[Prognostic significance of T2 mapping in evaluating myocardium alterations in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of T2 mapping in the assessment of myocardial changes and prognosis in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. A total of 30 patients with acute STEMI admitted to Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled as the experimental group. At the same time, 30 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers and outpatients with non-specific chest pain with no abnormalities in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination were selected as the control group. CMR was performed within 2 weeks after the diagnosis of STEMI, as the initial reference. A plain CMR review was performed 6 months later (chronic myocardial infarction, CMI). Plain scanning includes film sequence (CINE), T2 weighted short tau inversion recovery (T2-STIR), native-T1 mapping, and T2 mapping. Enhanced scanning includes first-pass perfusion, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and post-contrast T1 mapping. Quantitative myocardial parameters were compared between the two groups, before and after STEMI myocardial infarction. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of native-T1 before myocardial contrast enhancement and T2 values in differentiating STEMI and CMI after 6 months. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, heart rate and body mass index (BMI) between the two groups, which were comparable. The native-T1 value, T2 value and extracellular volume (ECV) were significantly higher than those in the control group [native-T1 value (ms): 1 434.5±165.3 vs. 1 237.0±102.5, T2 value (ms): 48.3±15.6 vs. 21.8±13.1, ECV: (39.6±13.8)% vs. (22.8±5.0)%, all P < 0.05]. In the experimental group, 12 patients were re-examined by plain CMR scan 6 months later. After 6 months, the high signal intensity on T2-STIR was still visible, but the range was smaller than that in the acute phase, and the native-T1 and T2 values were significantly lower than those in the acute phase [native-T1 value (ms): 1 271.0±26.9 vs. 1 434.5±165.3, T2 value (ms): 34.2±11.2 vs. 48.3±15.6, both P < 0.05]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of native-T1 and T2 values in differentiating acute STEMI from CMI was 0.71 and 0.80, respectively. When native-T1 cut-off value was 1 316.0 ms, the specificity was 100% and the sensitivity was 53.3%; when T2 cut-off value was 46.7 ms, the specificity was 100% and the sensitivity was 73.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The T2 mapping is a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of myocardial changes in patients with acute STEMI myocardial infarction, and can be used to to evaluate the clinical prognosis of patients.

Is there a correlation between sensory impairments and social isolation in middle-aged and older Chinese population? Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from a nationally representative survey.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sensory impairments (SIs) including single vision impairment (SVI), single hearing impairment (SHI), and dual sensory impairments (DSI) with social isolation in the middle-aged and older Chinese population. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS). In total, 11,674 Chinese older adults aged over 45 were included at baseline 2011, and 6,859 participants who accomplished all four interviews from 2011 to 2018 were adapted for longitudinal analyses. Sensory status and social isolation measurements including social disconnectedness and self-perceived loneliness were collected. Assessment of social disconnectedness included the number of types of social activities in which they participated and the frequency of such participation. Loneliness referred to the subjective perception of loneliness. Other covariates included socio-demographic characteristics, medical conditions, and lifestyle-related factors. The impacts of baseline sensory status on social disconnectedness and loneliness were assessed using univariate and multivariate generalized linear models. A generalized linear model with generalized estimation equations (GEE) was used to assess the association between time-varying sensory statuses with social disconnectedness or loneliness over 8 years after being adjusted with multi-confounding factors. Results: Participants with SIs had significantly higher levels of social disconnectedness and self-perceived loneliness, compared to those who were free of SI. All kinds of SIs were significantly associated with loneliness according to both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. The correlations between DSI and social disconnectedness or loneliness at baseline and over 8 years were also noticed. SHI was found to be significantly associated with both frequency and types of social activities according to cross-sectional data and with the frequency of social activity participation in longitudinal analysis. SVI was only associated with the types of social activities at baseline (all p-values < 0.05). Conclusion: Sensory impairments, especially dual sensory impairments, have explicitly detrimental effects on social isolation among the older Chinese population. Over time, single hearing impairment specifically jeopardizes their frequency rather than types of social activities participation.

