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BACKGROUND: Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known to result in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis, and ischemic/nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (ICM/NIDCM). However, less is known about the prognostic value of T2DM on LV longitudinal function and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) assessed with cardiac MRI in ICM/NIDCM patients. PURPOSE: To measure LV longitudinal function and myocardial scar in ICM/NIDCM patients with T2DM and to determine their prognostic values. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective cohort. POPULATION: Two hundred thirty-five ICM/NIDCM patients (158 with T2DM and 77 without T2DM). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3T; steady-state free precession cine; phase-sensitive inversion recovery segmented gradient echo LGE sequences. ASSESSMENT: Global peak longitudinal systolic strain rate (GLPSSR) was evaluated to LV longitudinal function with feature tracking. The predictive value of GLPSSR was determined with ROC curve. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured. The primary adverse cardiovascular endpoint was follow up every 3 months. STATISTICAL TESTS: Mann-Whitney U test or student's t-test; Intra and inter-observer variabilities; Kaplan-Meier method; Cox proportional hazards analysis (threshold = 5%). RESULTS: ICM/NIDCM patients with T2DM exhibited significantly lower absolute value of GLPSSR (0.39 ± 0.14 vs. 0.49 ± 0.18) and higher proportion of LGE positive (+) despite similar LV ejection fraction, compared to without T2DM. LV GLPSSR was able to predict primary endpoint (AUC 0.73) and optimal cutoff point was 0.4. ICM/NIDCM patients with T2DM (GLPSSR < 0.4) had more markedly impaired survival. Importantly, this group (GLPSSR < 0.4, HbA1c ≥ 7.8%, or LGE (+)) exhibited the worst survival. In multivariate analysis, GLPSSR, HbA1c, and LGE (+) significantly predicted primary adverse cardiovascular endpoint in overall ICM/NIDCM and ICM/NIDCM patients with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM has an additive deleterious effect on LV longitudinal function and myocardial fibrosis in ICM/NIDCM patients. Combining GLPSSR, HbA1c, and LGE could be promising markers in predicting outcomes in ICM/NIDCM patients with T2DM. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: 5.
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Cardiomiopatias , Cardiomiopatia Dilatada , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda , Humanos , Cardiomiopatia Dilatada/complicações , Cardiomiopatia Dilatada/diagnóstico por imagem , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Meios de Contraste , Hemoglobinas Glicadas , Imagem Cinética por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Gadolínio , Função Ventricular Esquerda , Fibrose , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda/complicações , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda/diagnóstico por imagem , IsquemiaRESUMO
The construction of efficient photocatalysts for water splitting to enable H2 evolution is pivotal to alleviate energy issues and environmental concerns. In this work, carbon dots (CDs) were prepared by employing "green solvent" ionic liquids as carbon sources and then combined with Pt/NH2-MIL-125, resulting in the emergence of a high-efficiency photocatalyst termed CDs-Pt/NH2-MIL-125 for the first time. This composite photocatalyst exhibited outstanding photocatalytic activity in H2 production under visible light irradiation. Notably, the H2 production rate of CDs100-Pt/NH2-MIL-125 reaches up to 951.4 µmol/g/h, which was 3.1 times that of Pt/NH2-MIL-125. The characterization results indicate that CDs and Pt uniformly dispersed on the surface of NH2-MIL-125 and fabricated a synergistic compact structure, providing a high BET surface area (985 m2 g-1) and a suitable band gap. Furthermore, the distinctive embeddable-dispersed CDs and Pt, as dual cocatalyst, can harvest light and facilitate the transfer of photogenerated electrons, thereby significantly augmenting the exploitation of visible light. The plausible mechanism of photocatalytic H2 evolution over the CDs-Pt/NH2-MIL-125 catalyst was also discussed. This work introduces a promising strategy for designing high-performance CDs-MOFs-based photocatalysts, an innovative step toward achieving efficient photocatalytic water splitting for H2 production.
