DNA fingerprinting reveals varietal composition of Vietnamese cassava germplasm (Manihot esculenta Crantz) from farmers' field and genebank collections.

A molecular analysis using informative SNP markers in 1570 clones of cassava from Vietnam reveals varietal composition from farmers' field and genebank collections Cassava is the most important smallholder cash crops in Southeast Asia and is especially used in industrial products. Yet, systematic genetic studies on molecular markers from Vietnamese germplasm have not been considered for breeding and conservation programs. We conducted a molecular analysis of 1570 clones of cassava germplasm from farms across six agro-ecological zones using informative SNP markers.

Value of CMR and PET in Predicting Ventricular Arrhythmias in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Patients Eligible for ICD.

Objectives: This study presents a head-to-head comparison of the value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived left-ventricular (LV) function and scar burden and positron emission tomography (PET)-derived perfusion and innervation in predicting ventricular arrhythmias (VAs).

Background: Improved risk stratification of VA is important to identify patients who should benefit of prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Perfusion abnormalities, sympathetic denervation, and scar burden have all been linked to VA, although comparative studies are lacking.

The Alkmaar CTO Registry: A Retrospective Cohort Evaluating the Introduction of a Dedicated CTO Program.

Background: Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO) are high risk procedures with low success rates compared to standard PCI. Recently the 'hybrid approach' method has been developed to increase success rate. In 2015 we set up a dedicated program to systematically treat CTOs by this hybrid approach.

Noninvasive Quantification of Myocardial 11C-Meta-Hydroxyephedrine Kinetics.

Unlabelled: (11)C-meta-hydroxyephedrine ((11)C-HED) kinetics in the myocardium can be quantified using a single-tissue-compartment model together with a metabolite-corrected arterial blood sampler input function (BSIF). The need for arterial blood sampling, however, limits clinical applicability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of replacing arterial sampling with imaging-derived input function (IDIF) and venous blood samples.

Non-invasive imaging to identify susceptibility for ventricular arrhythmias in ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Objective: Non-invasive imaging of myocardial perfusion, sympathetic denervation and scar size contribute to enhanced risk prediction of ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Some of these imaging parameters, however, may be intertwined as they are based on similar pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive role of myocardial perfusion, sympathetic denervation and scar size on the inducibility of VA in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy in a head-to-head fashion.

Myocardial denervation coincides with scar heterogeneity in ischemic cardiomyopathy: A PET and CMR study.

Background: Mismatch between myocardial innervation and perfusion assessed with positron emission tomography (PET) is a potential risk marker for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. This mismatch zone originates from residual viable myocardium that has sustained ischemic nerve injury. Heterogenic scar size assessed with late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is also a risk marker of ventricular arrhythmias.

Use of a Single 11C-Meta-Hydroxyephedrine Scan for Assessing Flow-Innervation Mismatches in Patients with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Unlabelled: Mismatch between areas of reduced myocardial blood flow (MBF) and reduced myocardial innervation (defect areas) may be used to estimate the risk for ventricular arrhythmias. The presence of a mismatch zone can be derived using a combined protocol consisting of both an MBF scan and an (11)C-meta-hydroxyephedrine ((11)C-HED) scan. The rate of influx from blood to myocardium (K1) of (11)C-HED is proportional to MBF and can potentially be used as an index for defining MBF defects.

Quantification of [(11)C]-meta-hydroxyephedrine uptake in human myocardium.

Background: The aims of this study were to determine the optimal tracer kinetic model for [(11)C]-meta-hydroxyephedrine ([(11)C]HED) and to evaluate the performance of several simplified methods.

Methods: Thirty patients underwent dynamic 60-min [(11)C]HED scans with online arterial blood sampling. Single-tissue and both reversible and irreversible two-tissue models were fitted to the data using the metabolite-corrected arterial input function.

Clinical Impact of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Echocardiography-Guided Patient Selection for Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy.

The main eligibility criterion for primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy, that is, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), is based on large clinical trials using primarily 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). Presently, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard for LVEF assessment. It has been demonstrated that cardiac MRI assessment results in lower LVEFs compared with 2DE.

Sympathetic denervation is associated with microvascular dysfunction in non-infarcted myocardium in patients with cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Sympathetic denervation typically occurs in the infarcted myocardium and is associated with sudden cardiac death. Impaired innervation was also demonstrated in non-infarcted myocardium in ischaemic and dilated cardiomyopathy (ICMP and DCMP). Factors affecting sympathetic nerve integrity in remote myocardium are unknown.

Impaired hyperemic myocardial blood flow is associated with inducibility of ventricular arrhythmia in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is important to refine selection criteria for primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy. Impaired hyperemic myocardial blood flow (MBF) is associated with increased mortality rate in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy, which may be attributed to electric instability inducing VAs. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether hyperemic MBF impairment may be related with VA inducibility in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Hybrid imaging using quantitative H215O PET and CT-based coronary angiography for the detection of coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: Hybrid imaging using PET in conjunction with CT-based coronary angiography (PET/CTCA) enables near-simultaneous quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) and anatomical evaluation of coronary arteries. CTCA is an excellent imaging modality to rule out obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), but functional assessment is warranted in the presence of a CTCA-observed stenosis because the specificity of CTCA is relatively low. Quantitative H(2)(15)O PET/CTCA may yield complementary information and enhance diagnostic accuracy.

