Review of Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2015.

There were 116 articles published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (JCMR) in 2015, which is a 14 % increase on the 102 articles published in 2014. The quality of the submissions continues to increase. The 2015 JCMR Impact Factor (which is published in June 2016) rose to 5.75 from 4.72 for 2014 (as published in June 2015), which is the highest impact factor ever recorded for JCMR. The 2015 impact factor means that the JCMR papers that were published in 2013 and 2014 were cited on average 5.75 times in 2015. The impact factor undergoes natural variation according to citation rates of papers in the 2 years following publication, and is significantly influenced by highly cited papers such as official reports. However, the progress of the journal's impact over the last 5 years has been impressive. Our acceptance rate is <25 % and has been falling because the number of articles being submitted has been increasing. In accordance with Open-Access publishing, the JCMR articles go on-line as they are accepted with no collating of the articles into sections or special thematic issues. For this reason, the Editors have felt that it is useful once per calendar year to summarize the papers for the readership into broad areas of interest or theme, so that areas of interest can be reviewed in a single article in relation to each other and other recent JCMR articles. The papers are presented in broad themes and set in context with related literature and previously published JCMR papers to guide continuity of thought in the journal. We hope that you find the open-access system increases wider reading and citation of your papers, and that you will continue to send your quality papers to JCMR for publication.

Review of Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2014.

There were 102 articles published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (JCMR) in 2014, which is a 6% decrease on the 109 articles published in 2013. The quality of the submissions continues to increase. The 2013 JCMR Impact Factor (which is published in June 2014) fell to 4.72 from 5.11 for 2012 (as published in June 2013). The 2013 impact factor means that the JCMR papers that were published in 2011 and 2012 were cited on average 4.72 times in 2013. The impact factor undergoes natural variation according to citation rates of papers in the 2 years following publication, and is significantly influenced by highly cited papers such as official reports. However, the progress of the journal's impact over the last 5 years has been impressive. Our acceptance rate is <25% and has been falling because the number of articles being submitted has been increasing. In accordance with Open-Access publishing, the JCMR articles go on-line as they are accepted with no collating of the articles into sections or special thematic issues. For this reason, the Editors have felt that it is useful once per calendar year to summarize the papers for the readership into broad areas of interest or theme, so that areas of interest can be reviewed in a single article in relation to each other and other recent JCMR articles. The papers are presented in broad themes and set in context with related literature and previously published JCMR papers to guide continuity of thought in the journal. We hope that you find the open-access system increases wider reading and citation of your papers, and that you will continue to send your quality papers to JCMR for publication.

Biological markers of cardiac damage are not related to measures of cardiac systolic and diastolic function using cardiovascular magnetic resonance and echocardiography after an acute bout of prolonged endurance exercise.

OBJECTIVES: Seventeen male participants (mean (SD) (range): age 33.5 (6.5) years (46-26 years), body mass 80 (9.2) kg (100-63 kg), height 1.81 (0.06) m (1.93- 1.70 m)) ran a marathon to investigate the relationship between systolic function (using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)) and diastolic function (using echocardiography) against biomarkers of cardiac damage. METHODS: Echocardiographic and cardiac troponin I (cTnI)/N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) data were collected 24 h premarathon, immediately postmarathon and 6 h postmarathon. CMR data were collected 24 h premarathon and at 6 h postmarathon. RESULTS: Body mass was significantly reduced postmarathon (80 (9.2) vs 78.8 (8.6) kg; p<0.001). There was a significant E/A reduction postmarathon (1.11 (0.34) vs 1.72 (0.44); p<0.05) that remained depressed 6 h postmarathon (1.49 (0.43); p<0.05). CMR demonstrated left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were reduced postmarathon, with a preserved stroke volume. Left ventricular ejection fraction 6 h postmarathon significantly increased (64.4% (4.2%) vs 67.4% (5%); p<0.05). There were significant elevations in cTnI (0.00 vs 0.04 (0.03) µg/l; p<0.05) and NTproBNP (37.4 (24.15) ng/l vs 59.34 (43.3) ng/l; p<0.05) immediately postmarathon. Eight runners had cTnI elevations immediately postmarathon above acute myocardial infarction cutoff levels (≥0.03 µg/l). No correlations between cTnI/NTproBNP and measures of diastolic function (E, A, E/A, isovolumic relaxation time, E deceleration time and E/E') or measures of systolic function (stroke volume or ejection fraction) were observed immediately postmarathon or 6 h postmarathon. CONCLUSIONS: Biomarkers of cardiac damage after prolonged exercise are not associated with either systolic or diastolic functional measures.

Practical applications of cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Recent developments in magnetic resonance imaging have focused attention on evaluation of patients with cardiac disease. These improvements have been substantiated by a large and expanding body of clinical evidence, making cardiovascular magnetic resonance the imaging modality of choice in a wide variety of cardiovascular disorders. A brief review on the current applications of cardiovascular magnetic resonance is provided, with reference to some of the most relevant studies, statements and reviews published in this field.