Texture Analysis of SPECT-MPI Provides Prognostic Value in Improving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Response.

Background: Texture analysis (TA) is a powerful tool for extracting quantitative information, assessing myocardial heterogeneity, evaluating therapeutic efficacy, and predicting outcomes in heart disease. This study investigated whether TA based on gated single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) can enhance the prediction of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: A total of 165 patients who underwent gated SPECT MPI and received CRT were enrolled in the study.

Predicting cardiac resynchronization therapy response: development and validation of a single photon emission computed tomography-based nomogram.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective treatment for patients with drug-refractory heart failure. However, more than thirty percent of patients do not benefit from CRT. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel model based on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) phase analysis features to predict CRT response.

Reduced graphene oxide-encaged submicron-silicon anode interfacially stabilized by AlO nanoparticles for efficient lithium-ion batteries.

Silicon-carbon composites have been recognized as some of the most promising anode candidates for advancing new-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The development of high-efficiency silicon/graphene anodes through a simple and cost-effective preparation route is significant. Herein, by using micron silicon as raw material, we designed a mesoporous composite of silicon/alumina/reduced graphene oxide (Si/AlO/RGO) a two-step ball milling combined annealing process.

The influence of arm positions on mechanical dyssynchrony measured by gated myocardial perfusion imaging.

Background: In routine procedures, patient's arms are positioned above their heads to avoid potential attenuation artifacts and reduced image quality during gated myocardial perfusion imaging (G-MPI). However, it is difficult to achieve this action in the acute period following pacemaker implantation. This study aimed to explore the influence of arm positioning on myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in different types of heart disease.

Spatial-temporal V-Net for automatic segmentation and quantification of right ventricle on gated myocardial perfusion SPECT images.

Background: Functional assessment of right ventricle (RV) using gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) heavily relies on the precise extraction of right ventricular contours.

Purpose: In this paper, we present a new deep-learning-based model integrating both the spatial and temporal features in gated MPS images to perform the segmentation of the RV epicardium and endocardium.

Methods: By integrating the spatial features from each cardiac frame of the gated MPS and the temporal features from the sequential cardiac frames of the gated MPS, we developed a Spatial-Temporal V-Net (ST-VNet) for automatic extraction of RV endocardial and epicardial contours.

Association between CZT‑SPECT myocardial blood flow and coronary stenosis: A cross‑sectional study.

The association between the quantitative and semi-quantitative parameters of myocardial blood flow obtained using cadmium-zinc-telluride single photon emission computed tomography (CZT-SPECT) and coronary stenosis remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of two parameters obtained using CZT-SPECT in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. A total of 24 consecutive patients who underwent CZT-SPECT and coronary angiography within 3 months of each other were included in the study.

A new method incorporating deep learning with shape priors for left ventricular segmentation in myocardial perfusion SPECT images.

Accurate segmentation of the left ventricle (LV) is crucial for evaluating myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) and assessing LV functions. In this study, a novel method combining deep learning with shape priors was developed and validated to extract the LV myocardium and automatically measure LV functional parameters. The method integrates a three-dimensional (3D) V-Net with a shape deformation module that incorporates shape priors generated by a dynamic programming (DP) algorithm to guide its output during training.

Texture analysis of SPECT myocardial perfusion provides prognostic value for dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Texture analysis (TA) has demonstrated clinical values in extracting information, quantifying inhomogeneity, evaluating treatment outcomes, and predicting long-term prognosis for cardiac diseases. The aim of this study was to explore whether TA of SPECT myocardial perfusion could contribute to improving the prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients were recruited in our study between 2009 and 2020 who were diagnosed with DCM and underwent single-photon emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI).

Predictive values of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony for CRT response in heart failure patients with different pathophysiology.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) patients with different pathophysiology may influence mechanical dyssynchrony and get different ventricular resynchronization and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Ninety-two dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and fifty ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients with gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) were included in this retrospective study. Patients were classified based on the concordance between the left ventricular (LV) lead and the latest contraction or relaxation position.

Left ventricular systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony to improve cardiac resynchronization therapy response in heart failure patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony is physiologically related, but measure different left ventricular mechanisms. Left ventricular systolic mechanical dyssynchrony (systolic LVMD) has shown significant clinical values in improving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response in the heart failure patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Our recent study demonstrated that LV diastolic dyssynchrony (diastolic LVMD) parameters have important prognostic values for DCM patients.

A pilot study to determine if left ventricular activation time is a useful parameter for left bundle branch capture: Validated by ventricular mechanical synchrony with SPECT imaging.

Background: Left bundle branch (LBB) pacing has emerged as a novel pacing modality. Left ventricular activation time (LVAT) was reported to be associated with the activation via LBB, but the value of LVAT for determining LBB pacing was unknown. We conducted a pilot study to determine if LVAT could define LBB capture by validating left ventricular (LV) mechanical synchrony.

Rapid prediction of atrazine sorption in soil using visible near-infrared spectroscopy.

Sorption is an important process for determining the fate, effects, and ecological risks of pesticides in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Within a watershed, soil properties vary greatly because of landscape and management practices, leading to spatial variation of pesticide sorption coefficients (K). A method for the rapid determination of the sorption variability of atrazine in soils of the Baima river catchment using visible near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy is studied in this work.

Feasibility and cardiac synchrony of permanent left bundle branch pacing through the interventricular septum.

Aims: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) recently emerges as a novel pacing modality. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and cardiac synchrony of permanent LBBP in bradycardia patients.

Methods And Results: Left bundle branch pacing was successfully performed in 56 pacemaker-indicated patients with normal cardiac function.

Development and validation of a new method to diagnose apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by gated single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging.

Aim: The aim of this study is to develop and validate a new method to diagnose apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) by the integral quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion and wall thickening from gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients, who showed T wave inversion of at least 3 mm in precordial leads and sinus rhythm in ECG, were enrolled. All the patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), gated rest SPECT MPI and echocardiography.

Normal stress-only myocardial single photon emission computed tomography predicts good outcome in patients with coronary artery stenoses between 40 and 70.

Objective: Normal stress myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) usually indicates good physiologic function of all coronary lesions, and also indicates a good outcome. We hypothesize that it can still predict good outcome in patients with coronary stenoses between 40 and 70%.

Methods: A group of patients who underwent stress myocardial SPECT after coronary angiography were consecutively recruited in our center.