1,721,255 research outputs found
The role of sestamibi scintigraphy in the radioisotopic assessment of myocardial viability
No full textNew insights on low vitamin D plasma concentration as a potential cardiovascular risk factor
No full textThe role of Vitamin D hormone in human health and disease is still debated. Recently, growing attention has been paid to its putative role in cardiovascular system homeostasis with several studies that suggested a correlation between low vitamin D levels and increased cardiovascular risk. Several mechanisms are involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases: systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, arterial hypertension and insulin resistance. In the present paper, we have revised the current literature supporting a role for vitamin D in the development of these pathogenetic processes. Finally, we have evaluated the current evidence linking vitamin D to atherosclerosis and its natural consequence, cardiovascular diseases
Head-to-head comparison of a CZT-based all-purpose SPECT camera and a dedicated CZT cardiac device for myocardial perfusion and functional analysis
No full textPurpose: To compare the outputs of a novel all-purpose SPECT camera equipped with CZT detectors (Discovery NM/CT 670) with the state-of-the-art represented by a dedicated CZT (Alcyone, Discovery 530c) cardiac camera in patients submitted to myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Methods: We included 19 patients that underwent sequential low-dose 99mTc-tetrofosmin (148-185 MBq during stress and 296-370 MBq at rest) MPI with Alcyone and Discovery 670 cameras. Quantitative (% tracer’s uptake) and semi-quantitative analyses of perfusion data were performed for each scan. Moreover, major left ventricular (LV) functional and structural parameters were derived from each camera and compared. Results: The two cameras showed excellent correlation for segmental myocardial % uptake at stress (R = 0.90; P < 0.001) and at rest (R = 0.88; P < 0.001) with narrow Bland-Altman limits of agreement. The level of diagnostic agreement of Discovery 670 and Alcyone cameras regarding perfusion analysis was excellent (Cohen’s κ 0.85). Similarly, the two cameras showed excellent correlation in the evaluation of LV ejection fraction (R = 0.95), peak filling rate (R = 0.97), and mass (R = 0.98). Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that MPI with an all-purpose Discovery 670 CZT-SPECT camera is feasible, comparing well with the current state-of-the-art technology
Accuracy of cadmium-zinc-telluride imaging in detecting single and multivessel coronary artery disease: Is there any gender difference?
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CARDIORENAL SCINTIGRAPHY WITH 99mTc-TETROFOSMIN AS AN IMAGING TOOL TO STUDY CARDIORENAL DISEASE IN ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION
No full textBackground. Renal function is a strong predictor of cardiovascular prognosis and cardiorenal disease is increasingly investigated. Cardiorenal Scintigraphy with the perfusion tracer 99mTc-Tetrofosmin was proposed as a single combined examination allowing the simultaneous investigation of heart and kidney in cardiovascular patients, including hypertensives at risk of both cardiac and renal disease (Fommei, 2009). The renal uptake index (UI) of Tetrofosmin as a percent of the injected dose was used as a renal diagnostic parameter and found to be related to clinical and scintigraphic (99mTc-DTPA) indexes of cardiorenal severity.
Aim of the study. Here we tested 99mTc-Tetrofosmin renal diagnostic validity in hypertensive patients in a comparison with 123 I-Hippuran scintigraphy as a gold standard for renal function.
Patients and Methods. 22 hypertensive patients (5 F, 17 M, age range 46-79 yrs) were scheduled for both 99mTc-Tetrofosmin cardiac G-SPECT and 123-I Hippuran scintigraphy in their diagnostic workup. As previously described, cardiorenal scintigraphy consisted in a dynamic renal acquisition after Tetrofosmin bolus injection, followed by standard cardiac G-SPECT. Hippuran scintigraphy was performed in a separate day following standard procedures. Renal images and renograms were obtained and renal uptake was calculated for each kidney both in Tetrofosmin and Hippuran scintigraphies.
Results. Tetrofosmin UI (mean 13.13±6.9 SD%) resulted lower than Hippuran UI (23.24±12.80 % (p<0.001) reflecting different intrarenal kinetics. Positive correlations were observed between the two tracers clearances and UI (either as total or separate kidney uptake) (p<.01) and between Tetrofosmin UI and age, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance and the Doppler-renal resistive index (p<.01). Five patients with angiographically confirmed renal artery stenosis showed corresponding renographic and scintigraphic abnormalities with both tracers.
Conclusions. 99mTc-Tetrofosmin cardiorenal scintigraphy may be used to obtain simultaneous renal and cardiac functional information which may be relevant for diagnosis and prognosis in states of cardiorenal diseases, with no study lenghtening nor an increase in the radiation burden to the patient compared to a standard cardiac study
Evaluation of regional myocardial systolic and diastolic function using ECG-gated Sestamibi scintigraphy. Preliminary results in patients with and without coronary artery disease.
No full textEvaluation data about accuracy of cadmium-zinc-telluride imaging in detecting single and multivessel coronary artery disease: Focus on gender differences
No full textCurcumin as scaffold for drug discovery against neurodegenerative diseases
Full text linkNeurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are one of major public health problems and their impact is continuously growing. Curcumin has been proposed for the treatment of several of these pathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to the ability of this molecule to reduce inflammation and aggregation of involved proteins. Nevertheless, the poor metabolic stability and bioavailability of curcumin reduce the possibilities of its practical use. For these reasons, many curcumin derivatives were synthetized in order to overcome some limitations. In this review will be highlighted recent results on modification of curcumin scaffold in the search of new effective therapeutic agents against NDs, with particular emphasis on AD
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