Coronary Artery Disease and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in People With Hepatic Steatosis at Low Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Background: Hepatic steatosis (HS) and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk ≥ 7.5% are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events.

Aim: To assess underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) among those with and without HS at different ASCVD risk.

Deep learning reconstructed T2-weighted Dixon imaging of the spine: Impact on acquisition time and image quality.

Purpose: To assess the image quality and impact on acquisition time of a novel deep learning based T2 Dixon sequence (T2) of the spine.

Methods: This prospective, single center study included n = 44 consecutive patients with a clinical indication for lumbar MRI at our university radiology department between September 2022 and March 2023. MRI examinations were performed on 1.

Coronary Plaque in People With HIV vs Non-HIV Asymptomatic Community and Symptomatic Higher-Risk Populations.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) have a high burden of coronary plaques; however, the comparison to people without known HIV (PwoH) needs clarification.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine coronary plaque burden/phenotype in PWH vs PwoH.

Methods: Nonstatin using participants from 3 contemporary populations without known coronary plaques with coronary CT were compared: the REPRIEVE (Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV) studying PWH without cardiovascular symptoms at low-to-moderate risk (n = 755); the SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study) of asymptomatic community PwoH at low-to-intermediate cardiovascular risk (n = 23,558); and the PROMISE (Prospective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain) of stable chest pain PwoH (n = 2,291).

Performance of an ultra-fast deep-learning accelerated MRI screening protocol for prostate cancer compared to a standard multiparametric protocol.

Objectives: To establish and evaluate an ultra-fast MRI screening protocol for prostate cancer (PCa) in comparison to the standard multiparametric (mp) protocol, reducing scan time and maintaining adequate diagnostic performance.

Materials And Methods: This prospective single-center study included consecutive biopsy-naïve patients with suspected PCa between December 2022 and March 2023. A PI-RADSv2.

Lipoprotein subclasses are associated with Hepatic steatosis: insights from the prospective multicenter imaging study for the evaluation of chest pain (PROMISE) clinical trial.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between lipoprotein particle size/number with hepatic steatosis (HS), given its association with traditional lipoproteins and coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: Individuals with available CT data and blood samples enrolled in the PROMISE trial were studied. HS was defined based on CT attenuation.

Deep learning analysis of epicardial adipose tissue to predict cardiovascular risk in heavy smokers.

Background: Heavy smokers are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and may benefit from individualized risk quantification using routine lung cancer screening chest computed tomography. We investigated the prognostic value of deep learning-based automated epicardial adipose tissue quantification and compared it to established cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery calcium.

Methods: We investigated the prognostic value of automated epicardial adipose tissue quantification in heavy smokers enrolled in the National Lung Screening Trial and followed for 12.

Effects of Pitavastatin on Coronary Artery Disease and Inflammatory Biomarkers in HIV: Mechanistic Substudy of the REPRIEVE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased in people with HIV (PWH) and is characterized by premature noncalcified coronary plaque. In the Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE), pitavastatin reduced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 35% over a median of 5.1 years.

Reduction of contrast medium for transcatheter aortic valve replacement planning using a spectral detector CT: a prospective clinical trial.

Introduction: This study investigated the use of dual-energy spectral detector computed tomography (CT) and virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) reconstructions in pre-interventional transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) planning. We aimed to determine the minimum required contrast medium (CM) amount to maintain diagnostic CT imaging quality for TAVR planning.

Methods: In this prospective clinical trial, TAVR candidates received a standardized dual-layer spectral detector CT protocol.

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a Nondrug Preventive Intervention in Patients with Migraine: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses.

Introduction: Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, severe headaches that are often accompanied by other symptoms. There are various factors that can trigger a migraine in sufferers. Stress can be such a trigger.

Pericoronary Adipose Tissue Density, Inflammation, and Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease Among People With HIV in the REPRIEVE Cohort.

Background: Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) may influence plaque development through inflammatory mechanisms. We assessed PCAT density, as a measure of pericoronary inflammation, in relationship to coronary plaque among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV [PWH]) and to a matched control population.

Methods: In this baseline analysis of 727 participants of the Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE) Mechanistic Substudy, we related computed tomography-derived PCAT density to presence and extent (Leaman score) of coronary artery disease (CAD), noncalcified plaque, coronary artery calcium (CAC), and vulnerable plaque features using multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Prognostic value of CT-derived coronary artery disease characteristics varies by ASCVD risk: insights from the PROMISE trial.

Objectives: To compare the prognostic value of individual CT-derived coronary artery disease (CAD) characteristics across categories of clinical cardiovascular risk.

Methods: The central core laboratory assessed coronary artery calcium (CAC), obstructive CAD (stenosis ≥ 50%), and high-risk plaque (HRP) in stable outpatients with suspected CAD enrolled in the PROMISE trial. Multivariable Cox regression models (endpoint: unstable angina, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or all-cause mortality; median follow-up: 2 years) were used to compare hazard ratios (HR) of the CT measures between low-borderline (< 7.

