Non-invasive Coronary Angiography: the Present and Future of Multi-slice Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography

During the last five years, since the advent of 64-slice multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and thanks to the continuous technological improvements of this technique, the non-invasing imaging of the coronary arteries has become much more reliable. Nowadays, MSCT coronary angiography (CTCA) enables visualization of not only the coronary artery stenoses and occlusions, but also of the atherosclerotic changes and plaques that are confined to the coronary vessel wall without causing significant stenoses... (excerpt

Non-invasive Coronary Angiography: The Role, Limitations and Future of 64-slice Spiral CT Coronary Angiography

Conventional selective X-ray coronary angiography (SCA) remains the undisputed standard of reference for the assessment of the lumen of coronary arteries. However, this is an invasive procedure with a small but not negligible health risk that needs even short hospitalization and causes patient discomfort. Among the more than 2.5 million examinations of SCA performed annually in U.S.A. and Europe, approximately 25% do not reveal essential findings and more than 40% are not followed by any kind of interventional or surgical procedure. [1] On the other hand, SCA does not provide any information concerning the coronary wall, while almost 80% of deadly myocardial infarctions are attributed to vulnerable plaques which did not cause hemodynamically severe stenoses. [2] Thus, an effort for the development of non-invasive techniques for visualization of the coronary arteries is justified. Ideally, such a technique should be capable of reliably excluding or detecting significant stenoses of the coronary lumen and, at the same time, of assessing the coronary wall and plaque structure. By means of computed tomography (CT), this goal is being accomplished with two techniques; electron beam CT (EBCT) and multislice spiral CT (MSCT).EBCT was the first CT modality capable to provide diagnostic images of the proximal and mid segments of the coronary arteries, around 199 5, but it was abandoned soon after the advent of MSCT technology. [3,4

Non-invasive Coronary Angiography: the Role, Limitations and Future of 64-Slice Spiral Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography

Noninvasive coronary imaging can now be accomplished with use of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) which is becoming an important alternative to invasive coronary angiography in selected patients. CTCA is best applied in patients with intermediate risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). It is a reliable technique for patient screening, thus reducing the number of unnecessary invasive coronary angiography examinations, but cannot yet replace invasive coronary angiography in all patients suspected of CAD. Concerns remain regarding the radiation exposure, which is expected to be significantly reduced with the availability of improved technology and newer multi-channel scanners offering the potential to image the entire heart during a single heartbeat. The current status of CTCA is herein briefly reviewed

Dichlorolissoclimide, a new cytotoxic labdane derivative from Lissoclinum voeltzkowi Michaelson (Urochordata)

Spectral methods were used to determine the structure of a new cytotoxic compound, dicnlorolissoclimide 1, isolated from the New Caledonian ascidian #Lissoclinum voeltzkowi$ Michaelson. (Résumé d'auteur

Three new potent cytotoxic macrolides closely related to sphinxolide from the New Caledonia sponge Neosiphonia superstes

Three new macrolides 2-4 have been isolated with sphinxolide 1 from the marine sponge #N. superstes$ collected off New Caledonia. The structures of the new compounds were determined by interpretation of NMR spectral data as well as comparison of spectral data with those of 1. These compounds were highly cytotoxic against various human carcinoma cells. (Résumé d'auteur