Publications by authors named "Laura Olivieri"

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of C-arm cone beam CT (CBCT)-guided microcoil localization combined with uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the management of small, difficult-to-localize ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and sub-solid nodules in the lungs.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 13 patients with single, small, peripheral, non-subpleural GGOs or SSN. All patients underwent successful microcoil localization using CB-CT guidance followed by uniportal VATS resection.

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Background: The Da Silva Cone procedure for Ebstein anomaly has dramatically improved tricuspid valve competence and clinical outcomes. However, preoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and immediate postoperative right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction are frequently observed. While excellent valve outcomes are well established, recovery of biventricular function following the Cone remains less defined.

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Background: Following the Fontan procedure, patients with single ventricle physiology are at high risk of diastolic dysfunction (DD) and elevated end-diastolic pressure (EDP).

Objective: This study aims to determine (1) the optimal EDP threshold correlated with adverse outcomes post-Fontan and (2) the clinical and imaging predictors of DD.

Methods: The study included patients from the Fontan Outcome Registry using CMR Examinations (FORCE) who underwent cardiac catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within a 2-year window.

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To explore the differences in exercise capacity between the extracardiac conduit (ECC) and lateral tunnel (LT) Fontan. 2169 patients (36% LT ( = 774); 64% ECC ( = 1395)) underwent a Fontan operation between 2000 to 2023 in a multi-institutional Fontan registry. LT patients were age-matched to ECC patients, and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) results were compared.

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Background: The long-term effect of open fenestration in Fontan patients is unclear, leading to wide practice variation of fenestration creation and closure. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of the fenestration using data from the Fontan Outcome Registry using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Examinations (FORCE) Study.

Methods: Patients were categorized by fenestration status determined by post-Fontan cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as open fenestration, nonfenestrated Fontan, spontaneous closure, and device closure.

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Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a heart condition in which the ductus arteriosus-a blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the aorta in a fetus-fails to undergo closure after birth. A PDA can be an important factor in neonates born with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) or born prematurely. With the advent of new intravascular stent technologies, treatments based on ductus arteriosus stenting can now be completed in many cases; however, difficulties remain in accessing the ductus arteriosus in small babies successfully using current guidewire-catheter systems.

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Parametric mapping has become a standard of care technique for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial edema and fibrosis. Conventional MOLLI-based T1 mapping is susceptible to many confounding effects particularly in the pediatric population. The requirement for compliant breath holds is a major limitation for younger or more ill patients.

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Unlabelled: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Consequently, it is more urgent than ever to prioritize AMR containment and support countries in improving the detection, characterization, and rapid response to emerging AMR threats. We conducted a prospective, multicenter study to assess the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in infectious processes in Argentina during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period and explore therapeutic alternatives for their treatment (RECAPT-AR study).

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Article Synopsis
  • The PECOS study is investigating the long-term effects of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infections by comparing infected and uninfected participants aged 0-21.
  • Participants were assessed on various health metrics, including symptom reports, physical exams, and psychological surveys, revealing that those infected reported significantly worse outcomes in several health domains.
  • The findings indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection could negatively impact children's overall quality of life, highlighting the importance of ongoing research to understand these long-term effects.
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  • - Cognitional heart disease is a major cause of infant mortality, and tissue-engineered vascular grafts present a promising approach for personalized treatment, but current design methods often lack individuality or require manual input.
  • - This paper introduces a computational framework that automatically optimizes the shape of patient-specific vascular grafts using techniques like Bayesian optimization and a unique graft deformation algorithm, minimizing the need for human intervention.
  • - Evaluation of the method using data from six patients demonstrated improved graft performance in terms of reduced pressure drop and wall shear stress, while also assessing how designs perform under steady versus transient conditions.
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  • Patients with congenital heart disease, particularly those who have undergone the Fontan procedure for single ventricle issues, face a high risk of sudden cardiac events (SCE) and early mortality, highlighting the importance of identifying risk factors.
  • In a study involving 3,132 Fontan patients, 3.5% experienced SCE over an average follow-up of 4 years, with 36% of those cases resulting in death.
  • Key risk factors for SCE included higher NYHA functional class, history of protein-losing enteropathy or plastic bronchitis, large end-diastolic volume index, and reduced ejection fraction, all of which can help in predicting and preventing such events.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study utilized data from the FORCE registry to analyze cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) metrics in healthier Fontan patients, aiming to create Fontan-specific z-scores that consider different ventricular morphologies.
  • - The "healthier" cohort consisted of 885 patients, primarily children, who were assessed for ventricular size and function against those with adverse outcomes, revealing that those with left ventricle morphology had better metrics.
  • - Comparisons showed adults had lower blood flow in the ascending aorta than children, and patients with adverse outcomes tended to have higher heart volumes and mass, which suggests a link between ventricular morphology and patient prognosis post-Fontan surgery.
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Background: Surveillance for heart transplant rejection by endomyocardial biopsy is invasive and may yield false negatives. T1 and T2 mapping from cardiac magnetic resonance can demonstrate elevations with rejection. We sought to evaluate longitudinal changes in T1 and T2 mapping in pediatric patients with heart transplant.

