Comparative analysis of the therapeutic effects of long-acting and short-acting loop diuretics in the treatment of chronic heart failure using (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy.

Aims: Loop diuretics are essential for the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) but short-acting diuretics are reported to induce sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation. This study was performed to compare therapeutic effects of two loop diuretics, long-acting azosemide and short-acting furosemide, using (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) scintigraphy.

Methods And Results: Twenty-two patients with New York Heart Association class II-III heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, who required treatment with a loop diuretic, were included.

Anatomical characteristics of myocardial bridge in patients with myocardial infarction by multi-detector computed tomography.

Background: Recent development of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) has made the detection of myocardial bridge (MB) easier on the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The LAD segment proximal to the MB is well known to be susceptible to atherosclerosis. Anatomical characteristics of MB on LAD in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) were examined by MDCT.

Correlation between left ventricular diastolic function and ejection fraction in dilated cardiomyopathy using magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement.

Background: The distribution of left ventricular (LV) fibrosis and the percent fibrosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were evaluated using late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) MRI. Then the relation with the LV ejection fraction (EF) and deceleration time (DT), an index of diastolic function obtained using echocardiography, was investigated.

Methods And Results: LGEMRI at 20 min after intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA (0.

Evaluation of sympathetic activity by 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy in dilated cardiomyopathy patients with sleep breathing disorder.

Background: Because increased sympathetic nervous activity (SNA) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) associated with sleep breathing disorder (SBD) is known to deteriorate the prognosis of cardiac failure, (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy was used as the investigative tool in the present study.

Methods And Results: The study group comprised 53 patients (47 men, 6 women; mean age 56+/-3 years) with chronic stable DCM. Patients were divided into SBD(+) or SBD(-) group according to 24-h pulse oximetry results.

Scintigraphic studies on the etiology of Ampulla Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Although there are many reports on Ampulla Cardiomyopathy, its etiologic mechanisms are not well known.

Aim: Etiology of Ampulla Cardiomyopathy was investigated by myocardial scintigraphy with various nuclear tracers.

Subjects And Methods: In nine patients with Ampulla Cardiomyopathy, myocardial scintigraphy was performed at acute, subacute and chronic phases.

[Recurrent ampulla cardiomyopathy showing prolonged sympathetic nerve function disorder: a case report].

A 58-year-old woman with chronic renal failure had been undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Ampulla cardiomyopathy recurred in association with prolonged sympathetic nerve function disorder. Periodical evaluation of the patient's condition using 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy was continued since the first attack at age 55 years.

[Left ventricular dysfunction without brain natriuretic peptide elevation: two case reports].

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an useful marker for the differential diagnosis of dyspnea and pleural effusion of unknown origin. BNP elevation indicates myocardial overload. Two patients were admitted to our hospital with abnormal electrocardiogram or dyspnea.

Carvedilol prevents myocardial fibrosis in hamsters.

The objective of the present study was to determine if carvedilol protects against myocardial degeneration and fibrotic change, and reduces mortality in TO2 hamsters. Carvedilol was administered intraperitoneally to 8 week-old TO2 hamsters for 21 weeks at a dose of 11 mg/kg/day. There were 15 TO2 hamsters in the carvedilol group (group C) and 10 in the untreated group (group N).

Primary idiopathic chylopericardium: report of two cases.

Primary chylopericardium is an extremely rare disease. This report presents two cases of this disease, in a 47-year-old man and 21 -year-old woman. Both cases were given diagnosis of primary chylopericardium by chylous pericardial fluid examination and lymphangio-scintigraphy which demonstrated abnormal communication between the left thoracic duct and the pericardial cavity.

Efficacy of contrast-enhanced MR imaging in cardiomyopathy: an experimental study using Bio14.6 hamsters.

Rationale And Objectives: Myocardial fibrosis was evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in Bio14.6 hamsters.

Materials And Methods: Gated gradient-echo T1-weighted images and spin-echo images with gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement (0.