Cardiac MRI findings to differentiate athlete's heart from hypertrophic (HCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular (ARVC) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy.

To provide clinically relevant criteria for differentiation between the athlete's heart and similar appearing hypertrophic (HCM), dilated (DCM), and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in MRI. 40 top-level athletes were prospectively examined with cardiac MR (CMR) in two university centres and compared to retrospectively recruited patients diagnosed with HCM (n = 14), ARVC (n = 18), and DCM (n = 48). Analysed MR imaging parameters in the whole study cohort included morphology, functional parameters and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Mean left-ventricular enddiastolic volume index (LVEDVI) was high in athletes (105 ml/m2) but significantly lower compared to DCM (132 ml/m2; p = 0.001). Mean LV ejection fraction (EF) was 61% in athletes, below normal in 7 (18%) athletes vs. EF 29% in DCM, below normal in 46 (96%) patients (p < 0.0001). Mean RV-EF was 54% in athletes vs. 60% in HCM, 46% in ARVC, and 41% in DCM (p < 0.0001). Mean interventricular myocardial thickness was 10 mm in athletes vs. 12 mm in HCM (p = 0.0005), 9 mm in ARVC, and 9 mm in DCM. LGE was present in 1 (5%) athlete, 8 (57%) HCM, 10 (56%) ARVC, and 21 (44%) DCM patients (p < 0.0001). Healthy athletes' hearts are characterized by both hypertrophy and dilation, low EF of both ventricles at rest, and increased interventricular septal thickness with a low prevalence of LGE. Differentiation of athlete's heart from other non-ischemic cardiomyopathies in MRI can be challenging due to a significant overlap of characteristics also seen in HCM, ARVC, and DCM.

Therapist perceptions of ethnicity issues in family therapy: a qualitative inquiry.

A group of 29 leading family therapists presenting at a regional marriage and family therapy conference were interviewed about ethnicity issues in family therapy. Questions and discussion focused on ethnicity in the family therapy process, ethnicity issues for the family therapist, ethnicity issues for the client family, therapeutic strategies when ethnicity is an issue, and recommendations for ethnicity training and supervision of future family therapists. Qualitative methods were used to analyze the transcripts of the recorded interviews to identify themes emerging from the interviews. Results reflect multiple perspectives and approaches in the field of family therapy.