Genetic deletion in uncoupling protein 3 augments 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose cardiac uptake in the ischemic heart.

Background: We investigated the effects of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) genetic deletion on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) cardiac uptake by positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) dedicated animal system after permanent coronary artery ligation.

Methods: Cardiac 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed in UCP3 knockout (UCP3-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice one week after induction of myocardial infarction or sham procedure.

Results: In sham-operated mice no difference in left ventricular (LV) volume was detectable between WT and UCP3-/-.

Post-stress left ventricular ejection fraction drop in patients with diabetes: a gated myocardial perfusion imaging study.

Background: To evaluate the relevance of stress-induced decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with type-2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 684 diabetic patients with available rest and post-stress gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) data were enrolled. An automated algorithm was used to determine the perfusion scores using a 17-segment model.

Transient ischemic dilation in patients with diabetes mellitus: prognostic value and effect on clinical outcome after coronary revascularization.

Background: We prospectively evaluated the incremental prognostic value of transient ischemic dilation (TID) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during long-term follow-up and estimated cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) using traditional approaches of prognostication to more recent methods.

Methods And Results: A total of 672 consecutive diabetic patients with available rest and stress gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomographic data were enrolled. Stepwise Cox regression analysis was used to estimate cardiac death or nonfatal MI.

Observer reproducibility of results from a low-dose 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine cardiac imaging protocol in patients with heart failure.

Purpose: Imaging of the cardiac autonomic system with (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is useful in the evaluation of patients with a variety of cardiac conditions, including heart failure (HF), but few data are available about the reproducibility of this technique. We assessed the observer reproducibility of the results from a low-dose (123)I-MIBG cardiac imaging protocol in patients with HF.

Methods: A total of 74 patients (62 men, age 67 ± 10 years) with HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 31 ± 7 %) underwent low-dose (111 MBq) planar and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) (123)I-MIBG cardiac sympathetic imaging.

Myocardial perfusion imaging after coronary revascularization: a clinical appraisal.

Revascularization procedures, including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), are performed in many patients with coronary artery disease. Despite the effectiveness of these procedures, different follow-up strategies need to be considered for the management of patients after revascularization. Stress myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) is a suitable imaging method for the evaluation of patients who have undergone PCI or CABG, and it has been used in the follow-up of such patients.

Transient ischemic dilation in SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging for prediction of severe coronary artery disease in diabetic patients.

Background: Transient ischemic dilation (TID) of the left ventricle during stress myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) has been shown to be a useful marker of severe coronary artery disease (CAD). However, investigations in diabetic patients with available coronary angiographic data are still limited. We evaluated the incremental diagnostic value of TID in identifying the presence of angiographically severe CAD in diabetic patients.

Imaging techniques for assessment of coronary flow reserve.

The assessment of coronary flow reserve (CFR) may be useful for the functional evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Invasive techniques, such as intracoronary Doppler ultrasound and pressure-derived method, directly assess CFR velocity and fractional flow reserve. Positron emission tomography (PET) has emerged as an accurate noninvasive technique to quantify CFR.

PET/CT imaging in mouse models of myocardial ischemia.

Different species have been used to reproduce myocardial infarction models but in the last years mice became the animals of choice for the analysis of several diseases, due to their short life cycle and the possibility of genetic manipulation. Many techniques are currently used for cardiovascular imaging in mice, including X-ray computed tomography (CT), high-resolution ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine procedures. Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) allows to examine noninvasively, on a molecular level and with high sensitivity, regional changes in myocardial perfusion, metabolism, apoptosis, inflammation, and gene expression or to measure changes in anatomical and functional parameters in heart diseases.

Reproducibility and accuracy of non-invasive measurement of infarct size in mice with high-resolution PET/CT.

Background: This study assessed the reproducibility and accuracy of 2-deoxy-2[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) for non-invasive quantification of myocardial infarct size in mice by a high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) system.

Methods And Results: Mice were studied by (18)F-FDG PET/CT 1 week after induction of myocardial infarction by permanent coronary occlusion or sham procedure. In a subset of mice, PET/CT was repeated 2 days apart to assess the reproducibility of infarct size measurements.

Total occlusion of the abdominal aorta in a patient with renal failure and refractory hypertension: a case report.

Total occlusion of the abdominal aorta is unusual, and potentially catastrophic. It occurs in patients with advanced atherosclerotic occlusive disease, and can cause severe ischemic manifestations, depending on the site of obstruction. Prompt and appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are important whenever this condition is suspected, in order to avoid a fatal outcome.

Molecular imaging of atherosclerosis in translational medicine.

Functional characterization of atherosclerosis is a promising application of molecular imaging. Radionuclide-based techniques for molecular imaging in the large arteries (e.g.

Stress cardiac single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging late after coronary artery bypass surgery for risk stratification and estimation of time to cardiac events.

Objective: We assessed predictors and temporal characteristics of cardiac risk in patients undergoing stress single-photon emission computed tomography after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Stress cardiac tomography was performed in 362 patients 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting. Cardiac death and myocardial infarction were considered as events.

Increased myocardial contractility and enhanced exercise function in transgenic mice overexpressing either adenylyl cyclase 5 or 8.

Objective: ss-adrenergic receptors (ssARs) are powerful regulators of cardiac function in vivo, activating heterotrimeric G proteins and the effector molecule adenylyl cyclase (AC). Interestingly, cardiac-specific overexpression of different AC isoforms leads to variable changes in cardiac function. Whether AC overexpression affects intrinsic cardiac contractility in an isoform-specific fashion determining a change in exercise capacity is currently unknown.

Prognostic value of reduced kidney function and anemia in patients with chronic heart failure.

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (N-proBNP), renal dysfunction and anemia in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of 153 patients (mean age 64 years) with CHF referred to our hospital center. Clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory data were drawn during hospital recovery in all patients.

Effects of volume loading on strain rate and tissue Doppler velocity imaging in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Strain rate is a promising echocardiographic technique which adds further information to that obtained with two-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of acute isotonic volume expansion on left ventricular function in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) utilizing TDI and strain rate measurements.

Methods: Ten patients with DCM and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) View Article and Find Full Text PDF