Combined Prognostic Value of Preprocedural Protein-Energy Wasting and Inflammation Status for Amputation and/or Mortality after Lower-Extremity Revascularization in Hemodialysis Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Protein-energy wasting is associated with inflammation and advanced atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients. We enrolled 800 patients who had undergone successful lower-extremity revascularization, and we investigated the association among the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) as a surrogate marker of protein-energy wasting, C-reactive protein (CRP), and their joint roles in predicting amputation and mortality. They were divided into lower, middle, and upper tertiles (T1, T2, and T3) according to GNRI and CRP levels, respectively.

Prospective Analysis of Immunosuppressive Therapy in Cardiac Sarcoidosis With Fluorodeoxyglucose Myocardial Accumulation: The PRESTIGE Study.

Background: Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG-PET) can noninvasively assess active inflammatory myocardium in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Prednisolone (PSL) is the initial drug of choice for active CS; however, its efficacy has not been prospectively evaluated. Moreover, there are no alternative systematic treatment strategies.

Association of resting left ventricular global longitudinal strain with myocardial perfusion abnormalities evaluated by N-ammonia positron emission tomography in patients with stable angina pectoris and normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aims: Little is known about whether resting left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) impairment is associated with myocardial perfusion abnormalities evaluated using N-ammonia positron emission tomography ( N-NH -PET)-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). This study aimed to investigate the correlation between resting GLS and myocardial perfusion parameters in patients with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We evaluated whether resting GLS can predict myocardial perfusion abnormalities in these patients.

Impact of Hemodialysis on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Bypass Surgery for Peripheral Artery Disease-10-year Follow-Up Study.

We investigated the clinical impact of hemodialysis on long-term outcomes of bypass surgery in patients with peripheral artery disease. We evaluated 660 consecutive patients who underwent successful bypass surgery (392 hemodialysis and 268 non-hemodialysis). The endpoint was amputation-free survival (AFS).

Epicardial fat volume correlates with severity of coronary artery disease in nonobese patients.

Objective: It has been reported that epicardial adipose tissue could locally modulate the coronary artery functions through secretion of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Epicardial fat tissue is further implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) because of its proximity to the adventitia of the major epicardial coronary arteries. We investigated the relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and severity of CAD in nonobese patients using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Increased (99m)Tc-sestamibi washout reflects impaired myocardial contractile and relaxation reserve during dobutamine stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction in dilated cardiomyopathy patients.

Objectives: This study investigated whether the technitium-99m sestamibi (MIBI) washout rate (WR) would predict mitochondrial damage and myocardial dysfunction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Background: Myocardial mitochondrial damage reduces adenosine triphosphate production, resulting in myocardial dysfunction. Increased myocardial (99m)Tc-MIBI washout is reportedly caused by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Cerebral embolism due to atrial myopathy in a cardiac amyloidosis patient diagnosed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

A 55-year-old woman was admitted with heart failure. On the third hospital day, she suddenly developed cerebral infarction. The resting 12-lead electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm, and atrial fibrillation or flutter were never detected on electrocardiographic monitoring throughout the whole hospital days.

Myocardial 123I-MIBG scintigraphy predicts an impairment in myocardial functional reserve during dobutamine stress in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Purpose: We investigated whether myocardial (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) scintigraphy predicts impairment of myocardial functional reserve in response to dobutamine stress in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: Forty DCM patients (LVEF 39 ± 12 %) underwent myocardial (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization. Myocardial (123)I-MIBG uptake was quantified as the delayed heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratio and washout rate (WR).

Molecular imaging of human ACE-1 expression in transgenic rats.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a molecular imaging strategy that can monitor myocardial angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-1 upregulation as a function of progressive heart failure.

Background: High-affinity technetium-99m-labeled lisinopril (Tc-Lis) has been shown to specifically localize in tissues that express ACE in vivo, such as the lungs. Whether Tc-Lis can also detect upregulation of ACE in the heart, by external in vivo imaging, has not been established.

Impact of mild to moderate renal dysfunction on left ventricular relaxation function and prognosis in ambulatory patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

The relationship between mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction and cardiac diastolic dysfunction and cardiac events in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NDCM) has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between renal and cardiac function, as well as clinical outcome in patients with NDCM.We measured plasma BNP and eGFR, and performed cardiac catheterization in 135 patients with NDCM.

Diagnostic usefulness of the oedema-infarct ratio to differentiate acute from chronic myocardial damage using magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: To differentiate acute from chronic damage to the myocardium in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) using DE and T2w MR.

Methods: Short-axis T2w and DE MR images were acquired twice after the onset of MI in 36 patients who successfully underwent emergency coronary revascularisation. The areas of infarct and oedema were measured.

Association between cardiopulmonary exercise and dobutamine stress testing in ambulatory patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a comparison with peak VO₂ and VE/VCO₂ slope.

Background: Both peak VO(2) and VE/VCO(2) slope are considered to be useful predictors of cardiovascular events. The left ventricular (LV) response to dobutamine stress testing (DST) also provides useful prognostic information. However, the relationship between these variables has not been fully investigated.

