Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging
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Circ Cardiovasc Imaging · Jan 2015
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational StudyComparison of coronary artery calcium presence, carotid plaque presence, and carotid intima-media thickness for cardiovascular disease prediction in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
Presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC), carotid plaque, and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) may indicate elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; however, no large studies have compared them directly. This study compares predictive uses of CAC presence, carotid artery plaque presence, and high IMT for incident CVD events. ⋯ In adults without CVD, CAC presence improves prediction of CVD and CHD more than carotid plaque presence or high IMT. CAC and carotid ultrasound parameters performed similarly for stroke/transient ischemic attack event prediction.
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Circ Cardiovasc Imaging · Jan 2015
Observational StudyEchocardiography in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension: early study on assessing disease severity and predicting outcome.
The value of echocardiography in assessing disease severity and predicting outcome in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is insufficiently defined. The aim of this study was to describe correlations between echocardiography and disease severity and outcome in pediatric PAH. ⋯ This early descriptive study shows that echocardiographic chararacteristics of both the right and the left heart correlate with disease severity and outcome in pediatric PAH, both at presentation and during the course of the disease. The preliminary data from this study support the potential value of echocardiography as a tool in guiding management in children with PAH.
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Circ Cardiovasc Imaging · Jan 2015
Comparative StudyEffect of physical activity on age-related changes in cardiac function and performance in women.
Higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality but its effect on age-related changes in cardiac structure and function is unknown. The present study defines the effect of daily physical activity on age-related changes in cardiac structure, function, metabolism, and performance in healthy women. ⋯ A higher level of daily physical activity preserves cardiac metabolism and exercise capacity with aging but has limited effect on age-related changes in concentric remodeling, diastolic function, and cardiac performance.
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Circ Cardiovasc Imaging · Jan 2015
Imaging vessel wall biology to predict outcome in abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk is currently determined based on size and symptoms. This approach does not address the rupture risk associated with small aneurysms. Given the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in AAA weakening and rupture, we investigated the potential of MMP-targeted imaging for detection of aneurysm biology and prediction of outcome in a mouse model of AAA with spontaneous rupture. ⋯ MMP-targeted imaging reflects vessel wall inflammation and can predict future aortic expansion or rupture in murine AAA. If confirmed in humans, this may provide a new paradigm for AAA risk stratification.