The Risk Factors and Outcomes for Radiological Abnormalities in Early Convalescence of COVID-19 Patients Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant: A Retrospective, Multicenter Follow-up Study.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant has been triggering the new wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) globally. However, the risk factors and outcomes for radiological abnormalities in the early convalescent stage (1 month after diagnosis) of omicron infected patients are still unknown. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively enrolled if they were admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19. The chest computed tomography (CT) images and clinical data obtained at baseline (at the time of the first CT image that showed abnormalities after diagnosis) and 1 month after diagnosis were longitudinally analyzed. Uni-/multi-variable logistic regression tests were performed to explore independent risk factors for radiological abnormalities at baseline and residual pulmonary abnormalities after 1 month. RESULTS: We assessed 316 COVID-19 patients, including 47% with radiological abnormalities at baseline and 23% with residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. In a multivariate regression analysis, age ≥ 50 years, body mass index ≥ 23.87, days after vaccination ≥ 81 days, lymphocyte count ≤ 1.21 × 10-9/L, interleukin-6 (IL-6) ≥ 10.05 pg/mL and IgG ≤ 14.140 S/CO were independent risk factors for CT abnormalities at baseline. The age ≥ 47 years, presence of interlobular septal thickening and IL-6 ≥ 5.85 pg/mL were the independent risk factors for residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. For residual abnormalities group, the patients with less consolidations and more parenchymal bands at baseline could progress on CT score after 1 month. There were no significant changes in the number of involved lung lobes and total CT score during the early convalescent stage. CONCLUSION: The higher IL-6 level was a common independent risk factor for CT abnormalities at baseline and residual pulmonary abnormalities at 1-month follow-up. There were no obvious radiographic changes during the early convalescent stage in patients with residual pulmonary abnormalities.

[The diagnostic value of quantitative imaging for acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic performance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with T1 mapping and T2 mapping for detection of acute phase of ischemic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) detected by coronary angiography from May 2020 to April 2021 in Tianjin First Center Hospital were selected. All patients underwent CMR (Philips Ingenia 3.0-T) at (9±4) days after definite diagnosis, which was defined as the first diagnosis. After 3 months and 6 months of chronic myocardial infarction (CMI) phase, one CMR was performed. On the same period with age and sex matching, a total of 26 cases of healthy volunteers and outpatient with non-specific chest pain and CMR examination without abnormality as control group. Plain scan included Cine, T2-weighted (STIR), and native T1/T2 mapping. The enhanced scan included perfusion, late gadolinium enhancement, post-T1 mapping. The changes of myocardial quantitative parameters before and after myocardial infarction were compared. Receiver operator characteristic curves (ROC curve) were developed to evaluate, compare, and distinguish the changes in the AMI group and the CMI group after 6 months. RESULTS: Pre-enhanced T1 value, T2 value and extracellular volume (ECV) of AMI group were significantly higher than those of control group [pre-enhanced T1 value (ms): 1 438.7±173.4 vs. 1 269.2±42.3, pre-enhanced T2 value (ms): 49.8±9.3 vs. 21.7±4.0 , ECV (%): 33.2±10.2 vs. 27.2±2.1, all P < 0.05]. ECV was significantly higher in AMI (%: 33.2±10.2 vs. 27.2±2.1), but stabilized after 3 months (%: 33.2±10.2 vs. 32.4±5.1), and after 6 months later (%: 27.7±4.9 vs. 32.4±5.1), there were no significant difference (all P > 0.05). Pre-enhanced T1 and T2 values were significantly higher in AMI, lower after 3 months, but significantly decreased after 6 months [pre-enhanced T1 values (ms): 1 438.7±173.4 vs. 1 272.1±25.2, pre-enhanced T2 values (ms): 49.8±9.3 vs. 29.0±4.0, all P < 0.05]. The ROC curve showed that the specificity of pre-enhanced T1 and T2 values between AMI and CMI were 100%, and the sensitivity were 72.7%, 100%, respectively, pre-enhanced T1 and T2 value could be better distinguish between AMI and CMI diagnosis method. CONCLUSIONS: T1 mapping and T2 mapping with ECV can clearly diagnosis ischemic cardiomyopathy, especially pre-enhanced myocardial T1 and T2 values which is non-invasive diagnosis method of AMI, and can distinguish AMI or CMI, has a great significance to the patient's clinical treatment and follow-up.

