Trabecular bone mineral density as measured by thoracic vertebrae predicts incident hip and vertebral fractures: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Unlabelled: We evaluated the relationship of bone mineral density (BMD) by computed tomography (CT), to predict fractures in a multi-ethnic population. We demonstrated that vertebral and hip fractures were more likely in those patients with low BMD. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that CT BMD derived from thoracic vertebrae can predict future hip and vertebral fractures.

Opportunistic AI-enabled automated bone mineral density measurements in lung cancer screening and coronary calcium scoring CT scans are equivalent.

Rationale And Objectives: We previously reported a novel manual method for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) in coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans and validated our method against Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Furthermore, we have developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI) based automated BMD (AutoBMD) measurement as an opportunistic add-on to CAC scans that recently received FDA approval. In this report, we present evidence of equivalency between AutoBMD measurements in cardiac vs lung CT scans.

Bone mineral density and long-term progression of aortic valve and mitral annular calcification: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: Bone and mineral metabolism has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cardiac valve calcification. Whether bone demineralization, a common aging-related disorder, promotes calcific valve disease remains uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with greater incidence/progression of cardiac valve calcification in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Use of Advanced CT Technology to Evaluate Left Atrial Indices in Patients with a High Heart Rate or with Heart Rate Variability: The Converge Registry.

We intended to assess the ability of current-generation 256-slice coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to measure left atrial volume (LAV), comparing patients with a high heart rate (HiHR) of at least 70 bpm and patients with heart rate variability such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). Using the prospective Converge Registry of patients undergoing 256-detector CCTA on a Revolution scanner, we enrolled 121 HiHR patients (74 men; mean age, 62.7 ± 12.

Association of Aspirin and Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs With Vertebral Trabecular Bone: Data From Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a Population-Based Multicenter Cohort Study.

Objective: The objective of this article was to study the association of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods: Spine BMD was evaluated in a subset of 2028 participants from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort who were NSAID users (including aspirin) and underwent both lumbar and thoracic imaging. Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis is a prospective cohort study that includes 4 ethnic groups (white, Asian, African American, and Hispanic).

Aged garlic extract reduces left ventricular myocardial mass in patients with diabetes: A prospective randomized controlled double-blind study.

Increased left ventricular myocardial mass (LVM) is a well known prognostic marker of poor cardiac outcomes. Decreases in LVM have been shown to decrease the cardiovascular risk. Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been shown to have an overall favorable effect on cardiac health; however, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has specifically examined its effects on left ventricular mass.

Identifying Smoking-Related Disease on Lung Cancer Screening CT Scans: Increasing the Value.

Background: Lung cancer screening (LCS) via chest computed tomography (CT) scans can save lives by identifying early-stage tumors. However, most smokers die of comorbid smoking-related diseases. LCS scans contain information about smoking-related conditions that is not currently systematically assessed.

Thoracic Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) Can Sensitively Monitor Bone Mineral Metabolism: Comparison of Thoracic QCT vs Lumbar QCT and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry in Detection of Age-relative Change in Bone Mineral Density.

Rationale And Objective: Sensitive detection of bone mineral density (BMD) change is a key issue to monitor and evaluate the individual bone health status, as well as bone metabolism and bone mineral status. The ability to use thoracic quantitative computed tomography (QCT) to detect the annual change of BMD remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the sensitivity in detecting age-related bone mineral loss using the thoracic QCT from the electrocardiographically gated heart scans in comparison to whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and standard lumbar QCT.

[The correlation of the stroke volume with pulmonary venous volume and left atrial volume].

Objective: The same person's pulmonary venous blood volume, left atrial volume and stroke volume were measured by lung CT scans and cardiac CT angiography (CTA). Then their relationships were analyzed in order to investigate the mechanism of breathing control.

Methods: As we described before, full pulmonary vascular (-0.

[Normal reference values and predict equations of heart function].

Objective: For heart functional parameters, we commonly used normal range. The reference values and predict formulas of heart functional parameters and their relationships with individual characteristics are still lack.

Methods: Left ventricular (LV) volumes (end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured by cardiac CT angiography (CAT) in 1 200 healthy Caucasian volunteers, men 807 and women 393, and age 20-90yr.

[Preliminary reports of noninvasive accurate method to measure pulmonary vascular capacity in normal volunteers].

Objective: Because the traditional loop of breathing control and regulation effect on blood circulation, there was rare study of pulmonary vein capacity. We need a noninvasive and accurate pulmonary vascular capacity measurement and analysis method.

Methods: Twelve normal volunteers were performed a total lung CT scan, image data analysis processing by computer software, the whole lungs from the apex to the base of lung with 40-50 layers by hand-cut, the connection between adjacent layers automatically by a computer simulation, the full pulmonary vascular (≥ 0.

Application of quantitative computed tomography for assessment of trabecular bone mineral density, microarchitecture and mechanical property.

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease, causing increased skeletal fragility characterized by a low bone mass and trabecular microarchitectural deterioration. Assessment of the bone mineral density (BMD) is the primary determinant of skeletal fragility. Computed tomography (CT)-based trabecular microarchitectural and mechanical assessments are important methods to evaluate the skeletal strength.

Routine Coronary Calcium Scan Can Precisely Measure Vertebral Bone Density Without a Quantitative Calibration Phantom.

Objective: We aimed to assess accuracy and precision of quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and phantomless in thoracic bone mineral density (BMD) assessment using coronary artery calcium scan (CACS).

Methods: A total of 513 subjects underwent CACS with a calibration phantom. The thoracic spine BMD and concentration of calcium hydroxyapatite in phantom rods, as well CT Hounsfield unit of both, were measured.

Gender differences in coronary artery diameter are not related to body habitus or left ventricular mass.

