Changes in the renal artery and renal volume and predictors of renal atrophy in patients with complicated type B aortic dissection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Background: For complicated Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the recommended treatment; however, the type of renal artery that should be repaired remains controversial. The study aimed to investigate the changes in the renal artery and renal volume in complicated TBAD after TEVAR and the predictors of renal atrophy. Methods: The cohort study retrospectively enrolled patients with acute and subacute complicated TBAD who underwent aortic computed tomography angiography (CTA) 1 month before as well as 1 week and half a year after TEVAR from January 2010 to May 2017. According to the source of blood supply shown in preoperative CT, the renal artery was classified in 3 ways: type 1, supplied by the aortic true lumen; type 2, supplied by the aortic false lumen; or type 3, supplied by both the true and false lumen. Results: A total of 91 patients (81 men and 10 women) with an average age of 48.12±10.35 years were enrolled. Renal arteries were classified as type 1 (n=91), type 2 (n=35), and type 3 (n=56). There was no difference in the distribution of the 3 types on the left and right sides (type 1 vs. type 2 vs. type 3: 52:39 vs. 15:20 vs. 24:32; P=0.152). After TEVAR, type 3 was more likely to have spontaneous healing than type 2 (16.1% vs. 2.9%; P=0.049). There was no significant difference in the preoperative volume of kidneys of the 3 types (type 1 vs. type 2 vs. type 3: 198.23±38.68 vs. 197.37±41.77 vs. 195.10±36.11 mL; P=0.893). The postoperative volume of types 2 and 3 was smaller than that of type 1 (type 1 vs. type 2 vs. type 3: 190.09±43.25 vs. 165.15±52.63 vs. 170.70±45.28 mL; P=0.006). The renal volume was reduced in all 3 types of renal artery, especially in type 2 (the change of renal volume for type 1 vs. type 2 vs. type 3: -8.14±29.31 vs. -32.22±41.59 vs. -24.41±38.44 mL; P=0.001). The relative change of renal volume for type 1 vs. type 2 vs. type 3: (-3.64±15.69)% vs. (-16.00±21.29)% vs. (-11.97±18.22)%; P=0.001). During the median follow-up of 668 days, 7 patients (7.7%) belonging to types 2 and 3 developed renal atrophy. False lumen thrombosis in the abdominal aorta and/or the renal artery was the predictor of renal atrophy [hazard ratio (HR) =17.757; P=0.008]. Conclusions: Patients with type 2 or 3 renal artery and false lumen thrombosis in the abdominal aorta and/or renal artery should be monitored closely and actively intervened to prevent renal atrophy.

Unstable plaques hide in heavily calcified coronary arteries.

Background: The napkin-ring sign (NRS) was accepted as unstable plaques at coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). However, the incidence is relatively low. We sought to assess whether the newly defined diamond-attenuation-sign [DAS, defined as a qualitative plaque feature in a mixed plaque (MP) on CCTA cross-section images by the presence of two features: a visual calcification (in the shape of a diamond) accompanied by an annular-shape lower attenuation plaque tissue surrounding the lumen like a ring], could be accurately identified as unstable atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: Eight heart transplant recipients (8 male; mean age, 48.5±11.6 years; range, 37-65 years) underwent CCTA exams prior to heart transplant surgery. Segment-based CCTA sections were independently evaluated for various plaque patterns including non-calcified plaque (NCP) with NRS (NCP-NRS), NCP without NRS (NCP-non-NRS), MP with DAS (MP-DAS), MP without DAS sign (MP-non-DAS), and calcified plaque (CP). Results: NCP-NRS plaques in 6.4% (23/358), NCP-non-NRS plaques in 24.0% (86/358), MP-DAS plaques in 18.2% (65/358), MP-non-DAS plaques in 20.1% (72/358), and calcified-plaques in 7.0% (25/358) of all cases. The specificity and positive predictive values of the MP-DAS and NCP-NRS signs to identify unstable plaque features were excellent (97.1% vs. 98.6%, 90.8% vs. 87.0%, respectively). DAS plaques were more frequently seen on CCTA exams than that of NRS (39.3% vs. 13.3%, respectively, P=0.001). The diagnostic performance of MP-DAS to identify unstable coronary lesions was superior compared to NCP-NRS [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), 0.756; 95% CI: 0.717-0.791 vs. 0.558; 95% CI: 0.514-0.600, respectively, P<0.001]. Conclusions: Both the DAS and NRS had a high specificity and positive predictive value for the presence of unstable lesions. DAS was a better identification of unstable atherosclerotic plaques in the assessment of plaque-calcification-pattern (PCP).

