Determinants of perivascular adipose tissue stranding as a novel imaging marker and its relation to inflammatory biomarker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) stranding in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and the determinants of PVAT stranding in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Material and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was done by collecting data from CAD patients who were referred to Rajaie Cardiovascular Centre between January 2018 and September 2020, with CCTA and hsCRP test 72 hours apart from the CCTA. PVAT stranding was defined as irregular obscuration of PVAT adjacent to the coronary arteries. An attempt was made to find a correlation between included variables and PVAT stranding by comparing them between 2 groups: patients with and without PVAT stranding. Results: From 92 patients, 31 participants had PVAT stranding, and statistically significant higher levels of hsCRP were detected in them (p = 0.007). We demonstrated significantly higher prevalence of history of hyperlipidaemia (OR = 3.83, p = 0.029), high-risk plaque features (OR = 11.80, p = 0.015), and obstructive coronary luminal stenosis (OR = 3.25, p = 0.025) in patients with PVAT stranding. Also, significantly higher PVAT attenuation was detected in patients with PVAT stranding (p < 0.001) independently from mean attenuation of epicardial fat. Conclusion: PVAT stranding could be used as a novel non-invasive marker in CCTA of CAD patients. More studies focusing on patient outcomes are required to better evaluate the reliability and prognostic value of this marker

Aneurysmal dilation of sinus of Valsalva in a patient with undiagnosed acromegaly

Key Clinical Message In patients presenting with aortic ectasia and myxomatous valve diseases at young ages, possible underlying acromegaly should be in mind. Abstract Acromegaly is a chronic systemic disease mainly caused by the benign pituitary adenoma secreting growth hormone (GH) in excess. Acromegaly is associated with various complications such as cardiovascular diseases. In this regard, timely diagnosis, and management of these patients could be life‐saving. Herein, a case of aneurysmal dilation of the sinus of Valsalva with severe aortic and mitral regurgitation in a patient with undiagnosed acromegaly is presented

Energy Efficiency of Microwave-Induced Heating of Crushed Rocks/Ores

The interaction between electromagnetic waves and heat transfer phenomena due to microwave treatment is of utmost importance for an energy-efficient microwave-integrated grinding circuit. In this study, the effect of microwave irradiations on the heat absorptions of crushed particles is carried out by developing a numerical model. Crushed particles are simulated as diced-shaped geometries with different sitting arrangements but similar size distributions. The energy efficiency of the microwave treatment process is studied by introducing temperature-dependent dielectric properties and accounting for the convective heat loss from the particle boundaries to the surrounding environment. The simulations are quantitatively validated with the experimental results for heat over microwave efficiency. Heat absorption of larger particles is found to be significantly higher, and the arrangement of particles exerts a negligible effect on overall energy absorption. It is also found that ores with a larger average diameter can yield higher energy efficiencies, and the maximum absorption can be achieved by placing the particles at certain distances from the waveguide of the microwave.Applied Science, Faculty ofMining Engineering, Keevil Institute ofReviewedFacult

Additional file 1 of Cardiac device to plug an aorto-bronchial fistula

Additional file 1