Development and evolution of nuclear cardiology and cardiac PET in Canada.

Gated radionuclide angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging were developed in the United States and Europe in the 1970's and soon adopted in Canadian centers. Much of the early development of nuclear cardiology in Canada was in Toronto, Ontario and was quickly followed by new programs across the country. Clinical research in Canada contributed to the further development of nuclear cardiology and cardiac PET. The Canadian Nuclear Cardiology Society (CNCS) was formed in 1995 and became the Canadian Society of Cardiovascular Nuclear and CT Imaging (CNCT) in 2014. The CNCS had a major role in education and advocacy for cardiovascular nuclear medicine testing. The CNCS established the Dr Robert Burns Lecture and CNCT named the Canadian Society of Cardiovascular Nuclear and CT Imaging Annual Achievement Award for Dr Michael Freeman in memoriam of these two outstanding Canadian leaders in nuclear cardiology. The future of nuclear cardiology in Canada is exciting with the expanding use of SPECT imaging to include Tc-99m-pyrophosphate for diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis and the ongoing introduction of cardiac PET imaging.

What is in the Dash? An Examination of the Life and Contributions of John B. Flege, Jr., MD.

It is, indeed, a privilege to stand here before you this morning to give the annual Flege Lecture.  Dr. Sande Starnes has kindly supplied me with a list of prior visiting professors, who previously have had the honor to deliver this talk. When we examine the names of those who have been so honored, and note their many accomplishments, I cannot help but remember the words of Winston Churchill, who, when speaking of another person, could well have been speaking of me, when he described "a modest little person, with much to be modest about."

Bernard Lown y el arte de sanar / Bernard Lown and the art of healing

RESUMEN: Se presenta una semblanza del Dr. Bernard Lown, uno de los más destacados cardiólogos del siglo XX. Muy relevantes fueron sus estudios sobre arritmias ventriculares e isquemia miocárdica, como también la influencia del estrés sobre el umbral de la fibrilación ventricular. Simultáneamente con otros investigadores europeos desarrolló el cardiovertor eléctrico. Se releva particularmente su condición de gran clínico y el trato humano con sus pacientes. Finalmente, se destaca su contribución a evitar una guerra nuclear por lo cual, junto al Dr Chazov, recibió el Premio Nobel de la Paz.

ABSTRACT: This is a biographical note on Bernard Lown MD, recently deceased. He was one of the foremost cardiologist in the XXth century. Relevant were his studies on ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia, as well the effect of mental stress in lowering the ventricular arrhythmia threshold. Along with European researchs he developed the electric cardiovertor. Special emphasis is placed on his skills as a clinician and is humane approach to patient care. He contributed to international efforts to prevent nuclear war. For this effort he was awarded, along with Dr Chazov, the Nobel Peace Price.

Hybrid Coronary Revascularization: Perspective Current State After 25 Years of Start.

Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) represents a minimally invasive revascularization strategy in which the durability of the internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery graft is combined with percutaneous coronary intervention to treat remaining lesions. It first was introduced in the mid-1990s and aspired to bring together the "best of both worlds" - the excellent patency rates and survival benefits associated with the durable left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending artery alongside the good patency rates of drug-eluting stents, which outlive saphenous vein grafts to non-left anterior descending vessels. Although in theory this is a very attractive revascularization strategy, several years later, only small randomized controlled trials comparing HCR with coronary artery bypass grafting has recently emerged in the medical literature, raising concerns regarding HCR's role. In the current review, we discuss HCR's rationale, the current evidence behind it, its limitations, and procedural challenges.

Who is who in cardiovascular research? What a review of Nobel Prize nominations reveals about scientific trends.

