Publications by authors named "Henry West"

Background: The fat attenuation index (FAI) measured using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) enables the direct evaluation of pericoronary adipose tissue composition and vascular inflammation. We aimed to investigate the association of fractional flow reserve (FFR) and plaque vulnerability with coronary inflammation.

Methods: Patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CCTA and invasive FFR measurements within 90-day were included.

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Aims: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) is a first line investigation for chest pain in patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, many acute cardiac events occur in the absence of obstructive CAD. We assessed the lifetime cost-effectiveness of integrating a novel artificial intelligence-enhanced image analysis algorithm (AI-Risk) that stratifies the risk of cardiac events by quantifying coronary inflammation, combined with the extent of coronary artery plaque and clinical risk factors, by analysing images from routine CCTA.

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Many virus types affect the blood clotting system with correlations to pathology that range widely from thrombosis to hemorrhage linking to inflammation. Here we overview the intricate crosstalk induced by infection between proteins on the virus encoded by either the host or virus genomes, coagulation proteins, platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells. For blood-borne viruses with an outer covering acquired from the host cell, the envelope, a key player may be the cell-derived trigger of coagulation on the virus surface, tissue factor (TF).

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Article Synopsis
  • * The review highlights the advancements in noninvasive imaging methods for assessing vascular inflammation, particularly focusing on coronary atherosclerosis using techniques like CT, MRI, ultrasound, and PET imaging.
  • * It discusses new technologies and biomarkers, examines the pros and cons of each imaging method, and emphasizes the potential benefits of combining different imaging techniques and using AI for better diagnosis and prognosis of conditions like coronary artery disease.
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Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is the first line investigation for chest pain, and it is used to guide revascularisation. However, the widespread adoption of CCTA has revealed a large group of individuals without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), with unclear prognosis and management. Measurement of coronary inflammation from CCTA using the perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) Score could enable cardiovascular risk prediction and guide the management of individuals without obstructive CAD.

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The perception of adipose tissue as a metabolically quiescent tissue, primarily responsible for lipid storage and energy balance (with some endocrine, thermogenic, and insulation functions), has changed. It is now accepted that adipose tissue is a crucial regulator of metabolic health, maintaining bidirectional communication with other organs including the cardiovascular system. Additionally, adipose tissue depots are functionally and morphologically heterogeneous, acting not only as sources of bioactive molecules that regulate the physiological functioning of the vasculature and myocardium but also as biosensors of the paracrine and endocrine signals arising from these tissues.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to create a deep-learning network for automatically measuring epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume using coronary computed tomography angiograms (CCTA), which indicates visceral obesity.
  • It involved training the model on 3,720 CCTA scans and testing its effectiveness in difficult cases and in a patient cohort after cardiac surgery.
  • Results showed a strong correlation with human measurements, and higher EAT volumes were linked to increased risks of coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and various cardiovascular events, indicating its potential prognostic value in clinical settings.
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Empirical data regarding dynamic alterations in illicit drug supply markets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the potential for introduction of novel drug substances and/or increased poly-drug combination use at the "street" level, that is, directly proximal to the point of consumption, are currently lacking. Here, a high-throughput strategy employing ambient ionization-mass spectrometry is described for the trace residue identification, characterization, and longitudinal monitoring of illicit drug substances found within >6,600 discarded drug paraphernalia (DDP) samples collected during a pilot study of an early warning system for illicit drug use in Melbourne, Australia from August 2020 to February 2021, while significant COVID-19 lockdown conditions were imposed. The utility of this approach is demonstrated for the de novo identification and structural characterization of β-U10, a previously unreported naphthamide analog within the "U-series" of synthetic opioid drugs, including differentiation from its α-U10 isomer without need for sample preparation or chromatographic separation prior to analysis.

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Mechanisms underlying the SARS-CoV-2-triggered hyperacute thrombo-inflammatory response that causes multi-organ damage in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are poorly understood. Several lines of evidence implicate overactivation of complement. To delineate the involvement of complement in COVID-19, we prospectively studied 25 ICU-hospitalized patients for up to 21 days.

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Inspired by Locard's exchange principle, which states "every contact leaves a trace", a trace residue sampling strategy has been developed for the analysis of discarded drug packaging samples (DPS), as part of an early warning system for illicit drug use at large public events including music/dance festivals. Using direct analysis in real time/mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry, rapid and high-throughput identification and characterization of a wide range of illicit drugs and adulterant substances was achieved, including in complex polydrug mixtures and at low relative ion abundances. A total of 1362 DPS were analyzed either off-site using laboratory-based instrumentation or on-site and in close to real time using a transportable mass spectrometer housed within a mobile analytical laboratory, with each analysis requiring less than 1 min per sample.

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Sterols are a class of lipid molecules that include cholesterol, oxysterols, and sterol esters. Sterol lipids play critical functional roles in mammalian biology, including the dynamic regulation of cell membrane fluidity, as precursors for the synthesis of bile acids, steroid hormones and vitamin D, as regulators of gene expression in lipid metabolism, and for cholesterol transport and storage. The most common method employed for sterol analysis is high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

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Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the world despite significant progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of atherosclerotic disease. The focus of the cardiovascular community has shifted toward seeking a better understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms driving residual CAD risk that is not modulated by current therapies. Significant progress has been achieved in revealing both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and how shift of the balance in favor of the former can drive the development of disease.

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Unstable coronary plaques that are prone to erosion and rupture are the major cause of acute coronary syndromes. Our expanding understanding of the biological mechanisms of coronary atherosclerosis and rapid technological advances in the field of medical imaging has established cardiac computed tomography as a first-line diagnostic test in the assessment of suspected coronary artery disease, and as a powerful method of detecting the vulnerable plaque and patient. Cardiac computed tomography can provide a noninvasive, yet comprehensive, qualitative and quantitative assessment of coronary plaque burden, detect distinct high-risk morphological plaque features, assess the hemodynamic significance of coronary lesions and quantify the coronary inflammatory burden by tracking the effects of arterial inflammation on the composition of the adjacent perivascular fat.

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To investigate the effect of apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphism on the resting-state brain function, structure, and blood flow in healthy adults younger than 35 years, using multimodality magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.Seventy-six healthy adults (34 men, 23.7 ± 2.

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Background: The association between passive smoking exposure in childhood and adverse cardiovascular health in adulthood is not well understood. Using a 26-year follow-up study, we examined whether childhood exposure to passive smoking was associated with carotid atherosclerotic plaque in young adults.

Methods And Results: Participants were from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (n=2448).

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Introduction: This commentary describes a student-led project that distributed long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in Masaka, Uganda. The role of student-led initiatives in global health promotion projects is also discussed.

Methods: A survey of 213 net recipients was conducted after a 12-month period to evaluate malaria prevention knowledge, and net use and maintenance.

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