Effects of psychological stress on neutrophil phagocytosis and bactericidal activity in humans--a meta-analysis.

Several authors have reviewed the effects of psychological stress on lymphocyte activity. However the effect of psychological stress on neutrophil functions has not been reviewed. The present meta-analysis summarizes evidence of the effects of psychological stress on neutrophil phagocytosis and bactericidal activity collated from a MEDLINE search of the English literature.

Detection of coronary artery disease using automated quantitation of myocardial perfusion on single-photon emission computed tomography images from patients with angina pectoris without prior myocardial infarction.

Background: Whether or not automated scores obtained from myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging using software correlate with the visual interpretations by experts remains obscure.

Methods And Results: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with known or suspected angina pectoris underwent (201)thallium stress/rest SPECT followed by coronary angiography and the summed difference scores (SDS) were calculated using Heart Score View software. The SDS was substantially associated with coronary stenosis and accurately detected culprit lesions, because the diagnostic accuracy was comparable to that of expert visual evaluation.

Prognostic value of automated SPECT scoring system for coronary artery disease in stress myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism imaging.

Quantitative SPECT analysis contributes to the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of coronary artery disease. A novel automated scoring system (heart score view) can provide identical quantitative information to that determined by expert visual analysis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the prognostic value of the automated SPECT scoring system when applied to stress thallium and resting beta-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) SPECT images.

Effects of life events and stress on neutrophil functions in elderly men.

Background: Psychological stress or life events might significantly decrease neutrophil function in elderly individuals and lead to infectious diseases. However, relationships between these factors have not been examined in detail.We investigated the relationships between neutrophil function measured using the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test and measurements of psychological stress and life events among 81 men aged over 60 years.

Cardiac event risk in Japanese subjects estimated using gated myocardial perfusion imaging, in conjunction with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease.

Background: Cardiac event risk is estimated using quantitative gated myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and clinical background in patients with ischemic heart disease. The aim of the present study was to calculate major cardiac event risk and tabulate it in the Heart Risk Table for clinical use of risk stratification.

Methods And Results: Multivariate logistic regression was performed based on a multicenter prognostic database (Japanese Assessment of Cardiac Events and Survival Study by Quantitative Gated Single-photon emission computed tomography [J-ACCESS investigation]) using MPI (n=2,395).

Estimation of cardiac event risk by gated myocardial perfusion imaging and quantitative scoring methods based on a multi-center J-ACCESS database.

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has been used to estimate cardiac event risk. The aim of the present study is to achieve stable risk estimation based on perfusion scoring and a multi-center prognostic database.

Methods And Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate cardiac event risk based on a J-ACCESS study.

Validation of automated quantitation of myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism abnormalities on SPECT images.

Background: Myocardial perfusion and fatty acid imaging have played important roles in the risk stratification of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, visual image assessment requires considerable experience and training. Therefore, an automated program has been developed that can quantify perfusion and fatty acid uptake on myocardial single emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Coronary revascularization does not decrease cardiac events in patients with stable ischemic heart disease but might do in those who showed moderate to severe ischemia.

Background: As an initial management strategy for stable ischemic heart disease (IHD), coronary revascularization therapy is thought to be equal to optimal medical therapy alone regarding prognosis.

Methods: Whether or not the effects of revascularization on the prognosis of patients with stable IHD are associated with the amount of ischemic myocardium detected by nuclear stress imaging was evaluated. This retrospective study analyzed data from 4629 patients with suspected or known IHD who underwent gated stress myocardial-perfusion SPECT at 117 hospitals in Japan.

Risk stratification for cardiac death in hemodialysis patients without obstructive coronary artery disease.

The incidence of cardiac death is higher among patients receiving dialysis compared with the general population. Although obstructive coronary artery disease is involved in cardiac deaths in the general population, deaths in hemodialysis patients occur in the apparent absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. To study this further, we prospectively enrolled 155 patients receiving hemodialysis after angiography had confirmed the absence of obstructive coronary lesions.

Prediction of cardiac death in hemodialysis patients by myocardial fatty acid imaging.

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the potential of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to predict cardiac death in chronic hemodialysis patients using the iodinated fatty acid analogue iodine-123 123I-beta-methyl iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP).

Background: We previously reported that BMIPP SPECT could detect asymptomatic coronary artery disease with high sensitivity in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 375 asymptomatic hemodialysis patients who had undergone dual SPECT using 123I-BMIPP and 201thallium (Tl) chloride.

Relationships between lifestyle factors and neutrophil functions in the elderly.

We investigated the relationships between neutrophil functions and lifestyle factors in the elderly. The subjects (84 males, 73.9+/-5.