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A lot of people with coronary artery disease do not have specific symptoms, and myocardial infarction or death are the first manifestation of the disease. New accurate, non-invasive and safe screening methods are required that can assess the prognosis of patients during routine examinations performed on millions of people. The aim of this review was to discuss the current literature regarding the utility of non-invasive ultrasound imaging of the coronary artery in assessing a patient's prognosis in daily practice. Assessment of coronary artery flow during common stress echocardiography or echocardiography can provide additive incremental prognostic information without the burden of radiation. Exercise or pharmacologic stress echocardiography tests combined with coronary flow velocity reserve assessment has advantages over stress tests based only on regional wall motion abnormalities. Scanning of main coronary arteries as an addition to routine echocardiography can reveal patients at high risk of adverse cardiac events in the near future.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to acquire non-invasive data from coronary flow velocity profiles during exercise in groups of healthy subjects and of patients with arterial hypertension., Material and Methods: We enrolled 83 patients into two groups: (1) 35 non-selected consecutive healthy subjects; (2) 25 consecutive patients with arterial hypertension. All the patients performed supine bicycle symptoms-limited tests. Throughout exercise the diastolic peaks of coronary flow velocity in LAD were recorded. Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) was calculated off-line. Profiles of coronary artery velocity were acquired for all groups. The coronary artery flow parameters investigated were comparable in healthy and hypertensive patients at every stage., Results: The average diastolic velocities were 54.8 ± 12.9 vs. 51.8 ± 12.2 cm/s, at 50 W; 69.2 ± 17.1 vs 64.4 ± 19.1 cm/s at 75 W; 70.7 ± 16.4 vs. 76.1 ± 19.0 cm/s at 100 W; 80.0 ± 16.0 vs. 72.9 ± 16.1 cm/s at 125 W; 83.7 ± 12.2 vs. 81.4 ± 17.0 at 150 W, p- non-significant, respectively. On average, the healthy group reached CFVR > 2.0 at a heart rate of 110-120 beats/min at 75 W. During supine bicycle exercise, healthy subjects and patients with arterial hypertension have a similar coronary artery flow velocity profile., Conclusion: The routine exercise echocardiography test can feasibly be supplemented with the additional measurement of coronary flow velocity during routine supine exercise stress tests, as the normal range of CFVR is reached before submaximal heart rate.

Purpose: Study of validity of the Medication Adherence Self-Report Inventory (MASRI) for use in clinical practice to treat patients with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) accompanied with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms., Methods: During 12 weeks of the randomized study, 452 patients with BPO and OAB symptoms (mean age of 61.3 (12.7)) were studied for adherence to the treatment with Tamsulosin, Solifenacin and Trospium using the MASRI. External monitoring instruments included the Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) and the visual remaining pill count. The state of the prostate gland and the lower urinary tract was monitored using questionnaires I-PSS, OAB Awareness Tool, uroflowmetry and voiding diaries., Result: Correlation between the percentage of men non-adherent to treatment (MASRI) and the percentage of patients having a belief barrier on the screen of the BMQ was r = 0.89, p ≤0.05, r = 0.92, p ≤0.01, r = 0.85, p ≤0.05, a number of missed doses on the Regimen Screen of the BMQ was r = 0.79; p ≤0.05; r = 0.81; p ≤0.05; r = 0.75, p ≤0.05, a number of non-adherent patients according to the BMQ was r = 0.83 (p ≤0.05), r = 0.88 (p ≤0.05), r = 0.79, p ≤0.05, the results of the pill count were r = 0.65-0.76; p ≤0.05-0.01. These data confirm high validity of the MASRI., Conclusion: The MASRI is a valid tool for rapid assessment of adherence to treatment of patients with BPO and OAB receiving Tamsulosin and antimuscarinic drugs and may be recommended for use in clinical practice.