Evaluating the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline-Recommended and Contemporary Pretest Probability Models in a Mixed Asian Cohort: The Contribution of Coronary Artery Calcium.

Background: Most pretest probability (PTP) tools for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) were Western -developed. The most appropriate PTP models and the contribution of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in Asian populations remain unknown. In a mixed Asian cohort, we compare 5 PTP models: local assessment of the heart (LAH), CAD Consortium (CAD2), risk factor-weighted clinical likelihood, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology PTP and 3 extended versions of these models that incorporated CACS: LAH, CAD2, and the CACS-clinical likelihood.

Epicardial and intra-thoracic adipose tissue and cardiovascular calcifications in type 1 diabetes (T1D) in epidemiology of diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC): A pilot study.

Objective: Coronary artery, aortic valve, and descending aorta calcification (CAC, AVC, DAC) are manifestations of atherosclerosis, and cardiac epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) indicates heart adiposity. This study explored the association between cardiac adipose tissue and cardiovascular calcification in participants with long-standing T1D.

Methods: EAT and intra-thoracic adipose tissue (IAT) were measured in 100 T1D subjects with cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans in the EDIC study.

Rationale and design of the CONFIRM2 (Quantitative COroNary CT Angiography Evaluation For Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes: An InteRnational, Multicenter Registry) study.

Background: In the last 15 years, large registries and several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the diagnostic and prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Advances in CT scanner technology and developments of analytic tools now enable accurate quantification of coronary artery disease (CAD), including total coronary plaque volume and low attenuation plaque volume. The primary aim of CONFIRM2, (Quantitative COroNary CT Angiography Evaluation For Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes: An InteRnational, Multicenter Registry) is to perform comprehensive quantification of CCTA findings, including coronary, non-coronary cardiac, non-cardiac vascular, non-cardiac findings, and relate them to clinical variables and cardiovascular clinical outcomes.

Rationale and design of the INVICTUS Registry: (Multicenter Registry of Invasive and Non-Invasive imaging modalities to compare Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography, Intravascular Ultrasound and Optical Coherence Tomography for the determination of Severity, Volume and Type of coronary atherosclerosiS).

Background: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is a first-line noninvasive imaging modality for evaluating coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent advances in CCTA technology enabled semi-automated detection of coronary arteries and atherosclerosis. However, there have been to date no large-scale validation studies of automated assessment of coronary atherosclerosis phenotype and coronary artery dimensions by artificial intelligence (AI) compared to current standard invasive imaging.

Comparing the pooled cohort equations and coronary artery calcium scores in a symptomatic mixed Asian cohort.

Background: The value of pooled cohort equations (PCE) as a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is poorly established among symptomatic patients. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) assessment further improves risk prediction, but non-Western studies are lacking. This study aims to compare PCE and CAC scores within a symptomatic mixed Asian cohort, and to evaluate the incremental value of CAC in predicting MACE, as well as in subgroups based on statin use.

Relationship Between F-fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake on Positron Emission Tomography and Aortic Calcification.

: Although F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been widely utilized to assess the extent of inflammation, the association between the extent and severity of atherosclerosis and F-FDG uptake on PET remains unexamined. The current study aimed to investigate whether aortic calcium (AC) scores were associated with increased aortic uptake of F-FDG on PET. : A total of 167 consecutive patients with suspected lung cancer but unproven malignancy who underwent non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and F-FDG PET/CT were enrolled.

Extent of subclinical atherosclerosis on coronary computed tomography and impact of statins in patients with diabetes without known coronary artery disease: Results from CONFIRM registry.

Background: Absence of subclinical atherosclerosis is considered safe to defer statin therapy in general population. However, impact of statins on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes stratified by coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores and extent of non-obstructive CAD on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has not been evaluated.

Methods: CONFIRM (Coronary CT Angiography EvaluatioN For Clinical Outcomes: An InteRnational Multi-center Registry) study enrolled consecutive adults 18 years of age between 2005 and 2009 who underwent 64-detector row CCTA for suspected CAD.

Significance of mitral L-waves in predicting late recurrences of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: The mitral L-wave, a prominent mid-diastolic filling wave in echocardiographic examinations, is associated with severe left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. The relationship between the mitral L-wave and outcome of catheter ablation (CA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been established. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of mitral L-waves on AF recurrence after CA.