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The mixed-ligand strategy is one of the important methods for preparing new materials and regulating the properties of materials. In this work, by introducing different auxiliary ligands (ALs), we have obtained a series of mixed-ligand uranyl complexes (1-6) from a flexible biphenyltetracarboxylic acid (H4bptc) with an adjustable orthogonal conformation and studied the influence of different organic base molecules on the coordination and assembly of H4bptc with a uranyl cation. It is found that the coordinated ALs, including 4,4'-bipyridine-1,1'-dioxide and 1,10-phenanthroline, partially occupy the coordination sites of the uranyl center and directly affect the molecular conformations and uranyl coordination of flexible bptc linkers. On the other hand, noncoordinated ALs such as protonated 4,4'-bipyridine ([H2(4,4'-bpy)]2+) or dimethylammonium, which work as counterions in the form of encapsulated guests or hydrogen-bonded templates, also have a nonnegligible impact on the conformation and coordination of bptc linkers. Most interestingly, the AL-mediated evolution of uranyl coordination by the bptc linker and coordination geometry of the uranyl center is clearly observed, which suggests the adaptability of flexible bptc linkers to take suitable molecular configurations and uranyl coordination modes so as to adapt to the external regulator agents and varying environment. The physicochemical characterization of these uranyl compounds, especially photoluminescence, is addressed and discussed, and the results reveal that compound 5 has the potential to serve as a multifunctional radiation detection material for UV light and X-ray radiation.
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Cardiovascular computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a widely used imaging modality in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Advancements in CT imaging technology have further advanced its applications from high diagnostic value to minimising radiation exposure to patients. In addition to the standard application of assessing vascular lumen changes, CTA-derived applications including 3D printed personalised models, 3D visualisations such as virtual endoscopy, virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, as well as CT-derived hemodynamic flow analysis and fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) greatly enhance the diagnostic performance of CTA in cardiovascular disease. The widespread application of artificial intelligence in medicine also significantly contributes to the clinical value of CTA in cardiovascular disease. Clinical value of CTA has extended from the initial diagnosis to identification of vulnerable lesions, and prediction of disease extent, hence improving patient care and management. In this review article, as an active researcher in cardiovascular imaging for more than 20 years, I will provide an overview of cardiovascular CTA in cardiovascular disease. It is expected that this review will provide readers with an update of CTA applications, from the initial lumen assessment to recent developments utilising latest novel imaging and visualisation technologies. It will serve as a useful resource for researchers and clinicians to judiciously use the cardiovascular CT in clinical practice.
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The synthesis of cyclic carbonates through cycloaddition reactions between epoxides and carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important industrial process. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have functional and ordered pore structures, making them attractive catalysts for converting gas molecules into valuable products. One approach to enhance the catalytic activity of MOFs in CO2 cycloaddition reactions is to create open metal sites within MOFs. In this study, the amino-functionalized rare earth Gd-MOF (Gd-TPTC-NH2) and its ionic liquid composite catalysts (Gd-TPTC-NH-[BMIM]Br) were synthesized using 2'-amino-[1,1':4',1''-terphenyl]-3,3'',5,5''-tetracarboxylic acid (H4TPTC-NH2) as the ligand. The catalytic performance of these two catalysts was observed in the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 and epoxides. Under the optimized reaction conditions, Gd-TPTC-NH-[BMIM]Br can effectively catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of a variety of epoxide substrates with good to excellent yields of cyclic carbonate products. Comparatively, epichlorohydrin and epibromohydrin, which possess halogen substituents, promote higher yields of cyclic carbonates due to the electron-withdrawing nature of Cl and Br substituents. Additionally, the Gd-TPTC-NH-[BMIM]Br catalyst demonstrated good recyclability and reproducibility, maintaining its catalytic activity without any changes in its structure or properties after five reuse cycles.
