Comparison of Vertebral Artery Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography in the Diagnosis of Vertebral Artery Stenosis in Patients with Posterior Circulation Ischemia

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical value of vertebral artery ultrasound (VAU), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) on vertebral artery stenosis in patients with posterior circulation ischemia. Seventy-three patients with posterior circulation ischemia underwent vertebral artery ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography as well as digital subtraction angiography, and the diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis (VAS) and the degree of stenosis (normal, mild stenosis, moderate stenosis, severe stenosis, and occlusion) were recorded and compared between digital subtraction angiogram and vertebral artery ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography. The vertebral artery stenosis rates on digital subtraction angiography and vertebral artery ultrasound were 87.30 % (55/63) and 49.20 % (31/63), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The rates of vertebral artery stenosis on digital subtraction angiography and, magnetic resonance angiography was 90.38 % (47/52) and 88.46 % (46/ 52), respectively, and the differences was not statistically significant. The sensitivity, accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of vertebral artery ultrasound in diagnosing vertebral artery stenosis were 51.35 %, 54.76 %, 18.18 %, and 95.00 %, respectively, lower than those of magnetic resonance angiography, which were 91.89 %, 90.48 %, 57.14 %, and 97.14 %, respectively. Of the noninvasive imaging techniques, vertebral artery ultrasound does not accurately characterize vertebral artery stenosis and its degree of stenosis. Magnetic resonance angiography effectively screens for vertebral artery stenosis and its degree of stenosis, and can be used as a reliable tool for vertebral artery stenosis in posterior circulation cerebral infarction, and can be used in conjunction with digital subtraction angiogram in order to improve diagnostic convenience and accuracy.

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el valor clínico de la ecografía de la arteria vertebral (VAU), la angiografía por resonancia magnética (ARM) y la angiografía por sustracción digital (DSA) en la estenosis de la arteria vertebral en pacientes con isquemia de la circulación posterior. A 73 pacientes con isquemia de la circulación posterior se les realizó una ecografía de la arteria vertebral y una angiografía por resonancia magnética, así como una angiografía por sustracción digital, y se les diagnosticó estenosis de la arteria vertebral (EVA) y el grado de estenosis (normal, estenosis leve, estenosis moderada, estenosis grave, y oclusión) se registraron y compararon la angiografía por sustracción digital y la ecografía de la arteria vertebral y la angiografía por resonancia magnética. Las tasas de estenosis de la arteria vertebral en la angiografía por sustracción digital y la ecografía de la arteria vertebral fueron del 87,30 % (55/63) y del 49,20 % (31/63), respectivamente, y la diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa. Las tasas de estenosis de la arteria vertebral en la angiografía por sustracción digital y la angiografía por resonancia magnética fueron del 90,38 % (47/52) y del 88,46 % (46/52), respectivamente, y las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas. La sensibilidad, precisión, valor predictivo negativo y valor predictivo positivo de la ecografía de la arteria vertebral en el diagnóstico de estenosis de la arteria vertebral fueron 51,35 %, 54,76 %, 18,18 % y 95,00 %, respectivamente, inferiores a los de la angiografía por resonancia magnética, que fueron 91,89 %, 90,48 %, 57,14 % y 97,14 %, respectivamente. De las técnicas de imagen no invasivas, la ecografía de la arteria vertebral no caracteriza con precisión la estenosis de la arteria vertebral y su grado de estenosis. La angiografía por resonancia magnética detecta eficazmente la estenosis de la arteria vertebral y su grado de estenosis, y puede usarse como una herramienta confiable para la estenosis de la arteria vertebral en el infarto cerebral de circulación posterior, y puede ser utilizada junto con la angiografía por sustracción digital para mejorar el diagnóstico y la exactitud.