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Article Synopsis
  • Fontan patients generally have reduced exercise capacity, but some are categorized as high-performing Fontan (HPF) patients with excellent exercise capacity.
  • The study aimed to develop a tool to predict peak oxygen uptake for Fontan patients, explore clinical factors linked to HPF status, and analyze long-term outcomes for these patients.
  • Findings indicated that HPF patients had better left ventricular morphology, were less likely to have certain complications, and had a significantly lower risk of death or needing a heart transplant compared to those with lower exercise capacity.
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Background: Guideline-directed heart failure therapy with angiotensin receptor blocker/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) and sodium-glucose transporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) has been incrementally beneficial in improving outcomes in heart failure patients.

Objective: Evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in adults congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, ACHD patients with either New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II symptoms or systemic ejection fraction (EF) <45%, optimized on a combination of beta-blocker (BB), ARNi, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) and SGLT2i were evaluated.

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The cone operation has revolutionized care for patients with Ebstein anomaly; however, acute post-operative right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is common in this patient population. A single-center, retrospective review of 28 patients with Ebstein anomaly who underwent cardiac MRI (CMR) prior to cone reconstruction of the tricuspid valve was conducted. Measurements of atrial and ventricular size/function were assessed.

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Ebstein Anomaly (EA) is a malformation of the right heart, but there is data to suggest that the left ventricle (LV) can suffer from intrinsic structural and functional abnormalities which affect surgical outcomes. The LV in patients with EA is hypertrabeculated with abnormalities in LV function and strain. In this retrospective single-center study, patients with EA who underwent pre-operative cardiac MRI (CMR) between the periods of 2014-2024 were included along with a group of healthy-age-matched controls.

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The use of an oral positive expiratory pressure device (oPEP) with sniff breathing (Sniff-PEP) mimics biphasic ventilation. Biphasic ventilation increases pulmonary blood flow and cardiac output in Fontan patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Sniff-PEP on Fontan flow velocities.

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Ventricular remodeling leads to fibrotic changes in systemic right ventricles (RV). Native T1 mapping provides a quantitative measure in myocardial tissue characterization. The aim of our study was to correlate native T1 values of the systemic RV to function and volumetric data.

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Objectives: The complexity of aortic arch reconstruction due to diverse 3-dimensional geometrical abnormalities is a major challenge. This study introduces 3-dimensional printed tissue-engineered vascular grafts, which can fit patient-specific dimensions, optimize hemodynamics, exhibit antithrombotic and anti-infective properties, and accommodate growth.

Methods: We procured cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with 4-dimensional flow for native porcine anatomy (n = 10), from which we designed tissue-engineered vascular grafts for the distal aortic arch, 4 weeks before surgery.

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Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) patients suffer from pulmonary regurgitation and may require pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) guides therapy, but conventional measurements do not quantify the intracardiac flow effects from pulmonary regurgitation or PVR. This study investigates intracardiac flow parameters of the right ventricle (RV) of rTOF by computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

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Article Synopsis
  • * Most CMR research in children consists of small studies, making it hard to draw strong conclusions about their heart health.
  • * The publication discusses challenges faced in PCHD CMR research and offers guidance for developing larger, collaborative studies to improve understanding and care for these patients.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study examined differences in left ventricle size measurements between echocardiography (echo) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in kids with aortic and/or mitral regurgitation (AR/MR).
  • It found that pediatric patients with AR/MR had greater discrepancies in size assessment compared to those without, particularly affecting the accuracy of echo measurements.
  • The results indicate that as the left ventricle enlarges due to AR/MR, its shape changes are not uniform, leading to challenges in accurate size interpretation using different imaging methods.
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Tourette syndrome, characterized by phonic and motor tics, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly affects the quality of life of people with the condition. With over 1500 articles published in the last decade alone, this study aims to analyze the gender trends in publications related to Tourette syndrome from 2013 to 2022, examining the number of female authors as first authors and predicting future changes in female participation. The aim of this study is to analyze the gender trends of the first author in publications related to "Tourette Syndrome" from PubMed-indexed publications from January 2013 to December 2022.

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