Reliability and Reproducibility of Analyzing 3D Transperineal Ultrasound Volumes Obtained in the First Phase of Labor - A Pilot Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and reproducibility of transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) in the initial phase of labor. As TPUS is a common method, it could supplement vaginal palpation and even replace it in certain situations. In addition, we used a 4-dimensional method for the assessment of cervical effacement.

Coronary Calcium Scoring Improves Risk Prediction in Patients With Suspected Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: In patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), the risk factor-weighted clinical likelihood (RF-CL) model and the coronary artery calcium score-weighted clinical likelihood (CACS-CL) model improves the identification of obstructive CAD compared with basic pretest probability (PTP) models.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the new models.

Methods: The incidences of myocardial infarction and death were stratified according to categories by the RF-CL and CACS-CL and compared with categories by the PTP model.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among individuals with hepatic steatosis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in adults with hepatic steatosis (HS). However, risk factors for CVD in HS are unknown. We aimed to identify factors associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in individuals with HS.

Cytomegalovirus Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Titer and Coronary Artery Disease in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is thought to result in increased immune activation in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH). Although some data have linked asymptomatic CMV infection to cardiovascular disease among PWH, it remains unknown whether CMV is associated with increased or high-risk coronary plaque.

Methods: The Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE) enrolled PWH aged 40-75 years on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) with low-to-moderate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk.

Coronary Atherosclerosis, Cardiac Troponin, and Interleukin-6 in Patients With Chest Pain: The PROMISE Trial Results.

Background: Increased inflammation and myocardial injury can be observed in the absence of myocardial infarction or obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objectives: The authors determined whether biomarkers of inflammation and myocardial injury-interleukin (IL)-6 and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn)-were associated with the presence and extent of CAD and were independent predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in stable chest pain.

Methods: Using participants from the PROMISE trial, the authors measured hs-cTn I and IL-6 concentrations and analyzed computed tomography angiography (CTA) images in the core laboratory for CAD characteristics: significant stenosis (≥70%), high-risk plaque (HRP), Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) categories, segment involvement score (SIS), and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score.

Proteomic Signature of Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in People With HIV: Analysis of the REPRIEVE Mechanistic Substudy.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) have subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) despite low traditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores. Coronary plaque in PWH presents as a unique phenotype, but little is known about the contributions of specific inflammatory pathways to plaque phenotypes in PWH.

Methods: The REPRIEVE Mechanistic Substudy enrolled PWH on ART without known cardiovascular disease.

Are risk factors necessary for pretest probability assessment of coronary artery disease? A patient similarity network analysis of the PROMISE trial.

Background: Pretest probability (PTP) calculators utilize epidemiological-level findings to provide patient-level risk assessment of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, their limited accuracies question whether dissimilarities in risk factors necessarily result in differences in CAD. Using patient similarity network (PSN) analyses, we wished to assess the accuracy of risk factors and imaging markers to identify ≥50% luminal narrowing on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in stable chest-pain patients.

Quality and safety of coronary computed tomography angiography at academic and non-academic sites: insights from a large European registry (ESCR MR/CT Registry).

Objectives: To compare the use of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) between academic and non-academic sites across Europe over the last decade.

Methods: We analyzed a large multicenter registry (ESCR MR/CT Registry) of stable symptomatic patients who received CCTA 01/2010-01/2020 at 47 (22%) academic and 165 (78%) non-academic sites across 19 European countries. We compared image quality, radiation dose, contrast-media-related adverse events, patient characteristics, CCTA findings, and downstream testing between academic and non-academic sites.

A Model Predicting Mortality of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients Four Days After Admission: Development, Internal and Temporal-External Validation.

Objective: To develop and validate a prognostic model for in-hospital mortality after four days based on age, fever at admission and five haematological parameters routinely measured in hospitalized Covid-19 patients during the first four days after admission.

Methods: Haematological parameters measured during the first 4 days after admission were subjected to a linear mixed model to obtain patient-specific intercepts and slopes for each parameter. A prediction model was built using logistic regression with variable selection and shrinkage factor estimation supported by bootstrapping.

Municipal Solid Waste Management through Sustainable Landfilling: In View of the Situation in Karachi, Pakistan.

Open disposal is the most common technique used for municipal solid waste (MSW) management due to the absence of sanitary landfills in Pakistan. The major cities and small towns in Pakistan have become a showcase of negligence and mismanagement of MSW, which results in deterioration of the environmental and social-life quality. Moreover, research has proved that inefficient handling (disposal) of MSW results in uncontrolled emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly methane, and adds a significant share in global climate change.

Differences in Cardiovascular Risk, Coronary Artery Disease, and Cardiac Events Between Black and White Individuals Enrolled in the PROMISE Trial.

Importance: Race and ethnicity have been studied as risk factors in cardiovascular disease. How risk factors, epicardial coronary artery disease, and cardiac events differ between Black and White individuals undergoing noninvasive testing for coronary artery disease is not known.

Objective: To assess differences in cardiovascular risk burden, coronary plaque, and major adverse cardiac events between Black and White individuals assigned to receive coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) or functional testing for stable chest pain.