There has been increasing evidence supporting the importance of left atrial (LA) functional analysis and measurement in various physiologic and pathologic cardiovascular conditions due to its high diagnostic and prognostic values. Assessment of LA strain (LAS) has emerged as an early marker of subclinical LA dysfunction. Using speckle-tracking echocardiography, LAS can be measured in all phases of LA function (reservoir, conduit, and booster pump). In valvular heart disease (VHD), surgical and nonsurgical interventions should be performed before irreversible left ventricular (LV) and/or LA myocardial dysfunction. The current guidelines recommended using LV strain as a parameter for early detection and timely intervention. Currently, many published data have shown the diagnostic and prognostic values of LAS in VHD, which is encouraging to integrate LAS during echo assessment. In this review, we aim to collect the current data about the clinical utility of LAS changes in risk stratification, predicting outcome, and guiding the time of intervention in VHD. The review summarized these data according to the type of valve pathologies.

The term \"single ventricle\" refers to a wide range of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities which cause the morphologically right or left ventricle to be hypoplastic or functionally inadequate. Patients with single-ventricle physiology have followed a series of palliative surgeries, resulting in the dominant ventricle supporting only the systemic circulation and the systemic venous return draining directly to the pulmonary arteries. Such patients present a progressive decline in myocardial performance, and their management is associated with high morbidity, mortality and resource usage. At each management step, imaging is critical in eligibility assessment, pre-procedural planning and prompt detection of myocardial dysfunction. However, the complex and asymmetric geometry of the dominant ventricle and its segmental wall motion abnormalities make the echocardiographic evaluation of myocardial performance in these patients rather challenging. Consequently, conventional 2-dimensional echo functional parameters, such as ejection fraction by Simpson\'s biplane method or shortening fraction by M-mode, is complex and often not feasible to apply. On the other hand, speckle-tracking echocardiography is angle and geometry independent and has better reproducibility. As such, it constitutes an appealing method for assessing myocardial function in patients with single-ventricle hearts. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the role of myocardial strain imaging by speckle-tracking echocardiography in the pre-and post-operative assessment of patients with single-ventricle hearts.

BACKGROUND: The presence of a relative apical sparing (RAS) echocardiographic strain pattern raises a suspicion of underlying cardiac amyloidosis (CA). However, it is also increasingly observed in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence, dynamics, and clinical characteristics of the RAS strain pattern in severe AS patients who had been referred for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).
METHODS: A total of 77 patients with severe AS and without CA were included with a mean age of 70 (62-73) years, 58% female, a mean aortic valve area index of 0.45 ± 0.1 cm2/m2, and a mean gradient of 54.9 (45-70) mmHg.
RESULTS: An RAS strain pattern was detected in 14 (18%) patients. RAS-positive patients had a significantly higher LV mass index (125 ± 28 g/m2 vs. 91 ± 32, p = 0.001), a lower LV ejection fraction (62 ± 12 vs. 68 ± 13, p = 0.040), and lower global longitudinal strain (-14.9 ± 3 vs. -18.7 ± 5%, p = 0.002). RAS strain pattern-positive patients also had higher B-type natriuretic peptide (409 (161-961) vs. 119 (66-245) pg/L, p = 0.032) and high-sensitivity troponin I (15 (13-29) vs. 9 (5-18) pg/L, p = 0.026) levels. Detection of an RAS strain pattern was strongly associated with increased LV mass index (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, p < 0.001). The RAS strain pattern had resolved in all patients by 3 months after SAVR.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the RAS strain pattern can be present in patients with severe AS without evidence of CA. The presence of an RAS strain pattern is associated with adverse LV remodeling, and it resolves after SAVR.

Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation. CAV is often diagnosed in later stages or during routine screening in asymptomatic subjects. Myocardial work (MW), calculated using left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and systemic blood pressure, may be associated with the presence of CAV and outperform conventional echocardiographic parameters. In this retrospective observational study, heart transplant recipients who underwent regular follow-up at our institution between May 2022 and September 2023 were enrolled. All included patients underwent speckle-tracking echocardiography, including MW indexes. CAV was classified according to invasive coronary angiography or computed tomography performed within 12 months of index echocardiography. We collected all available clinical and echocardiographic parameters and evaluated the potential association with CAV. CAV was detected in 29 of 93 patients (31%) (CAV+). Of the MW indexes, the mean global work efficiency (GWE) was 90 ± 6% and was significantly lower in CAV+ than CAV- subjects (86 ± 7% vs 91 ± 4%, p <0.001). GWE (OR 0.86, CI 0.77 to 0.94, p = 0.002), E/e\' ratio (OR 1.27, CI 1.08 to 1.52, p = 0.006), and left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 0.90; CI 0.81 to 0.98, p = 0.017) were independently associated with the presence of CAV. GWE (GWE vs LV-GLS, delta area under the curve 0.154, p = 0.047) and the proposed model (GWE+E/e\' vs LV-GLS, delta area under the curve 0.198, p = 0.004) were significantly superior in stratifying the incremental risk for CAV compared with LV-GLS. In conclusion, GWE was observed to be independently associated with the presence of CAV. MW could represent a novel noninvasive screening method for CAV in heart transplant recipients. Larger and prospective studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) parameters are an integral part of the assessment of left ventricular (LV) function. We aimed to evaluate established and novel STE parameters of LV diastolic function and their prognostic role in patients with LV anteroapical aneurysm undergoing surgical ventricular repair (SVR). We retrospectively examined the data of 137 patients with anteroapical LV aneurysm who underwent SVR. In 27 patients, the correlation of STE parameters with invasive hemodynamic parameters was evaluated. Preoperative echocardiographic parameters were assessed for their association with outcome, defined as all-cause mortality, LV assist device implantation, or heart transplantation. The late diastolic strain rate (GLSRa) showed a stronger correlation with mean pulmonary artery pressure (r =  - 0.75, p < 0.001) than all other parameters. GLSRa was also significantly correlated with mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and LV end-diastolic pressure. In the multivariate model, GLSRa and the ratio of early diastolic filling velocity to GLSRa demonstrated incremental prognostic value in addition to clinical and echocardiographic parameters. Patients with GLSRa < 0.59 s-1 had significantly shorter event-free survival than those with GLSRa > 0.59 s-1 (6.7 vs. 10.9 years, p < 0.001). Peak reservoir left atrial strain showed a weaker association with hemodynamic parameters and outcome compared to GLSRa. In patients with LV aneurysm, late diastolic strain rate and left atrial strain can be used for the assessment of LV diastolic function and have a predictive value for the outcome after surgical ventricular restoration.

Mitral stenosis (MS) is a complex valvular pathology with significant clinical burden even today. Its effect on the right heart is often overlooked, despite it playing a considerable part in the symptomatic status. We enrolled 39 mitral valve stenosis patients and 39 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. They underwent conventional, speckle-tracking and 3D echocardiographic examinations. The 3D data was analyzed using the ReVISION software to calculate RV functional parameters. In the MS group, 3D RV ejection fraction (EF) (49 ± 7% vs. 61 ± 4%; p < 0.001), global circumferential (GCS) (- 21.08 ± 5.64% vs. - 25.07 ± 4.72%; p = 0.001) and longitudinal strain (GLS) (- 16.60% ± 4.07% vs. - 23.32 ± 2.82%; p < 0.001) were reduced. When comparing RV contraction patterns between controls, MS patients in sinus rhythm and those with atrial fibrillation, radial (REF) (32.06 ± 5.33% vs. 23.62 ± 7.95% vs. 20.89 ± 6.92%; p < 0.001) and longitudinal ejection fraction (LEF) (24.85 ± 4.06%; 17.82 ± 6.16% vs. 15.91 ± 4.09%; p < 0.001) were decreased in both MS groups compared to controls; however, they were comparable between the two MS subgroups. Anteroposterior ejection fraction (AEF) (29.16 ± 4.60% vs. 30.87 ± 7.71% vs. 21.48 ± 6.15%; p < 0.001) showed no difference between controls and MS patients in sinus rhythm, while it was lower in the MS group with atrial fibrillation. Therefore, utilizing 3D echocardiography, we found distinct morphological and functional alterations of the RV in MS patients.

BACKGROUND: Evidence about early cardiac mechanics abnormalities in patients with mitochondrial diseases (MDs) before overt cardiomyopathy is limited.
METHODS: In this prospective study, we performed a comparative analysis of conventional and speckle tracking echocardiographic parameters between patients with genetically identified MDs and no overt cardiomyopathy vs controls matched for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors. The Newcastle mitochondrial disease adult scale (NMDAS) was calculated, using a threshold of > 21 as indicator of high disease severity.
RESULTS: We enrolled 24 MDs patients (50 % males, mean age 47.2 ± 14.3 years), the most prevalent mutation was the MT-TL1 m.3243A>G (37.5 %). In MDs patients all dimensional echocardiographic parameters were similar to controls. Conversely, albeit normal, Tissue Doppler septal systolic (p = 0.002) and early diastolic velocities (p = 0.016) were significantly lower and E/e\' ratio was higher (p = 0.032) in MDs. Moreover, LV-GLS was significantly reduced in MDs as compared to their counterparties (20.2 ± 1.6 vs 22.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.001). Similarly, LA reservoir and conduit strain were significantly lower in MDs (31.7 ± 7.0 vs 35.9 ± 6.6, p = 0.038; 19.7 ± 5.6 vs 23.1 ± 6.0, p = 0.049 respectively), while LA contractile strain was similar between the two groups. Lower values of LV-GLS were observed in patients with NMDAS > 21 vs patients with NMDAS ≤ 21 (19.0 ± 1.2 vs 21.0 ± 1.3, p = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MDs and no overt cardiomyopathy Tissue Doppler and speckle tracking analysis unveil worse LV systolic and diastolic function indices as compared to controls. Reduced LV-GLS values were found especially in those with worse disease burden.