Association of diabetes mellitus with myocardial collagen accumulation and relaxation impairment in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: To assess the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on myocardial collagen accumulation, myocardial relaxation, and prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: A total of 102 consecutive DCM patients with a New York Heart Association functional class of I or II were enrolled. Patients were allocated to two groups on the basis of the presence (DCM+DM group, n = 30) or absence (DCM-DM group, n = 72) of DM.

Volumetric analysis of coronary plaque characterization in patients with metabolic syndrome using 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events and mortality, where acute coronary syndrome significantly impacts on mortality and morbidity. In contrast, evidences have accumulated that the lipid-rich plaque might play a critical role in acute coronary syndrome.

Methods And Results: The study population consisted of 94 patients with suspected angina pectoris who underwent multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT).

Relation of 99mTc-sestamibi washout with myocardial properties in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: We sought to determine the relationship between (99m)Tc-sestamibi washout and myocardial properties in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients.

Methods And Results: Twenty-four HCM patients underwent biventricular cardiac catheterization, with a micromanometer-tipped catheter, both at rest and during atrial pacing, echocardiography and myocardial (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy at rest. The (99m)Tc-sestamibi washout rate (WR) was calculated using initial and delayed planar images.

Dobutamine-induced mechanical alternans is a marker of poor prognosis in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

1. To date, few prognostic indicators for ambulatory patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) have been identified. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the occurrence of dobutamine-induced mechanical alternans (MA) and prognosis in ambulatory patients with IDCM.

Effect of an antimicrobial agent on atherosclerotic plaques: assessment of metalloproteinase activity by molecular imaging.

Objectives: Technetium-99m-labeled matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MPI) was used for the noninvasive assessment of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in atherosclerotic plaques after minocycline (MC) intervention.

Background: MMP activity in atherosclerosis contributes to plaque instability. Some antimicrobial agents may attenuate MMP activity.

Dual molecular imaging for targeting metalloproteinase activity and apoptosis in atherosclerosis: molecular imaging facilitates understanding of pathogenesis.

Background: Macrophage apoptosis and MMP activity contribute to vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques to rupture. By employing molecular imaging techniques, we investigated if apoptosis and MMP release are interlinked.

Methods: Atherosclerosis was produced in rabbits receiving high-cholesterol diet (HC), who underwent dual radionuclide imaging with (99m)Tc-labeled matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MPI) and (111)In-labeled annexin A5 (AA5) using micro-SPECT/CT.

Relation of functional and morphological changes in mitochondria to myocardial contractile and relaxation reserves in asymptomatic to mildly symptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: To examine the relation between mitochondrial dysfunction and myocardial contractile and relaxation reserves in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods And Results: Thirty HCM patients (LVEF >or=60%) underwent biventricular cardiac catheterization analysis both at rest and during atrial pacing as well as myocardial (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy at rest to calculate washout rate. Endomyocardial biopsy specimens were obtained for quantitative mRNA analysis and electron microscopy.

Dobutamine stress testing as a diagnostic tool for evaluation of myocardial contractile reserve in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: We performed dobutamine stress testing for evaluation of myocardial contractile reserve in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Background: Catecholamine sensitivity is reduced in failing hearts as a result of myocardial abnormalities in the beta-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway. However, little is known about adrenergic myocardial contractile reserve in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with DCM.

Molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinase expression in atherosclerotic plaques of mice deficient in apolipoprotein e or low-density-lipoprotein receptor.

Unlabelled: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and play an important role in plaque instability.

Methods: Using (99m)Tc-labeled broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor (MPI), we performed noninvasive imaging of MMP expression with micro-SPECT/micro-CT in mice deficient in apolipoprotein E (ApoE(-/-), n = 14), mice deficient in low-density-lipoprotein receptor (LDLR(-/-), n = 14), and C57/BL6 mice as controls (n = 7). Seven ApoE(-/-) and 7 LDLR(-/-) received a high-cholesterol diet.

Molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinase in atherosclerotic lesions: resolution with dietary modification and statin therapy.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive detection of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in experimental atherosclerosis using technetium-99m-labeled broad matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MPI) and to determine the effect of dietary modification and statin treatment on MMP activity.

Background: The MMP activity in atherosclerotic lesions contributes to the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques to rupture.

Methods: Atherosclerosis was produced in 34 New Zealand White rabbits by balloon de-endotheliazation of the abdominal aorta and a high-cholesterol diet.

Identification of five phospho-beta-glycosidases from Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC33323T cultured in lactose medium.

Lactobacillus gasseri ATCC33323(T) has seven putative phospho-beta-glycosidase genes. Using column chromatography, we found that this strain cultured in lactose medium expresses five phospho-beta-glycosidases (LacG1, LacG2, Pbg1, Pbg2, and Pbg3), where these gene expressions can be suppressed by glucose. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating that five glycosidases are induced from a single bacterial strain using a single carbon source, lactose.