Left ventricular shape index and eccentricity index with ECG-gated Nitrogen-13 ammonia PET/CT in patients with myocardial infarction, ischemia, and normal perfusion.

Background: LV geometry with shape index (SI) and eccentricity index (EI) measured by myocardial perfusion positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) may allow the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) adverse remodeling. This first study aims to explore the relationship of SI and EI values acquired by Nitrogen-13 ammonia PET/CT in patients with normal perfusion, ischemia, and myocardial infarction. And evaluate the correlations between the variables of LV geometry, and with the variables of LV function.

Automated Breast Density Assessment in MRI Using Deep Learning and Radiomics: Strategies for Reducing Inter-Observer Variability.

Background: Accurate breast density evaluation allows for more precise risk estimation but suffers from high inter-observer variability.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of reducing inter-observer variability of breast density assessment through artificial intelligence (AI) assisted interpretation.

Study Type: Retrospective.

Diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging in patients evaluated for kidney transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death after kidney transplantation. Coronary artery disease (CAD) assessment is therefore mandatory in patients evaluated for transplantation. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy for CAD of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) compared to the standards invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients evaluated for kidney transplantation.

Association of Isolated Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction With Mortality and Major Adverse Cardiac Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Aggregate Data.

Background The impact of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), as diagnosed by reduced coronary flow reserve, on the outcomes of patients with symptoms of myocardial ischemia and nonobstructive coronary artery disease is poorly understood. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to determine the association of CMD with outcomes. Methods and Results We searched online databases for studies where coronary flow reserve was measured invasively or noninvasively, clinical events were recorded after determination of coronary flow reserve, and the frequency of those events was reported for patients with and without CMD.

Bone Mineral Density in Transgender Individuals After Gonadectomy and Long-Term Gender-Affirming Hormonal Treatment.

Introduction: Establishing the influence of long-term, gender-affirming hormonal treatment (HT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in transgender individuals is important to improve the therapeutic guidelines for these individuals.

Aim: To examine the effect of long-term HT and gonadectomy on BMD in transgender individuals.

Methods: 68 transwomen and 43 transmen treated with HT who had undergone gonadectomy participated in this study.

Software reproducibility of myocardial blood flow and flow reserve quantification in ischemic heart disease: A N-ammonia PET study.

Background: We explored agreement in the quantification of myocardial perfusion by cross-comparison of implemented software packages (SPs) in three distinguishable patient profile populations.

Methods: We studied 91 scans of patients divided into 3 subgroups based on their semi-quantitative perfusion findings: patients with normal perfusion, with reversible perfusion defects, and with fixed perfusion defects. Rest myocardial blood flow (MBF), stress MBF, and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) were obtained with QPET, SyngoMBF, and Carimas.

Ventricular synchrony is not significantly determined by absolute myocardial perfusion in patients with chronic heart failure: A N-ammonia PET study.

Background: It is thought that heart failure (HF) patients may benefit from the evaluation of mechanical (dys)synchrony, and an independent inverse relationship between myocardial perfusion and ventricular synchrony has been suggested. We explore the relationship between quantitative myocardial perfusion and synchrony parameters when accounting for the presence and extent of fixed perfusion defects in patients with chronic HF.

Methods: We studied 98 patients with chronic HF who underwent rest and stress Nitrogen-13 ammonia PET.

Long-term prognostic value of quantitative myocardial perfusion in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries.

Background: Patients with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease have shown a high incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We evaluated the role of absolute myocardial perfusion quantification in predicting all-cause mortality and MACE during long-term follow-up in this group of patients.

Methods: We studied 79 patients who underwent Nitrogen-13 ammonia PET for quantification of global myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) due to suspected impaired myocardial perfusion.

Myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery is associated with reduced myocardial perfusion reserve: a N-ammonia PET study.

Myocardial Bridging (MB) refers to the band of myocardium that abnormally overlies a segment of a coronary artery. This paper quantitatively evaluates the influence of MB of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) on myocardial perfusion of the entire left ventricle. We studied 131 consecutive patients who underwent hybrid rest/stress N-ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) due to suspected myocardial ischemia.