Heparin does not improve myocardial glucose metabolism suppression in [18 F]FDG PET/CT in patients with low β-hydroxybutyrate level.

Background: Inadequate myocardial glucose metabolism suppression (GMS) can hamper interpretation of cardiac [F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET/CT). Use of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) measurement before [F]FDG injection has been proposed for predicting adequate GMS. However, limited information is available on BHB measurement in guiding preparations for [F]FDG-PET/CT.

Association between peripheral endothelial function and myocardial perfusion in patients with coronary artery disease.

Aims: Endothelial dysfunction is a systemic disorder and risk factor for atherosclerosis. Our aim was to assess whether there is a relation between peripheral endothelial function and myocardial perfusion in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: We prospectively studied 54 patients, who had a positive result for obstructive CAD in coronary CT angiography.

Point-of-care β-hydroxybutyrate measurement predicts adequate glucose metabolism suppression in cardiac FDG-PET/CT.

Aims: The aims of our study were to evaluate whether point-of-care β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) measurement can be used to identify patients with adequate cardiac glucose metabolism suppression for cardiac [F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-positron emission tomography with computerized tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and to develop a pretest probability calculator of myocardial suppression using other metabolic factors attainable before imaging.

Methods And Results: We recruited 193 patients with any clinical indication for whole body [F]-FDG-PET/CT. BHB level was measured with a point-of-care device.

Cardiac remodelling in association with left ventricular dyssynchrony and systolic dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), ischaemic cardiomyopathy may result in progressive cardiac remodelling and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can be used to quantify LV size and shape, mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) and ejection fraction (EF) as well as myocardial ischaemia and injury extents. We investigated the prevalence of LV remodelling (LVR) in patients with CAD and the relationship between LVR, LVMD and EF.

Continuous mHealth Patch Monitoring for the Algorithm-Based Detection of Atrial Fibrillation: Feasibility and Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Background: The detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major clinical challenge as AF is often paroxysmal and asymptomatic. Novel mobile health (mHealth) technologies could provide a cost-effective and reliable solution for AF screening. However, many of these techniques have not been clinically validated.

Continuous 24-h Photoplethysmogram Monitoring Enables Detection of Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) detection is challenging because it is often asymptomatic and paroxysmal. We evaluated continuous photoplethysmogram (PPG) for signal quality and detection of AF. PPGs were recorded using a wrist-band device in 173 patients (76 AF, 97 sinus rhythm, SR) for 24 h.

Automatic Mobile Health Arrhythmia Monitoring for the Detection of Atrial Fibrillation: Prospective Feasibility, Accuracy, and User Experience Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common tachyarrhythmia and associated with a risk of stroke. The detection and diagnosis of AF represent a major clinical challenge due to AF's asymptomatic and intermittent nature. Novel consumer-grade mobile health (mHealth) products with automatic arrhythmia detection could be an option for long-term electrocardiogram (ECG)-based rhythm monitoring and AF detection.

Vanadia-Zirconia and Vanadia-Hafnia Catalysts for Utilization of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions.

Utilization is a sustainable and interesting alternative for the destructive treatment of volatile organic compounds due to avoided CO emission. This work concentrates on the development of active and sulfur-tolerant catalysts for the utilization of contaminated methanol. Impregnated and sol-gel prepared vanadia-zirconia and vanadia-hafnia catalysts were thoroughly characterized by N sorption, analytical (S)TEM, elemental analysis, XRD and Raman spectroscopy, and their performances were evaluated in formaldehyde production from methanol and methanethiol mixture.

Test-Retest Reliability of the Assessment of Fatty Liver Disease Using Low-Dose Computed Tomography in Cardiac Patients.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disorder that is associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, its prevalence is high in patients with coronary artery disease. In myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans are used for attenuation correction in separate stress and rest studies.

Carotid artery longitudinal wall motion alterations associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

Background And Aims: Our objective was to study relationships between the new biomarker of vascular health, carotid artery longitudinal wall motion (CALM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: Carotid ultrasound and assessment of MetS and its components were performed with 281 subjects aged 30-45 years. In the longitudinal motion analysis, the amplitude of motion and the antegrade-oriented and retrograde-oriented components of motion between the intima-media complex and adventitial layer of the common carotid artery wall were assessed.

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Increased Cortical Amyloid-β Deposition.

Background: The suggested association between severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) needs further study. Only few recent reports exist on associations between brain amyloid-β (Aβ) burden and severe OSA in middle-aged patients.

Objective: Examine the possible presence of cortical Aβ accumulation in middle-aged patients with severe OSA.

Myocardial ischemia and previous infarction contribute to left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with coronary artery disease.

Aims: The aim of this study was to characterize determinants of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Medical records and results of myocardial perfusion SPECT/CT studies were evaluated in 326 patients with previously diagnosed CAD. LVMD was assessed with the phase analysis of ECG-gated myocardial SPECT.

