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Abstract Background Coronary computed tomography angiography examinations are increasingly becoming established as a minimally invasive method for diagnosing coronary diseases. However, although various imaging and processing methods have been developed, coronary artery calcification remains a major limitation in the evaluation of the vascular lumen. Subtraction coronary computed tomography angiography (Sub-CCTA) is a method known to be able to reduce the influence of coronary artery calcification and is therefore feasible for improving the diagnosis of significant stenosis in patients with severe calcification. However, Sub-CCTA still involves some problems, such as the increased radiation dose due to plain (mask) imaging, extended breath-holding time, and misregistration due to differences in the imaging phase. Therefore, we considered using artificial intelligence instead of Sub-CCTA to visualize the coronary lumen with high calcification. Given this background, the present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a deep learning-based lumen extraction method (DL-LEM) to detect significant stenosis on CCTA in 99 consecutive patients (891 segments) with severe coronary calcification from November 2015 to March 2018. We also estimated the impact of DL-LEM on the medical economics in Japan. Results The DL-LEM slightly improved the per-segment diagnostic accuracy from 74.5 to 76.4%, and the area under the curve (AUC) slightly improved from 0.752 to 0.767 (p = 0.030). When analyzing the 228 segments that could not be evaluated because of severe calcification on the original CCTA images, the DL-LEM improved the accuracy from 35.5 to 42.5%, and the AUC improved from 0.500 to 0.587 (p = 0.00018). As a result, DL-LEM analysis could have avoided invasive coronary angiography in 4/99 cases (per patient). From the calculated results, it was estimated that the number of exams that can be avoided in Japan in one year is approximately 747 for invasive coronary angiography, 219 for fractional flow reserve, and 248 for nuclear exam. The total amount of medical fee that could be reduced was 225,629,368 JPY. Conclusions These findings suggest that the DL-LEM may improve the diagnostic performance in detecting significant stenosis in patients with severe coronary calcification. In addition, the results suggest that not a small medical economic effect can be expected.

Background: Carotid sinus syndrome (CSS) can cause prodromal symptoms of syncope such as dizziness and nausea. Patients with end-stage cancer lose self-efficacy associated with reduced activities of daily life (ADL). Herein, we report a case of end-stage cancer in which self-efficacy was enhanced as the patient gained self-control of prodromal symptoms of syncope. Case presentation: A 70-year-old patient with end-stage esophageal cancer and enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes developed CSS. The CSS was a mixed type with both bradycardia and decreased blood pressure, accompanied by prodromal symptoms prior to syncope episodes. The patient incidentally discovered that he could decrease the duration of symptoms by contracting the muscles in his hands and legs. By applying this coping method at the onset of prodromal symptoms, he was also able to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, which resulted in enhanced self-efficacy. As a result, the frequency of prodromal symptoms also decreased even though ADL improved. Conclusion: This patient was diagnosed with vasoinhibitory-predominant mixed-type CSS. The coping method the patient developed seemed to avoid the onset of abrupt blood pressure decrease via peripheral vascular constriction action. Achievement of adequate coping such as self-control of prodromal symptoms enabled our patient to improve his self-efficacy even at the end stages of cancer. This case of enhanced self-efficacy could possibly illustrate a placebo effect for prevention of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Recent study suggests that algorithms such as the Duke Clinical score (DCS) may overestimate the pretest probability. The Agatston score representing the grade of coronary artery calcification can be simply calculated from low-radiation exposure ECG-gated plain CT. In this study, we investigated whether or not more superior diagnostic performance for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) can be obtained by combining DCS with the Agatston score. Methods and results Of 3939 consecutive patients suspected of having stable angina without known CAD who underwent Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) as well as calculation of the DCS and Agatston score at our hospital, 3688 patients were selected as subjects. Obstructive CAD was defined as >50% diameter stenosis on CCTA; we investigated the diagnostic performance based on the area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI), and Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI). The AUCs of ROCs prepared using the DCS alone and combination of the DCS and Agatston score were 0.7137 and 0.8057, respectively, showing that the diagnostic performance of the combination was significantly superior to DCS alone (P < 0.001). NRI was 0.8132 and IDI was 0.1374, showing that the diagnostic performance was improved by the combination of the DCS and Agatston score compared with DCS alone (P< 0.001). NRI (0.3522) and IDI (0.0287) were improved compared with those of the Agatston score alone (P < 0.001). Conclusion The combination of the DCS and Agatston score improved the diagnostic performance for obstructive CAD compared with DCS alone and Agatston score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between RA and the risk of CVD in the Japanese population remains unclear. Methods and results: This study comprised 571 RA patients who were admitted to Juntendo University Hospital from January 1990 to December 2000. Cardiovascular events (CVEs) were defined as cardiac death, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), symptomatic stroke, and congestive heart failure. During followup (mean 11.7±5.8 years), 7.5% of the patients died from all causes and 11.0% experienced CVEs. The morbidity of stroke and ACS was 3.6 and 2.5 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The mean RA disease duration at enrolment was significantly longer in patients who experienced CVEs than in those who did not experience CVEs (15.0 ±12.7 years vs. 10.8 ±9.7 years; p = 0.01). Physical disabilities due to RA were more severe in patients who experienced CVEs than in those who did not experience CVEs. Patients with a long RA disease duration showed significantly higher event rates (p = 0.033). Cox proportional hazards analysis identified a longer RA duration as an independent risk factor for CVD (hazard ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.09-2.30, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Japanese RA patients showed a relatively high incidence of CVD, despite the fact that they had few coronary risk factors. The RA disease duration was an independent risk factor for CVEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]