Single centre experience of the application of self navigated 3D whole heart cardiovascular magnetic resonance for the assessment of cardiac anatomy in congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: For free-breathing cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), the self-navigation technique recently emerged, which is expected to deliver high-quality data with a high success rate. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that self-navigated 3D-CMR enables the reliable assessment of cardiovascular anatomy in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to define factors that affect image quality. METHODS: CHD patients ≥2 years-old and referred for CMR for initial assessment or for a follow-up study were included to undergo a free-breathing self-navigated 3D CMR at 1.5T. Performance criteria were: correct description of cardiac segmental anatomy, overall image quality, coronary artery visibility, and reproducibility of great vessels diameter measurements. Factors associated with insufficient image quality were identified using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Self-navigated CMR was performed in 105 patients (55% male, 23 ± 12y). Correct segmental description was achieved in 93% and 96% for observer 1 and 2, respectively. Diagnostic quality was obtained in 90% of examinations, and it increased to 94% if contrast-enhanced. Left anterior descending, circumflex, and right coronary arteries were visualized in 93%, 87% and 98%, respectively. Younger age, higher heart rate, lower ejection fraction, and lack of contrast medium were independently associated with reduced image quality. However, a similar rate of diagnostic image quality was obtained in children and adults. CONCLUSION: In patients with CHD, self-navigated free-breathing CMR provides high-resolution 3D visualization of the heart and great vessels with excellent robustness.

Centre I+R+D en l’àmbit agroalimentari

Recuperació d’una antiga bòbila de rajols del segle XX a Vilafant per a la implantació d’un centre d’investigació, recerca i desenvolupament en el sector agroalimentari. La fàbrica , abandonada des dels anys 60, presenta esfondraments parcials de bona part de l’edifici. La proposta arquitectònica es basa en tres eixos principals: recuperació del patrimoni industrial, preservant l’essència de l’espai primitiu, compatible amb els nous usos de la proposta arquitectònica ; proposta de tractament de l’entorn immediat per a la integració paisatgística de la proposta ; implantació d’un nou pol de coneixement que millori la situació de les explotacions agrícoles del territori i del país.L’abast del projecte té dues vessants: local i territorial per la recuperació del patrimoni i creixement de les empreses locals que puguin col•laborar amb aquests centres d’investigació i estatal i mundial ja que els programes d’investigació, recerca i desenvolupament generen avenços i coneixement aplicables a d’altres territoris