Transluminal angioplasty and stenting versus conservative treatment in patients with symptomatic basilar artery stenosis : Perspective for future clinical trials.

Purpose: Two recent randomized controlled trials (RCT) consistently showed superiority of aggressive medical treatment versus percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) in patients with intracranial artery stenosis. Patients with symptomatic basilar stenosis have a higher long-term risk of recurrent stroke compared to patients with anterior circulation stenosis but no study has specifically focused on the role of PTAS in this subgroup. The aim of our study was to investigate the subgroup of patients with symptomatic basilar artery stenosis to find evidence for the feasibility of a future clinical trial.

The eNOS 894G/T gene polymorphism and its influence on early and long-term mortality after on-pump cardiac surgery.

Background: The eNOS 894G/T polymorphism (GG, GT, and TT) is associated with cardiovascular mortality and may influence cardiovascular diseases as a genetic risk factor. Moreover, this polymorphism has an impact on intraoperative hemodynamics during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In this study, we analyzed the influence of this gene polymorphism on early clinical outcome in patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB.

The entomopathogenic bacterial endosymbionts Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus: convergent lifestyles from divergent genomes.

Members of the genus Xenorhabdus are entomopathogenic bacteria that associate with nematodes. The nematode-bacteria pair infects and kills insects, with both partners contributing to insect pathogenesis and the bacteria providing nutrition to the nematode from available insect-derived nutrients. The nematode provides the bacteria with protection from predators, access to nutrients, and a mechanism of dispersal.

Shortest exposure time possible with LED curing lights.

Purpose: To investigate the shortest exposure time of different light emitting diode (LED)-curing devices for different resin composites in a clinically relevant laboratory model.

Methods: Nine LED curing devices (Bluephase, Bluephase 16i, Bluephase G2, Bluephase 20i/Ivoclar Vivadent, DEMI/sds Kerr, Elipar FreeLight 2, Elipar S10/3M ESPE, Radii plus/SDI, mini LED Autofocus/Satelec) were investigated to polymerize Tetric EvoCeram (TEC) and Filtek Supreme XT B (FS) in the shades A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4.

Quantification of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction from gated 99mTc-MIBI SPECT: MRI validation of the EXINI heart software package.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to validate the accuracy of the EXINI heart software (EXINI) package in assessing left ventricular end-diastolic/systolic volumes (EDV, ESV) and ejection fraction (LVEF) from gated (99m)Tc-MIBI single-photon emission tomography (SPECT). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) was used as reference. Furthermore, effects of perfusion defects and image quality in SPECT on correlation between gated SPECT and magnetic resonance imaging were investigated.

Preparation and ultrastructure of spermatozoa from green poison frogs, Dendrobates auratus, following hormonal induced spermiation (Amphibia, Anura, Dendrobatidae).

Few ultrastructural studies have been performed on members of the Dendrobatidae, although such investigations can be useful for the understanding of reproductive patterns, as a diagnostic method for males in breeding programs for endangered amphibians and for phylogenetic analysis. The sperm ultrastructure of the Green Poison Frog, Dendrobates auratus, from Panama is described following induced spermiation in living animals. To date only testicular spermatozoa in other dendrobatid frogs have been analysed.

Reliable 5-min real-time MR technique for left-ventricular-wall motion analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the value of a real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach for the assessment of left-ventricular-wall motion in patients with insufficient transthoracic echocardiography in terms of accuracy and temporal expenditure. Twenty-five consecutive patients were examined on a 1.5-Tesla whole-body MR system (ACS-NT, Philips Medical Systems, Best, NL) using a real-time and ECG-gated (the current gold standard) steady-state free-precession (SSFP) sequence.

The value of non-contrast harmonic transthoracic echocardiography for the detection of left ventricular thrombi in patients with cardiomyopathy: comparison with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

We sought to assess the value of non-contrast enhanced transthoracic harmonic echocardiography (TEE) for the visualization of left ventricular thrombi in 34 patients with cardiomyopathy. Results were compared to contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging as reference standard. Maximal thrombus size was quantified with both modalities.

Energetic differences between viable and non-viable myocardium in patients with recent myocardial infarction are not an effect of differences in wall thinning- a multivoxel (31)P-MR-spectroscopy and MRI study.

To evaluate multivoxel (31)P-MR spectroscopy (MRS) for assessment of energy metabolism in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in correlation to left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and the outcome of revascularization. Thirty patients with subacute anterior myocardial infarction and planned revascularization were enrolled. 3D-chemical shift imaging was applied to determine PCr/ATP ratios in two areas: infarcted/anterior and noninfarcted/septal myocardium.

Age and gender dependence of human cardiac phosphorus metabolites determined by SLOOP 31P MR spectroscopy.

The aim of this study was to apply (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) using spatial localization with optimal point spread function (SLOOP) to investigate possible age and gender dependencies of the energy metabolite concentrations in the human heart. Thirty healthy volunteers (18 males and 12 females, 21-67 years old, mean = 40.7 years) were examined with the use of (31)P-MRS on a 1.

MRI planimetry for diagnosis and follow-up of valve area in mitral stenosis treated with valvuloplasty.

Purpose: We sought to determine whether noninvasive planimetry by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is suitably sensitive and reliable for visualizing the mitral valve area (MVA) and for detecting increases in the MVA after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV).

Materials And Methods: In 8 patients with mitral valve stenosis, planimetry of the MVA was performed before and after PBMV with a 1.5 T MR scanner using a breath-hold balanced gradient echo sequence (True FISP).

Delayed hyperenhancement in magnetic resonance imaging of left ventricular hypertrophy caused by aortic stenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: visualisation of focal fibrosis.

