characteristics relate to short-term clinical outcomes in real-world ED suspected ACS pathways.

Ciliberti G, Compagnucci P, Finori L et al. · The international journal of cardiovascular imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Integrative network and structural analysis of Pinus derived phytosterols in diabetes associated pathways.

This in silico pharmacology study examined how two Pinus-derived phytosterols, β-sitosterol and 24-nor-cholest-5,22E-dien-3β-ol, interact with diabetes-associated endocrine targets using integrative network pharmacology and structural analysis. Network analysis identified ESR1, AR, SHBG, and CYP17A1 as central nodes in pathways related to endocrine resistance. The results are scientifically significant because they generate testable hypotheses for phytosterol-mediated modulation of hormone/endocrine pathways relevant to diabetes progression.

Ali PR, Sri GK, Sravanthi G et al. · In silico pharmacology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

The burden of ovarian cancer attributable to occupational asbestos exposure in Asia from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021.

This Global Burden of Disease 2021-based analysis studied the burden of ovarian cancer attributable to occupational asbestos exposure across Asian countries from 1990 to 2021. It quantified deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and described temporal trends in age-standardized and crude rates attributable to asbestos exposure. The study is significant for public health planning because it provides region-specific estimates to support asbestos control policies and targeted prevention efforts.

Yu Y, Zhang W, Deng T et al. · Tropical medicine and health · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Learning curves in Versius-assisted colorectal surgery: a risk-adjusted CUSUM analysis from a single center.

This retrospective study evaluated learning curves for Versius-assisted colorectal cancer surgery in adult patients undergoing elective robotic procedures at a single center. Using risk-adjusted CUSUM (RA-CUSUM) analysis of skin-to-skin operative time, it assessed procedure- and operator-specific learning trajectories for right hemicolectomy, sigmoid resection, and anterior rectal resection. The significance is that it provides real-world performance benchmarks to guide training, credentialing, and quality improvement for Versius robotic colorectal surgery.

Sachańbiński T, Miodoński M, Kropieniewicz J · International journal of colorectal disease · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of the Arabic version of the University of Wisconsin running injury and recovery index: a reliability and validity study.

This study translated and cross-culturally adapted the University of Wisconsin Running Injury and Recovery Index into Arabic (UWRI-Ar) and evaluated its psychometric reliability and validity in Arabic-speaking runners with running-related injury (n=83; retest n=49) aged 18–45 years. The key finding is that UWRI-Ar demonstrated acceptable reliability (including test-retest over 2–5 days) and measurement properties consistent with a valid injury-and-recovery instrument in this population. Clinically, it enables standardized assessment of running injury status and recovery outcomes for Arabic-speaking runners.

Aljohani MMA, Alshehri YS, Shuwayhi AM et al. · BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Strategies for resilient climate in smart cities mediated by Nash equilibrium and autonomous decision-makers.

This modeling study proposed a decision-making framework for resilient climate in smart cities by integrating Nash equilibrium, autonomous multi-agent systems, and machine learning, treating each city as an autonomous decision-maker that sets pollution and climate-warming risk management policies. The key finding is that the framework can coordinate city-level policy choices under strategic interactions to support global warming mitigation tailored to individual city needs. Scientifically, it provides a computational approach for evaluating and optimizing multi-city climate strategies under uncertainty and agent-based behavior.

Latha CM, Alvarado-Mentado M · Journal of environmental management · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Zanubrutinib combined with R-CHOP in previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with specific gene alteration: a phase II study.

This phase II study investigated zanubrutinib combined with R-CHOP as first-line therapy in previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients aged 18–75 years with specific high-risk gene alterations. The key finding was the rationale-driven evaluation of zanubrutinib in genomically defined high-risk disease characterized by aberrant BCR signaling features, including MYD88, CD79B, NOTCH1, TP53 mutations, and MYC rearrangements, based on prior sensitivity signals to BTK inhibition in relapsed settings. The clinical significance is that it tests whether adding a BTK inhibitor can improve outcomes for molecularly high-risk DLBCL beyond standard R-CHOP.

Zhang Q, Jiang S, Wei R et al. · Blood cancer journal · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Updated patient-reported outcomes and the effect of disease progression on health-related quality of life in the PRIMA/ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012 trial of niraparib first-line maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer.