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ZnO/TiO2 catalysts with different ZnO contents have been prepared through equal volume impregnation method, characterized by XRD, SEM, Py-IR, ICP, XPS, NH3-TPD and N2 adsorption/desorption, and evaluated in the synthesis of polycarbonate diol (PCDL) through transesterification. The results showed that titanium zinc oxide formed in these catalysts, and the content of acidic sites varied with the ZnO content, and ZnO/TiO2 (10%) has the highest acid amount. The ZnO/TiO2 (20%) with medium acidic sites showed the highest catalytic activity. The synthesis process of polycarbonate glycol was also optimized. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the yield of PCDL was 72.5%, and the M n reached 4829 g mol-1 with a PDI of 1.6.
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Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hence, early detection of cardiac changes by imaging is crucial to reducing cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Early detection of cardiac changes is crucial to reducing cardiovascular complications. The study aimed to detect the dynamic change in cardiac morphology, function, and diffuse myocardial fibrosis(DMF) associated with T1DM and T2DM mice models. Materials and methods: 4-week-old C57Bl/6J male mice were randomly divided into control (n=30), T1DM (n=30), and T2DM (n=30) groups. A longitudinal study was conducted every 4 weeks using serial 7.0T CMR and echocardiography imaging. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF), tissue tracking parameters, and DMF were measured by cine CMR and extracellular volume fraction (ECV). Global peak circumferential strain (GCPS), peak systolic strain rate (GCPSSR) values were acquired by CMR feature tracking. LV diastolic function parameter (E/E') was acquired by echocardiography. The correlations between the ECV and cardiac function parameters were assessed by Pearson's test. Results: A total of 6 mice were included every 4 weeks in control, T1DM, and T2DM groups for analysis. Compared to control group, an increase was detected in the LV mass and E/E' ratio, while the values of GCPS, GCPSSR decreased mildly in DM. Compared to T2DM group, GCPS and GCPSSR decreased earlier in T1DM(GCPS 12W,P=0.004; GCPSSR 12W,P=0.04). ECV values showed a significant correlation with GCPS and GCPSSR in DM groups. Moreover, ECV values showed a strong positive correlation with E/E'(T1DM,r=0.757,P<0.001;T2DM, r=0.811,P<0.001). Conclusion: The combination of ECV and cardiac mechanical parameters provide imaging biomakers for pathophysiology, early diagnosis of cardiac morphology, function and early intervention in diabetic cardiomyopathy in the future.
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Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Cardiomiopatias Diabéticas , Animais , Masculino , Camundongos , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/diagnóstico por imagem , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/diagnóstico por imagem , Cardiomiopatias Diabéticas/diagnóstico por imagem , Cardiomiopatias Diabéticas/etiologia , Ecocardiografia , Fibrose , Estudos Longitudinais , Volume Sistólico/fisiologia , Função Ventricular EsquerdaRESUMO
A new compound, named jiangxienone, has been isolated from a culture of the traditional Chinese medicinal mushroom Cordyceps jiangxiensis, and its chemical structure was established on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical techniques. Jiangxienone showed potent cytotoxic effects against human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cell and human lung carcinoma A549 cell with IC(50) values ranging from 1.38 to 2.93 µM, i.e., with at least approximately six-fold stronger cytotoxicity than cisplatin, a first-line chemotherapy drug for cancer patients.
