Scar imaging in the dyssynchronous left ventricle: Accuracy of myocardial metabolism by positron emission tomography and function by echocardiographic strain.

Purpose: Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is reduced in patients with high left ventricular (LV) scar burden, in particular when scar is located in the LV lateral wall or septum. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can identity scar, but is not feasible in all patients. This study investigates if myocardial metabolism by F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and contractile function by echocardiographic strain are alternatives to LGE-CMR.

Left ventricular regional glucose metabolism in combination with septal scar extent identifies CRT responders.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective in selective heart failure (HF) patients, but non-response rate remains high. Positron emission tomography (PET) may provide a better insight into the pathophysiology of left ventricular (LV) remodeling; however, its role for evaluating and selecting patients for CRT remains uncertain.

Purpose: We investigated if regional LV glucose metabolism in combination with myocardial scar could predict response to CRT.

Imaging predictors of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: left ventricular work asymmetry by echocardiography and septal viability by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) failure in left bundle branch block is caused by loss of septal function and compensatory hyperfunction of the LV lateral wall (LW) which stimulates adverse remodelling. This study investigates if septal and LW function measured as myocardial work, alone and combined with assessment of septal viability, identifies responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods And Results: In a prospective multicentre study of 200 CRT recipients, myocardial work was measured by pressure-strain analysis and viability by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging (n = 125).

Regional myocardial work by cardiac magnetic resonance and non-invasive left ventricular pressure: a feasibility study in left bundle branch block.

Aims: Regional myocardial work may be assessed by pressure-strain analysis using a non-invasive estimate of left ventricular pressure (LVP). Strain by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is not always accessible due to poor image quality. This study investigated the estimation of regional myocardial work from strain by feature tracking (FT) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and non-invasive LVP.

Carotid plaque inflammation assessed with (18)F-FDG PET/CT is higher in symptomatic compared with asymptomatic patients.

Background: Carotid artery plaque inflammation is thought to be an important marker of plaque vulnerability and increased stroke risk.

Aim: The main aim of this study was to assess the level of agreement between 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F] fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) uptake on PET (positron emission tomography) scan in carotid plaques, with cerebrovascular symptoms, carotid plaque ultrasound echogenicity and histological assessments of plaque inflammation.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with ≥70% carotid stenosis scheduled for carotid endarterectomy underwent a Colour Duplex ultrasound, (18)F-FDG PET/CT and blood tests less than 24 h prior to surgery.

Respiratory gated and prolonged acquisition 18F-FDG PET improve preoperative assessment of colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Detection of small liver metastases from colorectal cancer by 18F-FDG PET/CT is hampered by high physiologic uptake in the liver parenchyma and respiratory movements during image acquisition.

Purpose: To investigate whether two tailored 18F-FDG PET liver acquisitions (prolonged liver acquisition time [PL-PET] and repeated breath-hold respiratory gated liver acquisition [RGL-PET]) would improve detection of colorectal liver metastases, when added to a standard whole body PET (WB-PET).

Material And Methods: Twenty consecutive patients referred to our hospital for surgical treatment of colorectal liver metastases diagnosed with contrast-enhanced CT underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT tailored for detection of liver metastases.

Gastric emptying in children with gastroesophageal reflux and in healthy children.

Purpose: The aim of this report is to examine whether children with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) have delayed gastric emptying compared to healthy children.

Methods: All patients had GER verified by 24-hour pH monitoring. Gastric emptying of cow's milk was examined by radionuclide scintigraphy in 51 patients with GER and in 24 controls.

A novel clinical method for quantification of regional left ventricular pressure-strain loop area: a non-invasive index of myocardial work.

Aims: Left ventricular (LV) pressure-strain loop area reflects regional myocardial work and metabolic demand, but the clinical use of this index is limited by the need for invasive pressure. In this study, we introduce a non-invasive method to measure LV pressure-strain loop area.

Methods And Results: Left ventricular pressure was estimated by utilizing the profile of an empiric, normalized reference curve which was adjusted according to the duration of LV isovolumic and ejection phases, as defined by timing of aortic and mitral valve events by echocardiography.

Time course of leukocyte accumulation in human muscle after eccentric exercise.

Purpose: To investigate the time course of leukocyte accumulation in eccentric exercised human muscles and its relation to recovery of muscle function and soreness.

Methods: Eleven young males performed 300 unilateral, maximal voluntary, eccentric actions with the musculus quadriceps femoris (30 degrees x s(-1)). Before and at regular intervals for 7 d after exercise, force-generating capacity was measured with maximal concentric knee extensions (60 degrees x s(-1)).

123 I-mIBG scintigraphy to predict inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias on cardiac electrophysiology testing: a prospective multicenter pilot study.

Background: Disturbances of autonomic function after infarction are associated with both total mortality and sudden death. Although many imaging techniques for assessing the cardiac autonomic nervous system have been studied, the clinical usefulness of these techniques remains uncertain. This exploratory pilot study examined the relationship between abnormalities of ventricular sympathetic innervation delineated by scintigraphic imaging with (123)I-mIBG and inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and previous myocardial infarction.

Temporal relation between leukocyte accumulation in muscles and halted recovery 10-20 h after strength exercise.

Effects of normal strength exercise on leukocyte accumulation were examined in 10 well-trained male subjects (27.2 +/- 2.7 yr).