Incremental prognostic value of pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation beyond conventional features in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: It remains uncertain whether pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATa) is associated with clinical outcome in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). We aim to investigate the incremental prognostic value of PCATa beyond clinical and coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) features in patients with nonobstructive CAD.

Methods: Consecutive patients with chest pain suspected of CAD referred for CCTA from January 2017 to December 2018 were prospectively included.

Global trans-lesional computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve gradient is associated with clinical outcomes in diabetic patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) enables physiological assessment and risk stratification, which is of significance in diabetic patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). We aim to evaluate prognostic value of the global trans-lesional CT-FFR gradient (GΔCT-FFR), a novel metric, in patients with diabetes without flow-limiting stenosis.

Methods: Patients with diabetes suspected of having CAD were prospectively enrolled.

Association between Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System-recommended Post-Coronary CT Angiography Management and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Stable Chest Pain from a Chinese Registry.

Background Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) was developed to standardize and optimize disease management in patients after coronary CT angiography (CCTA), but the impact of CAD-RADS management recommendations on clinical outcomes remains unclear. Purpose To retrospectively assess the association between the appropriateness of post-CCTA management according to CAD-RADS version 2.0 and clinical outcomes.

Evaluation of metoprolol standard dosing pathway in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome: a prospective multicenter single-arm interventional study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of metoprolol standard dosing pathway (MSDP) in Chinese patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, open label, single-arm and interventional study that was conducted from February 2018 to April 2019 in fifteen Chinese hospitals. A total of 998 hospitalized patients aged ≥ 18 years and diagnosed with ACS were included.

Validation of hemodynamic stress calculation in coronary computed tomography angiography versus intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Development in computational fluid dynamics and 3D construction could facilitate the calculation of hemodynamic stresses in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). However, the agreement between CCTA derived stresses and intravascular ultrasound/intravascular coronary angiography (IVUS/ICA)-derived stresses remains undetermined. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate if CCTA can serve as alternative to IVUS/ICA for hemodynamic evaluation.

Incremental diagnostic value of perivascular fat attenuation index for identifying hemodynamically significant ischemia with severe calcification.

Purpose: To explore the incremental value of perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) to identify hemodynamically significant ischemia in severe calcified vessels.

Methods: Patients who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) examination at Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2017 to 2020 and subsequently underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR) examination within 1 month were consecutively included. Several CCTA-derived indices were measured, including the coronary artery calcification score (CACS), lesion length, ≥CAD-RADS 4 proportion, perivascular FAI and CT-FFR.

On-Site Computed Tomography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve to Guide Management of Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The TARGET Randomized Trial.

Background: Computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) using on-site machine learning enables identification of both the presence of coronary artery disease and vessel-specific ischemia. However, it is unclear whether on-site CT-FFR improves clinical or economic outcomes when compared with the standard of care in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Methods: In total, 1216 patients with stable coronary artery disease and an intermediate stenosis of 30% to 90% on coronary computed tomographic angiography were randomized to an on-site CT-FFR care pathway using machine learning or to standard care in 6 Chinese medical centers.

CT-Based Leiden Score Outperforms Confirm Score in Predicting Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events for Diabetic Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: Evidence supports the efficacy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based risk scores in cardiovascular risk stratification of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to compare two CCTA-based risk score algorithms, Leiden and Confirm scores, in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and suspected CAD.

Materials And Methods: This single-center prospective cohort study consecutively included 1241 DM patients (54.

Incremental Value of Noncontrast Chest Computed Tomography-derived Parameters in Predicting Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis: From the PERSUADE Study.

Purpose: To investigate the incremental value of noncontrast chest computed tomography (CT)-derived parameters, such as coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATv), in predicting subclinical carotid atherosclerosis above traditional risk factors in community-based asymptomatic populations of northern China.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2195 community-based asymptomatic individuals were enrolled from Jidong Oilfield in accordance with the PERSUADE study. CACS and EATv were measured on noncontrast chest CT.

Integrating Coronary Plaque Information from CCTA by ML Predicts MACE in Patients with Suspected CAD.

Conventional prognostic risk analysis in patients undergoing noninvasive imaging is based upon a limited selection of clinical and imaging findings, whereas machine learning (ML) algorithms include a greater number and complexity of variables. Therefore, this paper aimed to explore the predictive value of integrating coronary plaque information from coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) with ML to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients who underwent CCTA due to suspected coronary artery disease with a 30-month follow-up for MACEs were included.

