Controlled Cardiac Computed Tomography

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has been a hot topic for years because of the clinical importance of cardiac diseases and the rapid evolution of CT systems. In this paper, we propose a novel strategy for controlled cardiac CT that may effectively reduce image artifacts due to cardiac and respiratory motions. Our approach is radically different from existing ones and is based on controlling the X-ray source rotation velocity and powering status in reference to the cardiac motion. We theoretically show that by such a control-based intervention the data acquisition process can be optimized for cardiac CT in the cases of periodic and quasiperiodic cardiac motions. Specifically, we formulate the corresponding coordination/control schemes for either exact or approximate matches between the ideal and actual source positions, and report representative simulation results that support our analytic findings

Case report: Cytokine therapy and an intracoronary autologous bone marrow-derived cell infusion with Impella support in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and a severely reduced ejection fraction

INTRODUCTION: This is the first reported case of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and severely impaired left ventricular function to receive a combined treatment of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy and an intracoronary delivery of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells with percutaneous circulatory assistance (the Impella CP device; Abiomed, Danvers, MA). MAIN SYMPTOMS AND OUTCOME: Three months post-treatment, the gentleman in his early 70s demonstrated an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (13–17%) and a reduction in New York Heart Association class from III to class I. There was also an improvement in his 6-minute walk test (147–357 meters), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level (14,099–7,129 ng/l) and quality of life scores. There were no safety concerns during the treatment or follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case report suggests combined cell and cytokine therapy with adjunctive circulatory support could be a safe and promising treatment for patients with DCM and severely reduced ejection fraction