Quantification of calcium burden by coronary CT angiography compared to optical coherence tomography.

Coronary artery calcifications (CAC) are frequently observed in patients referred for coronary CT angiography (CTA). Calcification volume (in mm3) can accurately be assessed during catheterization by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the accuracy of CTA-derived assessment of calcification volume as compared with OCT. 66 calcified plaques (32 vessels) from 31 patients undergoing OCT-guided PCI with coronary CT acquired as a standard of care were included. Coronary CT and OCT images were matched using fiduciary points. Calcified plaques were reconstructed in three dimensions to calculate calcium volume. A Passing-Bablok regression analysis and the Bland-Altman method were used to assess the agreement between imaging modalities. Twenty-seven left anterior descending arteries and 5 right coronary arteries were analyzed. Median calcium volume by CTA and OCT were 18.23 mm3 [IQR 8.09, 36.48] and 10.03 mm3 [IQR 3.6, 22.88] respectively; the Passing-Bablok analysis showed a proportional without a systematic difference (Coefficient A 0.08, 95% CI - 1.37 to 1.21, Coefficient B 1.61, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.84) and the mean difference was 9.69 mm3 (LOA - 10.2 to 29.6 mm3). No differences were observed for minimal lumen area (Coefficient A 0.07, 95% CI - 0.46 to 0.15, Coefficient B 0.85, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.2). CTA volumetric calcium evaluation overestimates calcium volume by 60% compared to OCT. This may allow for an appropriate interpretation of calcific burden in the non-invasive setting. Even in presence of calcific plaques, a good agreement in the MLA assessment was found. Coronary CT may emerge as a tool to quantify calcium burden for invasive procedural planning.

Drug-induced spongiform leucoencephalopathy, a case report with review of the literature.

A nineteen year-old girl developed rhabdomyolysis and central pyrexia after the ingestion of multiple drugs: amphetamines, benzodiazepines, methadone, ethanol, and cocaine. On admission, the patient was deeply comatose and during the hospitalisation asymmetrical spastic quadriparesis was noted. Brain biopsy was diagnostic of spongiform leucoencephalopathy. A review of the literature concerning drug-induced spongiform encephalopathy revealed a large amount of heroin-induced cases. The role of cocaine, however, is less well described. After prolonged hospitalisation, our patient improved clinically and radiologically and could be transferred to a rehabilitation center.

Dynamic training of skeletal muscle ventricles. A method to increase muscular power for cardiac assistance.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle can be used for cardiac assistance after electrical stimulation over a period of several weeks. This will adapt it to do chronic work with no resulting fatigue. The result of this procedure, however, is a reduction of 80% in muscle power, > 60% in muscle mass, and approximately 85% in contractile speed. To minimize these disadvantages, the following study was done to develop and test a method to dynamically train skeletal muscle ventricles (SMVs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Barrel-shaped SMVs were tested in 15 Jersey calves. They were made from the latissimus dorsi muscle, which was wrapped around an elastic silicone training device. Six SMVs were used extrathoracically in a single layer and nine intrathoracically in a double layer. With dynamic training preserving contractile speed, the output increased to approximately 5 L/min, the systolic pressure increased to > 200 mm Hg, and power developed to approximately 10 W after 3 months of dynamic training. The contractile speed of dynamically trained SMVs was between 250 and 700 mm/s. The diameter of the latissimus dorsi muscle increased to three times that of the corresponding contralateral muscle. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of electrical conditioning with dynamic training of the SMVs resulted in a strong muscle pump that did not develop fatigue. Dynamic training for skeletal muscle represents a new and promising method for providing powerful autologous cardiac assist.