Myocardial sympathetic innervation in patients with impaired glucose tolerance: relationship to subclinical inflammation.

Aim: This study was designed to assess cardiac adrenergic nerve activity, using iodine (I)-123-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to investigate its relation to circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines.

Methods: We studied 22 patients with IGT (aged 34-68 years) and 18 age-matched healthy controls, using I-123 MIBG cardiac imaging. The early (10 min) and late (4 h) heart to mediastinum MIBG uptake (H/M) ratio and washout were calculated.

Effects of Nebivolol on left ventricular function and exercise capacity in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. A randomised placebo-controlled study.

Introduction: This study assessed the effects of Nebivolol on left ventricular (LV) function and exercise capacity in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDC).

Methods: After enrolment in this double-blind trial, 60 patients, aged 55 +/- 9.5 years, with angiographically proven NIDC, LV ejection fraction (EF) < 45%, NYHA class II-III, were randomised to either Nebivolol (target dose 5 mg) or placebo and were evaluated using echocardiography and exercise tests over 3 months.