BACKGROUND: The aortic knob width (AKW) and the heart rate variability (HRV) were suggested to be related to development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between them has not been investigated; thus, this study aimed to determine this relationship. METHODS: This study included 587 Koreans aged 18–79 years. Their physical measurements, medical and social histories, blood test findings, and chest radiographs were obtained. The HRV parameters included the standard deviation of the N-N interval (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), approximate entropy (ApEn), total power (TP), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio, which were measured for 5 minutes. The AKW was measured on chest radiographs by a single reviewer. RESULTS: The AKW was significantly correlated with the HRV parameters, except for the LF/HF ratio. However, RMSSD and ApEn were not significantly related to the AKW in women. After dividing the participants into quartile groups, the AKW was significantly related to the SDNN, RMSSD, TP, VLF, LF, and HF. The HRV parameter values decreased in the higher AKW quartile groups, the HRV parameter values decreased. After adjusting for sex, drinking status, exercise habits, smoking status, waist circumference, and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and glycated hemoglobin levels, the AKW showed significant negative associations with the HRV parameters, except for the LF/HF ratio. CONCLUSION: The AKW is significantly associated with the HRV parameters of SDNN, RMSSD, ApEn, TP, VLF, LF, and HF.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Entropy ; Fasting ; Female ; Heart Rate* ; Heart* ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

Chronic mitral valve disease (CMVD) is the most common cardiovascular disease in dogs, causing decreased cardiac output that results in poor tissue perfusion and tissue damage to kidneys, pancreas, and other organs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between heart disease severity and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and lipase in dogs with CMVD, as well as to evaluate longitudinal changes in these values. A total of 84 dogs participated in this 2015 to 2017 study. Serum values of NT-proBNP and lipase were analyzed; radiography was used to measure the vertebral heart score and assess various echocardiographic values. NT-proBNP showed a strong positive correlation with increasing stage of heart disease; lipase showed a mild positive correlation with heart disease stage. When the three values (NT-proBNP, lipase and month) were continuously measured at 6-month intervals, all showed a correlation with the increasing length of the disease.
Animals ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Dogs ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Kidney ; Lipase ; Mitral Valve ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Pancreas ; Perfusion ; Radiography

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to compare opening and closing angles of normally functioning mechanical aortic valves measured on dual-source computed tomography (CT) with the manufacturers' values and to compare CT-measured opening angles according to valve function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 140 patients with 10 different types of mechanical aortic valves, who underwent dual-source cardiac CT, were included. Opening and closing angles were measured on CT images. Agreement between angles in normally functioning valves and the manufacturer values was assessed using the interclass coefficient and the Bland-Altman method. CT-measured opening angles were compared between normal functioning valves and suspected dysfunctioning valves. RESULTS: The CT-measured opening angles of normally functioning valves and manufacturers' values showed excellent agreement for seven valve types (intraclass coefficient [ICC], 0.977; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.962-0.987). The mean differences in opening angles between the CT measurements and the manufacturers' values were 1.2degrees in seven types of valves, 11.0degrees in On-X valves, and 15.5degrees in ATS valves. The manufacturers' closing angles and those measured by CT showed excellent agreement for all valve types (ICC, 0.953; 95% CI, 0.920-0.972). Among valves with suspected dysfunction, those with limitation of motion (LOM) and an increased pressure gradient (PG) had smaller opening angles than those with LOM only (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dual-source cardiac CT accurately measures opening and closing angles in most types of mechanical aortic valves, compared with the manufacturers' values. Opening angles on CT differ according to the type of valve dysfunction and a decreased opening angle may suggest an elevated PG.
Adult ; Aortic Valve/*radiography ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases/therapy ; *Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/*instrumentation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

The development of cardiac CT has provided a non-invasive alternative to echocardiography, exercise electrocardiogram, and invasive angiography and cardiac CT continues to develop at an exponential speed even now. The appropriate use of cardiac CT may lead to improvements in the medical performances of physicians and can reduce medical costs which eventually contribute to better public health. However, until now, there has been no guideline regarding the appropriate use of cardiac CT in Korea. We intend to provide guidelines for the appropriate use of cardiac CT in heart diseases based on scientific data. The purpose of this guideline is to assist clinicians and other health professionals in the use of cardiac CT for diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases, especially in patients at high risk or suspected of heart disease.
Chest Pain/*diagnosis/radiography ; Exercise ; Heart/radiography ; Heart Diseases/diagnosis/*radiography ; Humans ; Republic of Korea ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation/*methods/*standards

Coronary artery problems in children usually have a significant impact on both short-term and long-term outcomes. Early and accurate diagnosis, therefore, is crucial but technically challenging due to the small size of the coronary artery, high heart rates, and limited cooperation of children. Coronary artery visibility on CT and MRI in children is considerably improved with recent technical advancements. Consequently, CT and MRI are increasingly used for evaluating various congenital and acquired coronary artery abnormalities in children, such as coronary artery anomalies, aberrant coronary artery anatomy specific to congenital heart disease, Kawasaki disease, Williams syndrome, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Angiography/*methods ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies/*radiography ; Coronary Vessels/*radiography ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Echocardiography/methods ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital/radiography ; Heart Diseases/diagnosis/*radiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography/*methods ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

