Displaying items by tag: intermediate

The effects of coronary artery diseases on the macrovasculature of the heart have been extensively studied, in contrast to the limited knowledge of effects seen in the microvasculature. As symtoms in the small vessels are an early warning sign of coronary artery disease, slowing or halting progression of these symptoms through improved diagnosis is the aim of the presented research. Dr. Robert deKemp is adapting PET imaging's stress over rest flow reserve, an established method in evaluating macrovasculature, to study the microvasculature. He presents his lab's translational micro-PET evalutaion of mice to determine effects of various stressors to eventually improve diagnostic procedures in humans and pre-clinically evaluate new therepeutic drugs.

Using specialized equipment and advanced software, Dr. Fenster et al. have extended 2 dimensional ultrasound images to 3 dimensional acquisition. Through further software development, it has been possible for his team to reconstruct and measure existing carotid plaque in real time, allowing for accurate mapping of plaque regression or progression over time. Looking forward, Dr. Fenster describes current programs attempting to semi-automate plaque tracing on images.

The ability to anticipate future ischemic events in the brain is the goal of CAIN1.  This presentation given by Josephine Pressacco for Alan Moody, covers the hypothesis, rationale, methods, goals and status of the CAIN1 project as of April 2011. Building on work already accomplished, it is anticipated that high resolution MRI will be proven useful in predicting end organ ischemic events through detailed characterization of atherosclerotic plaques.

In keeping with the goals of the MITNEC program, Dr. Mercer discusses the roles of radiopharmaceuticals in PET and SPECT imaging. Flourine-based FDG is by far the most common of the imaging probes and is suitable for most cases, but it is not appropriate for all types of cancer. Other imaging probes have been developed for specific purposes and new probes are being investigated for enhanced pathology differentiation. The process of novel radiopharmaceutical development is discussed, together with case studies of Edmonton-based developments and current trends in research.

Working within the goal of CAIN2, Dr. Spence outlines the importance and methods towards outlining atherosclerosis patients would would benefit from intervention. It has been determined that those with microemboli and with greater than 3 ulcers benefit and that characteristics of individual plaque predicts outcome. CAIN2 strives to validate imaging methods for detection of vulnerable plaque.

This presentation focuses on how MRI techniques can be used to examine carotid artery diseases.  Dr. Moody aims to convey how characterisation of vessel walls can be achieved by overlaying various weighted MR sequences to give a full picture of vessel wall disease. Imaging of the end organ effects can also be used to determine biomarkers through local cause, distal effect analysis, local disease disruption and distal end organ effects.

Understanding the markers of atherosclerosis is pivitol to providing effective care and perhaps prevention of the disease in others. Currently, upwards of 50% of patients with atherosclerosis first present to clinical medicine after a critical event. Dr. Larsose describes what is currently known and what steps are being taken to understand important disease targets including effective characterization of plaque morphology. It is our goal to prove imaging as an invaluable tool in improving patient outcomes.

A great primer in atheroma characterisation and processing, this video is recommended for all cardiac trainees. Dr. Hammond describes the workflow of how tissues become samples, then specimen slides and are digitized. Challenges in processing the endartarectomy specimens are discussed as well as how new technology is overcoming those challenges and making it possible to produce 3D stained specimens for pathological analysis.

Following the mandate of an ancient Chinese medical writing, Dr. Chow describes how it should be the goal of researchers and clinicians to learn to treat disease prior to its clinical presentation. Dr. Chow and his colleagues take aim at this goal by introducing cardiac CT that is able to detect previously undiscovered obstructive coronary disease and its potential as a modality that can identify poor outcome. Taking this further, investigators have asked if poor outcomes can be averted by treating disease before the patient is symptomatic.

The ability to determine the functional significance of coronary stenosis and myocardium at risk in the clinical emergency setting is an important goal of myocardial perfusion studies. Here, Dr. Lee describes how perfusion is calculated from contrast CT imaging studies and describes the complications involved in these determinations and how they are corrected. The application of perfusion mapping for the clinical setting is also discussed.