Aficamten is a small-molecule cardiac myosin inhibitor designed to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited disease of the sarcomere resulting in excessive cardiac contractility. The first-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor, mavacamten, improves symptoms in obstructive HCM. Here we present aficamten, a selective small-molecule inhibitor of cardiac myosin that diminishes ATPase activity by strongly slowing phosphate release, stabilizing a weak actin-binding state.

Cognition and amyloid load in Alzheimer disease imaged with florbetapir F 18(AV-45) positron emission tomography.

Objective: To examine the association between regional brain uptake of a novel amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) tracer florbetapir F 18 ([(18)F]-AV-45) and cognitive performance in a pilot study.

Design: Cross-sectional comparison of [(18)F]-AV-45 in AD patients versus controls.

Setting: Three specialty memory clinics.

Lacrosse equipment and cervical spinal cord space during immobilization: preliminary analysis.

Context: Removal of the lacrosse helmet to achieve airway access has been discouraged based only on research in which cervical alignment was examined. No researchers have examined the effect of lacrosse equipment on the cervical space available for the spinal cord (SAC).

Objective: To determine the effect of lacrosse equipment on the cervical SAC and cervical-thoracic angle (CTA) in the immobilized athlete.

Influence of 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging on the prediction of future adverse cardiac events.

Background: The impact of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) on prediction of risk for future cardiac events was examined by comparing predictions based on clinical information alone and in combination with MPI findings.

Methods And Results: A 3-cardiologist Cardiac Event Prediction Panel (CEPP) estimated three-year cardiac event (non-fatal MI; aborted sudden cardiac death; cardiac death) risk based on clinical data (C) for 371 subjects. CEPP repeated this estimation after receiving Summed Stress Scores (SSS) and Summed Rest Scores (SRS) from blinded reading of rest-stress (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin MPI SPECT studies (C + MPI).

Exploratory study of 99mTc-EC20 imaging for identifying patients with folate receptor-positive solid tumors.

Unlabelled: 99mTc-EC20 is a folate receptor (FR)-targeted imaging agent consisting of the vitamin folate conjugated to 99mTc. FR is expressed on a variety of epithelial cancers, with advanced cancers often expressing FR at significantly higher levels than earlier stages of the disease. The goals of this pilot study were to determine the percentages of various solid tumors that accumulate 99mTc-EC20 in vivo and to correlate 99mTc-EC20 uptake with immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of FR expression in available biopsied tumor tissue.

(99m)Tc sestamibi breast imaging for the examination of patients with dense and fatty breasts: multicenter study.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of scintimammography as an adjunct to physical examination and mammography in the detection of breast cancer in women with dense and fatty breasts.

Materials And Methods: A total of 558 women were prospectively enrolled from 42 centers in North America. Images were interpreted by readers blinded to the subjects' clinical history, mammographic findings, and other test results.

Diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc-sestamibi breast imaging: multicenter trial results.

Unlabelled: Although mammography is well established as a first-line tool for breast cancer screening and detection, efforts to develop complementary procedures continue. Observation of 99mTc-sestamibi tumor uptake provided the impetus for its evaluation as an adjunctive technique. This trial's objectives were to determine in a multicenter trial the diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc-sestamibi in women with suspected breast cancer and to investigate factors influencing diagnostic accuracy.

Acute thromboscintigraphy with (99m)Tc-apcitide: results of the phase 3 multicenter clinical trial comparing 99mTc-apcitide scintigraphy with contrast venography for imaging acute DVT. Multicenter Trial Investigators.

Unlabelled: (99m)Tc-apcitide (formerly known as (99m)Tc-P280) is a radiolabeled peptide that binds with high affinity and specificity to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors expressed on the activated platelets that are involved in acute thrombosis. The purpose of the phase 3 multicenter clinical trials was to compare (99m)Tc-apcitide scintigraphy with contrast venography for imaging acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Methods: A total of 280 patients were enrolled in 2 clinical trials conducted in North America and Europe.

Tc-99m sestamibi scintimammography in the mammographically dense breast.

Purpose: The mammographically dense breast or the "difficult-to-interpret mammogram" poses significant clinical and diagnostic imaging concerns. From our experience using Tc-99m sestamibi mammography in more than 650 patients, we share our experience in a pictorial manner and include suggested indications and limitations of this exciting new technique. Examples of Tc-99m sestamibi imaging in six patients with mammographically dense breasts are presented.

Current imaging modalities for the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Although mammography still remains the gold standard for breast cancer screening and diagnosis, it typically cannot differentiate benign from malignant disease and is less accurate in patients with dense glandular breasts. This article is an overview of imaging modalities that have emerged to augment mammography and improve the accuracy of non-invasive breast cancer diagnosis. Ultrasound is currently used to differentiate breast masses and guide aspirations and biopsies.

Paraspinal ultrasonography: lack of accuracy in evaluating patients with cervical or lumbar back pain.

This study evaluates the ability of paraspinal ultrasonography to identify abnormal echogenicity in patients with cervical or lumbar back pain, or both. Paraspinal ultrasonography was performed on 82 subjects, including 23 asymptomatic controls. Echogenicity in the region of nerve roots and facets was assessed.

Uterine adnexal torsion: sonographic findings.

Acute torsion of the uterine adnexal structures (ovary and fallopian tube) is a recognized surgical emergency, but rarely has the diagnosis been made preoperatively on the basis of imaging studies. This report describes 16 cases in which the diagnosis was suggested preoperatively on the basis of sonography and subsequently confirmed at surgery. In all of the patients studied, a pelvic or pelvoabdominal mass was present on sonography.

Sonographic demonstration of fibromuscular hyperplasia of the cervical internal carotid artery.

Ultrasound examination of the carotid artery has recently become an accepted procedure in screening patients with transient ischemic attacks. We report a patient with fibromuscular hyperplasia of the carotid artery diagnosed successfully with digital gray scale contact ultrasonic scanning and confirmed with arteriography.

Cholescintigraphic diagnosis of cholecystocolic fistula.

The diagnosis of a cholecystocolic fistula has often presented a dilemma to the practicing physician. Routine imaging modalities to confirm this diagnosis have not proven extremely successful. The presence of a small fistulous tract from the gallbladder to the colon is often difficult to demonstrate radiographically.

Candidiasis in the obstructed esophagus.

Four cases of esophageal candidiasis complicating functional or mechanical obstruction are described. The causes of the obstruction included achalasia, scleroderma, and postoperative fundoplication. None of the commonly recognized conditions predisposing to esophageal candidiasis was present.

Ultrasonic evaluation of popliteal cysts.

Ultrasonography was used to examine 42 patients who were complaining of popliteal and suprapatellar pain. When clinically indicated, patients also underwent phlebography, arthrography, and posterior synovectomy. In 17 patients, Baker's cysts were demonstrated by ultrasonogram.