Amal John

Dr. Amal John


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 August 2026 in Hearts
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MOMichelle O'Dwyer
Michelle O'Dwyer
CMCian P Murray
Cian P Murray
MHMay Harley
May Harley
AJAmal John
Amal John
SMSajjad Matiullah
Sajjad Matiullah
Background: Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) radiomics on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) may capture inflammatory and structural information beyond conventional attenuation measures. We assessed whether PCAT radiomics predicts future coronary events or quantifies plaque progression. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception to 29 August 2025. Eligible studies included adults undergoing CCTA with quantitative PCAT, or anatomically equivalent coronary perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), radiomics, and longitudinal clinical or serial-CCTA outcomes. Findings were synthesised narratively because no common estimand supported meta-analysis. Methodological quality was assessed using QUADAS-2 and the Radiomics Quality Score (RQS). Results: Eleven full-text studies, representing at least 6307 participants were included; one study also analysed 127 plaques in 97 patients, and one reported a separate 202-person model-development sample whose overlap with its 1575-person cohort evaluation was not quantified. Eight studies evaluated coronary clinical events, and three evaluated plaque progression. Seven clinical-event studies reported better discrimination for radiomics-based or integrated models than at least one conventional comparator, although calibration and clinical-utility reporting were inconsistent. Two studies included clearly independent external validation. QUADAS-2 identified high patient-selection risk in 4/11 studies; RQSs ranged from 10/36 to 15/36 (mean: 12.5/36). Conclusions: PCAT radiomics shows preliminary prognostic potential, but confidence in the evidence is low because of retrospective designs, heterogeneous outcomes and workflows, restricted geographic sampling, and limited independent external validation. Current evidence is insufficient for routine clinical decision-making. Prospective multicentre validation with standardised acquisition, analysis, reporting, and clinically consistent endpoints is required.

31 October 2025 in Hearts
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CMCian P Murray
Cian P Murray
HTHugo C Temperley
Hugo C Temperley
RDRobert Stephen Doyle
Robert Stephen Doyle
AKAbdullahi Mohamed Khair
Abdullahi Mohamed Khair
PDPatrick Devitt
Patrick Devitt
SMSajjad Matiullah
Sajjad Matiullah
Background: Myocardial scar and fibrosis predict adverse cardiac outcomes. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the reference standard for detection. However, it requires gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), which may be unsuitable for some patients. Cine balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) sequences are universally acquired in routine CMR. They may enable contrast-free scar detection via radiomics analysis. Aim: To systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of cine CMR radiomics for myocardial scar or fibrosis detection. The reference standard is visual or threshold-based LGE. Methods: This review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251121699). We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to 8 August 2025. Eligible studies compared cine CMR radiomics with LGE-based assessment in patients with suspected or known scar/fibrosis. Quality was assessed using QUADAS-2 and Radiomics Quality Score (RQS). Results: Five retrospective studies (n = 1484) were included. Two focused on myocardial infarction, two on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and one on ischaemic versus dilated cardiomyopathy. Diagnostic performance was good to excellent (AUC 0.74–0.96). Methodological heterogeneity was substantial in reference standards, segmentation, preprocessing, feature selection, and modelling. Only one study used external validation. QUADAS-2 showed high bias risk in patient selection and index test domains. RQS scores were low (30–42%), indicating limited reproducibility and validation. Conclusions: Cine CMR radiomics shows promise as a non-contrast alternative for detecting myocardial scar and fibrosis. However, methodological standardisation, multicentre validation, and prospective studies are needed before clinical adoption.