Herramientas para el tamizaje de aneurisma de aorta abdominal / Tools for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Introducción. El aneurisma de la aorta abdominal (AAA) es la dilatación de la aorta abdominal mayor de 1,5 veces el diámetro esperado. Su prevalencia es variable, con tasas reportadas de hasta el 12,5 %. Se considera como causa de muerte de más de 10.000 personas al año en los Estados Unidos. El objetivo de esta revisión de la literatura fue describir los factores de riesgo y las herramientas de tamizaje de AAA. Métodos. Se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura utilizando dos ecuaciones en bases de datos electrónicas, empleando términos seleccionados de "Medical Subject Heading" (MeSH) y "Descriptores en Ciencias de la Salud" (DeCS). Se evaluó la calidad de los estudios con la herramienta STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology). Resultados. Se recolectaron 40 artículos y a partir de ellos se construyó el texto de revisión, identificando en estos, los factores de riesgo asociados al desarrollo de AAA, tales como sexo masculino, tabaquismo, hipertensión arterial, antecedente familiar y obesidad, entre otros. La diabetes mellitus parece actuar como factor protector. Dentro de los instrumentos de tamizaje, el ultrasonido abdominal es uno de los más usados. Conclusión. El AAA es una patología multifactorial. En la actualidad la ultrasonografía de aorta es el método de elección para el tamizaje, permitiendo la detección precoz. El tamizaje de AAA con métodos no invasivos, como el ultrasonido, es útil sobre todo en zonas con prevalencia alta de la patología y en pacientes con determinados factores de riesgo.

Introduction. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dilation of the abdominal aorta greater than 1.5 times the expected diameter. Its prevalence is variable, with reported rates of up to 12.5%. It is considered the cause of death of more than 10,000 people a year in the United States. The objective of this literature review was to describe risk factors and screening tools for AAA. Methods. A literature search was conducted using two equations in electronic databases, using terms selected from "Medical Subject Heading" (MeSH) and "Descriptors in Health Sciences" (DeCS). The quality of the studies was evaluated with the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) tool. Results. Forty articles were collected and from them the review text was constructed, identifying the risk factors associated with the development of AAA, such as male sex, smoking, high blood pressure, family history and obesity, among others. Diabetes mellitus seems to act as a protective factor. Among the screening instruments, abdominal ultrasound is one of the most used. Conclusion. AAA is a multifactorial pathology. Currently, aortic ultrasonography is the method of choice for screening, allowing early detection. Screening for AAA with non-invasive methods, such as ultrasound, is useful especially in areas with a high prevalence of this pathology and in patients with certain risk factors.

Effect of Tongnaoyin on Cerebral Hemodynamics in Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction of Phlegm and Blood Stasis Syndrome Based on CTA/CTP / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the changes in cerebral blood perfusion in patients with acute cerebral infarction after taking Tongnaoyin， a traditional Chinese medicine， based on head and neck computed tomography （CT） angiography （CTA） combined with brain CT perfusion imaging （CTP）. MethodA total of 240 patients with cerebral infarction of phlegm and blood stasis syndrome treated in Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2018 to September 2023 were randomly divided into a control group （99 cases） and a Tongnaoyin group （141 cases）. Based on the guidelines， the control group was treated with conventional treatment such as anti-aggregation， anticoagulation， lipid-lowering and plaque stabilization， brain protection， and supportive treatment. The Tongnaoyin group was treated with Tongnaoyin of 200 mL in warm conditions in the morning and evening on the basis of the control group. Both groups underwent CTA combined with CTP within 24 hours after admission， and they were reexamined by CTA and CTP in the sixth month after admission. The degree of intracranial artery stenosis was determined according to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial （NASCET） method. The relative cerebral blood volume （rCBV）， relative cerebral blood flow （rCBF）， mean transit time （MTT）， and time to peak （TTP） of the lesion area before and after treatment were compared. The adverse outcomes of the two groups within six months after discharge were compared. ResultCompared with the group before treatment， the degree of vascular stenosis in the Tongnaoyin group was significantly reduced， and the difference was statistically significant （Z=105.369，P<0.05）. Compared with the control group after treatment， the improvement rate of vascular stenosis in the Tongnaoyin group was higher （χ2=84.179，P<0.01）， and the curative effect was better.After treatment， the rCBV and rCBF of patients in the Tongnaoyin group were significantly increased， and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.01）. MTT and TTP showed a trend of shortening， but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in rCBV， rCBF， MTT， and TTP in the control group. Compared with those in the control group after treatment， the rCBV and rCBF in the Tongnaoyin group were significantly increased， while MTT and TTP were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. After six months of discharge， the risk of poor prognosis in the Tongnaoyin group was significantly reduced compared with the control group （P<0.05）. ConclusionTongnaoyin has a good effect on improving cerebral blood perfusion in patients with acute cerebral infarction. It can be used as an effective supplement for the conventional treatment of ischemic stroke to improve clinical efficacy.

Feasibility study of low tube voltage and low contrast medium combined with IMR technology in 3DCTA of vertebral artery V3 segment / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the feasibility of low-voltage,automatic tube current adjustment(ATCM)and low contrast agent concentration,dose and injection rate combined with full-model iterative re-construction(IMR)in vertebral artery V3-segment three-dimensional CT angiography(3DCTA).Methods A total of 60 patients with suspected upper cervical spine,craniocervical junction lesions undergoing cervical vertebral artery V3 segment 3DCTA in this hospital from November 2019 to May 2020 were selected and divided into the group A and B by adopting the random number table method,30 cases in each group.The group A adopted the ATCM technology of 80 kV,average tube current of 50 mAs,25 mL of contrast agent io-hexol(iodine content 300 mg/mL)combined IMR technology with an injection rate of 3 mL/s,while the group B adopted 120 kV,150 mAs fixed tube current,50 mL injection rate of 5 mL/s contrast agent iopamidol(iodine content 370 mg/mL)combined filter back projection(FBP)reconstruction technology.CT value,noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast noise ratio(CNR)and image sensitivity(FOM)were measured and compared between the two groups and the quality of the resulting images was evaluated.The CT volumet-ric dose index(CTDIvol)and dose-length product(DLP)were recorded,and the effective dose(ED)was cal-culated.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the vertebral arterial CT value between the two groups(P＞0.05),but the noise of the group A was lower than that of the group B(P＜0.05),SNR,CNR and FOM of the group A were greater than those of the group B(P＜0.05).The image quality of the two groups met the requirements of clinical diagnosis[(4.78±0.41)points vs.(4.85±0.35)points],and there was no statistically significant difference in the subjective evaluation of image quality(P＞0.05).The CTDIvol,DLP and ED levels in the group A were lower than those in the group B(P＜0.05).The iodine in-takes of contrast medium in the group A and group B were 7.5 g and 18.5 g,respectively,and the iodine flow rates of contrast agent were 0.9 and 1.85 mg/s,respectively,and compared with group B,the iodine intake and iodine flow rate of the group A were decreased by 59.5％and 51.4％,respectively.Conclusion Low tube voltage ATCM and low contrast concentration,dose and injection rate combined with IMR technology can not only ensure the 3DCTA image quality of vertebral artery V3 segment,but also reduce the radiation dose re-ceived by the patients,and reduce the iodine intake and iodine flow rate of contrast agent.

Efficiency analysis of digital three-dimensional reconstruction model of pelvic CTA in judging the origin of female giant pelvic mass / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the value of pelvic CT angiography(CTA)digital three-dimensional reconstruction model(abbreviated as"three-dimensional model")in the diagnosis of female pelvic mass.Methods A total of 98 patients with pelvic mass who were hospitalized and operated in Xi'an People's Hos-pital(Xi'an Fourth Hospital)from January 2021 to April 2023 were selected.All patients underwent B-ultra-sound and CTA examination before operation,and the original data of CTA were collected.The digital three-dimensional model of pelvic mass was established by three-dimensional reconstruction software,and the source of pelvic mass was judged according to the blood supply of pelvic mass.Taking postoperative pathological di-agnosis as the gold standard,the coincidence rate between different preoperative diagnosis methods(B-ultra-sound,CTA examination and three-dimensional model)was compared.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted to evaluate the efficacy of different preoperative diagnostic methods in judging the ovarian origin of pelvic tumors.Results A total of 130 pelvic masses were included in 98 patients,and the average maximum diameter of the mass was(71.61±3.03)mm,including 83 ovarian masses and 47 non-ovarian masses.Taking postoperative pathological diagnosis as the gold standard,the diagnostic coincidence rate of the preoperative three-dimensional model was 72.31％,which was higher than that of B-ultrasound(58.46％)and CTA(52.31％),and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.001).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy,Kappa value,and area under the ROC curve were 79.51％,91.49％,94.29％,71.67％,83.85％,0.67 and 0.855,respectively,when the three-dimensional model showed that the blood supply of the mass originated from ovarian artery or uterine artery-ovarian branch.Conclusion The three-dimensional model of pelvic CTA can directly display the blood supply source,characteristics of mass,and the relationship between mass and adjacent organs,which can guide the clinical treatment.It has certain clinical value to judge the ovarian origin of pelvic mass by using ovarian artery and uterine artery-ovarian branch.

