OBJECTIVES This study evaluated cardiac involvement in patients recovered from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).BACKGROUND Myocardial injury caused by... Show moreOBJECTIVES This study evaluated cardiac involvement in patients recovered from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).BACKGROUND Myocardial injury caused by COVID-19 was previously reported in hospitalized patients. It is unknown if there is sustained cardiac involvement after patients' recovery from COVID-19.METHODS Twenty-six patients recovered from COVID-19 who reported cardiac symptoms and underwent CMR examinations were retrospectively included. CMR protocols consisted of conventional sequences (cine, T2-weighted imaging, and late gadolinium enhancement [LGE]) and quantitative mapping sequences (T1, T2, and extracellular volume [ECV] mapping). Edema ratio and LGE were assessed in post-COVID-19 patients. Cardiac function, native T1/T2, and ECV were quantitatively evaluated and compared with controls.RESULTS Fifteen patients (58%) had abnormal CMR findings on conventional CMR sequences: myocardial edema was found in 14 (54%) patients and LGE was found in 8 (31%) patients. Decreased right ventricle functional parameters including ejection fraction, cardiac index, and stroke volume/body surface area were found in patients with positive conventional CMR findings. Using quantitative mapping, global native T1, T2, and ECV were all found to be significantly elevated in patients with positive conventional CMR findings, compared with patients without positive findings and controls (median [interquartile range]: native T1 1,271 ms [1,243 to 1,298 ms] vs. 1,237 ms [1,216 to 1,262 ms] vs. 1,224 ms [1,217 to 1,245 ms]; mean +/- SD: T2 42.7 +/- 3.1 ms vs. 38.1 ms +/- 2.4 vs. 39.1 ms +/- 3.1; median [interquartile range]: 28.2% [24.8% to 36.2%] vs. 24.8% [23.1% to 25.4%] vs. 23.7% [22.2% to 25.2%]; p = 0.002; p < 0.001, and p =0.002, respectively).CONCLUSIONS Cardiac involvement was found in a proportion of patients recovered from COVID-19. CMR manifestation included myocardial edema, fibrosis, and impaired right ventricle function. Attention should be paid to the possible myocardial involvement in patients recovered from COVID-19 with cardiac symptoms. (C) 2020 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Show less
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the local myocardial segments in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by MRI T1 and T2 mapping, and to investigate how tissue remodeling correlates with... Show moreObjective: The aim of this study was to examine the local myocardial segments in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by MRI T1 and T2 mapping, and to investigate how tissue remodeling correlates with structural and functional remodeling in HCM.Methods: 47 patients with HCM and 19 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent cardiac MRI at 3.0 T. Native T1 and T2 values, end-diastolic wall thickness (EDTH), and percentage of systolic wall thickening (PSWT) were assessed in the left ventricular segments according to the American Heart Association model. Myocardial segments were categorized as normal, non-hypertrophic, mild-hypertrophic, moderate-hypertrophic, and severe-hypertrophic based on EDTH. The difference among all five groups, and the correlation between native T1 and T2 values, EDTH, and PSWT were evaluated.Results: Native T1 and T2 values were significantly elevated in both non-hypertrophic and hypertrophic segments of HCM patients compared to controls (both p < 0.001). PSWT was preserved in non-hypertrophic segments (p = 0.838), while significantly impaired < 0.001) in hypertrophic segments. Native T1 value of severe hypertrophic segments in HCM was significantly higher than segments of mild and moderate hypertrophy (p < 0.05).Conclusion: In HCM patients, the non-hypertrophic myocardial segments already demonstrated significantly elevated T1 and T2 values, despite normal wall thickness and preserved contraction function. The finding suggests that tissue remodeling may precede morphological and functional remodeling in HCM. MRI native T1 and T2 mapping can provide additional value for HCM diagnosis at an early stage.Advances in knowledge: Myocardial tissue remodeling, as detected by MRI native T1 and T2 mapping, occurs earlier than morphological and functional changes in HCM patients. Show less
This study examines the merchandising and consumption practices that have developed around characters (such as those in manga and anime) in Japan. It also explores the global impact of Japanese... Show moreThis study examines the merchandising and consumption practices that have developed around characters (such as those in manga and anime) in Japan. It also explores the global impact of Japanese characters (by specifically examining the case of China). Character merchandising, as a mechanism that transforms characters into commodities, caused the character commodity boom in Japan. This led to characters being widely consumed by consumers while securing a role for them in socio-cultural phenomena. Character consumption provides a means for consumers to pursue the expression of their individuality and sensibility, which not only deepens the inner connection between them and characters, but also closely ties characters to their self-identity. Furthermore, consumers use characters to express their self-identity, which is reflected in the display or cosplay of their bodies. This is a form of personal presentation, but it is also a requirement of society that characters are put at the centre of the social stage and play an active role in social as well as international communication. In this sense, characters, as a form of discourse, reflect, constitute, and represent contemporary Japan. Show less