Lipoprotein(a) is associated with coronary atheroma progression: analysis from a serial coronary computed tomography angiography study.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has been closely related to coronary atherosclerosis and might affect perivascular inflammation due to its proinflammatory properties. However, there are limited data about Lp(a) and related perivascular inflammation on coronary atheroma progression. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the associations between Lp(a) and the perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) with coronary atheroma progression detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Impact of atherosclerotic extent on clinical outcome for diabetic patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: The prognostic impact of non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) has long been underestimated due to its mild stenosis (<50% stenosis). We aim to investigate the prognostic value of atherosclerotic extent in DM patients with non-obstructive CAD.

Methods: The analysis was based on a single center cohort of DM patients referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) due to suspect CAD in 2015-2017.

Prognostic Value of Atherosclerotic Extent in Diabetic Patients with Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Methods And Results: 813 DM patients (mean age 58.9 ± 9.9 years, 48.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume Is Associated with High Risk Plaque Profiles in Suspect CAD Patients.

Objective: To explore the association between EAT volume and plaque precise composition and high risk plaque detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: 101 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent CCTA examination from March to July 2019 were enrolled, including 70 cases acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 31 cases stable angina pectoris (SAP). Based on CCTA image, atherosclerotic plaque precise compositions were analyzed using dedicated quantitative software.

Vascular-specific epicardial adipose tissue in predicting functional myocardial ischemia for patients with stable chest pain.

The relationship between vascular-specific epicardial adipose tissue (vEAT) volume and myocardial ischemia measured by fractional flow reserve (FFR) was not well investigated. Patients with typical and atypical chest pain undergoing coronary computed tomographic angiography scan followed by invasive coronary angiography in combination with FFR examination within one month were retrospectively included. EAT volume and CT attenuation was calculated.

The effect of on-site CT-derived fractional flow reserve on the management of decision making for patients with stable chest pain (TARGET trial): objective, rationale, and design.

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) in clinical application has been well validated. This advanced technology focus on evaluating anatomical stenosis and functional ischemia simultaneously. However, the effect of CT-FFR on the management of decision making has not been fully evaluated in randomized controlled design.

Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis is associated with dysregulated Akt/p53 signaling pathway.

Oxidative stress may play a crucial role in cardiac and vascular abnormalities in different types of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we explored the mechanism underlying oxidative stress-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis with a focus on the Akt-p53 signaling pathway. , cardiomyocyte was cultured with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.

Noninvasive Quantitative Plaque Analysis Identifies Hemodynamically Significant Coronary Arteries Disease.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of automated quantitative analysis by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in identifying lesion-specific hemodynamic abnormality.

Methods: A total of 132 patients (mean age, 61 y; 86 men) with 169 vessels (with 30% to 90% diameter stenosis), who successively underwent invasive coronary angiography with evaluation of fractional flow reserve (values ≤0.8 were defined as lesion-specific hemodynamic abnormalities), were analyzed by CCTA.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with lipid-rich plaques in patients with coronary artery disease as assessed by optical coherence tomography.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) has recently been acknowledged as an unconventional risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and characterized by poor prognosis, which may be due to atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. We conducted this study to observe coronary plaque characteristics in coronary artery disease patients with concomitant SCH.

Methods: Patients with coronary artery disease were enrolled in the study and divided into an SCH group (patients, = 26; plaques, = 35) and a non-SCH group (patients, = 52; plaques, = 66).

Population-based Cohort Study in Outcome of Phased Progression of Atherosclerosis in China (PERSUADE): objective, rationale and design.

The coronary artery calcification score and pericardial fat volume have recently been reported to be strongly associated with the severity and presence of coronary atherosclerosis. However, no studies have explored the outcome of phased progression of atherosclerosis by non-contrast computed tomography in asymptomatic people in China. The population-based cohort study in outcome of phased progression of atherosclerosis in China (PERSUADE), an observational, longitudinal and prospective cohort study in a target population of healthy subjects based in Jidong Oilfield (China), prospectively analyzes the outcome of phased progression of atherosclerosis by non-contrast computed tomography in healthy population.

miRNAs and lncRNAs in vascular injury and remodeling.

Vascular injury, remodeling, as well as angiogenesis, are the leading causes of coronary or cerebrovascular disease. The blood vessel functional imbalance trends to induce atherosclerosis, hypertension, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. As several genes have been identified to be dynamically regulated during vascular injury and remodeling, it is becoming widely accepted that several types of non-coding RNA, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are involved in regulating the endothelial cell and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) behaviors.

Investigation of the interaction of pepsin with ionic liquids by using fluorescence spectroscopy.

The molecular mechanism of the interaction between pepsin and two typical ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl) and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C8mim]Cl), was investigated with fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet absorption, and circular dichroism spectroscopy at a pH value of 1.6. The results suggest that ILs could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of pepsin, probably via a dynamic quenching mechanism.