Myocardial perfusion imaging and cardiac events in a cohort of asymptomatic patients with diabetes living in southern France.

AIMS: To assess the association between abnormal stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and cardiac events (CE) in asymptomatic patients with diabetes and with > or = 1 additional risk factor. Predictors of abnormal stress MPI were also evaluated. METHODS: Four hundred and forty-seven consecutive patients who underwent stress MPI were prospectively followed for 2.1 [0.5-4.1] years for the subsequent occurrence of hard CE (myocardial infarction and sudden or coronary death) and soft CE (unstable angina and ischaemic heart failure requiring hospitalization). Re-vascularization procedures performed as a result of the screening protocol were not included in the analysis. RESULTS: Follow-up was successful in 419 of 447 patients (94%), of whom 71 had abnormal MPI at baseline. Medical therapy was intensified in all subjects and especially in those with abnormal MPI. Twenty-three patients with abnormal MPI underwent a re-vascularization procedure. CEs occurred in 14 patients, including six of 71 patients (8.5%) with abnormal MPI and eight of 348 patients (2.3%) with normal MPI (P < 0.005). Only two patients developed a hard CE and 12 a soft CE. In multivariate analysis, abnormal MPI was the strongest predictor for CEs [odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) = 5.6 (1.7-18.5)]. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol > or = 3.35 mmol/l [OR (95% CI) = 7.3; 1.5-34.7] and age > median [OR (95% CI) = 6.0 (1.2-28.6)] were additional independent predictors for CE. The independent predictors for abnormal MPI were male gender, plasma triglycerides > or = 1.70 mmol/l, creatinine clearance < 60 ml/min and HbA1c > 8%, with male gender the strongest [OR (95% CI) = 4.0 (1.8-8.8)]. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic patients with diabetes in this study had a very low hard cardiac event rate over an intermediate period. This could be explained by the effects of intervention or by the low event rate in the background population. Randomized studies of cardiac heart disease screening are required in asymptomatic subjects with diabetes to determine the effectiveness of this intervention.     

Effect of moderate red wine intake on cardiac prognosis after recent acute myocardial infarction of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Oxidative stress and increased inflammation have been reported to be increased in subjects with diabetes and to be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction (MI). It is well recognized that red wine has antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. We examined the effects of moderate red wine intake on echocardiographic parameters of functional cardiac outcome in addition to inflammatory cytokines and nitrotyrosine (oxidative stress marker), in subjects with diabetes after a first uncomplicated MI. Methods One hundred and fifteen subjects with diabetes who had sustained a first non‐fatal MI were randomized to receive a moderate daily amount of red wine (intervention group) or not (control group). Echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys‐synchrony, circulating levels of nitrotyrosine, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were investigated at baseline and 12 months after randomization. Results After 1 year of diet intervention, concentrations of nitrotyrosine (P < 0.01), CRP (P < 0.01), TNF‐α (P < 0.01), IL‐6 (P < 0.01) and IL‐18 (P < 0.01) were increased in the control group compared with the intervention group. In addition, myocardial performance index (P < 0.02) was higher, and transmitral Doppler flow (P < 0.05), pulmonary venous flow analysis (P < 0.02) and ejection fraction (P < 0.05) were lower in the control group, indicating ventricular dys‐synchrony. The concentrations of nitrotyrosine, CRP, TNF‐α and IL‐6 were related to echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dys‐synchrony. Conclusions In subjects with diabetes, red wine consumption, taken with meals, significantly reduces oxidative stress and pro‐inflammatory cytokines as well as improving cardiac function after MI. Moderate red wine intake with meals may have a beneficial effect in the prevention of cardiovascular complications after MI in subjects with diabetes.     

Study of the labeling of two novel RGD-peptidic derivatives with the precursor [99mTc(H2O)3(CO)3]+ and evaluation for early angiogenesis detection in cancer.

In the initial stages of tumor formation, overexpression of integrins identifying the RGD sequence (Arg-Gly-Asp) is observed. The aim of the present study was the synthesis and labeling of two novel RGD derivatives, via the precursor [99mTc(H2O)3(CO)3]+, as well as the radiochemical and radiopharmacological evaluation of the labeled products. The labeling led to the formation of a single product in each case (>98%), with noteworthy in vitro stability, fast blood clearance and elimination by the hepatobiliary and the urinary systems.     

Palatogram Assessment of Maxillary Complete Dentures

Phonetics, esthetics, function, and comfort form the foundation of a successful dental prosthesis. A review of the mechanics of speech as well as common speech problems encountered with a removable maxillary prosthesis are presented. The use of a palatogram to aid the clinician in the assessment and resolution of speech problems associated with a maxillary denture is demonstrated.     

Pharmacokinetics of the 13C labeled anticancer agent temozolomide detected in vivo by selective cross-polarization transfer

The anticancer agent temozolomide labeled with ¹³C (8-Carbamoyl-3-13C-methylimidazo-[5,1-d]-1,2,3,5-tetrazin-4-(3H)-one), was noninvasively detected in subcutaneous RIF-1 tumors by a selective cross polarization ¹³C NMR method, at a field strength of 9.4T. Pharmacokinetics of the drug, at a dose of 150 mg/kg, were determined for intravenous and intraperitoneal modes of administration (three animals per mode). The half-life of the drug in the tumors was approximately 60 min. The uptake and clearance of the drug, however, varied significantly between individual hosts, for both modes of administration. These results demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining pharmacokinetics of anticancer agents for individual tumors without the need for a label that might modify drug activity (e.g., fluorine). The variability of the in vivo measurements, even within the same tumor model, demonstrates the necessity of directly monitoring the tumor to evaluate drug pharmacokinetics.