Relationship Between F-fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake on Positron Emission Tomography and Aortic Calcification.

: Although F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been widely utilized to assess the extent of inflammation, the association between the extent and severity of atherosclerosis and F-FDG uptake on PET remains unexamined. The current study aimed to investigate whether aortic calcium (AC) scores were associated with increased aortic uptake of F-FDG on PET. : A total of 167 consecutive patients with suspected lung cancer but unproven malignancy who underwent non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and F-FDG PET/CT were enrolled.

Evaluation of balloon pulmonary angioplasty using lung perfusion SPECT in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) using lung perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Methods And Results: 20 consecutive patients (64 ± 15 years) who were diagnosed with CTEPH and underwent BPA were included in this study. All patients underwent lung perfusion SPECT before and after BPA.

Association between coronary artery calcium score on non-contrast chest computed tomography and all-cause mortality among patients with congestive heart failure.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is a robust prognostic tool to predict cardiac events. Although patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) occasionally undergo non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT), the prognostic utility of CAC by NCCT is not widely known. We aimed to determine if CAC measured on NCCT is associated with all-cause mortality (ACM) among patients with CHF.

Prognostic values of coronary artery calcium score and I-BMIPP SPECT in patients with non-ischemic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

This study aimed to determine whether coronary artery calcium score (CACS) can be a prognostic indicator for the development of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and compare the value of CACS with that of the I-betamethyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (I-BMIPP) defect score (BDS) in patients with non-ischemic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (NIHFpEF). Among 643 consecutive patients hospitalized due to acute heart failure, 108 (74 ± 13y) were identified to have NIHFpEF on non-contrast regular chest computed tomography and I-BMIPP single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We evaluated whether CACS and BDS were associated with MACEs using multivariate Cox models.

The relationship between coronary artery calcium density and optical coherence tomography-derived plaque characteristics.

Background And Aims: Although coronary artery calcium (CAC) density has been associated with plaque stability, pathological evidence is lacking. We investigated the relationship between coronary computed tomography (CCT)-derived CAC density and multiple calcified and high-risk plaque (HRP) characteristics using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: We analyzed 83 plaques from 33 stable angina patients who underwent both CCT and OCT.

Prognostic value of Tc-ECD brain perfusion SPECT in patients with atrial fibrillation and dementia.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia experience reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Technetium 99m ECD brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (Tc-ECD brain perfusion SPECT) is a beneficial modality for diagnosing dementia and identifying high-risk patients with mild cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of brain perfusion using Tc-ECD SPECT in patients with AF and dementia.

α-Tocopheryl succinate stabilizes the structure of tumor vessels by inhibiting angiopoietin-2 expression.

α-Tocopheryl succinate (TS) is a tocopherol derivative and has multifaceted anti-cancer effects; TS not only causes cancer cell-specific apoptosis but also inhibits tumor angiogenesis. Although TS has the potential to be used as a well-tolerated anti-angiogenic drug, it is still unclear which step of the angiogenic process is inhibited by TS. Here, we show that TS inhibits the expression of angiopoietin (Ang)-2, which induces destabilization of vascular structure in the initial steps of the angiogenic process.

Prognostic values of I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy and heart rate variability in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic values of sympathetic nerve system using I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy and using Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods And Results: Among 403 consecutive patients with stable HF who underwent I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy and Holter ECG, we identified 133 patients (64 ± 16 years) who had preserved ejection fraction (≥ 50%) by echocardiography. Multivariate Cox model was used to assess if washout rate (WR) by I-MIBG scintigraphy and very low frequency power (VLFP) by Holter ECG was associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Prognostic Value of I-BMIPP SPECT in Patients with Nonischemic Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Imaging of myocardial fatty acid metabolism using I-betamethyl--iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (I-BMIPP) SPECT is useful for identifying high-risk patients with known ischemic heart disease. However, its utility for patients who have nonischemic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is not well known. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the I-BMIPP defect score in such patients.

Development of a novel drug delivery system consisting of an antitumor agent tocopheryl succinate.

We have developed a novel drug delivery system (DDS) using an antitumor agent, α-tocopheryl succinate (TS). TS has attracted attention as a unique anti-cancer drug for its ability to induce apoptosis in various cancer cells. Furthermore, TS itself readily forms nanovesicles (TS-NVs) and is a prospective tool for use as an antitumor DDS.