Prognostic significance of T2 mapping in evaluating myocardium alterations in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction / 中华危重病急救医学

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.

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 / 中华危重病急救医学

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. Conclusion: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.

Computed tomographic manifestations of pulmonary aspergillosis after organ transplantation and differential diagnosis with bacterial infection / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To summarize the computed tomographic (CT) manifestations of pulmonary aspergillosis after organ transplantation and compare different signs between pulmonary aspergillosis and bacterial pneumonia.Methods CT images of pulmonary aspergillosis (n =62) and bacterial pneumonia (n =68) in post-transplantation patients were reviewed.The signs were categorized with consolidation,mass,large nodule (≥1crn),small nodule and bud-in-tree pattern.Some detailed useful differentiating signs such as halo sign,air bronchogram sign,reversed halo sign,hypodensity sign and cavitation were also analyzed.Results CT patterns of pulmonary aspergillosis included consolidation,mass,large nodule,small nodule and bud-in-tree pattern.The most common was large nodule (75.8％),followed by consolidation (48.4％)and mass (29.0％).And small nodule (16.1 ％) and bud-in-tree (12.9％) patterns were concurrent.For consolidation pattern,the proportion of bacterial pneumonia (69.1％) was the larger;For mass pattern,the proportion of pulmonary aspergillosis (29.0％) was the larger.For large nodule pattern,there was no difference.The detail sign of large nodule in two groups had no difference In detailed signs of consolidation pattern,air bronchogram sign was more often seen in bacterial pneumonia while cavitation was more frequently found in pulmonary aspergillosis.In detailed signs of mass pattern,pulmonary aspergillosis often has single lesion (66.7％),cavitation (83.3％)and air crescent sign (77.8％) is more common.The proportion of halo sign was 30.7％.Conclusions CT manifestations of pulmonary aspergillosis are diverse after organ transplantation.There is some difference and yet overlap with bacterial pneumonia.

Diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance for acute heart failure with unknown cause / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) for acute heart failure (AHF) with unknown cause. Methods A retrospective study was conducted, eleven patients with AHF with unknown cause admitted to Tianjin First Center Hospital from September 2017 to August 2018 were enrolled, and all the patients underwent complete cardiac MR imaging (plain MR and delayed enhancement imaging) with satisfactory image quality fulfilled the diagnostic requirement. Additionally, all of them had no history of heart disease and lack of diagnostic laboratory tests (routine blood test, blood biochemistry and myocardial enzyme), electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and echocardiography abnormality. Besides, 10 patients had completed invasive coronary angiography or coronary CT angiography (CCTA); the results of laboratory tests, ECG abnormality, echocardiography and cardiac MR were recorded, and the values of echocardiography and cardiac MR examination in the diagnosis and exploring the cause of patients with AHF with unknown cause were analyzed. Results Nine of 11 patients with AHF with unknown cause had positive finding on cardiac MR examination; there were 3 patients with chronic myocardial infarction, 3 with dilated cardiomyopathy, 2 with cardiac involvement of amyloidosis and 1 with myocarditis. The left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) measured on cardial MR was significantly higher than that on echocardiography (mL: 120.68±57.47 vs. 108.84±50.49, P < 0.05), the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and myocardial valvular regurgitation measured on MR were less than those on echocardiography (LVEF: 0.36±0.09 vs. 0.43±0.10; regurgitation: 11 vs. 22, both P < 0.05); while, the differences of the end diastolic volume (LVEDV) and the number of patients with pericardial effusions between MR and echocardiography had no statistical significant differences [LVEDV (mL): 183.37±65.26 vs. 182.26±70.44; pericardial effusion: 6 cases vs. 6 cases, all P > 0.05]. Conclusion Cardiac MR could synthetically evaluate the heart by its morphology, function as well as accompanied sign (pericardial effusion) and cardiac tissue characteristics; eventually, it may provide valuable information concerning the selection of proper clinical therapeutic strategies and improvement of AHF patients' prognose.

