Coronary artery calcification is common on nongated chest computed tomography imaging.

Background: Coronary artery calcification as assessed by computed tomography (CT) is a validated predictor of cardiovascular risk, whether identified on a dedicated cardiac study or on a routine non-gated chest CT. The prevalence of incidentally detected coronary artery calcification on non-gated chest CT imaging and consistency of reporting have not been well characterized.

Hypothesis: Coronary calcification is present on chest CT in some patients not taking statin therapy and may be under-reported.

Life after Stroke in an Urban Minority Population: A Photovoice Project.

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States and disproportionately affects minority populations. We sought to explore the quality of life in urban, minority stroke survivors through their own photos and narratives. Using the Photovoice method, seventeen stroke survivors were instructed to take pictures reflecting their experience living with and recovering from stroke.

Prevalence of unrecognized diabetes, prediabetes and metabolic syndrome in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome are important targets for secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease. However, the prevalence in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention is not well defined. We aimed to analyse the prevalence and characteristics of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with previously unrecognized prediabetes, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Congenital absence of the left atrial appendage visualized by 3D echocardiography in two adult patients.

Congenital absence of left atrial appendage (LAA) is an extremely rare condition and its physiological consequences are unknown. We present two cases of incidental finding of a congenitally absent LAA in a 79-year-old male who presented for routine transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to rule out intracardiac thrombus prior to placement of biventricular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and a 54-year old female who presented for TEE prior to radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation. Characterization of patients with such an absence is important because congenitally absent LAA may be confused with flush thrombotic occlusion of the appendage.

Suboptimal risk factor control in patients undergoing elective coronary or peripheral percutaneous intervention.

Background: The American Heart Association recommends targeting 7 cardiovascular (CV) health metrics to reduce morbidity and mortality. Control of these targets in patients undergoing CV intervention is uncertain.

Methods: We prospectively studied patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary or peripheral intervention from November 2010 to May 2012.

Correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder in stroke survivors.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after life-threatening events, including illness, but correlates of PTSD after stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) have not been well described.

Methods: We measured the prevalence of stroke-induced PTSD with the PTSD Checklist Specific for stroke (PCL-S) in adults who had a stroke or TIA within 5 years. A PCL-S score of 50 or more indicated likely PTSD.

Histopathology of renal failure after heart transplantation: a diverse spectrum.

Background: Chronic kidney disease occurs frequently after heart transplantation and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Herein we describe the histopathology associated with renal failure in a cohort of heart transplant recipients.

Methods: Over a 4-year period all patients with an estimated GFR <30 ml/min/1.

A functional neuroanatomical investigation of the role of the medial preoptic area in neural circuits regulating maternal behavior.

The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is essential for normal maternal behavior in the rat. Hormone stimulation of the MPOA facilitates the behavior and lesions of the MPOA and the adjoining ventral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (vBST) disrupt the behavior. The MPOA/vBST also show increases in Fos protein expression during maternal behavior.