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Agaricales/química , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Cicloexanonas/química , Cicloexanonas/farmacologia , Indanos/química , Indanos/farmacologia , Medicina Tradicional Chinesa , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Humanos , Concentração Inibidora 50RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and predictive factors of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). METHODS: Clinical data of 104 patients with CT angiography-proven PTE were collected and Wells score, revised Geneva score and ECG score were calculated. Blood gas analysis, CK-MB and D-dimer values were analyzed. Heart chamber diameters and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) were assessed by echocardiography. Qanadli obstruction index and Mastora obstruction index were evaluated according to computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Patients were followed up by telephone or clinic visit to assess the WHO functional class and the incidence of CTEPH. RESULTS: During the 25.47±16.94 months (4 to 62 months) follow-up, 7 out of 104 patients were lost to follow-up and data from the remaining 95 patients were analyzed. The incidence of CTEPH was 14.4% (14/97). Baseline PASP, incidence of recurrent PTE, right atrium and right ventricle diameters and CK-MB were significantly higher in CTEPH group compared to non-CTEPH group (all P<0.05). Higher CK-MB (odds ratio: 8.3) and baseline PASP (odds ratio: 5.0 per 20 mm Hg increment) were independent predictive factors for CTEPH in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Higher CK-MB and baseline PASP values are independent predictive factors related to the development of CTEPH post acute pulmonary thromboembolism.
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Hipertensão Pulmonar/diagnóstico , Embolia Pulmonar/complicações , Idoso , Gasometria , Pressão Sanguínea , Creatina Quinase Forma MB/sangue , Feminino , Humanos , Hipertensão Pulmonar/sangue , Hipertensão Pulmonar/complicações , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Artéria Pulmonar/fisiopatologia , Embolia Pulmonar/sangueRESUMO
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antitumor effects of 2,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone (7a) on the A549 human lung cancer cell line. A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of 7a for different time periods. Cells without 7a were used as the negative control group. Cell proliferation, invasion, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation, heterogeneous adhesion and apoptosis were measured using Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell invasion, VM, adhesion and flow cytometric assays, respectively. In addition, the expression of related proteins was determined using western blot analysis or ELISA. The present study found that 7a had a significant inhibitory effect on the survival rate of the A549 lung cancer cells but almost no effect on BEAS-2B human lung epithelial cells or human venous endothelial cells. The migration rate, VM length, invasion rate and heterogeneous adhesion number of cells treated with 7a significantly decreased as the concentration increased, while the apoptosis rate increased. Western blot analysis showed that 7a treatment significantly increased the expression levels of E-cadherin, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, Bax and caspase-3 and simultaneously decreased the expression levels of metalloproteinase-2/9, Bcl-2, phosphorylated (p)-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E-selectin and N-cadherin. At the same time, the ELISA results showed that the level of the pro-angiogenic factor VEGF in the culture media was reduced in the presence of 7a. In addition, 7a could also reduce the nuclear NF-κB protein expression, which could inhibit the gene transcription of tumor apoptosis and metastasis-related proteins. Therefore, 7a may exert inhibitory effects on A549 cells by inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, VM formation and heterogeneous adhesion, as well as by inducing apoptosis through the suppression of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway; these findings suggested that 7a may be a promising agent for the treatment of lung cancer.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antimicrobial potential of Metarhizium tail and its corresponding active fractions. METHODS: The agar diffusion method and growth-rate assay were employed individually to measure the antibacterial and antifungal activities of M. taii. The microdilution and disk colony count was used to test the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bacterial concentration. RESULTS: The extraction fractions of M. tail could evidently inhibi the growth of Gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aerzginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis,and phytopathogenic fungi such as Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, hereby M. taii had a broad spectrum antimicrobial effect including potent antibacterial and antifungal activities. The antimicrobial active ingredients of M. tail mainly existed in three extraction fractions including ethyl acetate extract in fermented broth, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts in mycelia. However there was an evident discrepancy on the antibacterial spectrum and competence for different active extraction fractions. CONCLUSION: M. taii possess potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, and it is a good edible and medicinal resource for the functional food development and the discovery of new antimicrobial drug.
