Obesity and diabetes are major risk factors for epicardial adipose tissue inflammation.

BACKGROUNDEpicardial adipose tissue (EAT) directly overlies the myocardium, with changes in its morphology and volume associated with myriad cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, EAT's immune structure and cellular characterization remain incompletely described. We aimed to define the immune phenotype of EAT in humans and compare such profiles across lean, obese, and diabetic patients.

The prospective clinical and scintigraphic assessment of patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function after transmyocardial laser revascularisation.

Aim: To analyse the clinical outcome and myocardial perfusion and function after transmyocardial revascularisation (TMR) in patients with normal left ventricular function and multivessel coronary artery disease non-amenable for standard revascularisation.

Method And Results: Twenty three severely symptomatic patients (CCS score median 4) with normal left ventricular systolic function but coronaries non-amenable for either PTCA or CABG were subjected to TMR. The angina score, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in radionuclide ventriculography at rest, exercise tolerance and myocardial perfusion--Thallium-201 SPECT (adenosine stress 74 and 37 MBq under nitrate cover) were evaluated before and 3, 6, 12 months post-operatively.

[Clinical outcome of patients after transmyocardial laser revascularization alone and combined with coronary artery bypass grafting].

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) alone and in combination with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on the angina score (CCS--Canadian Cardiovascular Society class), exercise tolerance and left ventricular function 6 months after the procedures. Sixty two patients were subjected to revascularization, 38 to sole TMLR procedure and 24 to combination CABG and TMLR (CABG/TMLR group). The angina score and exercise stress test together with radionuclide ventriculography were performed before and 6 months after the operation.