BACKGROUND: Since 1901, at least 15 scholars who contributed to cardiovascular research have received a Nobel prize in physiology or medicine. METHODS: Using the Nobel nomination database (nobelprize.org), which contains 5950 nominations in the accessible period from 1901 to 1953 in physiology or medicine, we listed all international nominees who contributed to cardiovascular research. We subsequently collected nomination letters and jury reports of the prime candidates from the archive of the Nobel Committee in Sweden to identify shortlisted candidates. RESULTS: The five most frequently nominated researchers with cardiovascular connections from 1901 to 1953 were, in descending order, the surgeon René Leriche (1879-1955) (FR) with a total of 79 nominations, the physiologist and 1924 Nobel laureate Willem Einthoven (1860-1927) (NL) (31 nominations), the surgeon Alfred Blalock (1899-1964) (US) (29 nominations), the pharmacologist and 1936 Nobel laureate Otto Loewi (1873-1961) (DE, AT, US) (27 nominations) and the paediatric cardiologist Helen Taussig (1898-1986) (US) (24 nominations). The research of these scholars merely hints at the width of topics brought up by nominators ranging from the physiological and pathological basics to the diagnosis and (surgical) interventions of diseases such as heart malformation or hypertension. CONCLUSION: We argue that an analysis of Nobel Prize nominations can reconstruct important scientific trends within cardiovascular research during the first half of the twentieth century.

Bernard J. Miller: MD, ScD. (Hon), FACS: Lifelong Surgeon-Scientist and Critical Contributor to the Gibbon Heart-Lung Machine.

Bernard J. Miller, MD, ScD. (Hon), FACS, is known as a critical contributor for his work in the John H. Gibbon, MD, laboratory for his work on the heart-lung machine (HLM). In this setting, Dr. Miller developed the fluid control servo system, which was necessary to prevent malfunctioning of the HLM and prevent air emboli. Additionally, Dr. Miller assisted in conceiving and testing the left ventricular vent, the positive-negative pressure ventilator, and the HLM oxygenator; these inventions were all the product of extensive collaboration between the International Business Machines Corporation and the members of Dr. Gibbon's laboratory. Furthermore, Dr. Miller was a surgical assistant and perfusionist in the first successful open-heart surgery. Herein, we seek to describe Dr. Miller's story and his contributions to the HLM, as well as the contributions that were developed by the laboratory at that time. Additionally, we describe critical events leading up to the first successful use of the HLM on May 6, 1953, including a previously unreported use of the HLM for partial bypass of the right heart at Pennsylvania Hospital in 1952. Finally, we present the rest of Dr. Miller's professional and personal successes after his work on the HLM ended.

Vincenzo Gallucci: Memories of a Surgeon, Scientist, and Teacher.

Thirty years ago, Vincenzo Gallucci, MD, head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Institute of the University of Padua Medical School in Italy, died in a car accident at the age of 55 years. Vincenzo Gallucci was one of the most authoritative Italian cardiac surgeons, a fine, gentle, and extremely talented surgeon. He is credited with the first implant of a glutaraldehyde-fixed, stented porcine Hancock bioprosthesis in 1970 and with the first orthotopic heart transplantation performed in Italy in 1985. After 30 years, the memory of a great surgeon, scientist, and teacher is still alive, particularly in those who received his important heritage.

Doctor Hernando del Portillo Carrasco A un pionero de la Cardiología moderna colombiana / Doctor Hernando del Portillo Carrasco

