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SUMMARYWe experienced two rare cases of mismatch between the results of FFR and myocardial perfusion SPECT for identification of myocardial ischemia after myocardial infarction. If a FFR cutoff value of 0.75 is applied as in angina patients to patients with myocardial infarction, the severity of ishemia may be underestimated. (Jpn Heart J 2004; 45: 867-872) Key words: FFR (fractional flow reserve), Myocardial perfusion SPECT, Myocardial infarction MYOCARDIAL fractional flow reserve (FFR) is an indicator of the level of coronary vascular function, and differs from the coronary flow reserve. Although the latter is defined as the ratio of coronary blood flow at maximum load to coronary blood flow at rest, FFR is calculated as the ratio of the distal coronary pressure to the aortic pressure during maximal hyperemia, and serves as an indicator of the functional severity of coronary artery stenosis.

Abstract. To investigate how uterine inflammation affects ovarian activity in rats, endometritis was induced and changes in the length of estrous cycle and serum concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone (P4) were examined. A suspension of Staphylococcus aureus (bacterial solution) or iodine solution was infused into the uterine lumen at various estrous phases. When the bacterial solution was infused at estrus, metestrus, or the first day of diestrus, the following diestrus continued for 5 to 12 days. In the case of the iodine solution, regardless of the estrous phase of the infusion, the following diestrus continued for approximately 6 days. E2 concentration after infusion of each solution did not fluctuate largely and remained at a low concentration (around 5 pg/ml). P4 concentration was high (35-45 ng/ml) on the day following infusion, but decreased rapidly to base line values within a few days and remained thereafter at a low level (around 5 ng/ml). It is assumed that the endometritis caused by biological or chemical stimulation raises the concentration of P4 to depress gonadotrophic hormone secretion, and hence this high P4 concentration might inhibit the growth of ovarian follicles.

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