Incremental value of global longitudinal strain for predicting early outcome after cardiac surgery.

Aims: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) seems accurate for detecting subclinical myocardial dysfunction, and may therefore be used to improve risk stratification for cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: Longitudinal strain (by two-dimensional speckle tracking) was computed in 425 patients [mean age 67 ± 13 years, 69% male, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 51 ± 13%] referred for cardiac surgery [isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (n = 155), aortic valve surgery (n = 174), mitral surgery (n = 96)]. GLS (global-ε) was assessed for predicting early postoperative death.

Is multidetector computed tomography a suitable alternative to MR imaging for the assessment of myocardial necrosis after alcohol septal ablation?

Background: To compare magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for the assessment of myocardial infarction (MI) after alcohol septal ablation (ASA).

Methods: Ten patients (mean age, 60 years ± 16) were examined with both MDCT and 1.5-T MR imaging performed 10 minutes after injection, within 3 days after ASA.

Left ventricle remodelling is associated with sleep-disordered breathing in non-ischaemic cardiopathy with systolic dysfunction.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with left ventricle (LV) remodelling in patients with normal LV function. Sleep-disordered breathing is common in chronic heart failure (CHF) with systolic LV dysfunction, and may contribute to LV remodelling and CHF progression. Our aim was to determine the consequence of SDB on LV geometry in patients with CHF.

Impact of longitudinal myocardial deformation on the prognosis of chronic heart failure patients.

Background: Longitudinal myocardial deformation indexes appear superior to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in assessing myocardial contractility. However, few studies have addressed the prognostic value of longitudinal motion markers (velocity, strain, and strain rate) in predicting outcome in heart failure patients.

Methods And Results: The study included 125 consecutive symptomatic heart failure patients (63+/-16 years, 77% male, LVEF=31+/-10%).

Fetuin-A is an independent predictor of death after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Fetuin-A inhibits inflammation and has a protective effect against myocardial ischemia. Its deficiency has been found to be associated with cardiovascular death in patients with end-stage renal failure disease. We investigated the association between plasma fetuin-A and clinical outcome after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Early changes in coronary flow physiology after balloon angioplasty or stenting: a 24-hour Doppler flow velocity study.

To evaluate early changes in myocardial microcirculation after balloon or stent coronary angioplasty, we studied 57 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty with a Doppler-tipped guidewire, with (n = 26) or without stenting. Postprocedural quantitative coronary angiography and coronary flow velocity were measured after 10 min and 24 hr. As compared to stenting, no stenting was associated with a higher postprocedural stenosis rate (21% +/- 13% vs.

Role of coronary artery lumen enlargement in improving coronary blood flow after balloon angioplasty and stenting: a combined intravascular ultrasound Doppler flow and imaging study.

Objectives: This study sought to examine the mechanism of increasing coronary flow reserve after balloon angioplasty and stenting.

Background: Coronary vasodilatory reserve (CVR) does not improve after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in > or = 50% of patients, postulated to be due to impaired microvascular circulation or inadequate lumen expansion despite adequate angiographic results.

Methods: To demonstrate the role of coronary lumen expansion, serial coronary flow velocity (0.

Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in patients on a heart transplant waiting list.

We investigated the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in 20 outpatients on a heart transplant waiting list. All were younger than 60 years and had severe stable cardiac failure with a cardiac index below 2.5 L/min/m2 and a left ventricular ejection fraction below 25%.

Angioscopy after laser and balloon coronary angioplasty.

Objectives: Percutaneous intracoronary angioscopy was used to study the morphologic changes occurring in coronary arteries after balloon or laser angioplasty.

Background: Angioscopy is thought to provide details of the coronary vessel lumen and the inner wall.

Methods: Coronary lesions were studied in 44 patients with a 4.

Assessment of coronary reserve in man: comparison between positron emission tomography with oxygen-15-labeled water and intracoronary Doppler technique.

This study compared positron emission tomography (PET) using oxygen-15-labeled water for measurement of coronary reserve with intracoronary Doppler in patients with left anterior descending artery stenosis and patients with no coronary lesion and a coronary reserve 3 as assessed by the invasive technique. To determine whether PET measurement of coronary reserve is altered by partial volume effect, patients with left ventricular dysfunction due to idiopathic cardiomyopathy were studied with both techniques. Direct ultrasonic measurement of coronary reserve was performed the day prior to the PET study: a Doppler catheter was placed in the proximal left anterior descending artery; mean velocity was recorded at baseline and after dipyridamole administration.

Positron emission tomography with 11C CGP-12177 to assess beta-adrenergic receptor concentration in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C-labeled CGP-12177 (CGP) has been shown to have the potential to noninvasively measure beta-adrenergic receptor concentration in dog heart. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical value of this technique.

Methods And Results: Eight normal subjects and 10 patients with heart failure related to an idiopathic cardiomyopathy were studied.

Evaluation of direct effects of enoximone on systemic and pulmonary vascular bed in animals with a Jarvik total artificial heart.

Enoximone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has positive inotropic and vasodilating actions. To evaluate specific effects of this drug on the systemic and pulmonary vascular bed, we administered enoximone as a 10-minute intravenous bolus at two different doses of 2 and 3 mg/kg of body weight, at different days, to five Holstein calves with a Jarvik 7-70 ml total artificial heart (Symbion, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah).