Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Korean J Radiol 2019 May;20(5):729-738

Department of Radiology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Objective: To assess the effects of iterative model reconstruction (IMR) on image quality for demonstrating non-calcific high-risk plaque characteristics of coronary arteries.

Materials And Methods: This study included 66 patients (53 men and 13 women; aged 39-76 years; mean age, 55 ± 13 years) having single-vessel disease with predominantly non-calcified plaques evaluated using prospective electrocardiogram-gated 256-slice CT angiography. Paired image sets were created using two types of reconstruction: hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and IMR. Read More

Insights Imaging 2019 Mar 29;10(1):42. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.

The pericardium could be involved in a variety of clinical disorders. The imaging findings are not specific for an individual pathology in most of the cases; however, patient's clinical history may guide radiologist to a definitive diagnosis. Congenital absence of the pericardium could be recognized with the imaging appearance of interposed lung tissue between the main pulmonary artery and aorta. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Biostatistics, George Washington University, Rockville, Maryland.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the relationship between coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in DCCT (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial)/EDIC (Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications) participants.

Background: The CAC score has been validated for improved risk stratification in general populations; however, this association has not been well studied in type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

Methods: Computed tomography (CT) to measure CAC was performed in 1,205 DCCT/EDIC participants at a mean of 42. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Clemenceau Medical Center, PO BOX 11-2555, Beirut, Lebanon.

Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has a higher negative predictive value (NPV) for coronary artery disease (CAD) than stress echocardiography (SE). CT calcium scoring (CTCS) allows detection and quantification of coronary artery calcification (CAC). The NPV of combined SE and CTCS for CAD is not well defined. Read More

J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2018 Oct 11;5(4):044007. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

University Medical Center Utrecht, Image Sciences Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

The amount of coronary artery calcification (CAC) quantified in computed tomography (CT) scans enables prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, interscan variability of CAC quantification is high, especially in scans made without ECG synchronization. We propose a method for automatic detection of CACs that are severely affected by cardiac motion. Read More

PET Clin 2019 Apr 1;14(2):211-221. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Electronic address:

PET-based cardiac nuclear imaging plays a large role in the management of ischemic heart disease. Compared with conventional single-photon emission CT myocardial perfusion imaging, PET provides superior accuracy in diagnosis of coronary artery disease and, with the incorporation of myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve, adds value in assessing prognosis for established coronary and microvascular disease. This review describes these and other uses of PET in ischemic heart disease, including assessing myocardial viability in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Read More

Bone 2019 May 28;122:231-236. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address:

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the inborn-error-of-metabolism characterized enzymatically by insufficient activity of the tissue-nonspecific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) and caused by either mono- or bi-allelic loss-of-function mutation(s) of the gene ALPL that encodes this cell surface phosphomonoester phosphohydrolase. In HPP, the natural substrates of TNSALP accumulate extracellularly and include inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent inhibitor of biomineralization. This PPi excess leads to rickets or osteomalacia in all but the most mild "odonto" form of the disease. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Feb 28;14(1):47. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, People's Republic of China.

Background: Obstruction of the left or right coronary artery is a rare but lethal complication during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The new J-Valve™ prosthesis is a new second generation TAVI device which has several features to avoid the coronary obstruction such as low profile design and clip fixation of the native leaflets. The aim of this study is to report our initial experience of using this valve in treating patient with high risk factors for coronary obstruction during TAVI procedure. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 25. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Radiology, Mie University Hospital, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.

Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) can be noninvasively measured by phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI). Heavy coronary calcification degrades the diagnostic accuracy for the detection of coronary arterial stenosis on computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of CFVR measurement with PC-MRI for detecting significant coronary stenoses in patients with heavy coronary calcification. Read More

Quant Imaging Med Surg 2019 Jan;9(1):6-22

Discipline of Exploration Geophysics, Western Australian School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Background: To investigate the effect of different slice thicknesses and beam energies on the visualization and assessment of coronary artery stenosis caused by calcified plaques using synchrotron radiation computed tomography (CT) based on 3D printed coronary artery models.

Methods: Patient-specific 3D coronary models were created based on 3 sample coronary CT angiographic cases with calcified plaques in the left coronary arteries. In addition to the original significant coronary stenosis (>70%) shown on these CT images, stenoses of <50% and >90% were created in the segmented coronary models for simulation of different degrees of stenosis. Read More

J Gastrointest Oncol 2019 Feb;10(1):30-36

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA.

