Relationships of pericoronary and epicardial fat measurements in male and female patients with and without coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Although pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) is a component of the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) depot, they may have different associations to coronary artery disease (CAD). We explored relationships between pericoronary adipose tissue mean attenuation (PCAT) and EAT measurements in coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in patients with and without CAD.

Material And Methods: CCTA scans of 185 non-CAD and 81 CAD patients (86.

Pre-screening to guide coronary artery calcium scoring for early identification of high-risk individuals in the general population.

Aims: To evaluate the ability of Systematic COronary Risk Estimation 2 (SCORE2) and other pre-screening methods to identify individuals with high coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in the general population.

Methods And Results: Computed tomography-based CACS quantification was performed in 6530 individuals aged 45 years or older from the general population. Various pre-screening methods to guide referral for CACS were evaluated.

Multi-Modality Imaging for Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction in the General Population: Ready for Prime Time?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes irreversible myocardial damage, heart failure, life-threatening arrythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD), and is a main driver of CVD mortality and morbidity. To control the forecasted increase in CVD burden for both the individual and society, improved strategies for the prevention of AMI and SCD are required.

Association of epicardial adipose tissue with different stages of coronary artery disease: A cross-sectional UK Biobank cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging substudy.

Objective: Increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been identified as a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the exact role of EAT in the development of CAD is unclear. This study aims to compare EAT volumes between healthy controls and individuals with stable CAD and a history of myocardial infarction (MI).

Early detection of obstructive coronary artery disease in the asymptomatic high-risk population: objectives and study design of the EARLY-SYNERGY trial.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) burden for society is expected to steeply increase over the next decade. Improved feasibility and efficiency of preventive strategies is necessary to flatten the curve. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the main determinant of CAD-related mortality and morbidity, and predominantly occurs in individuals with more advanced stages of CAD causing subclinical myocardial ischemia (obstructive CAD; OCAD).

Genomic insights in ascending aortic size and distensibility.

Background: Alterations in the anatomic and biomechanical properties of the ascending aorta (AAo) can give rise to various vascular pathologies. The aim of the current study is to gain additional insights in the biology of the AAo size and function.

Methods: We developed an AI based analysis pipeline for the segmentation of the AAo, and the extraction of AAO parameters.

What really matters: a patient-centered instrument to evaluate health-related quality of life in cardiovascular disease.

Aims: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are increasingly used to guide decision-making in cardiovascular care. However, many of the existing PROMs are developed with limited patient involvement and overlook personal health preferences. We aim to develop a cardiovascular disease (CVD)-specific patient-centred preference-based PROM to assess and monitor HRQoL in CVD patients.

Validation and comparison of 28 risk prediction models for coronary artery disease.

Aims: Risk prediction models (RPMs) for coronary artery disease (CAD), using variables to calculate CAD risk, are potentially valuable tools in prevention strategies. However, their use in the clinical practice is limited by a lack of poor model description, external validation, and head-to-head comparisons.

Methods And Results: CAD RPMs were identified through Tufts PACE CPM Registry and a systematic PubMed search.

Focal pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation is related to plaque presence, plaque type, and stenosis severity in coronary CTA.

Objectives: To investigate the association of pericoronary adipose tissue mean attenuation (PCAT) with coronary artery disease (CAD) characteristics on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 165 symptomatic patients who underwent third-generation dual-source CCTA at 70kVp: 93 with and 72 without CAD (204 arteries with plaque, 291 without plaque). CCTA was evaluated for presence and characteristics of CAD per artery.

Towards reference values of pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation: impact of coronary artery and tube voltage in coronary computed tomography angiography.

Objectives: To determine normal pericoronary adipose tissue mean attenuation (PCAT) values for left the anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA) in patients without plaques on coronary CT angiography (cCTA), taking into account tube voltage influence.

Methods: This retrospective study included 192 patients (76 (39.6%) men; median age 49 years (range, 19-79)) who underwent cCTA with third-generation dual-source CT for the suspicion of CAD between 2015 and 2017.

Computational quantitative flow ratio to assess functional severity of coronary artery stenosis.

Background Computational quantitative flow ratio (QFR) based on 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (3D QCA) analysis offers the opportunity to assess the significance of coronary artery disease (CAD) without using an invasive pressure wire or inducing hyperemia. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of QFR compared to wire-based fractional flow reserve (FFR) and to validate the previously reported QFR cut-off value of >0.90 to safely rule out functionally significant CAD.

Effects of Caffeine on Myocardial Blood Flow: A Systematic Review.

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed stimulants worldwide. It is a well-recognized antagonist of adenosine and a potential cause of false-negative functional measurements during vasodilator myocardial perfusion. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence regarding the effects of caffeine intake on functional measurements of myocardial perfusion in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Influence of hydrostatic pressure on intracoronary indices of stenosis severity in vivo.

Background: An influence of hydrostatic pressure on intracoronary indices of stenosis severity in vitro was recently reported. We sought to analyze the influence of hydrostatic pressure, caused by the height difference between the distal and proximal pressure sensor after guidewire positioning in the interrogated vessel, on intracoronary pressure measurements in vivo.

Methods And Results: In 30 coronary stenoses, intracoronary pressure measurements were performed in supine, left, and right lateral patient position.