Publications by authors named "Ayako Kudo"
Background: On-site computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) is a feasible method for examining lesion-specific ischemia, and plaque analysis of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is useful for predicting future cardiac events. However, their utility and association on a per-vessel level remain unclear.
Methods: We analyzed vessels showing 50-90 % stenosis on CCTA where planned revascularization was not performed after CCTA within 90 days.
Background: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of energy loss (EL) and baseline CT fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) computed using computational fluid dynamics to predict functional progression of coronary stenosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods: This single-center prospective study included 61 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (mean age, 61 years ±9 [SD]; 43 men) showing 20-70 % stenosis who underwent serial coronary CT performed at 2-year interval between October 2015 and March 2020. A mesh-free simulation was performed to calculate the CT-FFR and EL.
Aims: To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-model which enables fully automated accurate quantification of coronary artery calcium (CAC), using deep learning (DL) on electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated non-contrast cardiac computed tomography (gated CCT) images.
Methods And Results: Retrospectively, 560 gated CCT images (including 60 synthetic images) performed at our institution were used to train AI-model, which can automatically divide heart region into five areas belonging to left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (LCX), right coronary artery (RCA), and another. Total and vessel-specific CAC score (CACS) in each scan were manually evaluated.
Purpose: To investigate whether vorticity could predict functional plaque progression better than high-risk plaque (HRP) and lesion length (LL) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Materials And Methods: This single-center prospective study included 61 participants (mean age, 61 years ± 9 [SD]; 43 male participants) who underwent serial coronary CT angiography at 2 years, with 20%-70% stenosis at initial CT between October 2015 and March 2020. The number of the following HRP characteristics was recorded: low attenuation, positive remodeling, spotty calcification, and napkin-ring sign.
Summary: Triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV) is an intractable disease characterized by massive triglyceride (TG) accumulation in the myocardium and coronary arteries caused by genetic or acquired dysfunction of adipose TG lipase (ATGL). A phase IIa trial has been conducted involving patients with idiopathic TGCV using CNT-01 (tricaprin/trisdecanion) by the Japan TGCV study group, which showed that CNT-01 improved myocardial lipolysis as demonstrated by iodine-123-beta-methyl iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) scintigraphy. We evaluated changes in myocardial TG content using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) before/after CNT-01.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A new image reconstruction process termed the MUS method (masking process on unsmoothed images) was developed to eliminate artifacts, especially those in the inferior wall. We compared diagnostic performance between the MUS and conventional method in stress myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS).
Methods: Enrolled were 126 patients who underwent stress-rest MPS with Tc-MIBI.
Background And Aims: We aimed to develop a method for quantifying pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) on electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated non-contrast CT (NC-PCAT) and validate its efficacy and prognostic value.
Methods: We retrospectively studied two independent cohorts. PCAT was quantified conventionally.
Background: This study aimed to compare the coronary plaque characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) (NIRS-IVUS), and to determine whether pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) evaluation using CMR identifies high-intensity plaques (HIPs) at risk of peri-procedural myocardial infarction (pMI). Although there is little evidence in comparison with NIRS-IVUS findings, which have recently been shown to identify vulnerable plaques, we inferred that CMR-derived HIPs would be associated with vulnerable plaque features identified on NIRS-IVUS.
Methods: 52 patients with stable coronary artery disease who underwent CMR with non-contrast T1-weighted imaging and PCI using NIRS-IVUS were studied.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess if coronary flow kinetic energy provides additional value beyond simulated fractional flow reserve (sFFR) in diagnosing significant stenosis through coronary CT angiography and invasive FFR.
- A total of 113 patients with intermediate stenosis were evaluated, finding that kinetic energy levels were significantly higher in vessels with hemodynamically significant stenosis compared to those without.
- Including kinetic energy in conjunction with diameter stenosis and sFFR improved diagnostic accuracy, as confirmed by an increase in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.
Objectives: Vorticity calculated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) could assess the flow disturbance generated by coronary stenosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether vorticity would be an underlying cause of functionally significant stenosis assessed by invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR).