Carotid Wall Longitudinal Motion in Ultrasound Imaging: An Expert Consensus Review.

Motion extracted from the carotid artery wall provides unique information for vascular health evaluation. Carotid artery longitudinal wall motion corresponds to the multiphasic arterial wall excursion in the direction parallel to blood flow during the cardiac cycle. While this motion phenomenon has been well characterized, there is a general lack of awareness regarding its implications for vascular health assessment or even basic vascular physiology.

Electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with right bundle branch block.

Background: Though fairly benign reputation, the right bundle branch block (RBBB) can cause left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD). Still, the relationship between electrical disturbance and LVMD is partly unclear among these patients.

Methods: Thirty patients with RBBB and 60 matching controls were studied with vector electrocardiography and myocardial perfusion imaging phase analysis.

Influence of cardiovascular risk factors on longitudinal motion of the common carotid artery wall.

Background And Aims: Carotid artery longitudinal wall motion (CALM) is a new biomarker, which can be measured together with carotid intima-media thickness and distensibility measurements in the same session. Our objective was to study the relationship between these indicators of vascular health and cardiovascular risk factors in a large and well-characterized study population.

Methods: The study population consisted of 465 subjects aged 30-45 years.

Cardiac repolarization during fingolimod treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Fingolimod is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Despite an established effect on heart rate, the effect of fingolimod on cardiac repolarization is not completely known.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with RRMS underwent 24-hr ambulatory ECG before fingolimod (baseline), at the day of fingolimod initiation (1D) and after three-month treatment (3M).

Relationships between electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with left bundle branch block and healthy controls.

Background: Abnormal electrical activation may cause dyssynchronous left ventricular (LV) contraction. In this study, we characterized and analyzed electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony in patient with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and healthy controls.

Methods: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) data from 994 patients were analyzed.

Sequence of cardiovascular autonomic alterations after fingolimod initiation.

Background: Homeostasis between heart rate and blood pressure is based on several interacting regulatory reflexes, which become influenced by fingolimod initiation. The aim of this study was to determine the sequence of changes in cardiovascular autonomic regulation after fingolimod initiation.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis underwent continuous electrocardiogram recording during the first 6 hr after the first dose of fingolimod.

Transfer Function Analysis of the Longitudinal Motion of the Common Carotid Artery Wall.

The longitudinal motion of the carotid wall is a potential new measure of arterial stiffness. Despite the over decade long research on the subject, the driving force and the specific longitudinal kinetics of the carotid wall has remained unclear. In this study, a transfer function analysis with 20 healthy subjects is presented to derive how the energy from the blood pressure moves the innermost arterial wall longitudinally and how the kinetic energy is then transferred to the outermost arterial layer.

Heart rate variability predicts the magnitude of heart rate decrease after fingolimod initiation.

Background: Fingolimod is an immunomodulator with a disease modifying effect on relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). A heart rate (HR) decrease shortly after fingolimod initiation, however, requires a clinical vigilance. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate whether cardiac autonomic regulation can predict the magnitude of HR decrease after fingolimod initiation.

Modulation of sphingosine receptors influences circadian pattern of cardiac autonomic regulation.

Fingolimod is an oral sphingosine-1-phospate (S1P) receptor modulator for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In addition to therapeutic effects on lymphoid and neural tissue, fingolimod influences cardiovascular system by specific S1P-receptor modulation. The effects of S1P-receptor modulation on the endogenous circadian pattern of cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR), however, are not known.

Principal Component Analysis of the Longitudinal Carotid Wall Motion in Association with Vascular Stiffness: A Pilot Study.

The longitudinal motion of the carotid wall during a heart cycle has a multiphasic waveform. Recent studies have examined the amplitude of this motion. Instead of amplitude measurements, we focus on making a detailed characterization of the motion waveform.

Reference values for left ventricular systolic synchrony according to phase analysis of ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Background: The aim of this study was to define reference values for left ventricular systolic synchrony and for the volume parameters of the left ventricle using myocardial perfusion SPECT-derived phase analysis method.

Methods: We evaluated data of 433 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion SPECT/CT during January 2012-February 2013 in Kuopio University Hospital. The final study population consisted of 52 patients (aged 42-84 years) who met the criteria: (1) no previously diagnosed cardiac disease, (2) normal ECG at rest, (3) no advanced coronary artery disease in CT and 4) normal myocardial perfusion in stress/rest myocardial perfusion SPECT/CT.

BMI influence on the reproducibility of ECG-gated myocardial perfusion imaging phase analysis in comparison with novel echocardiographic dyssynchrony estimation methods.

Aim: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. However, two-thirds of the patients are nonresponders. Evaluation of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony may help in finding patients who will benefit from CRT.