Effect of stroke screening survey on intravenous thrombolysis and long-term outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients: the real-world evidence from Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: The stroke screening survey (SSS) is an essential strategy for stroke prevention. However, previous studies rarely discussed the effect of SSS on the acute phase treatment procedure for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and the long-term prognosis outcomes. This study aims to investigate the effect of SSS on intravenous thrombolysis and long-term outcomes in AIS patients. METHODS: The stroke patients included were collected from Jiading Residences Community Health Records and Shanghai Stroke Service System database, from January 2017 to December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups, according to whether they have been screened before the event (onset and death). Demographic characteristics and treatment information of patients in the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney test and Chi-square test. The demographic differences between groups were adjusted with Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to evaluate the effect of SSS on door-to-needle time (DNT). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve with a log-rank test and multiple Cox regression model were used to evaluate the effect of SSS on long-term lifetime. RESULTS: A total of 1,236 patients with AIS were collected, including 468 (37.86%) female, 126 (10.19%) patients with intravenous thrombolysis, 241 (23.30%) patients died from all-cause mortality by January 8, 2020. A total of 124 (10.03%) patients have been screened before AIS onset, and 261 (21.17%) patients had undergone SSS after AIS onset. The baseline information indicated that patients with previous screening were older than the patients without at the time of onset [75 (70, 83) vs. 73 (65, 82), P=0.017], as well as more likely to have a history of hypertension (90.32% vs. 78.51%, P=0.002) and diabetes (50.00% vs. 25.81%, P<0.001). PSM results showed that patients with previous screening were associated with less severe onset situation [3 (1, 9) vs. 3 (1, 5), P=0.001] and shorter DNT [30 (24, 49) vs. 44 (31.5, 49), P=0.037] when compared to patients without. Additionally, patients with SSS had a lower hazard ratio of 0.567 (95% CI: 0.380-0.847, P=0.006) on all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: For AIS patients, the SSS is associated with less severe onset situation, shorter DNT, and longer long-term lifetime.

Analysis of prevalence and influencing factors of stroke in elderly hypertensive patients: Based on the screening plan for the high-risk population of stroke in Jiading District, Shanghai.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the prevalence and influencing factors of stroke in hypertensive patients aged 60 and above in Jiading District, Shanghai. METHODS: The population-based study included 18,724 screened people with hypertension (age ≥ 60 years, 48.7% women). From 2016 to 2019, data on demographics, potential influencing factors and health status were collected through face-to-face interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Logistic multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors associated with stroke. RESULTS: Among the object of study from 2016 to 2019, 2,025 patients were screened for stroke, with the overall prevalence rate of 10.82% (10.41%-11.23%). Multivariate adjusted model analysis showed that dyslipidemia (OR:1.31,95%CI:1.19-1.45), lack of exercise (OR:1.91,95%CI:1.32-2.76), atrial fibrillation [OR:1.49,95%CI:1.35-1.65), family history of stroke (OR:2.18,95%CI:1.6-2.88) were the significant independent influencing factors of stroke in hypertensive patients over 60 years old. When these four factors were combined, compared with participants without any of these factors, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of risk of stroke for persons concurrently having one, two and three or more of these factors were 1.89 (1.67-2.13), 2.15 (1.86-2.47) and 6.84 (4.90-9.55), respectively (linear trend P < 0.001); after multivariate adjustment, the family history of stroke had additive interaction with lack of exercise [RERI = 1.08(0.22-1.94), AP = 0.19(0.04-0.35), S = 1.31(1.02-1.69)], dyslipidemia [RERI = 0.87(0.41-1.33), AP = 0.23(0.08-0.38), S = 1.46(1.04-2.05)]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of stroke was high in hypertensive patients aged 60 and above in Jiading District, Shanghai. Dyslipidemia, lack of exercise, atrial fibrillation and family history of stroke were significantly associated with stroke in hypertensive population. Stroke risk can be increased especially when multiple factors coexisting, and family history of stroke combined with a lack of exercise or dyslipidemia.

