Bovine serum albumin-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with undoubted biosafety and robust dual-modal T₁ and T₂ MR imaging ability were fabricated using a biomineralization approach in a facile way under mild conditions for in vivo MR imaging.

Background: In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between the attenuation of peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and the assessment of coronary vascular functions using coronary flow reserve (CFR).Methods: We included 364 patients who underwent ¹³N-NH₃ positron emission tomography/computed tomography and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We determined the relationship between fat attenuation index (FAI), PCAT volume, and other qualitative CT-derived anatomic parameters with CFR.Results: We detected a decrease in CFR (<2.5) in 206 (57%) patients. At the patient level, those with reduced CFR showed a significantly higher prevalence of diffused atherosclerosis (41% vs. 23%; P < 0.001) and higher FAI (−75.5 HU vs. −77.1 HU; P = 0.014). In patients without obstructive CAD, FAI was significantly higher in those with reduced CFR (−75.5 HU vs. −77.7 HU, P = 0.026). On the vessel level, 1,092 vessels were analyzed, and 642 (59%) exhibited reduced CFR. The vessels with reduced CFR presented a significantly higher prevalence of obstructive CAD (37% vs. 26%; P < 0.001), diffused atherosclerosis (22% vs. 11%; P < 0.001), low-attenuation plaque (6% vs. 3%; P = 0.030), and positive remodeling (7% vs. 2%; P = 0.001). FAI was higher in vessels with reduced CFR (−80.8 HU vs. −81.8 HU; P = 0.045) than in normal CFR. In the patient-level analysis, obstructive CAD, diffused atherosclerosis, and FAI were independently linked with CFR. FAI was still associated with global CFR after adjusting for traditional risk factors (age, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking). FAI remained independently associated with reduced CFR in patients without obstructive CAD.Conclusions: Coronary perivascular inflammation evaluated by CCTA was independently associated with coronary vascular function. In patients without obstructive CAD, FAI was higher in the presence of reduced CFR. Altogether, FAI can help reveal microcirculatory damage in patients who do not exhibit epicardial artery stenosis.

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 positive dermatomyositis (anti-MDA5 DM) is strongly linked to rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD), which is associated with high early mortality. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of using semiquantitative visual scoring methods on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) to assess RP-ILD in anti-MDA5 DM patients, and to develop a risk prediction model for RP-ILD, given the poor prognosis of RP-ILD in anti-MDA5 DM. The data of patients with anti-MDA5 DM were retrospectively analyzed. Seven HRCT-based semiquantitative scoring methods were used to assess the extent of interstitial lung disease (ILD), and the correlation of each method with the pulmonary function tests (PFTs) was analyzed. The diagnostic performance of each method for RP-ILD was also evaluated. A nomogram model was developed to predict RP-ILD risk. In total, 67 patients with anti-MDA5 DM were included in the study. Methods 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 significantly distinguished RP-ILD from non-RP-ILD (P<0.05). Method 1 showed the highest correlation with the PFTs and the best diagnostic performance for RP-ILD [area under the curve (AUC) =0.766, P<0.001]. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression analysis identified male sex, an advanced age at onset, fever, a decreased normal extent in the left lower lung zone, an increased consolidation extent in the left middle lung zone, and elevated C-reactive protein as predictors of RP-ILD. These six predictors were used to construct a prediction model, which had an AUC of 0.842 based on internal validation, and showed good predictive ability and clinical applicability after the calibration and clinical decision curve analyses. Semiquantitative visual scoring based on HRCT can effectively assess the severity of ILD in anti-MDA5 DM patients. A predictive model for RP-ILD that incorporates imaging and clinical information has potential for clinical application.