Radiation and contrast agent doses reductions by using 80-kV tube voltage in coronary computed tomographic angiography: a comparative study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of 80-kilovoltage (kV) tube voltage coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) with a reduced amount of contrast agent on qualitative and quantitative image quality parameters and on radiation dose in patients with a body mass index (BMI) <23.0 kg/m(2).

Methods: One hundred and twenty consecutive patients with a BMI <23.

[Relation between uric acid and coronary artery calcification:a community-based cross-sectional survey among Beijing natural population].

Objective: To investigate the influence of uric acid on coronary artery calcification in the natural population in Beijing.

Methods: From April to July 2012, 903 subjects from the natural population(aged 37-76 years for men, aged 42-76 years for women)in Xishan community, Beijing, were selected to accept a survey on the risk factors of cardiovascular. Blood tests and CT coronary artery calcium scans were carried out.

Diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies in chinese children by multi-detector computed tomography angiography.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography for the diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies and present the radiological images of congenital aortic arch anomalies in Chinese children. MDCT angiography and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were applied for the diagnosis of congenital aortic arch anomalies in 362 Chinese children between May 2006 and December 2011 (age ranges from 5 days to 12 years; mean age, 3.3 years).

Comparison of diagnostic accuracy and radiation dose between prospective triggering and retrospective gated coronary angiography by dual-source computed tomography.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy and radiation dose of dual-source computed tomographic (DSCT) coronary angiography for assessment of coronary artery disease using prospective electrocardiographic triggering and retrospective electrocardiographically (ECG) gated spiral scans. One hundred sixteen patients who had undergone dual-source computed tomography and conventional coronary angiography were enrolled in this study. Fifty-four patients were scanned using retrospective ECG-gated protocols (group 1) and 62 patients using prospective ECG-triggered protocols (group 2).

[Clinical features of patients with pulmonary artery hypertension associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia].

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations of patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Methods: This retrospective analysis summarized the clinical features of 6 patients with PAH associated with HHT hospitalized at department of cardiology in Cardiovascular Institute and Fuwai Hospital between January 2006 and May 2009.

Results: The mean age of the 6 patients (3 male) was 34 years (8 - 67 years).

Surgery for acute type A dissection using total arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation: experience with 107 patients.

Objective: In patients with acute type A dissection, it is controversial whether to use a more aggressive strategy with extended aortic replacement to improve long-term outcome or to use a conventional strategy with limited ascending aortic or hemiarch replacement to circumvent a life-threatening situation.

Methods: Between April 2003 and June 2007, 107 patients (17 women, 90 men; mean age, 45 +/- 11 years; range, 17-78 years) with acute type A dissection underwent total arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and selective cerebral perfusion. Computed tomography was performed to evaluate the residual false lumen in the descending aorta during follow-up.

Is total arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation justified for patients with chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection?

Objective: Surgical treatment of chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection using total arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation is controversial owing to the visceral arteries and intercostal arteries originating from the false lumen.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients (mean age, 45.67 +/- 10.

Comparison of lung scintigraphy with multi-slice spiral computed tomography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic efficacy of lung perfusion scans combined with ventilation (V/Q) scans and/or chest radiography (CR) with contrast-enhanced multislice spiral CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: Eighty-two consecutive patients with suspected PE underwent CTPA, lung perfusion scan, and CR. Of them, 28 patients underwent V/Q scans.

What is the best contrast injection protocol for 64-row multi-detector cardiac computed tomography?

Objective: To determine the optimal contrast injection protocol for 64-MDCT coronary angiography.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and fifty consecutive patients scheduled to undergo retrospectively electrocardiographically gated 64-MDCT. Each 30 patients were assigned to use a different contrast protocol: group 1: uniphasic protocol (contrast injection without saline flush); group 2: biphasic protocol (contrast injection with saline flush); group 3A, 3B and 3C: triphasic protocol (contrast media+different saline diluted contrast media+saline flush).

Surgery for acute type A dissection with the tear in the descending aorta using a stented elephant trunk procedure.

Background: Surgical management of acute type A dissection with the tear in the descending aorta is challenging because of the technical difficulty in managing proximal and distal aortic lesions through a median sternotomy or lateral thoracotomy using a single-stage procedure.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with acute type A dissection with the tear in the descending aorta underwent total arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation through a median sternotomy from April 2003 to June 2007. Preoperative complications included acute cardiac tamponade (n = 1), acute left heart failure (n = 1), acute myocardial infarction (n = 1), cerebral ischemia (n = 1), acute renal failure (n = 2), chronic renal dysfunction (n = 2), and acute mesenteric ischemia (n = 1) and lower extremity ischemia (n = 3).