Background: Primary right-sided colon cancer (RCC) is associated with a higher mortality than left-sided colon cancer (LCC), but the etiology of this phenomenon remains unclear. We sought to study whether cancer laterality is associated with the prevalence of clinical coronary artery disease, calcific atherosclerosis as measured by computed tomography (CT), and cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a single center retrospective study of 546 participants who had previously been diagnosed with colon cancer between January 2005 and December 2014. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Jan 25;9(1):e022843. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.

Introduction: To detect patients at high risk of developing myocardial infarction, plaque characteristics as well as the degree of stenosis in coronary arteries should be evaluated. However, unstable plaque or severe calcification detected via coronary artery CT (CACT) is not reflected in risk stratification according to current guidelines. It is hypothesised that patients with high-risk findings on CACT (even those without proven history of coronary artery diseases; CAD) should be strictly managed to lower their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels to targets of secondary prevention. Read More

J Nephrol 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, 7th Floor, TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.

Background: The cardiovascular morphology and function in long-term survivors of hemodialysis are not well described.

Methods: Single-center cross-sectional study nested within a prospective cohort study of 15 long-term (> 7.5 years) and 15 matched incident (< 6 months) hemodialysis patients with 15 external matched controls. Read More

BMC Nephrol 2019 Feb 18;20(1):59. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Division of Renal Medicine and Baxter Novum, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Risk of cardiac events and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are predicted by coronary artery calcification (CAC) independently. It is not clear to what extent low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with higher risk of CAC and if sex interacts. We investigated the sex-specific associations of CAC score with total body BMD (tBMD) as well as with BMD of different skeletal sub-regions. Read More

Turk J Med Sci 2019 Feb 11;49(1):190-197. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Background/aim: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9740-3580

Materials And Methods: A total of 404 female patients above 40 years of age who, within a 6-month period, had undergone thoracic computed tomography and mammography for various reasons were screened retrospectively at our clinic. Mammographies were assessed for BAC and thoracic CT investigations were assessed for CAC and AC. Read More

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Internal Medicine, Kasr Ainy Cairo University, Cairo. Egypt.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a tumor necrosis factor receptor super-family member. It specifically acts on bone by increasing bone mineral density and bone volume. Recent studies have evidenced its close relation to the development of atherosclerosis and plaque destabilization. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Feb 11;19(1):39. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Background: The heterogeneity of risk in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is acknowledged in new guidelines promulgating different treatment recommendations for diabetics at low cardiac risk. We performed a retrospective longitudinal follow-up study to evaluate coronary plaque progression and its impact on cardiac events in asymptomatic diabetic patients.

Methods: Data of 197 asymptomatic patients (63. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2019 Mar 24;282:91-99. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

The Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: GlycA is a novel composite biomarker of systemic inflammation reflecting posttranslational glycosylation of acute phase reactants. GlycA has been associated with coronary artery calcium, cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality. Vascular calcifications outside of the coronary arteries are risk markers of CVD and mortality. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

University of Ottawa, Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: In breast cancer patients, coincidental detection of CAC at chest CT may be important in determining cardiovascular (CV) outcomes and facilitate CV disease primary prevention strategies.

Methods: 408 consecutive breast cancer patients referred to cardiac oncology clinic were included in the study. 256 patients without a prior history of coronary artery disease had undergone a chest CT. Read More

Acad Radiol 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi 712000, China; Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi Chinese Medicine University, Xianyang 712000, China. Electronic address:

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis and an independent risk factor for cardiac-related mortality and frequently detected on noncontrast chest CT. We aimed to investigate the reliability and accuracy of determining CAC using noncontrast, nongated chest CT with 256-detector row.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1318 patients for chest examination were enrolled to undergo both nongated chest CT and dedicated calcium-scoring CT (CSCT) on a 256-detector row CT scanner. Read More

JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in the prevalence, extent, and association of coronary artery calcium (CAC) and thoracic aorta calcium (TAC) scores with cardiovascular mortality in a population eligible for lung screening.

