Assessment of absolute Tc-99m tetrofosmin retention in the myocardium as an index of myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve by gated-SPECT/CT: a feasibility study.

Objective: Estimation of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) by SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) remains challenging. Our aim was to approximate MBF and CFR by quantifying the absolute Tc-99m tetrofosmin retention in the myocardium via gated-SPECT/CT MPI.

Methods: Tracer retention was calculated on the basis of the microsphere kinetic model and served as an index of MBF at stress and rest (sMBFi, rMBFi).

ST-segment depression during vasodilator stress is of minor clinical importance in women with normal myocardial perfusion imaging and low or intermediate risk of coronary artery disease.

Purpose: The prognostic value of electrocardiographic (ECG) ST-segment depression during vasodilator stress testing in patients with normal myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) is based on retrospective studies with controversial results. Moreover, the true incidence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in these patients is unknown.

Methods: During a 33-month period, all consecutive patients referred for MPS were prospectively evaluated for interpretable ST-segment depression ≥ 1 mm during vasodilator stress testing.

Imaging myocardial inflammation of various etiologies with 99mTc-depreotide SPET/CT.

Previous reports suggested the accumulation of technetium-99m-depreotide trifluoroacetate ((99m)Tc-D) at the sites of active infection or inflammation. Binding of depreotide to over-expressed somatostatin receptors in activated lymphocytes and macrophages probably accounts for the depiction of inflammation. We speculated that myocardial inflammation could also be illustrated by (99m)Tc-D scintigraphy.

Lack of association between the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene--TaqIB polymorphism and coronary restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stenting: a pilot study.

Background: The most widely studied variation at the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene locus is a silent base change called the Thermobius aquaticus IB (TaqIB) polymorphism. TaqIB has been shown to affect levels/activity of CETP, plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and to contribute to the risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). Ongoing studies are investigating possible associations between CETP gene polymorphisms and the development of coronary restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stenting.

Tc-99m Depreotide SPECT/CT depicts myocardial involvement in a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

We report a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with cardiac involvement, imaged with Tc-99m depreotide. A 56-year-old man presented with fever, hematuria, and chest pain. Laboratory findings (angiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and uremia) were suggestive of TTP.

Weight loss after bariatric surgery improves aortic elastic properties and left ventricular function in individuals with morbid obesity: a 3-year follow-up study.

Objective: To investigate whether weight loss after bariatric surgery (gastric bypass) is associated with changes in aortic function (an important determinant of left ventricular function) and in left ventricular function, in morbidly obese individuals 3 and 36 months after surgery.

Methods: We used echocardiography to evaluate 60 obese individuals [body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2] who underwent surgery and 20 obese individuals who neither underwent surgery nor lost weight, at baseline and at 3 and 36 months of follow-up, and 40 lean individuals (BMI < 25 kg/m2) of similar age, sex and risk factors, at baseline. We measured aortic strain, distensibility, stiffness index, pressure-strain modulus and Doppler indices of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (ratio of peak early to peak atrial flow velocities, isovolumic relaxation time and deceleration time).

Lack of association between alpha2B-adrenergic receptor polymorphism and risk of restenosis following coronary angioplasty and stent implantation--preliminary report.

Background: A genetic association/prospective follow-up study was conducted to investigate whether genetic variation of the alpha(2B)-adrenergic receptor gene was associated with the risk of restenosis in 96 Greek coronary artery disease patients undergoing coronary angioplasty and stent implantation.

Methods: For comparison of genotype frequency, a control group of 83 asymptomatic individuals was also studied. The end-point of the current study was the incidence of restenosis at 7 months of clinical follow-up.

Ibutilide added to propafenone for the conversion of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Objectives: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ibutilide when added to propafenone in treating both paroxysmal and chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL).

Background: The effects of ibutilide in patients with paroxysmal or chronic AF/AFL who were pre-treated with propafenone have not been previously evaluated.

Methods: Oral propafenone was initially given in 202 patients with AF/AFL without left ventricular dysfunction.

The Bezold-Jarisch reflex in acute inferior myocardial infarction: clinical and sympathovagal spectral correlates.

Background: The cardiodepressor Bezold-Jarisch reflex (BJR) in acute inferior myocardial infarction (AMI) is traditionally considered as an indicator of successful thrombolysis.

Hypothesis: The study aim was to elucidate the role of the autonomic nervous system in the pathogenesis of a BJR response in patients with AMI by tracing spectral profiles of heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: We studied 32 patients who presented with BJR after starting intravenous thrombolysis for an inferior AMI.