Parametric imaging of myocardial viability using ¹⁵O-labelled water and PET/CT: comparison with late gadolinium-enhanced CMR.

Purpose: The perfusable tissue index (PTI) is a marker of myocardial viability. Recent technological advances have made it possible to generate parametric PTI images from a single [(15)O]H(2)O PET/CT scan. The purpose of this study was to validate these parametric PTI images.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness, but not coronary artery calcium, predicts coronary vascular resistance in patients evaluated for coronary artery disease.

Aims: There is growing evidence that coronary artery disease (CAD) affects not only the conduit epicardial coronary arteries, but also the microvascular coronary bed. Moreover, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMVD) often precedes the stage of clinically overt epicardial CAD. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) measured with computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound, respectively, are among the available techniques to non-invasively assess atherosclerotic burden.

Quantitative relationship between coronary artery calcium score and hyperemic myocardial blood flow as assessed by hybrid 15O-water PET/CT imaging in patients evaluated for coronary artery disease.

Background: The incremental value of CAC over traditional risk factors to predict coronary vasodilator dysfunction and inherent myocardial blood flow (MBF) impairment is only scarcely documented (MBF). The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the relationship between CAC content, hyperemic MBF, and coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients undergoing hybrid (15)O-water PET/CT imaging.

Methods: We evaluated 173 (mean age 56 ± 10, 78 men) patients with a low to intermediate likelihood for coronary artery disease (CAD), without a documented history of CAD, undergoing vasodilator stress (15)O-water PET/CT and CAC scoring.

Coronary risk factors and myocardial blood flow in patients evaluated for coronary artery disease: a quantitative [15O]H2O PET/CT study.

Background: There has been increasing interest in quantitative myocardial blood flow (MBF) imaging over the last years and it is expected to become a routinely used technique in clinical practice. Positron emission tomography (PET) using [(15)O]H(2)O is the established gold standard for quantification of MBF in vivo. A fundamental issue when performing quantitative MBF imaging is to define the limits of MBF in a clinically suitable population.

Scar size and characteristics assessed by CMR predict ventricular arrhythmias in ischaemic cardiomyopathy: comparison of previously validated models.

Objective: Sudden cardiac death is a major cause of mortality in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Risk stratification remains challenging. Currently, there is growing interest in scar characteristic assessment as a predictor of sudden cardiac death using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Effects of QRS duration and pacing location on pressure-volume loop evaluation of cardiac resynchronization therapy in end-stage heart failure.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) decreases the morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage heart failure. However, patient selection remains challenging, because a considerable 30% to 50% do not respond. Controversy exists on the cutoff values for the QRS duration and the optimal lead location.

Parametric images of myocardial viability using a single 15O-H2O PET/CT scan.

Unlabelled: Perfusable tissue index (PTI) is a marker of myocardial viability and requires acquisition of transmission, (15)O-CO, and (15)O-H(2)O scans. The aim of this study was to generate parametric PTI images from a (15)O-H(2)O PET/CT scan without an additional (15)O-CO scan.

Methods: Data from 20 patients undergoing both (15)O-H(2)O and (15)O-CO scans were used, assessing correlation between PTI based on (15)O-CO (PTI(CO)) and on fitted blood volume fractions (PTI(Vb)).

Automatic generation of absolute myocardial blood flow images using [15O]H2O and a clinical PET/CT scanner.

Purpose: Parametric imaging of absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) using [(15)O]H(2)O enables determination of MBF with high spatial resolution. The aim of this study was to develop a method for generating reproducible, high-quality and quantitative parametric MBF images with minimal user intervention.

Methods: Nineteen patients referred for evaluation of MBF underwent rest and adenosine stress [(15)O]H(2)O positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Risk stratification for ventricular arrhythmias in ischaemic cardiomyopathy: the value of non-invasive imaging.

The introduction of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has had a major impact on survival and treatment of patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. However, only a third of patients receive appropriate ICD discharges during the first 3 years of follow-up, hence creating opportunities for improvement in patient care as well as for health care costs containment. Therefore, refinement of ICD implantation criteria is needed.

Low-dose quantitative myocardial blood flow imaging using 15O-water and PET without attenuation correction.

Unlabelled: Misalignment between PET and low-dose CT (LD-CT) can cause severe artifacts in cardiac PET/CT because of attenuation-correction errors, even when using slow or cine LD-CT. Myocardial blood flow (MBF), as measured by (15)O-water, can be determined from the rate of (15)O-water washout from myocardial tissue, which is independent of tissue attenuation. The purpose of the present study was to assess the accuracy of these MBF measurements in the absence of attenuation correction.

Hepatic and cardiovascular consequences of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia.

Objective: Individuals with familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) have been reported to be prone to fatty liver disease (FLD). Conversely, the profound reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in this disorder might decrease cardiovascular risk. In the present study, we assessed hepatic steatosis as well as noninvasive surrogate markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in subjects with FHBL and in matched controls.