Learning and research

Right ventricular (RV) (dys)function determines outcomes in pulmonary hypertension (PH). We previously found that asymmetric RV myocardial work (MW) corresponds with inefficient RV function in experimental PH models. We therefore aimed to investigate regional distribution of RV MW and its correlation with catheter hemodynamics in children with PH.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is observed in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. This study investigates whether inhibiting the conversion of dopamine into noradrenaline by dopamine β-hydroxylase (DβH) inhibition with BIA 21-5337 improved right ventricular (RV) function or remodeling in pressure overload-induced RV failure. RV failure was induced in male Wistar rats by pulmonary trunk banding (PTB). 

Data from invasive CPET (iCPET) revealed long COVID patients have impaired systemic oxygen extraction (EO2), suggesting impaired mitochondrial ATP production. However, it remains uncertain whether the initial severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection has implications on EO2 and exercise capacity (VO2) nor has there been assessment of anerobic ATP generation in long COVID patients.

Our prospective study investigates the 3-year trajectory of disease-specific quality of life (QoL) using the PEmb-QoL questionnaire, functional performance via 6-min walk tests, and the 5-year survival following acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and explores their association with patient demographics and clinical characteristics. We highlight that PE-specific QoL improves over time despite no significant changes in cardiopulmonary performance.

Dear Editor,
We thank Drs. Perros, Chaveroux, and Montani for their interest in our articles describing the activation of the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway as a mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD), based on the rat mitomycin C (MMC) model of PVOD.

To the Editor,
We read with great interest the recent paper by Prabhakar et al., “Mechanisms underlying age-associated exacerbation of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease,”1 which investigates the role of the integrated stress response (ISR) in pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD).

Leveraging the potential of virtual platforms in the post-COVID-19 era, the Infection and Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Consortium (iPVDc), with the support of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI), launched a globally accessible educational program to highlight top-notch research on inflammation and infectious diseases affecting the lung vasculature.

Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL-4) inhibitor drugs are an emerging cancer treatment. In clinical trials for solid organ malignancies, intravenous administration of monoclonal antibodies that inhibit DLL-4 is associated with development of pulmonary hypertension, in the absence of left ventricular dysfunction. Analysis of 13 clinical trials showed that pulmonary hypertension is a complication of DLL-4 inhibition.

Current methods for quantifying perfusion from computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) often rely on semi-quantitative scoring systems and requires an experienced evaluator. Few studies report on absolute quantitative variables derived from the images, and the methods are varied with mixed results.