Background: Smaller coronary artery diameter portends worse outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The suggestion that women have smaller coronary artery diameters than men has not been validated by a large-scale study.

Hypothesis: We sought to confirm a gender difference with respect to coronary artery diameter, even after accounting for body habitus and left ventricular mass (LVM).

Sex-specific biatrial volumetric measurements obtained with use of multidetector computed tomography in subjects with and without coronary artery disease.

Atrial volumetric measurement has proven clinical implications. Advances in cardiac imaging, notably the precision enabled by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), herald the need for new criteria of what constitutes normal volumetric measurements. With use of 64-slice MDCT, we compared the atrial volumes in healthy individuals with those in individuals with coronary artery disease.

Model-based automatic segmentation algorithm accurately assesses the whole cardiac volumetric parameters in patients with cardiac CT angiography: a validation study for evaluating the accuracy of the workstation software and establishing the reference values.

Rationale And Objectives: The cardiac chamber volumes and functions can be assessed manually and automatically using the current computed tomography (CT) workstation system. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision and to establish the reference values for both segmentation methods using cardiac CT angiography (CTA).

Materials And Methods: A total of 134 subjects (mean age 55.

Dual-standard reference values of left ventricular volumetric parameters by multidetector CT angiography.

Background: The papillary and trabecular muscles constitute a significant percentage of left ventricular mass and volume. The influence of the papillary and trabecular muscles on left ventricular parameters has not been described with multidetector CT angiography.

Objective: The aims of this study are (1) to derive reference values for left ventricular volumetric parameters both including and excluding the papillary and trabecular muscles and (2) to establish the optimal segmentation method for measuring these values.

Noncontrast cardiac computed tomography image-based vertebral bone mineral density: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Rationale And Objectives: Cardiac computer tomography (CT) image-based vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) assessment and the influence of cardiovascular disease risk factors on BMD have not been systematically evaluated, especially in a community-based, multiethnic population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design is used to determine if cardiac CT image is a reliable source to assess vertebral BMD, and a total of 2028 CT images were obtained from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a large, diverse US cohort of adults 45 to 84 years of age.

Results: Cardiac CT image allows the rapid assessment of vertebral BMD and related fractures.

Detection and quantification of myocardial perfusion defects by resting single-phase 64-slice cardiac computed tomography angiography compared with SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.

Objective: Hypoenhanced regions on cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) correlate with myocardial hypoperfusion. We evaluated the ability of resting single-phase 64-slice CCTA to detect the presence of myocardial infarction (MI) compared with nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Methods: One hundred and forty symptomatic patients (age 66±12 years, 64% men) with an irreversible perfusion defect (n=69) or a normal/reversible perfusion defect (n=71) on MPI were subjected to CCTA for further evaluation.

Measurement of phantomless thoracic bone mineral density on coronary artery calcium CT scans acquired with various CT scanner models.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy and precision of thoracic phantomless bone mineral density (BMD) measurements obtained on coronary artery calcium (CAC) computed tomography (CT) scans by using a variety of commercially available CT scanners.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant study. A total of 4126 asymptomatic subjects (2022 [49%] men, 2104 [51%] women; mean age, 63.

Computerized left ventricular regional ejection fraction analysis for detection of ischemic coronary artery disease with multidetector CT angiography.

Regional ejection fraction (REF) provides important functional information of the left ventricular regional myocardium. We aimed to test the diagnostic accuracy of computerized REF analysis for detecting the ischemia and significant stenosis with multidetector CT angiography (MDCT). This is a retrospective study including 155 patients who underwent MDCT scans for evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Trabecular bone mineral density measurement using thoracic and lumbar quantitative computed tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement of bone mineral density (BMD) between lumbar (L) and individual thoracic (T) vertebrae and identify a standard thoracic spine level for BMD assessment in cardiac computed tomography (CT) images.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred subjects who underwent simultaneous chest and abdomen CT scans for clinical indications were included. A calibration phantom that extended from the first thoracic spine (T(1)) to the fifth lumbar (L(5)) was employed.

Very small calcifications are detected and scored in the coronary arteries from small voxel MDCT images using a new automated/calibrated scoring method with statistical and patient specific plaque definitions.

A negative (zero) Agatston coronary calcium score (CCS) by current methods confers a very low risk for hard coronary events during the next years. However, controversy remains on how to use a negative score since some hard events still occur. We report on a new method with improved detection sensitivity for very small calcifications with the potential to more confidently rule out early atherosclerotic disease.

Central aortic valve coaptation area during diastole as seen by 64-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

As multiple new procedures now require better visualization of the aortic valve, we sought to better define the central aortic valve coaptation area seen during diastole on multi-detector row cardiac computed tomography (MDCT). 64-MDCT images of 384 symptomatic consecutive patients referred for coronary artery disease evaluation were included in the study. Planimetric measurements of this area were performed on cross-sectional views of the aortic valve at 75% phase of the cardiac cycle.

Normal thoracic aorta diameter on cardiac computed tomography in healthy asymptomatic adults: impact of age and gender.

Rationale And Objectives: To establish the normal criterion of ascending aortic diameter (AAOD) measured by 64 multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and electron beam computed tomography (EBT) based on gender and age.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1442 consecutive subjects who were referred for evaluation of possible coronary artery disease underwent coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography (CTA) and coronary artery calcium scanning (CACS) (55 + 11 years, 65% male) without known coronary heart disease, hypertension, chronic pulmonary and renal disease, diabetes, and severe aortic calcification. The AAOD aortic diameter, descending aortic diameter (DAOD), pulmonary artery (PAD), and chest anteroposterior diameter (CAPD), posterior border of the sternal bone to the anterior border of the spine, were measured at the slice level of mid-right pulmonary artery using end systolic trigger imaging.