Methods: This retrospective study included 113 patients who underwent coronary CT angiography showing intermediate stenosis and subsequent invasive FFR between December 2015 and March 2020.
Article Synopsis
- Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is becoming a popular method for diagnosing coronary diseases, but calcification in arteries can hinder evaluation of the vascular lumen.
- Subtraction CCTA (Sub-CCTA) helps reduce the impact of calcification but has issues like increased radiation exposure and longer breath-holding times.
- A study evaluated a deep learning-based method (DL-LEM) to improve accuracy in detecting significant stenosis in patients with severe calcification, resulting in a slight increase in diagnostic accuracy and suggesting potential reductions in invasive angiography procedures.
Background: On-site computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), using fluid structure interaction during multiple optimal diastolic phases, is of incremental diagnostic value. However, few studies have investigated prognosis, with the appropriate measurement location of CT-FFR, as a stand-alone modality. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical impact on CT-FFR with an appropriate measurement.
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- Researchers investigated triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV), a cause of heart failure, using a specific diagnostic test (I-BMIPP WOR) in hospitalized patients.
- Out of 62 patients, 66.1% had low BMIPP washout rates, with 41.9% being diagnosed with TGCV.
- The study found that a BMIPP WOR of <4.5% significantly predicted adverse cardiac events, indicating it may help assess prognosis in chronic heart failure patients.
Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are a high-risk group for coronary artery disease (CAD). In the present study, we investigated predictive factors to identify patients at high risk of CAD among asymptomatic patients with type 2 DM based on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) findings.
Methods: A single-center prospective study was performed on 452 consecutive patients with type 2 DM who were provided with a weekly hospital-based diabetes education program between 3 October 2015, and 31 March 2020.
Moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method is a mesh-free method to perform computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The purpose of this study was to calculate the simulated fractional flow reserve (sFFR) using a coronary stenosis model, and to validate the MPS-derived sFFR against invasive FFR using clinical coronary CT data. Coronary flow simulation included 21 stenosis models with stenosis ranging 30-70%.
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- On-site workstation-based CT fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) shows promise for evaluating ischemia in coronary artery disease, but its effectiveness is hindered by severe calcification in blood vessels.
- The use of a subtraction method enhances diagnostic accuracy for patients with severe calcification, as evidenced by improved sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values when comparing subtraction CT-FFR to standard CT-FFR.
- In a study of 32 patients with severe calcification, subtraction CT-FFR demonstrated better overall diagnostic performance and reproducibility than CT-FFR, indicating its potential as a more reliable assessment tool.
Background: Computed tomography fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), which can be acquired on-site workstation using fluid structure interaction during the multiple optimal diastolic phase, has an incremental diagnostic value over conventional coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). However, the appropriate location for CT-FFR measurement remains to be clarified.
Method: A total of 115 consecutive patients with 149 vessels who underwent CCTA showing 30-90% stenosis with invasive FFR within 90 days were retrospectively analyzed.
Background: The concept of active atherosclerotic disease has been accepted for heart valve calcification (HVC). We investigated prevalence, distribution and related factors of HVC in patients who had undergone coronary CT angiography (CCTA).
Methods: Subjects were consecutive 200 patients who underwent CCTA.
Article Synopsis
- Pain and itch are distinct yet related sensations, making it challenging to differentiate their signals in the brain, even with advanced imaging techniques.
- This study utilized near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a more practical method, to observe real-time changes in blood flow related to pain and itch in the brain's frontal cortex.
- Findings indicated that pain and itch trigger different activation patterns in the prefrontal cortex, with distinct blood flow response times, marking a significant step in understanding how these sensations are processed in the human brain.
A novel two-component hemolysin, erylysin A and B (EryA and EryB), was isolated from an edible mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii. Hemolytic activity was exhibited only by the EryA and EryB mixture. EryA showed one band at 15 kDa on SDS-PAGE while EryB showed two bands at 15 kDa (EryB1) and 37 kDa (EryB2).
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