Imaging measurement and analysis of normal tilt angle of atrium septum.

AIM: The atrium septum is tilted in heart. There is an angle between atrium septum and the cross section of body, which is called tilt angles of atrium septum (TAAS) in this study, however this angle has not been specifically mentioned in literatures. In this article TAAS was measured and analysed on axial images of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance (CEMR) of normal heart in order to understand quantitatively and accurately the anatomical structure of heart and to supply anatomical basic for some relevant operation. METHOD: In this article 180 cases of axial images of CEMR of healthy hearts without any organic or functional heart disease were adopted, TAAS were measured and analysed statistically. RESULTS: On axial images of CEMR of healthy hearts the normal range of TAAS is from 12.43° to 55.60°, the average ± SD is 34.36 ± 6.92°, they are independent of sex and age as well as the position of heart, the distribution is relatively concentrated, the individual difference is rather small.

Myocardial structure, function, and scar in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: We report relationships between cardiovascular disease risk factors and myocardial structure, function, and scar in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiac magnetic resonance was obtained in 1017 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Gadolinium cardiac magnetic resonance was also obtained in 741 patients. The mean age was 49±7 years; 52% were men; and mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 28±5 years. Associations of cardiovascular disease risk factors with cardiac magnetic resonance parameters were examined with linear and logistic regression models. History of macroalbuminuria was positively associated with left ventricular mass (by 14.8 g), leading to a significantly higher ratio of left ventricular mass to end-diastolic volume (by 8%). Mean hemoglobin A(1c) levels over the preceding 22 years were inversely associated with end-diastolic volume (-3.0 mL per unit mean hemoglobin A(1c) percent) and stroke volume (-2.3 mL per unit mean hemoglobin A(1c) percent) and positively related to the ratio of elevated left ventricular mass to end-diastolic volume (0.02 g/mL per unit). The overall prevalence of myocardial scar was 4.3% by cardiac magnetic resonance and 1.4% by clinical adjudication of myocardial infarction. Both mean hemoglobin A(1c) (odds ratio, 1.5 [95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.2] per unit) and macroalbuminuria (odds ratio, 3.5 [95% confidence interval, 1.2-9.9]) were significantly associated with myocardial scar and traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, elevated mean hemoglobin A(1c) and macroalbuminuria were significantly associated with alterations in left ventricular structure and function. The prevalence of myocardial scar was 4.3% in this subcohort of DCCT/EDIC participants with relatively preserved renal function. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT00360893 and NCT00360815.

The association of pericardial fat with coronary artery plaque index at MR imaging: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship of pericardial fat, which secretes proinflammatory markers that have been implicated in coronary atherosclerosis, with atherosclerotic plaque in an asymptomatic population-based cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this institutional review board-approved study, all participants supplied written informed consent. One hundred eighty-three participants (89 women, 94 men; mean age, 61 years ± 9 [standard deviation]) from the community-based Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were included. The coronary artery eccentricity (ratio of maximal to minimal coronary artery wall thickness) was determined by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and served as an index of plaque burden. The pericardial fat volume was determined by using computed tomography. Linear regression coefficient analysis was used to correlate pericardial fat volume with coronary artery wall thickness and plaque eccentricity. RESULTS: Pericardial fat volume correlated significantly with degree of plaque eccentricity (P < .05) in both men and women. After adjustments for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, traditional risk factors, C-reactive protein level, and coronary artery calcium content, the relationship between pericardial fat and plaque eccentricity remained significant in men (P < .01) but not in women. BMI and waist circumference correlated with degree of plaque eccentricity in the univariate model (P < .05) but not after adjustment for pericardial fat volume or traditional risk factors. CONCLUSION: Pericardial fat volume, rather than BMI and waist circumference, was more strongly related to plaque eccentricity as a measure of coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden. The results support the proposed role of pericardial fat in association with atherosclerosis.

Positive remodeling of the coronary arteries detected by magnetic resonance imaging in an asymptomatic population: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess coronary arterial remodeling as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis using coronary wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an asymptomatic population-based cohort. BACKGROUND: In early atherosclerosis, compensatory enlargement of both the outer wall of the vessel as well as the lumen, termed compensatory enlargement or positive remodeling, occurs before luminal narrowing. METHODS: One hundred seventy-nine participants in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) trial were evaluated using black-blood coronary wall MRI. Coronary cross-sectional area (vessel size), lumen area, and mean wall thickness of the proximal coronary arteries were measured. RESULTS: Men had a greater vessel size, lumen area, and mean wall thickness than women (38.3 +/- 11.3 mm2 vs. 32.6 +/- 9.4 mm2, 6.7 +/- 3.2 mm2 vs. 5.3 +/- 2.4 mm2, and 2.0 +/- 0.3 mm vs. 1.9 +/- 0.3 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). No significant coronary artery narrowing was present by magnetic resonance angiography. Overall, coronary vessel size increased 25.9 mm2 per millimeter increase in coronary wall thickness, whereas lumen area increased only slightly at 3.1 mm2 for every millimeter increase in wall thickness (difference in slopes, p < 0.0001). Adjusting for age and sex, participants with an Agatston score >0 were more likely to have wall thickness >2.0 mm (odds ratio: 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 3.84). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary wall MRI detected positive arterial remodeling in asymptomatic men and women with subclinical atherosclerosis.

A study of images of Projective Angles of pulmonary veins.

AIMS: In images of magnetic resonance and computed tomography (CT) there are visible angles between pulmonary veins and the coronary, transversal or sagittal section of body. In this study these angles are measured and defined as Projective Angles of pulmonary veins. Several possible influential factors and characters of distribution are studied and analyzed for a better understanding of this imaging anatomic character of pulmonary veins. And it could be the anatomic base of adjusting correctly the angle of the central X-ray of the angiography of pulmonary veins undergoing the catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHOD: Images of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) and contrast enhanced computer tomography (CECT) of the left atrium and pulmonary veins of 137 health objects and patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are processed with the technique of post-processing, and Projective Angles to the coronary and transversal sections are measured and analyzed statistically. RESULT: Project Angles of pulmonary veins are one of real and steady imaging anatomic characteristics of pulmonary veins. The statistical distribution of variables is relatively concentrated, with a fairly good representation of average value. It is possible to improve the angle of the central X-ray according to the average value in the selective angiography of pulmonary veins undergoing the catheter ablation of AF.