Application of AI diagnostic system in the evaluation of CHD patients in high-altitude areas / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the application of diagnostic system with artificial intelligence(AI)in the evaluation of patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)at high altitude.Methods A total of 318 pa-tients underwent coronary CT angiography(CTA)at the hospital from January to December 2022 were pro-spectively collected.According to the altitude gradient,the patients were divided into the 2 000-3 000 m group and>3 000 m group.Coronary angiography(CAG)was used as the gold standard to verify the diag-nostic performance of AI diagnostic system.Coronary artery diagnosis system with AI technology and CT de-rived fractional flow reserve(CT-FFR)measurement system were used to evaluate the plaque structure char-acteristics and hemodynamic changes in the two groups of patients.Results Calcified plaques and vulnerable plaques in the>3 000 m group were more than those in the 2 000-3 000 m group(χ2=3.976,6.482,P= 0.046,0.011).The incidence of multi-vessel coronary artery disease,moderate stenosis,severe stenosis and complete occlusion in the>3 000 m group was higher than that in the 2 000-3 000 m group,and the inci-dence of single-vessel coronary artery disease and mild stenosis in the 2 000-3 000 m group was higher than that in the>3 000 m group(P<0.05).The incidence of CT-FFR≤0.80 and<0.70 in the>3 000 m group was higher than that in the 2 000-3 000 m group(χ2=4.782,28.118,P=0.029,<0.001).The comparison with the gold standard showed that this method has high sensitivity,specificity,and diagnostic consistency(P<0.001).Conclusion The coronary diagnosis system with AI technology has certain value in the system-atic evaluation of coronary artery characteristics and hemodynamic changes in CHD patients at high altitude.

Isopsoralen accelerates tibia fracture healing by promoting bone formation in mice / 陆军军医大学学报

Objective To determine the effect of isopsoralen(ISO)on the healing of tibia fracture in mice and explore its underlying mechanism.Methods Fifty male C57BL/6 mice(2 month old,20±2 g)were randomly divided into model group and ISO treatment group,with 25 animals in each group.From the 3rd day after modeling,the mice from the ISO group were given an intragastric gavage of 40 mg/kg ISO,once per day for 28 consecutive days,while those of the model group was given same volume of normal saline in same way.On the 7th,14th,21st,and 28th day after gavage,the tibia on the surgical side was taken,and the fracture area was quantified by bone volume/total volume(BV/TV)after micro-CT scanning.The healing and shaping of the fracture end were observed through HE staining.ELISA was used to detect the serum contents of bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP)and procollagen type I N-terminal peptide(PINP)on the 14th day of gavage.Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of Collagen Ⅰ,Runx2,BMP2,OSX,and VEGF in the tibial callus tissue in 7 and 14 d after gavage.Vascular perfusion was applied to observe the callus microvessels in 28 d to quantitatively analyze the vascular volume fraction and vessel diameter.Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to observe the expression of VEGF in the callus in 14 d after gavage.Results HE staining displayed that the ISO group had faster healing process than the model group.Micro-CT quantification results showed that the ISO group had higher BV/TV ratio in 7 d after gavage though no statistical difference,significantly higher ratio in 14 d(P＜0.05),but obviously lower ratio in 21 and 28 d after gavage(both P＜0.05)when compared with the model group.The serum contents of BALP and PINP were also remarkably higher in the ISO group than the model group(P＜0.05).Western blotting results indicated that the expression levels of Collagen Ⅰ,Runx2,BMP2,OSX and VEGF in the ISO group were higher than those in the model group(P＜0.05).The results of angiography revealed that the vascular volume fraction and vessel diameter were notably increased in the ISO group than the model group(both P＜0.05).Immunohistochemical assay showed that the expression of VEGF was higher in the ISO group than the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusion ISO can improve the activity of osteoblasts,increase the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins,and accelerate the angiogenesis to promote fracture healing.

Relationship between serum CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio combined with MRA and recurrence of cerebral infarction / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation and predictive effect of serum CD4+/CD8+T lympho-cyte ratio combined with magnetic resonance angiography(MRA)on recurrence of cerebral infarction.Meth-ods A total of 153 patients with acute cerebral infarction admitted to the Zhenjiang First People's Hospital from January 2021 to February 2022 were selected.CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio of patients was deter-mined,vascular stenosis score and collateral circulation filling score were evaluated by MRA.The patients were followed up for 1 year,including 34 patients with recurrent cerebral infarction as recurrent cerebral in-farction group,107 patients without recurrent cerebral infarction as the non-recurrent cerebral infarction group,12 patients were excluded due to other causes of loss of follow-up,and the receiver operating character-istic(ROC)curve for using the indicators to predict the recurrent cerebral infarction was drawn.Results The CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio in recurrent cerebral infarction group was significantly higher than that in non-recurrent cerebral infarction group(P<0.05).Vascular stenosis score and collateral circulation filling score in recurrent cerebral infarction group were lower than those in non-recurrent cerebral infarction group(P<0.05).The recurrence of cerebral infarction was correlated with CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio,vascu-lar stenosis score and collateral circulation filling score(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of CD4+/CD8+T lymphocyte ratio,vascular stenosis score,and collateral circulation filling score to predict recurrent cerebral infarction was 0.975,0.889,and 0.935,respectively,and the AUC of recurrent cerebral infarction was 0.994 when combined with the three factors.The AUC of cerebral infarction recurrence was significantly higher than that of each index alone.Conclusion Serum CD4+/CD8+T lympho-cyte ratio combined with MRA vascular stenosis score and collateral circulation filling score have high efficacy in the diagnosis of recurrent cerebral infarction,which have predictive value for recurrent cerebral infarction.