Objective: To compare the extent and distribution of focal fibrosis by gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; delayed hyperenhancement) in severe left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in patients with pressure overload caused by aortic stenosis (AS) and with genetically determined hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: 44 patients with symptomatic valvular AS (n = 22) and HCM (n = 22) were studied. Cine images were acquired with fast imaging with steady-state precession (trueFISP) on a 1.

Assessment of reversible myocardial dysfunction in chronic ischaemic heart disease: comparison of contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance and a combined positron emission tomography-single photon emission computed tomography imaging protocol.

Aims: The aim of the study was to compare, in patients with chronic ischaemic cardiomyopathy, contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (ce-CMR) imaging and a combined (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and (99m)Tc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) protocols for the prediction of functional recovery after revascularization, as assessed by cine CMR.

Methods And Results: Twenty-nine patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction 32 +/- 10%) were investigated with ce-CMR and PET/SPECT. For the assessment of global and regional functions, cine CMR was performed at baseline and at 6 months follow-up.

Quantification of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction from gated 99mTc-MIBI SPECT: MRI validation and comparison of the Emory Cardiac Tool Box with QGS and 4D-MSPECT.

Unlabelled: The goal of this study was to validate the accuracy of the Emory Cardiac Tool Box (ECTB) in assessing left ventricular end-diastolic or end-systolic volume (EDV, ESV) and ejection fraction (LVEF) from gated (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) SPECT using cardiac MRI (cMRI) as a reference. Furthermore, software-specific characteristics of ECTB were analyzed in comparison with 4D-MSPECT and Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) results (all relative to cMRI).

Methods: Seventy patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease were examined using gated (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT (8 gates/cardiac cycle) 60 min after tracer injection at rest.

Prone versus supine patient positioning during gated 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT: effect on left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, and heart rate.

Unlabelled: Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT allows assessment of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (ESV), left ventricular stroke volume (SV), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Acquiring images with the patient both prone and supine is an approved method of identifying and reducing artifacts. Yet prone positioning alters physiologic conditions.

Validation of QGS and 4D-MSPECT for quantification of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction from gated 18F-FDG PET: comparison with cardiac MRI.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to validate Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) and 4D-MSPECT for assessing left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic volumes (EDV and ESV, respectively) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from gated (18)F-FDG PET.

Methods: Forty-four patients with severe coronary artery disease were examined with gated (18)F-FDG PET (8 gates per cardiac cycle). EDV, ESV, and LVEF were calculated from gated (18)F-FDG PET using QGS and 4D-MSPECT.

Cine MR imaging of heart valve dysfunction with segmented true fast imaging with steady state free precession.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of cine true fast imaging with steady-state free precession (SSFP) for semiquantitative assessment of valvular dysfunction in the heart and to compare the results to that obtained with a standard breath-hold segmented gradient-recalled echo-planar imaging sequence (GE-EPI).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three patients with known valvular dysfunction (main component: 16 with aortic valve stenosis, nine with aortic valve insufficiency, three with mitral stenosis, two with mitral regurgitation, two with tricuspidal regurgitation, and one with pulmonary stenosis) and 23 control subjects with normal valvular function underwent MR imaging on a 1.5-T system (ACS-NT, Philips, Best, The Netherlands).

Auto-SENSE perfusion imaging of the whole human heart.

Purpose: To show the application of auto-sensitivity encoding (SENSE)-a self-calibrating parallel imaging technique-to first pass perfusion imaging of the whole human heart.

Materials And Methods: The self-calibrating parallel imaging method auto-SENSE was implemented for a saturation recovery turbo-fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence on a 1.5-T scanner using a standard four-element body phased array coil.

Detection of myocardial viability in acute infarction using contrast-enhanced (1)H magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Reperfusion strategies salvage myocardium at risk in acute myocardial infarction (MI). This clinical study was performed to determine whether areas without evidence of delayed MRI contrast enhancement in MI correspond to viability by means of percent systolic wall thickening (%SWT) and enddiastolic wall thickness (EDWT) in chronic infarction.

Methods: Twenty MRI studies were performed in ten patients within 6 days of MI and 3 months post-MI.

Validation of an evaluation routine for left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and wall motion from gated cardiac FDG PET: a comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

The aim of this study was to validate the estimation of left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV, ESV) and ejection fraction (LVEF) as well as wall motion analysis from gated fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) using software originally designed for gated single-photon emission tomography (SPET). Thirty patients with severe CAD referred for myocardial viability diagnostics were investigated using a standard FDG PET protocol enhanced with gated acquisition (8 gates per cardiac cycle). EDV, ESV and LVEF were calculated using standard software designed for gated SPET (QGS).

Absolute concentrations of high-energy phosphate metabolites in normal, hypertrophied, and failing human myocardium measured noninvasively with (31)P-SLOOP magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to measure absolute concentrations of phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in normal, hypertrophied, and failing human heart.

Background: Conflicting evidence exists on the extent of changes of high-energy phosphate metabolites in hypertrophied and failing human heart. Previous reports using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) have quantified metabolites in relative terms only.

Time course of contrast enhancement patterns after Gd-BOPTA in correlation to myocardial infarction and viability: a feasibility study.

Our objective was to analyze contrast enhancement patterns (CEP) and their time course after myocardial infarction (MI) following injection of Gd-BOPTA in correlation with recovery of regional function. Seven patients with subacute MI (18 +/- nine days) were examined before, as well as three and six (n = six) months after, revascularization of the infarct-related artery. Regional wall motion abnormalities were assessed by cine-MRI, and repetitive images of one representative slice were acquired up to 45 minutes after 0.