Somatostatin Receptor Type 2 as a Potential Marker of Local Myocardial Inflammation in Myocardial Infarction: Morphologic Data on Distribution in Infarcted and Normal Human Myocardium.

Nuclear imaging modalities can detect somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) in vivo as a potential marker of local post-MI inflammation. SSTR2+ macrophages are thought to be the main substrate for SSTR-targeted radioimaging. However, the distribution of SSTR2+ cells in the MI patients' myocardium is unknown.

Predictors of appropriate therapies delivered by the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in patients with coronary artery disease during long-term period.

This prospective study aimed to investigate the ability of cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) activity assessment to predict appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) during long-term follow-up period. We enrolled patients with CAD and ICD implantation indications that included both secondary and primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Before ICD implantation CANS was assessed by using heart rate variability (HRV), myocardium scintigraphy with I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) and erythrocyte membranes β-adrenoreactivity (EMA).

A predictive model of super response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in short-term period.

Background: The left bundle branch block, nonischemic heart failure (HF) and female gender are the most powerful predictors of a super response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). It is important to identify super responders who can derive most benefits from CRT. We aimed to establish a predicting model that could be used for prognosis of a super response to CRT in short-term period.

Insights into ascending aortic aneurysm: Interactions between biomechanical properties of the aortic wall and tissue biomarkers.

Background: It remains difficult to understand the association between the local mechanical properties of ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm (asTAA), its tissue, and its cellular and molecular changes. The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between biomechanical properties, histopathological findings, and tissue biomarkers of asTAA.

Methods: Intraoperative asTAA samples from 30 patients were studied.

Ascending Aortic Surgery for Small Aneurysms in Men and Women.

Introduction: According to recent data, thoracic aortic surgery has reduced morbidity and mortality including ascending aortic aneurysm treatment; however, women are at increased postoperative risk of adverse outcomes.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate early and late outcomes in male and female patients who underwent pre-emptive ascending aortic replacement (AAR).

Methods: From January 2013 to September 2021, 91 patients (56 [61.

Radiomic Phenotype of Periatrial Adipose Tissue in the Prognosis of Late Postablation Recurrence of Idiopathic Atrial Fibrillation.

Unlabelled: is to find new predictors of postablation atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in patients with lone AF using a texture analysis of the periatrial adipose tissue (PAAT) of the left atrium.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients admitted for lone AF catheter ablation, who had undergone multispiral coronary angiography, were enrolled in the study. PAAT segmentation was performed using 3D Slicer application followed by extraction of 93 radiomic features.

Potential utility of SPECT/CT with 99mTc-Tektrotyd for imaging of post-myocardial infarction inflammation.

Background: There is a need to develop methods for post-myocardial infarction (MI) inflammation monitoring. Scintigraphy with somatostatin receptor targeted radiotracers has potential in this field. The purpose was to study the association of Tc-Tektrotyd uptake intensity in MI area with heart contractility indices over 6-month follow-up.

The Value of Left Ventricular Mechanical Dyssynchrony and Scar Burden in the Combined Assessment of Factors Associated with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Response in Patients with CRT-D.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves the outcome in patients with heart failure (HF). However, approximately 30% of patients are nonresponsive to CRT. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony (MD) and scar burden as predictors of CRT response.

Ex Vivo Analysis of an Association of Mechanical Strength of Dilated Ascending Aorta with Tissue Matrix Metalloproteinases and Cytokines.

We analyzed the associations of the mechanical strength of dilated ascending aorta wall (intraoperative samples from 30 patients with non-syndromic aneurysms) with tissue MMPs and the cytokine system. Some samples were stretched to break on an Instron 3343 testing machine and the tensile strength was calculated; others were homogenized and the concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, their inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2), and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA. Direct correlations between aortic tensile strength and concentrations of IL-10 (r=0.

Isolated Atrial Fibrillation, Inflammation and Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation: Preliminary Insights Based on a Single-Center Endomyocardial Biopsy Study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the inflammatory changes in the myocardium, based on endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) data in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF). A total of 67 patients with idiopathic AF were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent the intracardiac examination, RFA of AF, and EMB with histological and immunohistochemical studies.

Radiomic phenotype of epicardial adipose tissue in the prognosis of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with lone atrial fibrillation.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been considered as one of the probable triggers of atrial fibrillation (AF). CT-rediomics is a perspective noninvasive method of assessment of EAT. We evaluate the radiomic phenotype of EAT in patients with lone AF in the prognosis of AF recurrence after catheter ablation.

The value of cardiac sympathetic activity and mechanical dyssynchrony as cardiac resynchronization therapy response predictors: comparison between patients with ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure.

Background: Impaired cardiac sympathetic activity and mechanical dyssynchrony (MD) are associated with poor prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The study aims to assess the significance of scintigraphic evaluation of cardiac sympathetic innervation and contractility in predicting response to CRT in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic chronic HF.

Methods And Results: The study includes 58 HF patients, who were referred for CRT.

