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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. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: 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. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]