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Sep 25, 2011

Packing to Orlando


More than half of the respondents plan to go. Let's hope the dollar keeps cheap!

Sep 20, 2011

The Association of Pericardial Fat with Coronary Artery Plaque Index at MR Imaging: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract
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.
© RSNA, 2011

Sep 19, 2011

PAPER OF THE WEEK

On improvement in ejection fraction with Iron Chelation in Thalassemia Major and the risk of future heart failure.
J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2011 Sep 12;13(1):45.

Prof. Pennell and his group concluded that during treatment with iron chelators for cardiac siderosis, even small increases in LVEF in TM patients are associated with a significantly reduced risk of the development of heart failure. Thus the iron chelator induced improvements in LVEF of 2.6% to 3.1% that have been observed in randomized controlled trials, are associated with risk reductions of 25.5% to 46.4% for the development of heart failure over 12 months, which is clinically meaningful.

Sep 12, 2011

PAPER OF THE WEEK

Prognostic Value and Determinants of a Hypointense Infarct Core in T2-Weighted Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Acute Reperfused ST-Elevation–Myocardial Infarction (Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2011; 4: 354-362 )

Dr. Eitel and cols, evaluated determinants and prognostic impact of a hypointense infarct core in T2-weighted CMR images, studied in patients after acute, reperfused ST-elevation–myocardial infarction and concluded that a hypointense infarct core within the area at risk of reperfused infarcted myocardium in T2-weighted CMR is closely related to infarct size, microvascular obstruction, and impaired left ventricular function, with subsequent adverse clinical outcome.

Sep 4, 2011

Study hours


Responders put a lot of hours into studying CMR. Certainly this is one of the reasons the method is keeps growing in Latin America.