Low-dose dobutamine stress gated blood pool SPECT assessment of left ventricular contractile reserve in ischemic cardiomyopathy: a feasibility study.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of gated blood pool single-photon emission computed tomography (GBPS) with low-dose dobutamine (LDD) stress test, performed on a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) camera equipped with cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) solid-state detectors, in assessing of left ventricle (LV) contractile reserve in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Methods: A total of 52 patients (age 59 ± 7.2 years, 47 men and 5 women) with ICM and a control group of 10 patients without obstructive coronary artery lesion underwent GBPS and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at rest and during LDD stress test (5, 10, 15 µg/kg/min).

[Role of imaging modalities in the choice of treatment strategy for mega aorta syndrome].

The authors report a 76-year-old female with mega-aorta syndrome that was asymptomatic for a long time. The first symptoms appeared after ascending aorta enlargement up to 81 mm and compression of superior vena cava. The patient underwent frozen elephant trunk procedure.

How to get the optimal defibrillation lead parameters using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients with coronary artery disease.

The conventional criteria for a defibrillation lead (DL) implantation don't take into account presence of scar or deep ischemia in the myocardium. This may impair a proper functioning of the DL. We sought to optimize the DL implantation placement using rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS), which allow detecting areas of myocardial hypoperfusion (MH).

Cardiac I-mIBG scintigraphy for prediction of catheter ablation outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Previous studies show inconsistent results on the role of innervation imaging (with I-mIBG) in predicting late atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA). These studies included patients with paroxysmal AF and studied prognostic value of post-CA I-123-mIBG parameters. Current study investigated the ability of pre CA 123-I-mIBG imaging to predict late AF recurrence in patients with persistent AF.

Subacute myocardial infarction detected by technetium-99m-labeled somatostatin analog scintigraphy.

Recently, the applicability of somatostatin receptor-targeted (SSTR-t) radiotracers for post-ischemic myocardial inflammation imaging has been shown using PET. Currently, there are no studies which demonstrate ability of SPECT and technetium-99m SSTR-t radiotracers to detect inflammation, which appears in response to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A case of 51-year-old male with acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI) with ST elevation has been presented.

The current status of CZT SPECT myocardial blood flow and reserve assessment: Tips and tricks.

Cardiac PET-derived measurements of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) are proven robust indexes of the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). They facilitate the diagnosis of diffuse epicardial and microvascular disease and are also of prognostic significance. However, low availability and high cost have limited their wide clinical implementation.

Scintigraphic Imaging of Inflammation in the Aortic Wall Using Tc-Pyrophosphate.

Unlabelled: was to develop and test a technique for scintigraphic examination of the thoracic aorta, which allows for visualizing foci of inflammation.

Materials And Methods: The study included 15 patients (median age - 61 [47; 73] years) with aortic dilatation more than 45 mm and thoracic aortic aneurysm who were candidates for surgical treatment. All patients underwent a chest scintigraphy with Tc-pyrophosphate 48 h before surgery to identify foci of inflammation in the aortic wall.

Prediction of appropriate ICD therapy in patients with ischemic heart failure.

Background: Previous studies show inconsistent results on the role of innervation imaging (with I-123-mIBG) and perfusion imaging in predicting appropriate ICD therapy (aICDth). These studies included patients with both dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy. This study compared the ability of I-mIBG imaging along with perfusion imaging (using thallium-199) to predict aICDth in patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF) in relation to indication for ICD implantation (primary vs.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Cardiac Scintigraphy with Tc-Pyrophosphate for Latent Myocardial Inflammation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Objectives: This work aimed to study the efficacy of hybrid Tc-Pyrophosphate SPECT/CT for diagnosis of latent inflammatory processes in the myocardium of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: The study comprised 34 patients aged 44 ± 9 years with AF of unknown etiology referred for radiofrequency ablation. The data were acquired using hybrid Tc-Pyrophosphate SPECT/CT.

Plasma markers of myocardial inflammation at isolated atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the widest spread forms of arrhythmia, which is associated with the increased mortality and thromboembolic complications. To date, the involvement of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and immunomediators of inflammation into the mechanisms of development and maintenance of isolated AF is not clear. Specificity of their changes with respect to the latent myocarditis at AF is not proved.

Experimental Study of a Radiopharmaceutical Agent Based on Modified Fatty Acid Labeled with Technetium-99m.

Using rat model of coronary occlusion, we studied pharmacokinetics and the efficiency of a new radiopharmaceutical agent Tc-PDA-DTPA intended for diagnostics of changes in myocardial metabolism and its analogue I-PMPDA. Tc-PDA-DTPA was eliminated mostly by the kidneys and maximal concentration in the heart was attained within 60 min after intravenous injection; no accumulation in the area of myocardial infarction was observed. The studied substance was inferior to its analogue 123I-PMPDA by the quality of scintigraphic visualization of the heart.

Assessment of radiological techniques application possibility for non-invasive diagnostics of latent inflammatory processes in myocardium in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Aim was to study the performance of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with Tc-pyrophosphate (Tc-PYP) in diagnostics of chronic latent inflammation in myocardium of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: The research included 70 patients (the average age of 49.3 ± 10.