Improved immunogenicity following the third dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in heart transplant recipients.

Objectives: The immunogenicity of two-dose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine is lower among heart transplant (HTx) recipients, compared with the general population. Our aim was to assess the immunogenicity of a third-dose vaccine in HTx recipients.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of HTx recipients who received a third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine.

Six-months immunogenicity of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in heart transplanted and ventricle assist device-supported patients.

Aims: To assess the 6 months immunogenicity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccine in a population of heart transplanted (HTx) recipients and left ventricular assist device (LVAD)-supported patients.

Methods And Results: A prospective single-centre cohort study of HTx recipients and LVAD-supported patients who received a two-dose SARSCoV-2 mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2, Pfizer-BioNTech). Whole blood for anti-spike IgG (S-IgG) antibodies were drawn at 6 months after the first vaccine dose.

Natural History and Prognosis of Patients with Unrepaired Tricuspid Regurgitation Undergoing Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device.

We aimed to describe the natural history of left ventricular assist device (LVAD)-supported patients with preimplantation significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in a single-center retrospective analysis of LVAD-implanted patients (2008-2019). TR severity was assessed semiqualitatively using color-Doppler flow: insignificant TR (iTR) was defined as none/mild TR and significant TR (sTR) as ≥moderate TR. Included were 121 LVAD-supported patients of which 53% (n = 64) demonstrated sTR preimplantation.

Immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in heart transplant recipients - a prospective cohort study.

Aims: To assess the short-term immunogenicity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccine in a population of heart transplant (HTx) recipients. A prospective single-centre cohort study of HTx recipients who received a two-dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2, Pfizer-BioNTech).

Methods And Results: Whole blood for anti-spike IgG (S-IgG) antibodies was drawn at days 21-26 and at days 35-40 after the first vaccine dose.

Health-related quality of life in left ventricular assist device-supported patients.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the different health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) aspects in patients with both short-term and long-term duration LVAD support at pre-specified time intervals.

Methods And Results: We performed a single-centre HR-QoL analysis of short-term and long-term LVAD-supported patients using the short version of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12) and the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire along with a survey to evaluate patients' social and driving routines. Data were collected at baseline and at 6 or 12 month follow-up.

The Effect of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists on Recruitment and Function of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure.

Background: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells have an important role in the process of vascular repair. Impaired recruitment and function of endothelial progenitor cells is related to the pathophysiology of congestive heart failure. Endothelial progenitor cells have been shown to express the mineralocorticoid receptor.

Prognosis of stress-only SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging with prone imaging.

Background: Stress-only single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SO SPECT MPI) is associated with similarly benign prognosis as stress-rest SPECT MPI. However, previous studies have used attenuation correction rather than prone imaging to increase the rate of SO studies.

Objectives: To assess the prognosis of SO SPECT MPI performed with prone imaging.

Yield of left ventricular dyssynchrony by gated SPECT MPI in patients with heart failure prior to implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator: Characteristics and prediction of cardiac outcome.

Background: Mechanical left ventricular dyssynchrony (MLVD) might contribute in the therapeutic decision-making in patients with heart failure (HF) prior to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Our aim was to assess MLVD in patients with HF prior to implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) compared to patients with CRT-D.

Methods: In a prospective study, patients with LVEF ≤ 35% who were scheduled for ICD or CRT-D, underwent gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging with technetium 99m sestamibi within 3 months prior procedure.

Prognostic value of left ventricular dyssynchrony by myocardial perfusion-gated SPECT in patients with normal and abnormal left ventricular functions.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony by phase analysis has been studied by myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI)-gated SPECT in patients with LV dysfunction in various clinical settings. We aimed to investigate the routine use of phase analysis with gated SPECT for predicting cardiac outcome.

Methods: Patients referred to a tertiary medical center in 2010-2011 prospectively underwent a gated SPECT and phase analysis, and follow-up for cardiac events.

Angiographic correlation of myocardial perfusion imaging with half the radiation dose using ordered-subset expectation maximization with resolution recovery software.

Background: We previously described the feasibility of performing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with half the technetium (Tc-99m) activity using ordered-subset expectation maximization with resolution recovery (OSEM-RR) processing. This study sought to assess the accuracy of this technique by correlating the findings with coronary angiography.