CCTA based clinical value analysis of ΔCT-FFR in evaluating coronary artery function in patients with severe calcification / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical value of coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)based CT derived fractional flow reserve(CT-FFR)and ΔCT-FFR in improving the diagnostic efficiency for coronary abnormal hemodynamics in patients with severe calcification.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of coronary artery disease(CAD)patients who underwent CCTA,CT-FFR,invasive coronary angiography(ICA)and FFR during hospitalization from January 2018 to June 2019 in Chinese PLA General Hospital.Severe calcification was defined as coronary artery calcium score(CACS)≥100 on single vessel level.A total of 107 CAD patients with 149 coronary arteries were included in the present study.The enrolled coronary arteries were assigned to CACS≥100 group(n=56)and CACS<100 group(n=93).CT-FFR was performed on the deep FFR platform based on machine learning(ML)algorithms and ΔCT-FFR was defined as CT-FFR difference between proximal and distal to the coronary lesion.The correlation and consistency between CT-FFR and FFR values were analyzed by Pearson and Bland-Altman methods.We attempted to analyze the incremental value of ΔCT-FFR for coronary functional evaluation,especial for coronary arteries with severe calcification,regarding FFR≤0.8 as the diagnostic gold standard.Comparison of receiver operating characteristic curves(ROC)between different diagnostic methods was presented by Delong test.Results Pearson and Bland-Altman analyses showed appreciable correlation(CACS≥100 group,r=0.71,P<0.01;CACS<100 group,r=0.73,P<0.01)and consistency(CACS≥100 group,Mean=-0.01,P=0.25;CACS<100 group,Mean=0,P=0.96)between CT-FFR and FFR values in both groups.FFR(0.80±0.08 vs.0.84±0.09,P=0.004)and CT-FFR(0.81±0.06 vs.0.85±0.06,P<0.001)levels were significant lower in CACS≥100 group than those in CACS<100 group,while ΔCT-FFR(0.14±0.06 vs.0.09±0.06,P<0.001)levels were significant higher in CACS≥100 group.Moreover,the diagnostic efficiency of CT-FFR in CACS≥100 group was inferior to that in CACS<100 group[AUC=0.792(95%CI 0.663-0.889)vs.AUC=0.929(95%CI 0.856-0.972),P=0.04],while it achieved significant improvement after ΔCT-FFR adjustment[AUC=0.876(95%CI 0.760-0.949)vs.AUC=0.792(95%CI 0.663-0.889),P=0.02]and was similar to that in CACS<100 group(P=0.37).Conclusion For coronary arteries with severe calcification,CT-FFR demonstrated significant incremental value in improving the diagnostic efficiency of coronary abnormal hemodynamics after ΔCT-FFR adjustment.

Clinical analysis of aortographic manifestations in 30 child patients with Kawasaki disease / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To summarize the aortographic features of child patients with Kawasaki disease(KD)complicated by coronary artery lesion(CAL)who were treated at the Wuhan Children's Hospital of China.Methods The clinical data of 30 child patients with early recovery stage KD complicated by CAL,who received aortic angiography examination at Wuhan Children's Hospital of China between June 2016 and June 2023,were retrospectively analyzed.Preoperative echocardiography was adopted to evaluate the severity of CAL,and aortic angiography under laryngeal mask general anesthesia was performed.Results Successful aortic angiography examination was accomplished in all the 30 child patients with KD complicated by CAL.After angiography,the CAL risk classification results showed that grade I was seen in 5,grade Ⅱ in 7,grade Ⅲ in 12,grade Ⅲ in 4,and grade V in 2 child patients.Of all child patients,old coronary thrombosis was found in one(grade Ⅲb),and coronary artery stenosis with collateral circulation formation in one(grade Ⅴ).The CAL was located at the proximal segment(n=15),middle segment(n=3)and distal segment(n=2)of the right coronary artery,at the left main coronary artery(n=12),and at the proximal segment of left coronary artery anterior descending branch(n=9).Electrocardiography showed sinus rhythm(n=17),sinus arrhythmia(n=4),right bundle branch block(n=4),atrial premature beat(n=1),ventricular premature beat(n=2),T-wave change(n=1),and Q-wave change(n=1,coronary lesion grade V,echocardiography suggested left heart enlargement).No cardiac enlargement,cardiac functional insufficiency,or valvular regurgitation signs were observed in the remaining child patients.Conclusion It is clinically safe and feasible to perform aortic angiography examination in child patients with early recovery stage KD complicated by CAL.In this series of child patients with KD,CAL mainly occurs at the proximal segment of coronary artery,especially at the proximal segment of right coronary artery as well as at the left main artery and left anterior descending branch.

