Effect of intravenous infusion of iodinated contrast media on the coronary blood flow in dogs.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is obtained using peripheral intravenous iodinated contrast agents (ICA) injection. There is continuing attempts to derive coronary physiological information like coronary blood flow (CBF) and/or fractional flow reserve from CCTA images. However, no data is available regarding the effect of peripheral intravenous injection of ICA on CBF.

Clinical risk factors alone are inadequate for predicting significant coronary artery disease.

Objective: We sought to derive and validate a model for identifying suspected ACS patients harboring undiagnosed significant coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from a randomized control trial (RCT). Patients randomized to the CTA arm of an RCT examining a CTA-based strategy for ruling-out acute coronary syndrome (ACS) constitute the derivation cohort, which was randomly divided into a training dataset (2/3, used for model derivation) and a test dataset (1/3, used for internal validation (IV)).

A coupled chemo-fluidic computational model for thrombogenesis in infarcted left ventricles.

A coupled chemo-fluidic computational model for investigating flow-mediated thrombogenesis in infarcted left ventricles (LVs) is proposed. LV thrombus (LVT) formation after the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may lead to thromboembolic events that are associated with high mortality and morbidity, and reliable stratification of LVT risk is the key to managing the treatment of AMI patients. There have been several studies emphasizing the importance of LV blood flow patterns on thrombus formation; however, given the complex interplay between ventricular flow dynamics and biochemistry of thrombogenesis, current understanding is mostly empirical.

Estimating coronary blood flow using CT transluminal attenuation flow encoding: Formulation, preclinical validation, and clinical feasibility.

Background: We present the formulation and testing of a new CT angiography (CTA)-based method for noninvasive measurement of absolute coronary blood flow (CBF) termed transluminal attenuation flow encoding (TAFE). CTA provides assessment of coronary plaque but does not allow for detection of vessel specific ischemia. A simple and direct method to calculate absolute CBF from a standard CTA could isolate the functional consequence of disease and aid therapy decisions.

Association of coronary plaque burden with fractional flow reserve: should we keep attempting to derive physiology from anatomy?

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been used increasingly for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease over the past decade. Compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA), coronary CTA has the ability to visualize and quantify atherosclerotic plaque both calcified and non-calcified. Traditional measures of evaluating a coronary stenosis such as diameter stenosis, area stenosis, minimal lumen diameter and minimal luminal area are limited in their ability to predict its functional significance especially when diameter stenosis ranges between 30-69% (intermediate range).

2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guideline: what was done well and what could be done better.

Five years after convening the expert panel, the 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults was released. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association issued the guideline on the basis of a systematic review of cholesterol treatment trials performed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This report critically appraises the guideline and provides our view of what was done well and what could be done better.

Genetics and personalized medicine--a role in statin therapy?

Pharmacogenetics uses the genetic variation in metabolic pathways to identify groups of patients who may respond differently in terms of therapeutic and adverse effects. Much clinical interest lies in drug metabolism and the opportunity to improve prescribing efficacy and safety. Owing to widespread use and increasing concern regarding side effects, statins are of significant interest in this area.

Rare Elizabethkingia meningosepticum meningitis case in an immunocompetent adult.

Though Elizabethkingia meningosepticum typically causes meningitis in neonates, its occurrence in adult is rare, with sixteen cases described worldwide. We report a case of E. meningosepticum meningitis in an immunocompetent adult.

Remote monitoring and supervision of urology residents utilizing integrated endourology suites-a prospective study of patients' opinions.

Purpose: To report on integrated endourology suites (IES), remote monitoring and supervision (RMS) of urology residents and to evaluate patients' opinions, acceptance, and satisfaction level with IES and RMS.

Patients And Methods: Patients undergoing flexible cystoscopy in the IES with RMS were surveyed using a questionnaire. All procedures were performed by junior urology residents (UR-1 level) using RMS.

Work-related physical activity among cardiovascular specialists.

Background: Strong evidence supports positive correlation of physical activity with health benefits. Current recommendations by the American Heart Association are a minimum 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5 days per week. This goal has been equilibrated with 10,000 steps per day.

Statin-induced myopathy: a review and update.

Introduction: Statin-induced myopathy is an important cause of statin intolerance and the most common cause of statin discontinuation. Observational studies estimate that 10 - 15% of statin users develop statin-related muscle side effects ranging from mild myalgia to more severe muscle symptoms with significant CPK elevations.

Areas Covered: This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical features, risk factors and mechanisms of statin-induced myopathy and provides an evidence-based algorithm for managing patients with statin myopathy.

The role of C-reactive protein as a risk predictor of coronary atherosclerosis: implications from the JUPITER trial.

Much controversy surrounds the use of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker of cardiovascular (CV) risk. Although data regarding the association of hs-CRP with CV disease is extensive and consistent, its role in clinical practice remains unclear. The American Heart Association (AHA) recently published a scientific statement regarding criteria for evaluation of novel markers of CV risk.

Comparison of 12-core versus 8-core prostate biopsy: multivariate analysis of large series of US veterans.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of additional biopsy cores on prostate cancer diagnosis among US veterans. The reported rate of positive biopsy results varies from 20% to 40%.

Methods: We analyzed 1546 consecutive initial prostate biopsy procedures (8-core and 12-core biopsy protocols) at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.

A retrospective evaluation of hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis at 2 sentinel hospitals in central Japan to estimate the health burden of rotavirus.

Background: Two rotavirus vaccines have recently been licensed for use in >80 countries worldwide but not in Japan. To assess the value of introducing rotavirus vaccination in Japan, data on the burden of rotavirus disease are needed.

Methods: To describe the epidemiology of severe rotavirus disease among Japanese children aged <5 years, we examined retrospective demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from the period 2003-2007 for children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at 2 sentinel hospitals in Japan.

Increased low density lipoprotein and increased likelihood of positive prostate biopsy in black americans.

Purpose: Differences in prostate cancer incidence, grade and stage at diagnosis, and survival in black vs nonblack men are well documented. Recent studies indicate that lipids may have a role in oncogenesis, including that of prostate cancer. We investigated the relationship between circulating lipids in black and nonblack patients, and newly diagnosed prostate cancer.