A 17-Years Follow-up of Occupational Radiation Doses in an Interventional Cardiology Department.

Introduction: Various studies have demonstrated large variations in the annual occupational exposure of medical personnel working in interventional cardiology departments, ranging from 0.1 mSv to exceeding the annual effective occupational dose limit of 20 mSv.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the 17-year dynamics in the personal dosimetry records of the medical staff in one interventional cardiology department in Bulgaria.

Multimodality imaging approach in the diagnosis of chronic myocarditis with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (MCpEF): The role of 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Background: Up to one third of patients with chronic myocarditis (MC) have preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (MCpEF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of adding 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) in the diagnosis of patients with MCpEF.

Methods And Results: We analyzed 67 patients with suspected MCpEF who underwent endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).

Early neurological and cognitive impairments in subclinical cerebrovascular disease.

Background: The subclinical cerebrovascular disease (SCVD) is an important public health problem with demonstrated prognostic significance for stroke, future cognitive decline, and progression to dementia. The earliest possible detection of the silent presence of SCVD in adults at age at risk with normal functioning is very important for both clinical doctors and scientists.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-seven adult volunteers, recruited during the years 2005-2007, with mean age 58.

Functional iron deficiency and diastolic function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Functional iron deficiency (FID) is an independent risk factor for poor outcome in advanced heart failure with reduced EF, but its role in heart failure with preserved EF (HFPEF) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of FID on cardiac performance determined by pressure-volume loop analysis in HFPEF.

Methods: 26 HFPEF patients who showed an increase in LV stiffness by pressure-volume (PV) loop analysis obtained by conductance-catheterization, performed exercise testing, echocardiographic examination including tissue Doppler and determination of iron metabolism: serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation.