The protocol for the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology China Action on Spine and Hip status study.

The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) China Action on Spine and Hip status (CASH) study focused on the prevalence of osteoporosis and spinal fracture in China. The aim of the PURE CASH study is to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis and spinal fracture, and explore the potential relationship between spinal fracture and bone mineral density (BMD). This study is a prospective large-scale population study with a community-based sampling and recruitment strategy. The aim is to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis and vertebral fracture in this population, to evaluate the association between vertebral fractures and BMD values, and to assess the prediction power of BMD for incident fractures. Participants in the PURE CASH study are all from the PURE study in China, recruited from 12 centers in 7 Chinese provinces. The inclusion criteria are that participants should be aged more than 40 years and able to give informed consent. Exclusion criteria are pregnant women, individuals with metal implants in the lumbar spine, use of medications or the existence of any disease or condition known to have a major influence on BMD, and inability to give informed consent. A total of 3,457 participants undergo a quantitative computed tomography (QCT) scan of the upper abdomen. The scanning parameters are as follows: 120 kVp at all centers, mAs between 75 and 200, FOV 40 cm×40 cm. The BMD values of L1 to L3 are measured, and the average BMD calculated. The American College of Radiology QCT criteria for the diagnosis of osteoporosis is applied to determine the presence of osteoporosis. The scout view images of T4-L4 vertebrae are reviewed by two experienced radiologists for semi-quantification of vertebral fractures according to Genant's method.

[Diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive coronary artery angiography using 64 multi-slice computed tomography on coronary atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64 multislice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography on the coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Sixty one (52 male, 9 female, averaged 58 +/- 11 yrs ) patients underwent conventional coronary angiography and 64-MSCT angiography for suspected coronary artery disease within 5 to 20 days. Coronary artery image quality was scored from 1 to 4 (image quality score, 1: poor; 2: good -; 3: good +, and 4: excellent) on RCA, LM, LAD and LCX, respectively. The coronary artery stenosis were divided into two groups by over than 50% and less than 50% and diagnostic accuracy was analyzed. The coronary plaques were divided as calcified and noncalcified plaque according to its density. The stenosis result from calcified and noncalcified plaque were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean score of image quality on RCA, LM, LAD and LCX was 3.57 +/- 0.18 with heart beats 50 - 104 bpm (mean 70 +/- 11 bpm). Compared with CAG, the sensitivity and specificity of 64-MSCT in evaluating stenosis are 94.45% and 96.15%, the false positive and false negative value are 3.85% and 4.55%. The sensitivity and specificity were 85.71% in evaluating stenosis result from noncalcified plaque and they were 83.33% and 31.57% result from calcified plaque. CONCLUSION: 64-MSCT is an accurate and feasible method in evaluating coronary artery stenosis compared to conventional coronary angiography. However the specificity was poor in evaluating calcified plaque.

[Multi-slice computed tomography of myocardial bridge and mural coronary artery and clinical significance thereof].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnosis of myocardial bridge and mural coronary artery (MB-MCA) with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and clinical significance thereof. METHODS: 900 patients suspected as with coronary artery disease (CHD) underwent 64-slice computed tomography performed by 3 radiologists independently. When consistency was obtained among the independent interpretations of the tomogram among them the diagnosis of MB-MCA could be confirmed. The length of MCA and thickness of MB were measured, and the situation of the nearby arteries were observed and recorded. Based on the above mentioned 3 items the reference scoring criteria were established. RESULTS: 180 sites of MB-NCA were found in 167 (18.56%) of the 900 patients, 112 males and 55 females, aged 54.46 (33 - 84). 167 of the 180 sites of MB-MCA were located on the LAD (92.7%). MCA could be covered by MB in a form of semi-circularity (63.89%, 115/180) or circularity (36.11%, 65/180) The length of MCA was 18.7 mm +/- 10.2 mm, and the thickness of MB was 1.7 mm +/- 1.2 mm. 70% of the arteries proximal and/or distal to the MB-MCA were tortuous. Length of MCA < 10 mm, half-surrounding of MB, and smoothness of the proximal and distant vessels were scored as 1; length of MCA of 10 approximately 20 mm, thickness of MB < 1 mm, and tortuousness of the unilateral proximal or distant vessel were scored as 2; and length of MCA > 20 mm, thickness of MB > 1 mm, and tortuousness of the bilateral proximal and distant vessels were scored as 3. Coronary atherosclerosis was found in 88 of the 167 patients (52.69%). No significant correlation was found between coronary atherosclerosis and MB-MCA grade (u = 1.234, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sixty-four-slice CT can be used to confirm the presence of MB = MCA and the morphology of coronary artery with MB-MCA. Coronary atherosclerosis is not significantly correlated with MB-MCA grade.