Measuring visual attention to faces with cleft deformity.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available regarding observers' visual attention to faces with congenital difference. We implemented eye tracking technology to examine this issue, as it pertains particularly to faces with cleft deformity. METHOD: Four hundred three observers assessed 273 clinical images, while their eye movements were unobtrusively tracked using an infrared sensor. Forty-one facial images of the repaired cleft lip, 137 images of other facial conditions, and 95 images of matched controls were assessed. Twenty facial regions of interest ("lookzones") were considered for all images observed. A separate cohort of 720 raters evaluated the images for attractiveness. Observer and image demographic information was collected. Visual fixation counts and durations were computed across all 20 lookzones for all images. The effect of a variety of variables on lookzone fixation was analyzed using factorial ANOVA testing. RESULTS: Cleft-repaired faces were rated as less attractive and drew observers' attention preferentially to the affected upper lip lookzone (p<.001). Images rated as less attractive garnered greater visual attention in the cleft-affected lookzones (p<.001). The eye tracking methodology demonstrated exquisite sensitivity to laterality of cleft deformity (p<.001). Individuals reporting a personal or a family history of facial deformity fixated more on the perioral region of cleft-repaired faces than did naïve observers (p<.001). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the utility of eye tracking measures for understanding critical variables that influence the visual processing of faces with cleft deformity. The data may provide analytical tools for assessing surgical outcome and direct priority setting during surgeons' conversations with patients.

Prognostic value of nonobstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease detected by coronary computed tomography angiography to identify cardiovascular events.

BACKGROUND: The contribution of plaque extent to predict cardiovascular events among patients with nonobstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is not well defined. Our objective was to evaluate the prognostic value of plaque extent detected by coronary computed tomography angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients without prior CAD referred for coronary computed tomography angiography to evaluate for CAD were included. Examination findings were classified as normal, nonobstructive (<50% stenosis), or obstructive (≥50%). Based on the number of segments with disease, extent of CAD was classified as nonextensive (≤4 segments) or extensive (>4 segments). The cohort included 3242 patients followed for the primary outcome of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction for a median of 3.6 (2.1-5.0) years. In a multivariable analysis, the presence of extensive nonobstructive CAD (hazard ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-6.4), nonextensive obstructive (hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-6.9), and extensive obstructive CAD (hazard ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-7.2) were associated with an increased rate of events, whereas nonextensive, nonobstructive CAD was not. The addition of plaque extent to a model that included clinical probability as well as the presence and severity of CAD improved risk prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with nonobstructive CAD, those with extensive plaque experienced a higher rate of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction, comparable with those who have nonextensive disease. Even among patients with obstructive CAD, greater extent of nonobstructive plaque was associated with higher event rate. Our findings suggest that regardless of whether obstructive or nonobstructive disease is present, the extent of plaque detected by coronary computed tomography angiography enhances risk assessment.

Incremental prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score versus CT angiography among symptomatic patients without known coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value and test characteristics of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score for the identification of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) among symptomatic patients. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at two large hospitals, including all symptomatic patients without prior CAD who underwent both CCTA and CAC. Accuracy of CAC for the identification of ≥ 50% and ≥ 70% stenosis by CCTA was evaluated. Prognostic value of CAC and CCTA were compared for prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, defined as non-fatal myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, late coronary revascularization (>90 days), and unstable angina requiring hospitalization). RESULTS: Among 1145 included patients, the mean age was 55 ± 12 years and median follow up 2.4 (IQR: 1.5-3.5) years. Overall, 406 (35%) CCTA were normal, 454 (40%) had <50% stenosis, and 285 (25%) had ≥ 50% stenosis. The prevalence of ≥ 70% stenosis was 16%. Among 483 (42%) patients with CAC zero, 395 (82%) had normal CCTA, 81 (17%) <50% stenosis, and 7 (1.5%) ≥ 50% stenosis. 2 (0.4%) patients had ≥ 70% stenosis. For diagnosis of ≥ 50% stenosis, CAC had a sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 55%. The negative predictive value (NPV) for CAC was 99% for ≥ 50% stenosis and 99.6% for ≥ 70% stenosis by CCTA. There were no adverse events among the 7 patients with zero calcium and ≥ 50% CAD. For prediction of MACE, the c-statistic for clinical risk factors of 0.62 increased to 0.73 (p < 0.001) with CAC versus 0.77 (p = 0.02) with CCTA. CONCLUSION: Among symptomatic patients with CAC zero, a 1-2% prevalence of potentially obstructive CAD occurs, although this finding was not associated with future coronary revascularization or adverse prognosis within 2 years.

Cardiometabolic risk is associated with atherosclerotic burden and prognosis: results from the partners coronary computed tomography angiography registry.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence and prognosis according to cardiometabolic (CM) risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Registry of all patients without prior CAD referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Patients were stratified by groups of increasing CM risk factors (hypertension, low HDL, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, and dysglycemia) as follows: patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with fewer than three or with three or more CM risk factors, patients with T2DM not requiring insulin, or those with T2DM requiring insulin. Patients were followed for a primary end point of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) composed of unstable angina, late coronary revascularization, myocardial infarction (MI), and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Among 1,118 patients (mean age 57 ± 13 years) followed for a mean 3.1 years, there were 21 (1.9%) cardiovascular deaths and 13 (1.2%) MIs. There was a stepwise increase in the prevalence of obstructive CAD with increasing CM risk, from 15% in those without diabetes and fewer than three CM risk factors to as high as 46% in patients with T2DM requiring insulin (P < 0.001). Insulin exposure was associated with the highest adjusted hazard of MACE (hazard ratio 3.29 [95% CI 1.28-8.45], P = 0.01), whereas both T2DM without insulin (1.35, P = 0.3) and three or more CM risk factors without T2DM (1.48, P = 0.3) were associated with a similar rate of MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Patients without diabetes who have multiple metabolic risk factors have a similar prognosis and burden of CAD as those with T2DM not requiring insulin. Among patients with diabetes, the need for insulin therapy is associated with greater burden of CAD as well as worse prognosis.