Cardiac enlargement is an important symptom of vascular and heart disease. The cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) is an important index used to measure the size of heart. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between aging and cardiothoracic ratio. This paper also presents an improved C-V level set method to segment lung tissue based on X-ray image, which used to automatically compute CTR. In the investigation carried out in our school, we got more than 3 120 chest radiographs from medical examination of the working population in Beijing, and we systematically studied the effects of age and gender on the CTR to obtain reference values for each group. The reference values established in this study can be useful for recording and quantifying the cardiac enlargement, so that it may be useful for calling attention to the cardiovascular diseases and the heart diseases.
Aging ; Algorithms ; Cardiomegaly ; pathology ; Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Radiography, Thoracic ; methods ; Reference Values

We report the case of a 70-year-old man with an asymptomatic large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) incidentally detected on triple-rule-out computed tomography (CT). CT clearly demonstrated a vascular structure connecting the descending thoracic aorta to the roof of the proximal left pulmonary artery, consistent with a PDA. Secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension was also evident on CT. The patient was eventually diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and was successfully treated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and concomitant patch closure of the PDA. This article aims to outline the imaging features of PDA and highlight the information provided by CT, which is crucial to treatment planning. The pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and closure options of PDA are also briefly discussed.
Aged ; Aorta, Thoracic ; diagnostic imaging ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Echocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Infant ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; Pulmonary Artery ; pathology ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax (PTX) can occur as a complication of positive pressure ventilation in mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics of patients who developed PTX during mechanical ventilation (MV) in the intensive care unit (ICU). RESULTS: Of the 326 patients admitted (208 men and 118 women; mean age, 65.3 +/- 8.74 years), 15 (4.7%) developed PTX, which was MV-associated in 11 (3.3%) cases (6 men and 5 women; mean age, 68.3 +/- 9.12 years) and procedure-associated in 4. Among the patients with MV-associated PTX, the underlying lung diseases were acute respiratory distress syndrome in 7 patients, interstitial lung disease in 2 patients, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2 patients. PTX diagnosis was achieved by chest radiography alone in 9 patients and chest computed tomography alone in 2 patients. Nine patients were using assist-control mode MV with the mean applied positive end-expiratory pressure, 9 +/- 4.6 cmH2O and the mean tidal volume, 361 +/- 63.7 ml at the diagnosis of PTX. Two patients died as a result of MV-associated PTX and their systolic pressure was below 80 mmHg and heart rates were less than 80/min. Ten patients were treated by chest tube insertion, and 1 patient was treated by percutaneous pigtail catheter insertion. CONCLUSIONS: PTX can develop in patients undergoing MV, and may cause death. Early recognition and treatment are necessary to prevent hemodynamic compromise in patients who develop PTX.
Blood Pressure ; Catheters ; Chest Tubes ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Male ; Pneumothorax* ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Radiography ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; Tidal Volume

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a quantitative method for individually adjusting the tube current to obtain images with consistent noise in electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated CT cardiac scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The image noise from timing bolus and cardiac CT scans of 80 patients (Group A) who underwent a 64-row multidetector (MD) CT cardiac examination with patient-independent scan parameters were analyzed. A formula was established using the noise correlation between the timing bolus and cardiac scans. This formula was used to predict the required tube current to obtain the desired cardiac CT image noise based on the timing bolus noise measurement. Subsequently, 80 additional cardiac patients (Group B) were scanned with individually adjusted tube currents using an established formula to evaluate its ability to obtain accurate and consistent image noise across the patient population. Image quality was evaluated using score scale of 1 to 5 with a score of 3 or higher being clinically acceptable. RESULTS: Using the formula, we obtained an average CT image noise of 28.55 Hounsfield unit (HU), with a standard deviation of only 1.7 HU, as opposed to a target value of 28 HU. Image quality scores were 4.03 and 4.27 for images in Groups A and B, respectively, and there was no statistical difference between the image quality scores between the two groups. However, the average CT dose index (CTDIvol) was 30% lower for Group B. CONCLUSION: Adjusting the tube current based on timing bolus scans may provide a consistent image quality and dose optimization for cardiac patients of various body mass index values.
Female ; Heart Diseases/*radiography ; Humans ; Male ; Mathematics ; Middle Aged ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*instrumentation

A complete history and physical examination for heart diseases in children, especially neonates and infants, enables the pediatrician to compile an appropriate differential diagnosis, order tests such as chest radiography and electrocardiogram in a suitable manner, and efficiently care for the patients. The ability to obtain an accurate history and to perform an excellent physical examination is very important and provides the basis for best management of children with heart diseases. As such, we are reviewed the components of the history and the physical examination that are critical in assessing the cardiovascular system.
Cardiovascular System ; Child* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Physical Examination* ; Radiography ; Thorax