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Fusarium/efeitos dos fármacos , Bactérias Gram-Negativas/efeitos dos fármacos , Bactérias Gram-Positivas/efeitos dos fármacos , Metarhizium/química , Rhizoctonia/efeitos dos fármacos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: In an effort to investigate the chemical constitutes of submerged cultivation mycelium of Cordyceps jiangxiensis anamorph. METHODS: The mycelia of C. jiangxiensis anamorph produced by submerged cultivation technique were separated and purified using various chromatographic techniques such as repeated liquid column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography etc. , and then the chemical structures of compounds obtained were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical analysis and spectroscopic techniques such as 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MS. RESULTS: Nine compounds were obtained from the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extractive fractions of mycelial methanol extract, and were identified as follows: uracil (I), adenine (II), adenosine (III), uridine (IV), 3'-methoxyuridine (V), succinic acid (VI), nicotinic acid (VII), 1-monostearin (VIII), tetracosanoic acid (IX). CONCLUSION: Chemical constitutes of C. jiangxiensis anamorph are systematically separated for the first time, and compounds V, VII, VIII, and IX obtained are separated from Cordyceps species firstly.
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Cordyceps/química , Micélio/química , Niacina/isolamento & purificação , Nucleosídeos/isolamento & purificação , Ácido Succínico/isolamento & purificação , Cromatografia Líquida , Ácidos Graxos/química , Ácidos Graxos/isolamento & purificação , Estrutura Molecular , Niacina/química , Nucleosídeos/química , Ácido Succínico/químicaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Key performance indices such as door-to-balloon times have long been recognized as quality metrics in reducing time to care for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In the situation where patients do not present to a facility capable of 24/7 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) delays in time to therapy can exceed the recommendation of 90 min or less. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of transfers on performance indices for patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Over a seven month collection period, all patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of ACS and admitted for PCI were studied. Patients were divided into dichotomous groups of direct presentations or transfers from a secondary non-PCI capable hospital with key times recorded, including symptom-onset, first hospital and PCI-capable hospital arrival and balloon inflation times to evaluate time of treatment for STEMI patients. RESULTS: Of the 87 patients diagnosed with STEMI, transferred patients experienced statistically significant delays in symptom-onset to the PCI-capable hospital (PCI-H) arrival (215 vs. 95 min, P < 0.001), symptom-onset to balloon inflation (225 vs. 160 min, P = 0.009) and first hospital arrival to balloon inflation times (106 vs. 56 min, P < 0.001). Only 28% (n = 9) of transferred patients underwent balloon inflation within 90 min from first hospital arrival, while 60% (n = 19) did within 120 min, although all received balloon inflation within 90 min from arrival at the PCI-H. After controlling for confounding factors of socio-economic status, presentation date/time and diagnostic category, transferred patients experienced an average 162% longer delays from symptom-onset to PCI-H door arrival, and 98% longer delays in symptom-onset to balloon inflation; compared to patients who present directly to the PCI-H. No statistically significant differences were noted between transferred and direct patients when measured from PCI-H door-to-balloon times. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that transferred patients experience a greater overall system delay, compared to patients who present directly for PCI, significantly increasing their time to treatment and therefore infarct times. Despite the majority of transfers experiencing pre-hospital activation, their treatment hospital arrival to balloon times are no less than direct presenters after controlling for confounding factors, further compounding the overall delay to therapy.
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Fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration is considered as a hazardous waste, which would raise great threats on environmental safety due to the inherent toxic heavy metals and organic pollutants. In this study, we applied the life cycle assessment to evaluate the thermal plasma vitrification process for stabilization of fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration. We established four scenarios: (i) plasma vitrification, including centralized and off-site plasma treatment, (ii) fuel-based vitrification, (iii) water-washing treatment followed by a rotary kiln, and (iv) conventional solidification and landfill. We found that the environmental impacts, especially toxicity to ecosystem quality and human health, could be significantly reduced by deploying plasma vitrification technology. We also found that centralized plasma vitrification facilities possessing larger treatment capabilities with clean electricity could further reduce the environmental impacts. In contrast, the water-washing treatment exhibited the highest environmental impacts due to the emissions of vaporized heavy metals. Based on the LCA and sensitivity analysis, we confirmed that the thermal plasma vitrification should be considered as an environmentally-friendly solution to sustainable treatment of fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration. Lastly, we provided several perspectives and prospects of plasma vitrification for realizing the sustainable materials management.