Methods: Of 290 patients who underwent MPI-gated SPECT using a half dose of Tc-99m sestamibi and OSEM-RR software in 2010-2012 at a tertiary medical center, 62 were referred for invasive coronary angiography within 90 days and formed the study group.

Feasibility of myocardial perfusion imaging with half the radiation dose in obese patients using ordered-subset expectation maximization with resolution recovery software.

Background: We previously described the feasibility of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with nearly half the radiation dose using ordered-subset expectation maximization with resolution recovery (OSEM-RR) processing. This study sought to determine if the findings can be expanded to obese patients.

Methods: Fifty obese patients (>100 kg) referred for MPI underwent stress-rest or rest-stress studies with a half dose of Tc-99m sestamibi in a 1-day protocol using OSEM-RR processing.

Feasibility of myocardial perfusion imaging with half the radiation dose using ordered-subset expectation maximization with resolution recovery software.

Objective: This study sought to assess the feasibility of performing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with half the technetium activity using ordered-subset expectation maximization with resolution recovery (OSEM-RR), an iterative reconstruction software developed to improve count statistics and acquisition time.

Methods: Two hundred eighteen patients referred for MPI were randomly allocated to undergo stress-rest or rest-stress protocols with standard full-dose (FD) injections of technetium (Tc)-99m sestamibi or half-dose (HD) injections and OSEM-RR processing. Dose activities were adjusted individually by weight.

Yield of a novel ultra-low-dose computed tomography device mounted on a dedicated cardiac SPECT system in improving the accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging and the detection of chest abnormalities.

Background: To examine the yield of an ultra-low-dose computed tomography (CT) transmission module for attenuation-correction (AC) on a dedicated cardiac camera in evaluation of SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in the diagnosis of CAD and for additional chest abnormalities.

Methods: The study group included 150 patients with known or suspected CAD referred for technetium sestamibi SPECT MPI. CT transmission scanning (effective radiation 0.

Feasibility of myocardial perfusion SPECT with prone and half-time imaging.

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging with single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) is associated with reduced specificity due to tissue attenuation. This can be corrected by prone imaging while necessitating additional imaging time. Image processing with iterative reconstruction allows for a half-time (HT) acquisition.

Use of noninvasive tools in primary pulmonary hypertension to assess the correlation of right ventricular function with functional capacity and to predict outcome.

Unlabelled: Most patients with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) have severe exertional limitation which ultimately leads to right heart failure and death. The purpose of the study was to assess the correlation between right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic noninvasive variables and exercise tolerance, as well as the predictors of adverse outcome in treated patients.

Methods: We prospectively studied 29 patients, 17 with PPH and 12 with PPH due to collagen disease.

Prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We revised retrospectively patients after PCI that underwent MPI and were followed for a year for the presence of MACE. We found no differences in the incidence of MACE between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Characteristics and outcome of octogenarian population referred for myocardial perfusion imaging: comparison with non-octogenarian population with reference to gender.

Background: Octogenarian patients referred for stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) differ from younger (non-octogenarian) patients in that they have lower prevalence of risk factors for CAD, but more frequent ischemic events and higher cardiac mortality.

Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of MPI in octogenarian men and women compared with that in the younger population, and to compare the prognostic value of stress MPI in both populations.

Methods: We studied 162 consecutive patients aged > or = 80 years who were referred for stress MPI, and compared them with 253 consecutive patients aged < 80 years.

Prognostic value of stress myocardial perfusion imaging in octogenarian population.

Background: The prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in the very elderly population has not been addressed specifically. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of the octogenarian population referred for MPI and the prognostic value of the procedure in terms of patient gender.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 162 consecutive patients (61 women, 101 men) of mean age 83 +/- 3 years (range, 80-90) who underwent stress MPI.

Discrepancy between myocardial ischemia and luminal stenosis in patients with left internal mammary artery grafting to left anterior descending coronary artery.

Background: Left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafting to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is known to have long-term patency. However, myocardial ischemia in the territories supplied by LIMA to LAD is still demonstrated. The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between the extent, location, and clinical outcome of myocardial ischemia in LAD territories (ILAD) by use of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and angiographic characteristics of such a bypass conduit.