Background: CAC and TAC scores derived from chest computed tomography (CT) might be useful biomarkers for individualized cardiovascular disease prevention and could be especially relevant in high-risk populations such as heavy smokers. Therefore, it is important to know the prevalence of arterial calcifications in male and female heavy smokers, and if there are differences in the predictive value calcifications carry. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Mar 2;279:155-161. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Internal Medicine (Section of Nephrology), New Haven, CT, United States of America.

Aims: We explored the relationship between inflammation, renalase an anti-inflammatory protein, and acute chest pain with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD).

Methods And Results: We used cardiac Rb-82 PET/CT imaging to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD/CALC) (defect or coronary calcification) and CMD (depressed coronary flow reserve without CAD) in patients with chest pain in an emergency department (ED). Blood samples were collected pre-imaging within 24 h of ED presentation and were analyzed for renalase and inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein, interleukins, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and metalloproteinases. Read More

Int J Legal Med 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Agatston score (AS) is the gold standard CT calcium scoring method in clinical practice. However, the AS is an indirect method of determining calcium amount, whereas atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) can directly measure the calcium amount. Our primary aim was to investigate the association between the AS and the coronary calcium amount measured by AAS. Read More

J Cardiol 2019 May 28;73(5):408-415. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Center for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, University Hospital, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background: Inflammation has been weakly associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) in the overall population. However, it is currently unknown whether this varies according to the cardio-metabolic profile. We evaluated the association between GlycA, a unique composite biomarker of pro-inflammatory acute phase glycoproteins, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), uric acid, and their composite values (composite inflammation) in the overall population and strata according to cardiovascular risk. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Dec 20;70 Suppl 3:S140-S145. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Department of CT & MRI, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, 110060, India. Electronic address:

Objective: We studied the correlation of quantified epicardial fat with severity of coronary artery disease in patients [suspected cases of coronary artery disease (CAD)] referred for computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography and established cutoffs for epicardial fat volume (EFV) for the presence of CAD and obstructive CAD.

Methods: A prospective cum retrospective cross-sectional observational study was carried out on 950 Indian subjects (suspected cases of CAD) who were referred for coronary CT in the year 2013-2016. EFV was quantified using semiautomatic technique on multidetector coronary CT angiography. Read More

Circulation 2019 Feb;139(6):730-743

Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (G.R.S., D.P., A.G., H.L., A.D., M.A.L.).

Background: Poor glycemic control is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM); however, little is known about mechanisms specific to T1DM. In T1DM, myocardial injury can induce persistent cardiac autoimmunity. Chronic hyperglycemia causes myocardial injury, raising the possibility that hyperglycemia-induced cardiac autoimmunity could contribute to long-term CVD complications in T1DM. Read More

Transplant Proc 2018 Dec 9;50(10):3487-3495. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address:

Incidental arterial calcification (Ca) on low-dose computed tomography (CT) prior to liver transplant (LT) may help identify those at risk for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). A single-center retrospective study of 358 consecutive patients who had undergone LT was performed. Of the 296 patients who met inclusion criteria, 193 patients (65. Read More

PLoS One 2018 20;13(12):e0209318. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Introduction: The amount of coronary artery calcium determined in CT scans is a well established predictor of cardiovascular events. However, high interscan variability of coronary calcium quantification may lead to incorrect cardiovascular risk assignment. Partial volume effect contributes to high interscan variability. Read More

Open Heart 2018 24;5(2):e000893. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+) and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Objectives: A standard coronary artery calcium scan includes part of the aorta. This additional information is often not included in routine analyses. We aimed to determine the feasibility of assessing the Agatston score of the descending aorta calcification (DAC) on standard coronary calcium scans and the association of this score with coronary events in a low-risk study population. Read More

Respir Res 2018 Dec 18;19(1):257. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and Lung Health Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 422, 1720, 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a two-to-five fold increase in the risk of coronary artery disease independent of shared risk factors. This association is hypothesized to be mediated by systemic inflammation but this link has not been established.

Methods: We included 300 participants enrolled in the SPIROMICS cohort, 75 each of lifetime non-smokers, smokers without airflow obstruction, mild-moderate COPD, and severe-very severe COPD. Read More

J Thorac Imaging 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Center for Medical Imaging North-East Netherlands (CMI-NEN), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen.

Lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease are highly prevalent in the general population and expected to cause most deaths by 2050. For these "Big-3," treatment might cure, delay, or stop the progression of disease at a very early stage. Lung nodule growth rate (a biomarker for lung cancer), emphysema/air trapping (a biomarker for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and coronary artery calcification (a biomarker for cardiovascular disease) are imaging biomarkers of early stages of the Big-3 that can be acquired with low-dose computed tomography (CT). Read More

Exp Ther Med 2018 Dec 27;16(6):4669-4673. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Central Hospital of Tongchuan Mining Bureau, Tongchuan, Shaanxi 727000, P.R. China.

Correlation between coronary atherosclerosis calcification and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume in patients with nephropathy was investigated. A total of 529 patients with high risk of coronary atherosclerotic nephropathy were selected from August 2013 to September 2016 in Xianyang Central Hospital to serve as research subjects, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent coronary artery and EAT examination using dual-source CT. Read More

Nephrol Dial Transplant 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Division of Renal Medicine and Baxter Novum, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Campus Flemingsberg, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score from cardiac computed tomography (CT) is a composite of CAC volume and CAC density. In the general population, CAC volume is positively and CAC density inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, implying that decreased CAC density reflects atherosclerotic plaque instability. We analysed associations of CAC indices with mortality risk in patients with end-stage renal disease [chronic kidney disease Stage 5 (CKD5)]. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Duisburg-Essen, Holsterhauser Str. 55, Essen, Germany.

Aims: Thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) is measured by computed tomography (CT). We investigated the association of TAC-progression with incident cardiovascular (CV) events and all-cause mortality in a population-based cohort and to determine its predictive value for these endpoints.

Methods And Results: In 3080 participants (45-74 years, 53. Read More

Endocrinol Diabetes Nutr 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Unidad de Nefrología, Fundación para la investigación del Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.

Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) have high cardiovascular risk. Both conditions are related to systemic atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. The prevalence and severity of coronary artery calcification (CaC) is higher in patients with DM, regardless of their renal function. Read More

Gut 2018 Nov 24. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Nutrition and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Objective: Recent evidence suggests that alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may differentially affect risk of cardiovascular mortality. To investigate whether early liver disease due to AFLD or NAFLD have similar or dissimilar effects on risk of early coronary artery atherosclerosis, we have investigated the associations between AFLD and NAFLD and coronary artery calcium (CAC).

Design: A cross-sectional study was performed in 105 328 Korean adults who attended a health check-up programme. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 4;2018:4619867. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of exercise capacity, cardiac function, and coronary artery calcification (CAC) with components of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.

Method: Medical records of healthy adults who underwent exercise tolerance test (ETT), coronary CT angiography (CTA), and echocardiography of the heart for cardiac health check-up were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who had a history of severe cardiovascular disease or could not perform ETT due to other musculoskeletal problems were excluded. Read More

J Thorac Imaging 2019 Jan;34(1):33-40

Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, Diagnóstico Maipú, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Purpose: The prognostic value of vascular calcifications as well as of regional fat depots has been reported separately, in population-based studies, and using gated-computed tomography (CT) examinations. We, therefore, explored the interplay and prognostic value of vascular calcifications and adipose tissue depots assessed during conventional nongated chest CT.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled a consecutive series of 1250 patients aged between 35 and 74 years who underwent clinically indicated chest CT scans. Read More

J Saudi Heart Assoc 2019 Jan 20;31(1):24-31. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EgyptEgypt.

Objective: To assess the relationship between serum endostatin (ES) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients.

Methods: The study included 110 participants with coronary artery disease (CAD); 55 with T2DM, for serum ES levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and CAC by contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT).

Results: Mean serum ES value was 66. Read More

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2019 Jan 24;212(1):209-214. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

2 Department of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine patient attitudes about mammographic reporting of breast arterial calcification (BAC), result communication, and action.

Subjects And Methods: A self-administered survey was created for this project and was offered to mammography patients presenting for screening or diagnostic mammography over a 1-month period.

Results: Among those who accepted questionnaires, 61. Read More

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2018;13:3321-3330. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is often associated with COPD. Lung density quantification of images obtained from cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans would allow simultaneous evaluation of emphysema and coronary artery calcification score and provide further mechanistic insight into the relationship between these syndromes.