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A method of elemental determination is put forward in this paper. Namely, Pt, Pd, Au in 10-20 g samples were preconcentrated in milligram microgranular silver alloy by using fire assay. When compounded in solution, trace platinum, palladium, and gold in the solution were determined by ICP-AES. The detection limits of this method were 0.01, 0.005, and 0.01 microg x mL(-1) for Pt, Pd and Au, respectively. Recoveries of standard were more than 97% with precision of 0.1%, 0.12%, and 0.09% of RSD (n=10), respectively. It has proven that this analysis method is quick, simple and accurate. The method has been applied to the determination of contents of Pt, Pd and Au in samples.
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Ouro/análise , Paládio/análise , Platina/análise , Espectrofotometria Atômica/métodos , Incêndios , Limite de Detecção , Padrões de ReferênciaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) in the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) when compared to (99m)Tc single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and echocardiography, with invasive coronary angiography as the gold standard. METHODS: Thirty patients with diagnosed CAD met the selection criteria, with 10 of them (9 men, mean age 59.5 ± 10.5 years) undergoing all of these imaging procedures consisting of SPECT and PET, echocardiography and invasive angiography. Diagnostic sensitivity of these less invasive modalities for detection of myocardial viability was compared to invasive coronary angiography. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was assessed for diagnostic performance of SPECT and PET. RESULTS: Of all patients with proven CAD, 50% had triple vessel disease. Diagnostic sensitivity of SPECT, PET and echocardiography was 90%, 100% and 80% at patient-based assessment, respectively. Excellent agreement was achieved between inter-observer and intra-observer agreement of the diagnostic value of SPECT and PET in myocardial viability (k = 0.9). CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDG PET has high diagnostic value in the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with known CAD when compared to SPECT and echocardiography. Further studies based on a large cohort with incorporation of (18)F-FDG PET into patient management are warranted.
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Coronary artery disease remains a major cause of mortality. Presence of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary artery is responsible for lumen stenosis which is often used as an indicator for determining the severity of coronary artery disease. However, the degree of coronary lumen stenosis is not often related to compromising myocardial blood flow, as most of the cardiac events that are caused by atherosclerotic plaques are the result of vulnerable plaques which are prone to rupture. Thus, identification of vulnerable plaques in coronary arteries has become increasingly important to assist identify patients with high cardiovascular risks. Molecular imaging with use of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has fulfilled this goal by providing functional information about plaque activity which enables accurate assessment of plaque stability. This review article provides an overview of diagnostic applications of molecular imaging techniques in the detection of plaques in coronary arteries with PET and SPECT. New radiopharmaceuticals used in the molecular imaging of coronary plaques and diagnostic applications of integrated PET/CT and PET/MRI in coronary plaques are also discussed.
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BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association (AHA) recently developed definitions of cardiovascular health for adults and children based on 7 cardiovascular disease risk factors or health behaviors. We applied this new construct to examine the cardiovascular health status in adult Chinese urban residents. METHODS: Data of 1,012,418 subjects aged 20-65 years (55% were men; mean age, 42.4 years) who received health examination at 58 health examination centers across China was analyzed. The AHA ideal health behaviors index and ideal health factor index were evaluated among the subjects. RESULTS: Only 0.6% of male and 2.6% of female subjects met all 7 health components, and only 39.1% of the subjects met 5 or more components of ideal cardiovascular health. The prevalence of "ideal", "intermediate" and "poor" cardiovascular health was 1.5%, 33.9% and 64.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: About two-thirds of the adult Chinese urban population has "poor" cardiovascular health. Comprehensive individual and population-based interventions must be developed to improve cardiovascular health status in China.