Analysis of the consistency between CTA and DSA in evaluating GLASS staging of chronic limb-threatening ischemia / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To analyze the consistency between computer tomography angiography(CTA)and digital subtraction angiography(DSA)in evaluating the global limb anatomic staging system(GLASS)stage of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia(CLTI).Methods The clinical data of patients with CLTI,who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University of China to receive treatment between January 2017 and December 2020,were retrospectively analyzed.Taking the DSA assessment as the gold standard,the consistency of CTA and DSA in evaluating the GLASS stage of patients with CLTI was analyzed.Results In the assessment of GLASS stage of CLTI,CTA showed strong agreement with DSA.The weighted Kappa coefficient of CTA and DSA for the staging of femoropopliteal segment was 0.798(95％CI=0.722-0.873,P＜0.01),and the weighted Kappa coefficient of CTA and DSA for the staging of infrapopliteal artery segment was 0.785(95％ CI=0.725-0.845,P＜0.0l).For the overall staging of GLASS,the weighted Kappa coefficient of CTA and DSA was 0.832(95％ CI=0.752-0.91 1,P＜0.01).All the above results indicated that a very strong consistency existed between CTA and DSA in evaluating the GLASS stage of patients with CLTI.Conclusion CTA examination of lower limb can accurately evaluate GLASS score and stage of CLTI patient's target lesions,which is helpful in diagnosing lower extremity arteriosclerosis occlusion disease as well as in assessing the technical difficulty degree of its revascularization operation.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:300-303)

The value of plaque-to-aorta CT value ratio in differentiating coronary lipid and fibrous plaques / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the value of plaque-to-aorta CT value ratio(standardized CT value)in differentiating coronary lipid and fibrous plaques,and to preliminarily analyze the stability of the cutoff.Methods Patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)and intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)within 1 week were included.The plaque CT value was obtained by measuring the all,four and two short-axis planes,respectively.The CT value of the ascending aorta was measured and standardized(plaque-to-aorta CT value ratio).The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves of the standardized and the traditional CT values were drawn.Results A total of 60 patients with 74 plaques were included,35 lipid and 39 fibrous plaques were diagnosed by IVUS.The aorta CT value was significantly correlated with the plaque(r=0.420,P<0.01);the cutoffs for the CT value of all,four and two plaque slices were 55 HU,48 HU and 52 HU,respectively,and all there of the cutoffs of standardized CT value were 0.149;the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV)and negative predictive value(NPV)of four-slice traditional and standardized CT values to differentiate lipid and fibrous plaques were 69%,87%,83%,76%and 91%,82%,82%,91%,respectively.Conclusion Compared with traditional CT value,the standardized CT value can greatly improve the sensitivity and NPV in differentiating coronary lipid and fibrous plaques,while maintaining modest to high specificity and PPV.Furthermore,the cutoff is stable.

Application of the second generation snap shot freeze combined with artificial intelligence in free heart rate coronary CT angiography / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the application value of the second generation snap shot freeze(SSF2)combined with artificial intelligence reconstruction in free heart rate coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA).Methods The examination data of 37 patients undergoing CCTA were divided into two groups for reconstruction.Group A,reconstruction by artificial intelligence after SSF2 algorithm correction;group B,original images automatically split and multi-phase reconstruction by artificial intelligence.Image quality were compared on volume rendering(VR),curve planar reformation(CPR),maximum intensity projection(MIP)image,subjective evaluation,objective scoring,and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR).Independent samples t-test and Chi-square test were used,and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results There were statistically significant differences in the image quality score and SNR of the two reconstruction methods(P=0.009).Group A scored better,with higher signal intensity,lower noise intensity,and better SNR.The difference in the number of right coronary artery(RCA)analyzable segments between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The excellent and good rate of subjective evaluation of coronary artery segments in group A RCA(98.6%)was higher than that in group B(69.6%).Conclusion Using SSF2 combined with artificial intelligence reconstruction technology can significantly improve the image quality of CCTA,improve the success rate of CCTA examination,and improve the overall work efficiency.

