Facility perception of nuclear cardiology accreditation: Results of an Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) survey.

Background: The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act requires accreditation for all non-hospital suppliers of nuclear cardiology, nuclear medicine, and positron emission tomography (PET) studies as a condition of reimbursement. The perceptions of these facilities regarding the value and impact of the accreditation process are unknown. We conducted an electronic survey to assess the value of nuclear cardiology accreditation.

Reperfusion strategies and systems of care in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Approximately 330,000 ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI) occur yearly in the United States. Emergent reperfusion is the cornerstone of STEMI therapy and the key to restoration of coronary blood flow in an infarct-related vessel. Reperfusion methods include thrombolysis, primary percutaneous coronary intervention, or both methods combined.

Reduced isotope dose with rapid SPECT MPI imaging: initial experience with a CZT SPECT camera.

Background: Cardiac SPECT imaging needs to become shorter and use lower radiation doses to compete with other available noninvasive imaging modalities. Recently introduced cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) SPECT cameras have the potential to achieve both goals, but clinical experience is so far limited.

Methods: Images of all patients undergoing a stress MPI over a 4-month period using a CZT camera (Discovery NM 530c) were reviewed.

Genomics of cardiovascular disease.

As the leading cause of death worldwide and a major cause of disability, cardiovascular disease remains a central focus of basic research, pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, and long-term care. Inherited, monogenic syndromes have provided insight into pathophysiological mechanisms across the range of cardiovascular diseases. With the advent of post-Human Genome Project resources and technology, there has been a flood of research aimed at genome-wide predisposition markers, pharmacogenetics, and genomic signatures in complex cardiovascular disorders.

Toward the development of an injectable dosage form of propofol: preparation and evaluation of propofol-sulfobutyl ether 7-beta-cyclodextrin complex.

The objectives of the present study were to undertake activities toward the development of an aqueous-based formulation of propofol (2,6-diisopropyl phenol), using sulfobutylether 7-beta-cyclodextrin (SBECD). Preformulation studies, including high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method development and phase-solubility evaluation in the presence of SBECD were conducted. It was determined that equilibrium solubility has been reached by 4-day and 7-day phase-solubility analysis at 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C.