[T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement for the diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) for detection of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS: Thirty-two DCM patients detected by ultrasonic testing with unknown origin heart failure from April 2018 to November 2019 were involved. In addition, they were compared with 18 physical examiner under cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in the same period. Phillip's Ingenia 3.0T MRI was used to examine heart function, plain scan included cine, T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) and pre-contrast native T1 mapping. The enhancement scan included perfusion weighted imaging, LGE imaging and post-contrast post T1 mapping. Using gadolinium injection, a bolus of 0.1 mL/kg of gadolinium-based contrast followed by a 20 mL saline flush was administered. After a 7-minute later start scanning, delay enhance sequence was started, including 4 layers, 2 cavities and 4 cavities. LGE and T1 mapping results were observed, including cardiac function indexes [left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), valvular regurgitation], cardiac morphological indexes [left ventricular mass (LVM)], histological characteristics (T2WI myocardial signal, presence of perfusion defect and its position and scope, presence of delayed enhancement and its position, shape and scope, pre- and post-contrast T1 values), extracellular volume (ECV) and the accompanying signs (pericardial effusion and pleural effusion). The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn, the diagnostic value of T1 value of pre-contrast T1 mapping for DCM was evaluated, and the occurrence of clinical endpoint events was observed. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in DCM patients with gender, age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, heart rate (HR), hematocrit (HCT), creatinine (Cr), family history of hypertension or heart disease. In DCM group N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) level and proportion of patients with heart function level III, diabetes, smoking history, drinking history and medication history were significantly higher than those in control group. Compared with control group, LVEDV (mL/m2: 234.9±35.9 vs. 121.8±27.6), LVESV (mL/m2: 189.7±42.8 vs. 54.8±17.0), LVM (g: 197.6±56.3 vs. 110.5±22.9), pre-contrast T1 values (ms: 1 332.1±35.9 vs. 1 272.0±47.0), ECV [(45.7±4.9)% vs. (28.0±2.1)%] were significantly increased in the DCM group; LVEF (0.191±0.107 vs. 0.554±0.103), post-contrast T1 values (ms: 453.9±72.7 vs. 493.5±43.9) were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). In DCM group, the proportions of valvular regurgitation, pericardial effusion and pleural effusion were 25.0%, 18.8% and 25.5%, respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the cutoff value of pre-contrast T1 values was 1 220.22 ms, the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.84 (P = 0.015), the sensitivity and specificity were 77.8% and 88.9%, indicating that pre-contrast T1 values may be a certain prediction for diagnosis of DCM. In 32 patients with DCM, 22 cases (68.8%) had LGE in position wall, interventricular septum, inferior wall or under the epicardium, with local or multiple diffuse, 9 cases (28.1%) were both interventricular septum and inferior wall involved. During an average of 16 months follow-up, 3.1% patients appeared sudden cardiac death. CONCLUSIONS: One-stop CMRI can improve the diagnostic efficacy of DCM, and T1 mapping with LGE imaging can improve the diagnostic accuracy, which is very meaningful for diagnosis and follow-up of patients.

Meta-analysis of the additional value of integrated 18FDG PET-CT for tumor distant metastasis staging: comparison with 18FDG PET alone and CT alone.

BACKGROUND: We performed a meta-analysis to compare the diagnostic performance of integrated (18)FDG PET-CT with that of (18)FDG PET alone and CT alone for the overall assessment of tumor distant metastases. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of 11 available articles (1107 patients). We calculated sensitivities, specificities, positive likelihood ratios, and negative likelihood ratios for integrated PET-CT, PET alone, and CT alone, respectively. We also constructed summary receiver operating characteristic curves for integrated PET-CT, PET alone, and CT alone, respectively. RESULTS: Across 10 comparative studies (1058 patients), integrated PET-CT has higher sensitivity (0.95 vs 0.85) and similar specificity (0.96 vs 0.95) with PET alone. Across 7 comparative studies (745 patients), integrated PET-CT has higher sensitivity (0.97 vs 0.80) and similar specificity (0.97 vs 0.94) with CT alone. CONCLUSION: Integrated PET-CT is the most sensitive and accurate modality for tumor distant metastasis staging. Integrating PET with CT may tend to improve the sensitivity than PET alone and CT alone.