A highly predictive cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) risk score for 90-day and one-year major adverse cardiac events and revascularization.

Background: With the increase in cardiac PET/CT availability and utilization, the development of a PET/CT-based major adverse cardiovascular events, including death, myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization (MACE-Revasc) risk assessment score is needed. Here we develop a highly predictive PET/CT-based risk score for 90-day and one-year MACE-Revasc.

Methods And Results: 11,552 patients had a PET/CT from 2015 to 2017 and were studied for the training and development set.

Absence of Coronary Artery Calcium During Positron Emission Tomography Stress Testing in Patients Without Known Coronary Artery Disease Identifies Individuals With Very Low Risk of Cardiac Events.

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging, including positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), is often used to assess for high-grade coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring revascularization. The use of coronary artery calcium (CAC) to predict risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in asymptomatic patients is accepted. However, little is known regarding the use of CAC in PET/CT patients without known CAD in identifying patients unlikely to need revascularization.

Implementation of a cardiac PET stress program: comparison of outcomes to the preceding SPECT era.

Background: Cardiac positron emission testing (PET) is more accurate than single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) at identifying coronary artery disease (CAD); however, the 2 modalities have not been thoroughly compared in a real-world setting. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 60-day catheterization outcomes and 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after the transition from a SPECT- to a PET-based myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) program.

Methods: MPI patients at Intermountain Medical Center from January 2011-December 2012 (the SPECT era, n = 6,777) and January 2014-December 2015 (the PET era, n = 7,817) were studied.

Short-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Is Preferentially Associated With the Risk of ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Events.

Background: Air pollution is associated with greater cardiovascular event risk, but the types of events and specific persons at risk remain unknown. This analysis evaluates effects of short-term exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution with risk of acute coronary syndrome events, including ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Methods And Results: Acute coronary syndrome events treated at Intermountain Healthcare hospitals in urban areas of Utah's Wasatch Front were collected between September 1993 and May 2014 (N=16 314).

Escherichia coli rimM and yjeQ null strains accumulate immature 30S subunits of similar structure and protein complement.

Assembly of the Escherichia coli 30S ribosomal subunits proceeds through multiple parallel pathways. The protein factors RimM, YjeQ, RbfA, and Era work in conjunction to assist at the late stages of the maturation process of the small subunit. However, it is unclear how the functional interplay between these factors occurs in the context of multiple parallel pathways.

Single-nucleotide polymorphic variants of human glutathione transferase T1-1 differ in stability and functional properties.

We have previously expressed hexa-histidine-tagged human glutathione transferase GST T1-1 at very high levels in an Escherichia colilacZ mutagenicity assay strain. Ethylene dibromide (EDB), which is activated by GST T1-1, produces a potent response in the mutation assay. We have now constructed and expressed two SNP variants of wild-type GST T1-1:D141N and E173K.

Activation of coagulation during routine diagnostic coronary angiography.

Aims: The role of anticoagulation during percutaneous coronary intervention has been well established. However, the role of anticoagulation during diagnostic coronary angiography remains unclear. Prothrombin fragment1+2 (PF1+2) and D-dimer (DD) have been reported to be useful in evaluating thrombotic phenomena.

Surgical revascularization is associated with improved long-term outcomes compared with percutaneous stenting in most subgroups of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: results from the Intermountain Heart Registry.

Background: Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting (PCI-S) are both safe and effective approaches for revascularization in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. However, conflicting information exists when comparing the efficacy of the two methods. In this study, we examined the outcomes of major adverse cardiovascular events and death for subgroups of typical "real-world" patients undergoing coronary revascularization in the modern era.

Multiple left ventricular diverticuli in an asymptomatic adult: case report and review of the literature.

Left ventricular (LV) diverticulum is a rare congenital abnormality for which the etiology, management, and natural history are very poorly understood. Although most often observed as a single diverticulum, we report a case of multiple LV diverticuli in an asymptomatic adult referred for coronary evaluation due to an abnormal electrocardiogram. LV diverticuli are often associated with other congenital malformations, but can also be found in isolation.

Comparison of effects of high (80 mg) versus low (20 mg) dose of simvastatin on C-reactive protein and lipoproteins in patients with angiographic evidence of coronary arterial narrowing.

Although previous studies have demonstrated that various "statins" decrease levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), the dose-response relation for lowering hs-CRP by the clinically important drug simvastatin compared with lipid lowering is unclear. A 16-week, randomized, double-blind study was performed in patients with stable coronary artery disease and high hs-CRP levels (>3 mg/L). Subjects were randomized to placebo, 20 mg of simvastatin, or 80 mg of simvastatin for 12 weeks.