Evaluation effect of multi-detector CT on pulmonary changes in post-operative adult receptor of liver transplantation complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To evaluate the multi-detector CT (MDCT) on pulmonary changes in post-operative adult receptor of liver transplantation complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods Nineteen adult patients admitted into Tianjin First Center Hospital from January to December 2016 to perform the first time liver transplantation were enrolled in this study. Before operation, the CT showed no significant abnormality in the patients' lungs, after operation MDCT was applied to observe the pulmonary changes of ARDS post-operative complication in the adult receiver of liver transplantation, and the pulmonary changes in different gender of patients were analyzed and compared.Results MDCT showed that after liver transplantation all the 19 patients (100%) had lung pathological changes, of whom 18 cases (94.7%) manifested 2 or more than 2 kinds of pulmonary changes, including consolidation shadows (12 cases, 63.2%), patchy shadows (2 cases, 10.5%), ground glass opacity (6 cases, 31.5%) and pleural effusion (18 cases, 94.7%). In the comparisons between male and female patients with post-operative ARDS after liver transplantation, there were no significant differences in the lung pathological changes shown in MDCT (allP > 0.05) statistically.Conclusion The application of MDCT has great potential value in the evaluation of the disease situation after liver transplantation, that might providehelp to the postoperative treatment.

The assessment of right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: a Meta-analysis / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective To explore the clinical value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in assessment of right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods The PubMed/MEDLINE,Wanfang data,CNKI (from January 2001 to April 2015) were searched.The search terms were pulmonary arterial hypertension,right ventricular function,and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.An inclusion criterion was the patients suffering from PAH,and the healthy volunteers were served as controls.The study was designed as randomized controlled trial.All the subjects investigated had received CMRI.The end of the trial included right ventricular end diastolic volume (RVEDV),right ventricular end systolic volume (RVESV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF).Meta analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.0 software provided by Cochrane Collaboration,and the publication bias was analyzed by the funnel plot analysis.Results Five papers involving 381 patients met the criteria.It was showed by Meta-analysis that compared with healthy control group,RVEDV was increase in PAH group [weighted mean difference (WMD) =33.96,95％ confidence interval (95％CI) =20.80-47.12,P ＜ 0.000 01],RVESV was increased (WMD =41.91,95％ CI =29.63-54.19,P ＜ 0.0O0 01),and RVEF was decrease (WMD =-20.09,95％CI =-22.65 to-17.52,P ＜ 0.000 01).Conclusion CMRI can be used to evaluate the right ventricular function of patients with PAH,and it has important significance in the evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with PAH.

The X-ray and MRI diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans in the knee joint / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the X-ray and MRI manifestations of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and to compare the sensitivity of detection among different sequences. Methods Thirty-six OCD cases (thirty-eight knees) with complete data were selected and analyzed. The sagittal and coronal images were acquired on T 1WI, T 2WI, PDWI, and FLASH T * 2WI. MRI manifestations were analyzed retrospectively with double blind contrast method. The radiographies were obtained on the same day. The sensitivity of detection among different sequences was also compared. Results (1) The medial femoral condyle was the most commonly affected location in the knee (63.2%). The proportion of classical type, expanded type, and inferocentral type was 55.3%, 15.8%, and 28.9%, respectively. (2) On radiographs, the lesions typically appeared as a well circumscribed area of sclerotic subchondral bone separated from the remainder of the epiphysis by a radiolucent line. (3) Subchondral bone lesion was displayed as small and crescent-shaped ( n =38) on the sagittal image and as wedge (14) or short bar (24) shape on coronal image. The signal of the lesion was hypointense or isointense on T 1WI,surrounded by a hypointense or hyperintense (FLASH T * 2WI, T 2WI) line. The subchondral plate disappeared or became thinner. Interruption or disappearance of the hyaline cartilage could be seen sometimes. (4) The detection rate on T 1WI was higher than that of PDWI, T 2WI, and FLASH T * 2WI. Conclusion (1) Osteochondritis dissecans has specific X-ray and MRI manifestations. The abnormality of the hyaline cartilage and the subchondral bone can be displayed by MRI. Thus a proper diagnosis can be made. (2) The detection rate on T 1WI is higher than that of PDWI, T 2WI, and FLASH T  2WI.