UNASSIGNED: There is little information from experimental studies regarding the evolution of post-resuscitation cardiac arrest [post-return of spontaneous circulation (post-ROSC)] myocardial dysfunction during mid-term follow-up. For this purpose, we assessed left ventricular (LV) function and circulating cardiac biomarkers at different time points in a rat model of cardiac arrest (CA).
UNASSIGNED: Rats were divided into two groups: control and post-ROSC rats. Eight minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation were followed by 8 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conventional and speckle-tracking echocardiographic (STE) parameters and cardiac circulating biomarkers concentrations were assessed, at 3, 4, 72, and 96 h post-ROSC. At 3 and 4 h post-ROSC, LV systolic function was severely impaired, and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP) plasma concentrations were significantly increased, compared with control rats (P < 0.0001 for all). At 72 and 96 h post-ROSC, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) normalized. At 96 h, the following variables were significantly different from control rats: early trans-mitral peak velocity, 56.8 ± 3.1 vs. 87.8 ± 3.8 cm/s, P < 0.0001; late trans-mitral peak velocity, 50.6 ± 4.7 vs. 73.7 ± 4.2 cm/s, P < 0.0001; mean s\' wave velocity, 4.6 ± 0.3 vs. 5.9 ± 0.3 cm/s, P < 0.0001, global longitudinal strain (GLS) -7.5 ± 0.5 and vs. -11 ± 1.2%, P < 0.01; GLS rate (GLSR) -0.9 ± 0.4 and -2.3 ± 0.2 1/s, P < 0.01; and NT-proANP concentration, 2.5 (0.2; 6.0) vs. 0.4 (0.01; 1.0) nmol/L, P < 0.01.
UNASSIGNED: s\' velocity, GLS, and GLSR indicated that LV systolic function was still impaired 96 h post-ROSC. These findings agree with NT-proANP concentrations, which continue to be high. Normalization of LVEF supports the use of STE for its greater sensitivity for monitoring post-CA cardiac function. Further investigations are needed to provide evidence of the post-ROSC LV diastolic function pattern.

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) provides better interobserver agreement than conventional methods. However, more evidence of whether there is good agreement between novice and experienced observers, especially in pediatric 3DE analysis, is required. We conducted 3DE analysis training in novice observers and investigated the agreement when analyzing 3DE images between novice and experienced observers. One experienced and 4 novice observers independently analyzed 60 3DE images obtained from neonates. The left and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV and RVEDV), end-systolic volume (LVESV and RVESV), ejection fraction (LVEF and RVEF), left ventricular global longitudinal strain, and global circumferential strain (LVGLS and LVGCS) were calculated. The novices received hands-on instruction in the analysis procedure before the analysis and received further feedback after their first 40 analyses. Agreement between the novices and the experienced observer was evaluated by the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and percentage difference in 3 groups of 20 images each (images 1-20, 21-40, and 41-60). The ICC of LVEDV was > 0.85 from the first 20 images and increased with experience. The ICCs for RVEDV and RVESV were low from the first 20 images but increased linearly, reaching an ICC > 0.9 in 3 of the 4 novice observers in the last 20 images. The range of the percentage difference was small for LVEDV, RVEDV, LVEF, and RVEF. Novices show an experienced level of 3DE analysis capability in LVEDV and RVEDV after analyzing 40 to 60 images. Training of novices is effective for analyzing LVEDV and RVEDV in 3DE images.

The goal of this study was to determine the potential for right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) strain to predict cardiopulmonary complications of COVID-19. We identified 276 patients with COVID-19 who underwent transthoracic echocardiography within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis at our institution. Patients were excluded if they had a history of any primary outcomes before COVID-19 diagnosis or insufficient imaging. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and RV GLS were obtained using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. Primary outcomes were death, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiomyopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and myocardial infarction (MI) occurring after COVID-19 diagnosis. In the final analysis of 163 patients, mean RV GLS and LV GLS were reduced, and 43.6% developed at least one primary outcome. There were significant differences in LV GLS distribution in terms of CHF, cardiomyopathy, and MI in bivariate analysis. However, LV GLS was not significantly associated with CHF after adjusting for LV ejection fraction and RV fractional area change, nor with MI after adjusting for troponin T. RV GLS was significantly associated with ARDS after adjusting for other variables. In the risk stratification of patients with COVID-19, strain imaging can provide incremental prognostic information, as worsened RV GLS is associated with the development of ARDS.