ABSTRACT

Pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a significant cause of cardiovascular mortality, with un- treated cases showing mortality rates of up to 30%. The evolution of computer-assisted detec- tion (CAD) for PE has transformed dramatically over the past decades, progressing from simple pattern recognition to sophisticated deep learning approaches. Early CAD systems demonstrat- ed modest performance, with sensitivity around 75% at 2–4 false positives per scan, whereas modern deep learning architectures achieve sensitivities of up to 92.9% at 0.15 false positives per scan. Significantly, the technological progression has evolved from basic patient-level clas- sification to sophisticated voxel-level analysis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of PE CAD systems, their clinical value, and future directions.

ABSTRACT

Background: Severe carotid stenosis is a significant cause of stroke and transient ischemic attack. The most common surgical treatment of this pathology aimed at reducing neurologi- cal complications is carotid endarterectomy (CEA), a procedure associated with a low rate of postoperative complications and improved quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify serum biomarkers that can predict immediate postoperative complications following CEA. Methods: This prospective study was conducted over 1 year at the Department of Vascular Surgery of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Târgu Mureș, Romania. A total of 46 patients with severe carotid stenosis who underwent CEA were included in the study. Blood samples were collected before surgery to determine the levels of serum biomarkers, and the patients were monitored postoperatively for the first 48 h to identify immediate compli- cations. Results: We found a predominance of male patients in our study population, with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and ischemic heart disease being the most common comorbidi- ties. After CEA, the observed complications included stroke, transient ischemic attack, cranial nerve palsy, neck hematoma, and severe hypotension. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess potential correlations between serum biomarker levels and these complications. Elevated preoperative levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were associated with an increased risk of immediate postoperative complications during hospitalization. In contrast, high levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and oxidized low-density lipoprotein did not show a significant correlation with acute complications after CEA. Conclusions: This study highlights that CEA is a safe procedure with few acute postoperative complications. When such complications do occur, they are correlated with elevated preoperative levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and matrix metal- loproteinase-9.

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of global health decline. Conditions that cause inflammation and excessive oxidation are present in the early development of the majority of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease and heart failure. Among the many physiological functions of albumin, its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antiaggregant properties are the most important. Low serum albumin levels are associated with the occurence of various cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. Several recent meta-analyses support the idea that hypoalbu- minemia may act as a modifiable risk factor that increases oxidative stress and inflammation, contributing to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. However, it is un- clear whether correcting hypoalbuminemia can improve outcomes for patients with cardiovas- cular diseases and reduce mortality rates. In this regard, further research is crucial.