Evaluation of lung perfusion by using lung perfusion SPECT and lung CT with breathing synchronization software.

Background: Lung perfusion using Tc-macroaggregated albumin single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and lung computed tomography (CT) is a useful modality for identifying patients with pulmonary artery embolism. However, conformity between SPECT and CT at the bottom of the lung is generally low. This study aims to investigate the progression of conformity between lung perfusion SPECT and lung CT using a breathing synchronization software.

Prognostic Significance of Nonobstructive Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With and Without Diabetes: Long-Term Outcomes From the CONFIRM Registry.

Background: Prognostic significance of non-obstructive left main (LM) disease was recently reported. However, the influence of diabetes mellitus (DM) on event rates in patients with and without non-obstructive LM disease is not well-known.

Methods: We evaluated 27,252 patients undergoing coronary computed tomographic angiography from the COroNary CT Angiography Evaluation For Clinical Outcomes: An InteRnational Multicenter (CONFIRM) Registry.

Predictive value of lipoprotein(a) for assessing the prevalence and severity of lower-extremity peripheral artery disease among patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a reliable lipid marker for atherosclerosis. However, the clinical relevance of Lp(a) to lower-extremity peripheral artery disease (LE-PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in the same patient has not been investigated. Patients who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention for the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were enrolled.

Impact of computed tomography on the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis with acute coronary syndrome: A case series.

Unlabelled: Both the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery involvement with Takayasu arteritis (TA) are challenging. In this study, we report different clinical scenarios of two TA cases without Typical symptoms of TA that initially presented in the form of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patient 1 was a 24-year-old Japanese woman without coronary risk factors who presented with exertional chest pain, dyspnea, and syncope.

Heart Rate and Mortality After Resuscitation in Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - Insights From the SOS-KANTO Registry.

Background: Heart rate (HR) predicts outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), whereas the impact of HR on outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of HR after resuscitation on outcomes after OHCA and whether the impact differs with OHCA etiology.

Methods and results: Of 16,452 patients suffering from OHCA, this study analyzed 741 adults for whom HR after resuscitation was recorded by 12-lead electrocardiogram upon hospital arrival.

Evaluation of balloon pulmonary angioplasty using lung perfusion SPECT in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) using lung perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Methods And Results: 20 consecutive patients (64 ± 15 years) who were diagnosed with CTEPH and underwent BPA were included in this study. All patients underwent lung perfusion SPECT before and after BPA.

Evaluating the Coronary Artery Disease Consortium Model and the Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Predicting Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in a Symptomatic Mixed Asian Cohort.

Background The utility of a given pretest probability score in predicting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is population dependent. Previous studies investigating the additive value of coronary artery calcium (CAC) on pretest probability scores were predominantly limited to Western populations. This retrospective study seeks to evaluate the CAD Consortium (CAD2) model in a mixed Asian cohort within Singapore with stable chest pain and to evaluate the incremental value of CAC in predicting obstructive CAD.

Appropriate Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Improves Right Ventricular Ejection Fraction via Lung Perfusion Scan.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a robust treatment and has been performed among patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). A lung perfusion scan (LPS) is required for inspection in deciding the curative effect judgment and treatment lesion of BPA. Nevertheless, the impact of BPA in the improvement of right heart system function is not well known.

Role of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) post the ISCHEMIA trial: Precision prevention based on coronary CTA-derived coronary atherosclerosis.

The International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches (ISCHEMIA) trial has been recently published and suggested the importance of the selection of patients at high risk for future cardiovascular disease events and the enhancing optimal medical therapy. In the ISCHEMIA trial, coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed in most of the patients to exclude high-risk patients and those without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) who should not be randomized. Coronary CTA has been widely used as a non-invasive diagnostic modality to assess patients with suspected CAD.

Glasgow prognostic score can be a prognostic indicator after percutaneous coronary intervention: a two-center study in Japan.

Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) has been used to evaluate inflammatory response and nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the impact of nutritional status on cardiac prognosis by using GPS in patients after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We included 862 patients who underwent PCI for stable angina pectoris between 2015 and 2018.