"Anti-inflammatory Therapies in Atherosclerosis - Where are we going?".

Purpose Of Review: Inflammation has been commonly known for the past decade as a part of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, along with lipid accumulation. However, some patients with optimized lipid-lowering therapy still have elevated inflammatory biomarkers. Anti-inflammation therapies were developed to eradicate this residual risk.

A comparison of cardiovascular imaging practices in Africa, North America, and Europe: two faces of the same coin.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are significant differences in the burden of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors, across high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. Cardiac imaging by echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging are well-established non-invasive tests that aid in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of various cardiac diseases.

Comparison of Coronary Artery Calcium and Quantitative Coronary Plaque in Predicting Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Subgroup Analysis of the CLARIFY Study.

Agatston coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is a strong predictor of mortality. However, the relationship between CAC and quantitative calcified plaque volume (CPV), which is measured on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), is not well understood. Furthermore, there is limited evidence evaluating the difference between CAC versus CPV and CAC versus total plaque volume (TPV) in predicting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Comparison of risk profiles of participants in the Women's IschemiA TRial to Reduce events In non-ObstRuctive CAD (WARRIOR) trial, using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography vs Invasive Coronary Angiography.

Objective: To compare baseline characteristics of participants in the Women's IschemiA TRial to Reduce Events In Non-ObstRuctive CAD (WARRIOR) trial by qualification by Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) or Invasive Coronary Angiography (ICA).

Methods: The WARRIOR trial (NCT03417388) is an ongoing multicenter, prospective, randomized, blinded outcome evaluation of intensive medical therapy vs. usual care in women with suspected Ischemia and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (INOCA) identified by either CCTA or ICA on the outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Methods and Reproducibility of Liver Fat Measurement Using 3-Dimensional Liver Segmentation From Noncontrast Computed Tomography in EVAPORATE Cohort.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease not only shares multiple risk factors with cardiovascular disease but also independently predicts its increased risk and related outcomes. Here, we evaluate reproducibility of 3-dimensional (3D) liver volume segmentation method to identify fatty liver on noncontrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and compare measures with previously validated 2-dimensional (2D) segmentation CT criteria for the measurement of liver fat.

Methods: The study included 68 participants enrolled in the EVAPORATE trial and underwent serial noncontrast cardiac CT.

The effect of icosapent ethyl on left atrial and left ventricular morphology.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia associated with poor outcomes. N-3 fatty acids have been shown to provide significant cardiovascular risk reduction, but they may exacerbate the risk of AF. The pathway by which N-3 fatty acids may be arrhythmogenic is unknown.

What Is New in Risk Assessment in Nuclear Cardiology?

Nuclear cardiology techniques allow in-depth evaluation of cardiac patients. A body of literature has established the use of nuclear cardiology. The results obtained with traditional cameras have been reinforced by those obtained with a series of innovations that have revolutionized the field of nuclear cardiology.

Age and the power of zero CAC in cardiac risk assessment: overview of the literature and a cautionary case.

The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is a marker of advanced coronary atherosclerosis. Numerous prospective cohorts have validated CAC as an independent marker that improves prognostication in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) beyond traditional risk factors. Accordingly, CAC is now incorporated into international cardiovascular guidelines as a tool to inform medical decision-making.

Cancer risk in adult congenital heart disease.

Advances in diagnostics and interventional/surgical treatment of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) over the past several decades, allows a decline in rates of all-cause mortality, with a significant reduction in proportion of infant and childhood deaths with severe forms of CHD. However, the risk of premature death in adults with complex CHD remains elevated. A growing body of evidence has recently described the impact of non-cardiovascular comorbidities such as cancers, on morbidity, health care utilizations and mortality in adult patients with CHD.

Major Global Coronary Artery Calcium Guidelines.

This review summarizes the framework behind global guidelines of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk assessment, for applications in both the clinical setting and preventive therapy. By comparing similarities and differences in recommendations, this review identifies most notable common features for the application of CAC presented by different cardiovascular societies across the world. Guidelines included from North America are as follows: 1) the 2019 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease; and 2) the 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemia for Prevention of Adult Cardiovascular Disease.

Coronary plaque progression is greater in systemic lupus erythematosus than rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease. Coronary atherosclerosis, particularly total plaque and noncalcified plaque on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has been correlated with cardiovascular events. We compared baseline coronary plaque burden and progression by serial CCTA in SLE and RA patients.

Multimodality Imaging Trials Evaluating the Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Coronary Artery Plaque Characteristics and Burden.

Treatment of established risk factors, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, is the cornerstone of preventing atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Despite reducing LDL cholesterol, there remains a significant risk of cardiovascular disease. Inflammatory and metabolic pathways contribute to recurrence of cardiovascular events, and are often missed in clinical practice.

Obstructive coronary artery disease in symptomatic diabetics with zero coronary calcium score: are we missing something?

Background: Prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in symptomatic patients with zero coronary artery calcium score (CACS) are unclear, particularly in regard to the diabetic population, which represents, per se, a subgroup at increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of CAD by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in a symptomatic diabetic cohort with zero CACS.

Methods: All consecutive symptomatic diabetics referred for CAD suspicion were included in this study.

Coronary computed tomography angiography evaluation of plaque morphology and its relationship to HDL and total cholesterol to HDL ratio.

Background: While population studies have demonstrated that high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (TC/HDL) improve cardiovascular risk prediction, the mechanism by which these parameters protect the cardiovascular system remains uncertain.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the HDL-C level and the total cholesterol to HDL (TC/HDL) ratio with the morphology of coronary artery plaque as determined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 190 subjects with stable coronary artery disease.