Correlation study between epicardial fat and coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between epicardial fat volume(EFV),epicardial fat volume indexed(EFVi)and coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults.Methods The data of 80 young patients who underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)and coronary angiography(CAG)within 2 weeks were analyzed retrospectively.The correlation between EFV,EFVi and coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults was evaluated.Results A total of 80 patients were enrolled,taking CAG exomination results as the gold standard,58 cases were enrolled into the lesion group and the other 22 cases were enrolled into the control group.The incidence of coronary artery lumen stenosis was higher in young males than that in young females(t=4.309,P=0.038).EFV and EFVi in the lesion group were higher than those in the control group(t=3.023,P=0.001;t=2.785,P=0.001).The EFV in males was higher than that in females(t=2.558,P=0.012).There was no significant difference in EFVi between male and female groups.The differences between EFV and EFVi of males in lesion group and control group were statistically significant(t=4.083,P<0.01;t=4.429,P<0.01).The differences between EFV and EFVi of females in lesion group and control group showed no sta-tistical significance.EFV and EFVi were moderately positively correlated with coronary artery lumen stenosis(rs=0.437,P<0.01;rs=0.463,P<0.01).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis of EFV and EFVi showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of EFV was 0.784,the cut-off value was 107.24 cm3,the sensitivity was 0.776,and the specificity was 0.682.The AUC,cut-off value,sensitivity and specificity of EFVi was 0.793,53.68 cm3/m2,0.81,0.682,respectively.Conclusion EFV and EFVi are moderately positively correlated with coronary artery lumen stenosis in young adults,which is helpful to the diagnosis of coronary heart disease.However,the differences between EFV and EFVi of young females in lesion group and control group show no statistical significance.

Application value of 100 kVp low tube voltage combined with ASIR-V in Adamkiewicz artery imaging of spinal cord / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of 100 kVp low tube voltage combined with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruc-tion-Veo(ASIR-V)on the imaging display,image quality and radiation dose of Adamkiewicz artery(AKA).Methods Ninety patients with computed tomography angiography(CTA)of aorta were randomly divided into two groups.In group A,the tube voltage was 100 kVp,and ASIR-V was 80%reconstructed.The tube voltage in group B was 120 kVp,and adaptive statistical iterative recon-struction(ASIR)was 40%reconstructed.The CT value and the standard deviation(SD)value of descending aorta were measured at the 12th thoracic vertebra level,and the CT value and the SD value of the spinal cord were measured at the same level to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of AKA.According to the continuity between AKA and intercostal artery or lumbar artery,the visualization of AKA was evaluated by two doctors with a double-blinded method and a five-point method,and the radiation doses of group A and group B were compared.Results Compared with group B,the CT value of aorta in group A was sig-nificantly increased by about 22.83%(P<0.001).The background noise of AKA in group A was significantly lower than that in group B(P<0.001),and the SNR and CNR were significantly higher than those in group B(P<0.001).The visualization score of AKA in group A was higher than that in group B(P<0.05).The effective dose(ED)in group A was significantly lower than that in group B by about 41.28%(P<0.001).Conclusion 100 kVp combined with ASIR-V technique for spinal cord AKA imaging can obtain better image quality,improve the sensitivity of AKA display and reduce the radiation dose.

