Publications by authors named "Amy M West"
The objective of this study was to determine diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans in young athletes diagnosed with spondylolysis. A cross-sectional study was used. Twenty-two young athletes (14.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Softball pitching is a ballistic, complex movement that requires an underhand windmill motion to create force and ball velocity. In addition to proper pitch biomechanics, upper and lower extremity strength and joint motion likely contribute to ball location accuracy and velocity. Yet, the number of studies reporting muscle strength and joint range of motion among softball pitchers is scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: This case presentation describes a 50-year-old healthy woman who developed left-sided hip pain while training for the Boston Marathon. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a stress fracture of the left iliac body. This injury was unique in that it did not occur in the setting of low bone mineral density and it did not fall into the current published radiographic categorization based on location of injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe studied the effect of an instructional video in Spanish on self-reported anxiety, knowledge about general anesthesia procedures, and satisfaction with the preoperative anesthesia process in patients requiring a Spanish interpreter. This prospective, randomized, nonblinded pilot study took place at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a university-affiliated tertiary-care hospital. Twenty adult, ASA physical status 1, 2, and 3 patients, scheduled for elective surgery (gynecological, orthopedic, and intrabdominal surgery) during general anesthesia were studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe hypothesized that percutaneous intervention in the affected lower extremity artery would improve calf muscle perfusion and cellular metabolism in patients with claudication and peripheral artery disease (PAD) as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). Ten patients with symptomatic PAD (mean ± SD: age 57 ± 9 years; ankle-brachial index (ABI) 0.62 ± 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess whether reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels would enhance calf muscle blood flow, energy use, or walking ability in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
- Previous research indicated that statins could improve cardiovascular health and walking performance in PAD patients.
- Results showed that while LDL levels decreased significantly with different treatments, there were no observed improvements in calf perfusion, metabolism, or exercise capabilities among the treatment groups over two years, although resting ankle-brachial index (ABI) did improve in some participants.
Article Synopsis
- Statins and ezetimibe both effectively reduce LDL-C levels, but their effects on atherosclerosis are uncertain.
- A study involving 67 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) examined the impact of adding ezetimibe to statin therapy, measuring changes in atherosclerotic plaque volume over two years.
- Results showed that while statin-naïve patients experienced halted plaque progression with statin therapy and ezetimibe, those already on statins before adding ezetimibe saw plaque increase, suggesting the timing of treatment may influence outcomes.
Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to compare quantitative cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) first-pass contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging to qualitative interpretation for determining the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).
Background: Adenosine CMR can detect CAD by measuring perfusion reserve (PR) or by qualitative interpretation (QI).
Methods: Forty-one patients with an abnormal nuclear stress scheduled for X-ray angiography underwent dual-bolus adenosine CMR.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance provides the opportunity for a truly comprehensive evaluation of patients with a history of myocardial infarction, with regard to characterizing the extent of disease, effect on left ventricular function, and degree of viable myocardium. The use of contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for first-pass perfusion and late gadolinium enhancement is a powerful technique for delineating areas of myocardial ischemia and infarction. Using a combination of T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced CMR images, information about the acuity of an infarct can be obtained.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere are multiple imaging modalities currently available to noninvasively evaluate the heart and coronary arteries. Choosing the most appropriate modality depends on the pertinent clinical question and the underlying patient characteristics. This article provides an overview of the fields of echocardiography, myocardial perfusion imaging, cardiac computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, with particular attention to specific clinical applications for cardiac surgery patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: We aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) by examining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopic (MRS) correlates of functional capacity.
Background: Despite the high prevalence, morbidity, and cost of PAD, its pathophysiology is incompletely understood.
Methods: Eighty-five patients (age 68 +/- 10 years) with mild-to-moderate PAD (ankle-brachial index 0.