Our study shows that despite the evolution of medical technology and use of contemporary therapeutic measures, in-hospital mortality in CS-AMI patients who are managed invasively continues to rise. Additional research and targeted efforts are indicated to improve outcomes in this high-risk cohort.

Background-The accuracy of exercise echocardiography and 201 Tl single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is similar in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, comparative data on long-term prognosis are lacking.

Gated ADSPECT performed early after AMI can accurately identify a sizeable low-risk group who have a <2% death and reinfarction rate at 1 year. Identifying these low-risk patients for early hospital discharge may improve utilization of health care resources at considerable cost savings.

Sequential adenosine sestamibi myocardial perfusion tomography can effectively monitor changes in scintigraphic ischemia after anti-ischemic medical or coronary revascularization therapy. A strategy of intensive medical therapy is comparable to coronary revascularization for suppressing ischemia in stable patients after acute infarction who have preserved LV function.

In this small pilot study, intensive medical therapy and PTCA were comparable at suppressing ischemia in stable patients after AMI. Sequential imaging with adenosine SPECT can track changes in PDS after anti-ischemic therapies and thereby predict subsequent outcome. Corroboration of these preliminary findings in a larger cardiac-event trial is warranted.

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Objective To analyse the quality and quantity of scientific publications of the medical faculty at the American University of Beirut (AUB) during a six year period (1996–2001) Methods The study included all faculty members in the medical school of AUB in the year 2001. A Medline search inclusive of the years 1996–2001 was done for each faculty member and a total number of 881 publications was obtained. Results The faculty consisted of 203 members. Their average productivity rate (mean (SD)) was 1.24 (1.38) publications/faculty member/year (PFY), with a mean impact factor of 2.69 (4.63). Eighteen per cent of the faculty did not have any publication in the six year study period, and only 20% had two or more publications per year. There was a significantly higher publication rate among newly recruited faculty members (0.93 (1.40) PFY for those appointed before 1990, 1.45 (1.24) PFY for those appointed during 1990–1995, and 1.67 (1.43) for those appointed after 1995, p = 0.007), and among those who are younger in age (p&lt;0.01). Collaboration with international investigators resulted in more original publications than work done only at AUB (65% v 35%, p&lt;0.001), and a higher journal impact factor for the publications (3.20 (3.85) v 1.71 (2.36), p&lt;0.05). Conclusions This is one of the first studies that analyse the research productivity of the medical faculty in a university setting in a developing country. It shows a wide variation in the research productivity of the faculty members that seems to be related to individual as well as institutional characteristics. Further analysis is needed to define and characterise these factors.