Comparison of image quality in carotid contrast-enhanced MR angiography based on 1.5T among different flow rates of Gadobutrol / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To compare the image quality of carotid contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography(ceMRA)under different flow rates using high relaxation rate contrast agent named Gadobutrol,and to find the best flow rate for carotid ceMRA.Methods Total of 117 patients,who were scheduled to perform carotid ceMRA examination using Gadobutrol with a dosage of 0.1 mL/kg body weight on a 1.5T MR platform,were enrolled in the study.They were divided into four groups according to four kinds of flow rates,which were 1.0 mL/s(n=29),1.5 mL/s(n=30),2.0 mL/s(n=30)and 3.0 mL/s(n=28).The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)of bilateral carotid initiation and bilateral carotid bifurcation were calculated.The SNR of carotid initiation or carotid bifurca-tion between different flow rates were compared.And the scores of image quality among different flow rates were also compared.Results For bilateral carotid bifurcations and carotid initiations,the SNR under 1.5 mL/s were highest,which were significantly higher than those under 1.0 mL/s,while there were no significant differences between each two other flow rates.For the bilateral carotid bifurca-tions,the SNR under 1.0 mL/s were lower than those under other flow rates,and were significantly lower than those under 1.5 mL/s and 3.0 mL/s.The score of the image quality at 1.0 mL/s was significantly lower than that under other flow rates.The score of the image quality at 1.5 mL/s was the highest,but no significant difference was found compared to that at 2.0 mL/s or 3.0 mL/s.Conclusion The rate of 1.5 mL/s is recommended as the best flow rate for carotid ceMRA with Gadobutrol based on 1.5T MR.

The predict value of CT angiography combined with CT perfusion parameters and serum biology for recurrent stroke events / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the predict value of imaging parameters in computed tomography perfusion(CTP)combined with computed tomography angiography(CTA)examination and serum biomarkers for recurrent stroke events at three-month and one-year follow-ups.Methods A total of 136 patients with cerebral infarction diagnosed for the first time were included in the retrospective study.These patients received CTA+CTP one-stop examination and serum biomarkers testing,followed by three-month and one-year follow-ups for the occurrence of recurrent stroke events.Recurrent stroke events were defined as ischemic stroke,retinal infarction,intracerebral hemorrhage,subarachnoid hemorrhage,and death.Results The recurrent stroke events rate was 23.5%(32 cases)and 36.8%(50 cases)at three-month and one-year follow-ups,respectively.Ischemic penumbra(IP)volume[odds ratio(OR)=1.010,P=0.029]and modified Rankin scale(mRS)score at discharge(OR=1.388,P=0.008)were independent predictors for recurrent stroke events at the three-month follow-up,so were lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)](OR=1.002,P=0.044),vascular stenosis severity(OR=1.489,P=0.029),and mRS score at discharge(OR=1.282,P=0.038)at the one-year follow-up.Conclusion Among patients with stroke diagnosed for the first time,IP volume,Lp(a),vascular stenosis severity and mRS score at discharge are the most powerful predictors of recurrent stroke events at three-month and one-year follow-ups.

The application value of a special surface fence in percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage under the guidance of C-arm CT / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the application value of a special fence in percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage(PTCD)under the guidance of C-arm CT.Methods A total of 43 patients who underwent PTCD were randomly divided into observation group and control group.The intervention operation in the observation group was guided by C-arm CT and located by special fence;in the control group,the intervention operation was only performed under digital subtraction angiography(DSA)fluoroscopy.Respectively,the differences in operation time,number of puncture needles and number of complications between the two groups were compared.Results The operation time,puncture times and complications in the observation group were(39.33±12.96)min,(1.67±0.80)times and 3 cases respectively;in the control group were(86.77±22.70)min,(3.41±1.26)times and 13 cases respectively;There were significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The application of special fence in PTCD under the guidance of C-arm CT can short the operation time,reduce the number of punctures and reduce complications,which has important clinical application value.

The application of low-dose test method combined with variable helical pitch technology in CT angiography of lower extremity arteries / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the application efficacy of low-dose test method combined with variable helical pitch(VHP)technology in computed tomography angiography(CTA)of lower extremity arteries.Methods Eighty patients with CTA imaging of bilateral lower extremity arteries were selected and divided into group A and group B on average.VHP technology was used in group A,and conventional fixed pitch scanning was used in group B.The objective and subjective image quality of the two groups were compared,and the radiation dose and contrast agent dosage of the two groups were recorded and compared.Results The subjective image quality evaluation of group A was significantly better than that of group B,and the difference was statistically significant(Kappa test,P<0.05).In the objective image quality evaluation,the CT value and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)value of the common iliac artery,popliteal artery and anterior tibial artery in group A were higher than those in group B at the same level,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05);The effective dose(ED)value in group A was(6.74±1.20)mSv,and that in group B was(7.93±1.78)mSv(P<0.05).The dosage of contrast agent in group A was significantly lower than that in group B[(73.97±12.15)mL in group A,(82.50±2.61)mL in group B](P<0.05).Conclusion Low-dose test method combined with VHP technology not only can reduce the radiation dose and contrast agent dosage,but also can effectively improve the success rate and image quality of lower extremity arteries examination,which is worthy of clinical application.