Patients And Methods: We assessed the agreement between lung density indices obtained by cardiac and full-lung CT scans. Read More

Acta Biomed 2018 Oct 8;89(3):365-369. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Razavi Hospital, Iran;.

Background And Aim: Nowadays there is a strong necessity in identifying patients who may be exposed to the risk for future cardiovascular events like progressive atherosclerotic disease. Biomarkers are valuable tools for this purpose. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is utilized as an important tool for the global risk assessment of cardiovascular events in individuals with intermediate risk. Read More

Curr Opin Cardiol 2018 Nov;33(6):645-652

CVPath institute, Gaithersburg.

Purpose Of Review: Prior investigations have shown the close association between coronary artery calcification (CAC) and total atherosclerotic plaque burden as well as the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. However, recent pathologic and imaging-based studies suggested that massive dense calcifications are usually associated with stable plaque; whereas, micro calcifications, especially in the thin fibrous cap, are related to vulnerable characteristics. Further, the molecular mechanisms for initiation/progression of vascular calcification are highly complex and still need to be elucidated. Read More

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2018 Nov - Dec;12(6):493-499. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States. Electronic address:

Background: Assessment of coronary artery calcium (CAC) during lung cancer screening chest computed tomography (CT) represents an opportunity to identify asymptomatic individuals at increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. We determined the improvement in CHD risk prediction associated with the addition of CAC testing in a population recommended for lung cancer screening.

Methods: We included 484 out of 6814 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants without baseline cardiovascular disease who met U. Read More

Herz 2018 Oct 1. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy on coronary artery calcification (CAC) by comparing long-term VKA users with metallic prosthetic valves (MPVs) and VKA-free patients undergoing coronary calcium scoring for cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification.

Methods: A total of 108 patients (43 VKA users with MPV and 65 gender-, age-, and risk-factor-matched VKA-free patients) were included in the study. CAC was determined via computed tomography (CT) and quantified on the basis of the Agatston score. Read More

Adv Pharm Bull 2018 Aug 29;8(3):489-493. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is utilized as an important tool for global risk assessment of cardiovascular events in individuals with intermediate risk. Ecto phosphodiesterase/nucleotide phosphohydrolase-1(ENPP1) converts extracellular nucleotides into inorganic pyrophosphate and it is a key regulator of tissue calcification that adjusts calcification in tissues like vascular smooth muscle cells. The main purpose of this clinical study was to find out the correlation between ENPP1 serum concentration and CAC in human for the first time. Read More

Lung Cancer 2018 Oct 8;124:148-153. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Manchester Thoracic Oncology Centre, North West Lung Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, UK; Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Electronic address:

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in populations eligible for lung cancer screening. The aim of this study was to determine whether a brief CV risk assessment, delivered as part of a targeted community-based lung cancer screening programme, was effective in identifying individuals at high risk who might benefit from primary prevention.

Methods: The Manchester Lung Screening Pilot consisted of annual low dose CT (LDCT) over 2 screening rounds, targeted at individuals in deprived areas at high risk of lung cancer (age 55-74 and 6-year risk ≥1. Read More

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2018 Oct;28(10):739-743

Department of Cardiac Surgery, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the positivity of CT angiography in visualization of poorly visualized left anterior descending artery (LAD) on conventional angiography for decision of its surgical revascularization.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Faisalabad, from July 2014 to March 2015. Read More

Atherosclerosis 2018 Dec 8;279:114-121. Epub 2018 Sep 8.

University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Fat radiodensity, measured via CT Hounsfield units (HU), is a potential marker of fat quality. We sought to determine the cross-sectional associations of total heart fat (TAT) and aortic perivascular fat (PVAT) radiodensity with cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and aortic calcification (AC) in midlife women.

Methods: Fat radiodensity, CAC, and AC were quantified using CT scans. Read More

J Vis Exp 2018 08 28(138). Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Gill Heart Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kentucky.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) provides an objective measure of coronary artery disease and can readily be identified on non-gated computed tomography (CT) scans with a high correlation with gated cardiac CT scans. This standardized protocol takes a step-wise approach to not only optimizing an image for the identification of calcification but also to distinguishing CAC from other common causes of calcification in the cardiac silhouette. Recognition of CAC on non-gated CT scans helps to identify a very powerful prognostic factor that can influence therapeutic interventions or downstream diagnostic testing without requiring a gated cardiac scan. Read More