Identification of pathology-confirmed vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions by coronary computed tomography angiography using radiomics analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore whether radiomics-based machine learning (ML) models could outperform conventional diagnostic methods at identifying vulnerable lesions on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). METHODS: In this retrospective study, 36 heart transplant recipients with coronary heart disease (CAD) and end-stage heart failure were included. Pathological cross-section samples of 350 plaques were collected and coregistered to patients' preoperative CCTA images. A total of 1184 radiomic features were extracted from CCTA images. Through feature selection and stratified fivefold cross-validation, we derived eight radiomics-based ML models for lesion vulnerability prediction. An independent set of 196 plaques from another 8 CAD patients who underwent heart transplants was collected to validate radiomics-based ML models' diagnostic accuracy against conventional CCTA feature-based diagnosis (presence of at least 2 high-risk plaque features). The performance of the prediction models was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The training group used to develop radiomics-based ML models contained 200/350 (57.1%) vulnerable plaques and the external validation group was composed of 67.3% (132/196) vulnerable plaques. The radiomics-based ML model based on eight radiomic features showed excellent cross-validation diagnostic accuracy (AUC: 0.900 ± 0.033). In the validation group, diagnosis based on conventional CCTA features demonstrated moderate performance (AUC: 0.656 [95% CI: 0.593 -0.718]), while the radiomics-based ML model showed higher diagnostic ability (0.782 [95% CI: 0.710 -0.846]). CONCLUSIONS: Radiomics-based ML models showed better diagnostic ability than the conventional CCTA features at assessing coronary plaque vulnerability. KEY POINTS: • CCTA has great potential in the diagnosis of vulnerable coronary artery lesions. • Radiomics model built through CCTA could discriminate coronary vulnerable lesions in good diagnostic ability. • Radiomics model could improve the ability of vulnerability diagnosis against traditional CCTA method, sensitivity especially.

Association between coronary artery calcification and cognitive function in a Chinese community-based population.

BACKGROUND: Coronary atherosclerosis and cognitive impairment are both age-related diseases, with similar risk factors. Coronary artery calcium (CAC), a marker of coronary atherosclerosis, may play a role in early detection of individuals prone to cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CAC and cognitive function, and the capability of CAC to identify participants with a high risk of dementia in a Chinese community-based population. METHODS: A total of 1332 participants, aged 40-80 years and free of dementia from a community located in Beijing were included. All participants completed neurocognitive questionnaires and noncontrast CT examinations. Cognitive performance tests (including verbal memory, semantic fluency, executive function, and global cognitive function tests), the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CIDE) risk score, and the CAC score (CACS) were evaluated by questionnaires and CT. A CAIDE score ≥ 10 was considered to indicate a high risk of dementia in late-life. Participants were divided into three groups according to CACS (0, 1-399, ≥ 400). RESULTS: After adjusting for risk factors, CACS was significantly associated with verbal memory (r = -0.083, P = 0.003) and global cognitive function (r = -0.070, P = 0.012). The prevalence of a high risk of dementia in the subgroups of CACS = 0, 1-399, and ≥ 400 was 4.67%, 13.66%, and 24.79%, respectively (P < 0.001). Individuals with CACS ≥ 400 had a higher risk of CAIDE score ≥ 10 [OR = 2.30 (1.56, 4.56), P = 0.014] than those with CACS = 0. The receiver-operating characteristic curves showed that the capability of CACS to identify participants with a high risk of dementia was moderate (AUC = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.67-0.72,P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CAC, a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, was significantly associated with cognitive performance in verbal memory and global cognitive function. CAC had a moderate capability to identify participants with a high risk of dementia, independent of age, education, and other risk factors.

A Specific Assessment of the Normal Anatomy of the Aortic Root in Relation to Age and Gender.

BACKGROUND: A limitation associated with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is the lack of a normal reference value for aortic root dimensions and the uncertainty of the influence of age and gender on these dimensions. The purpose of the present study was to identify the normal values and variations of aortic root dimensions in healthy individuals and investigate how gender and age affect aortic root size. METHODS: A total of 1286 healthy yellow population (52.7 ± 11.0 years, 634 male) who underwent CCTA were retrospectively included in the present study. Male and female patients were divided into seven groups according to age (< 30 years old, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, ≥ 80 years old). In these age groups, we measured and compared the parameters of the aortic root. RESULTS: After body surface area (BSA) correction, the aortic root parameters of females were found to be greater than those of males in the 40-49 age group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in aortic root parameters between genders in other age groups, except for the diameter of the ascending aorta, which was greater in females (P<0.05). In males, age was positively correlated with aortic root parameters (P<0.05), except for the annulus short diameter and LVOT short diameter. In females, age was positively correlated with aortic root parameters (P<0.05), except for the left coronary ostia height and the LVOT short diameter. CONCLUSION: Aortic root dimensions are affected by age and gender. After BSA correction, females show larger aortic root dimensions than males, and aortic root diameters increase with age.

Prevalence of coronary artery disease in symptomatic patients with zero coronary artery calcium score in different age population.

There is controversy about whether symptomatic population with coronary artery calcium score (CACS) of zero have coronary artery disease (CAD) and the distribution at different ages. We sought to analyze the prevalence of CAD in symptomatic patients with zero CACS, especially in different age groups. We studied patients suspected of CAD and underwent CACS scan and coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). We included patients with CACS of zero. Clinical data was collected to achieve information on demographic characteristics and risk factors. The presence of plaque and obstructive CAD were analyzed based on coronary CTA. The association between age and the prevalence of plaque and obstructive CAD was evaluated.Overall 5514 patients (51.1% men; mean age 54.40 years) were analyzed, of whom 4120 (74.72%) with normal coronary artery, 1394 (25.28%) with plaque and 514 (9.32%) with obstructive CAD. The prevalence of plaque and obstructive CAD increased significantly with age (p < 0.001). Age was significantly associated with the risk of developing plaque and obstructive CAD in the unadjusted model and multivariate model. Taking age less than 40 as a reference, risk ratios (RRs) of prevalence of plaque increased with age in the multivariate model (RR = 2.353 for 40-50, RR = 6.489 for > 70). RRs of prevalence of obstructive CAD also increased with age in the multivariate model (RR = 2.075 for 40-50, RR = 4.102 for > 70). Quite a few CAD could occur in symptomatic patients with CACS of zero, especially in old patients. Coronary CTA was required to exclude CAD in this cohort.