La partida del Doctor Hernando del Portillo Carrasco deja un gran vacío en la Cardiología colombiana por su ausencia y por el recuerdo de una generación que fue artífice de la cardiología moderna en el país. Deja el recuerdo imborrable de un pionero, de un profesional íntegro y de un gran amigo. El Doctor del Portillo fue un soporte constante a la Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular. Aportó ideas y planes, y estuvo presente dando su apoyo a las diferentes Juntas Directivas de la Sociedad. Fue su presidente en el periodo de 1981 a 1983. Desde el inicio de la Revista Colombiana de Cardiología, en noviembre de 1985, el Doctor del Portillo prestó una valiosa e importante colaboración como Editor Asociado, en compañía del Doctor Héctor González Recamán. Ellos me acompañaron en esta aventura editorial. El Doctor del Portillo egresó de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Javeriana en 1956 y realizó su internado en el Hospital Santa Clara en 1955, en donde estuvo encargado del Laboratorio de Fisiología Pulmonar. Se vinculó a la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional a la Sección de Investigación del Departamento de Fisiología en 1957 y obtuvo el título de especialista en Cardiología en la Universidad de Torino, Italia, en 1961, en donde fue becado y trabajó como asistente en el Departamento de Hemodinamia. A su regreso al país se vinculó a la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional, donde fue profesor en el Departamento de Medicina Interna y Cardiología en el Hospital San Juan de Dios, y en dos ocasiones fue jefe de este Departamento, y mantuvo este vínculo hasta diciembre de 1991. En este hospital también fue jefe del Laboratorio Cardiopulmonar. En 1964 se encargó del Laboratorio de Hemodinamia en el Hospital de la Samaritana. Fue presidente de la Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología de 1981 a 1983 y profesor asociado de la Escuela Colombiana de Medicina en 1993.

Historical review of the Department of Physiology on the 75th anniversary of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez / Reseña histórica del Departamento de Fisiología en el 75 aniversario del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez

Abstract The Physiology Department has played an important role in the development of physiology in Mexico since its beginnings. It was founded by Dr. Arturo Rosenblueth in 1947. Many of the original researchers participated in the formation of the Mexican Society of Physiological Sciences. Researchers belonging to this department have given origin to an important national research center (CINVESTAV) and to numerous groups and departments within the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología such as the Valves department in the basement of the main building of the institute, the department of molecular biology situated in the Anexo de Investigación, and a laboratory in the translational medicine unit. The physiology department has importantly contributed to the development of research in the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología.

Resumen El Departamento de Fisiología ha desempeñado un papel importante en el desarrollo de la fisiología en México desde sus inicios. Fue fundado por el Dr. Arturo Rosenblueth en 1947. Muchos de sus investigadores originales participaron en el nacimiento de la Sociedad Mexicana de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Fue el origen de un importante centro de investigación a nivel nacional (CINVESTAV) y ha dado lugar a numerosos grupos y departamentos dentro del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, como el Departamento de Válvulas en el basamento del edificio principal, el Departamento de Biología Molecular ubicado en el Anexo de Investigación y un laboratorio en la Unidad de Medicina Traslacional. El Departamento de Fisiología ha contribuido de manera importante al desarrollo de la investigación en el Instituto Nacional de Cardiología.

Ignacio Chávez Rivera. A paradigm in medicine / Ignacio Chávez Rivera. Un paradigma en la medicina

Abstract This article summarizes the life of Ignacio Chávez Rivera, one of the six most valuable directors that the National Institute of Cardiology has had "Ignacio Chávez Sánchez," founder of the same and father of the aforementioned. His time in life left a clear example to emulate both in the scientific, academic and teaching as well as in the human, family, social and friendly, which make him in the most outstanding student of Master Chávez. His time in life at the National Academy of Medicine, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Interamerican Society of Cardiology, the Mexican Society of Cardiology and the Institute itself, has left an indelible mark on these Institutions. The National Institute of Cardiology bows reverently to the figure of Ignacio Chávez Rivera.

Resumen Este documento sintetiza la vida de Ignacio Chávez Rivera, uno de los seis directores más valiosos que ha tenido el Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez Sánchez, su fundador y padre del ahora aludido. Su paso por la vida dejó un claro ejemplo a emular tanto en el ámbito científico, académico y docente como en los aspectos humano, familiar y social que lo convirtieron en el alumno más destacado del maestro Chávez. Su paso por la vida en la Academia Nacional de Medicina, la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, la Sociedad Interamericana de Cardiología, la Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología y el propio Instituto ha dejado huella imperecedera en estas instituciones. El instituto Nacional de Cardiología se inclina reverente ante la figura de Ignacio Chávez Rivera.