This analysis studied updated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and the effect of disease progression on health-related quality of life in the PRIMA/ENGOT-OV26/GOG-3012 trial of niraparib first-line maintenance in newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. Patients were randomized 2:1 to niraparib versus placebo, and HRQOL was assessed longitudinally using EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OV28, FOSI, and EQ-5D-5L with visual analog scale, with post hoc analyses evaluating progression-related HRQOL changes. The significance is that it clarifies how niraparib maintenance and subsequent disease progression affect patient-centered outcomes, informing benefit-risk discussions in ovarian cancer survivorship.

Shahin MS, Lorusso D, Backes FJ et al. · Gynecologic oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

CAR-T Cell Therapy Versus Salvage Chemotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Integrating Radiologic, Laboratory, and Histopathologic Correlates.

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized randomized trials and comparative cohort studies in adults with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) comparing CAR-T cell therapy versus salvage chemotherapy, integrating radiologic, laboratory, and histopathologic correlates. The analysis evaluated comparative effectiveness across these outcome domains, focusing on how imaging and biomarkers align with treatment response and disease biology. Clinically, the work helps refine selection of CAR-T versus salvage chemotherapy in high-risk molecular settings and primary refractory disease by linking treatment effects to measurable correlates.

Elsayed FM, Baban J, Elkholy HY et al. · La Clinica terapeutica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Of HIV-Positive Plasmablastic Lymphoma - Case Series.

This case series evaluated autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as consolidation in HIV-positive patients with plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL), reflecting the modern feasibility of intensive therapy in the HAART era. The report focused on safety and efficacy outcomes of ASCT in this immunosuppressed population, addressing historical concerns about opportunistic infections. If outcomes are favorable, the series supports ASCT as a potential consolidation strategy for HIV-associated PBL in carefully selected patients on antiretroviral therapy.

Giri Raja Pandiyan VM, Perumal Kalaiyarasi J, Govindarajan DD et al. · Indian journal of hematology & blood transfusion : an official journal of Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A 12-week Exercise Intervention Among Older Adults With Chronic Coronary Syndrome: Changes and Associations of Movement Behaviors and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

This 12-week group exercise intervention study enrolled 35 older adults with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and measured changes in movement behaviors (via 7-day accelerometry), obesity markers, VO2peak, cardiometabolic risk, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from baseline to 9 months. The study tested whether changes in movement behaviors were associated with changes in VO2peak, cardiometabolic risk, and BDNF. Clinically, it links modifiable activity patterns to cardiorespiratory fitness and neurotrophic signaling, supporting exercise prescription strategies for CCS risk reduction.

Ullrich A, Bahls M, Voigt L et al. · European journal of sport science · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

CTLA4-Ig + Anti-IL-6/IL-6R Treatment Results in Long-term Allograft Survival and Function in Highly HLA-sensitized Patients.

This study evaluated long-term allograft survival and function in highly HLA-sensitized transplant recipients treated with a combined immunosuppressive regimen of CTLA4-Ig plus anti–IL-6/IL-6R. The focus was on patients at high risk for cell-mediated and antibody-mediated rejection, particularly those needing conversion away from calcineurin inhibitors due to neuro/nephrotoxicity while avoiding donor-specific antibody (DSA) rebound and rejection. The findings support the regimen as a potential CNI-free strategy to maintain durable graft outcomes in highly HLA-sensitized patients.

Jordan SC, Chandran S, Ammerman N et al. · Transplantation direct · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Diagnosis of cardiac pathology on acute electrocardiographic-gated thoracic computed tomography: guidance for the general radiologist.

This article reviewed how acute electrocardiographic-gated thoracic computed tomography (CT angiography) can be used to detect cardiac pathology beyond acute aortic syndrome, including coronary artery atheromatous disease and related complications. The key finding was that potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions can be overlooked or misinterpreted by general radiologists despite being present in the same ECG-gated dataset. The clinical significance is improved guidance for radiologists to reduce diagnostic errors and broaden detection of acute cardiac pathology on gated CT.

Manghat NE, Greco F, Harries I et al. · Clinical radiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Generated automatically on July 07, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 30, 2026 – July 07, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.