Spatial Inhomogeneity of Cardiac Norepinephrine Transport Protein and Meta-[I]Iodobenzylguanidine Uptake in Swine Myocardial Tissue.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of the cardiac norepinephrine transporter (NET) in the left ventricle (LV) of healthy pigs and its relationship with regional meta-[I]iodobenzylguanidine ([I]MIBG) myocardial uptake.

Procedures: Experiments were performed on animals injected with [I]MIBG and acquired 2 h later using an ultrafast CZT gamma camera to assess the regional myocardial uptake. After image acquisition, animals were euthanized; the heart was quickly excised and underwent to an ex vivo single photon emission tomography (SPECT) imaging.

Longitudinal micro-ultrasound assessment of the ob/ob mouse model: evaluation of cardiovascular, renal and hepatic parameters.

Background/objectives: Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and is associated with increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob) are widely employed to investigate obesity. Aim of this study was to provide a micro-ultrasound (μUS) longitudinal evaluation of the ob/ob mouse model in terms of cardiovascular effects, consequences for renal microcirculation and liver fat accumulation.

Diagnostic and prognostic utility of non-invasive imaging in diabetes management.

Medical imaging technologies are acquiring an increasing relevance to assist clinicians in diagnosis and to guide management and therapeutic treatment of patients, thanks to their non invasive and high resolution properties. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography are the most used imaging modalities to provide detailed morphological reconstructions of tissues and organs. In addition, the use of contrast dyes or radionuclide-labeled tracers permits to get functional and quantitative information about tissue physiology and metabolism in normal and disease state.

Differential regulation of microRNAs in end-stage failing hearts is associated with left ventricular assist device unloading.

Mechanical unloading by left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in advanced heart failure (HF), in addition to improving symptoms and end-organ perfusion, is supposed to stimulate cellular and molecular responses which can reverse maladaptive cardiac remodeling. As microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in remodeling processes, a comparative miRNA profiling in transplanted hearts of HF patients with/without LVAD assistance could aid to comprehend underlying molecular mechanisms. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was used to analyze miRNA differential expression in left ventricles of HF patients who underwent heart transplantation directly (n = 9) or following a period of LVAD support (n = 8).

Up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 after infarct initiation reduces mortality, infarct size and left ventricular remodeling: experimental evidence and proof of concept.

Background: Up-regulation of HO-1 by genetic manipulation or pharmacological pre-treatment has been reported to provide benefits in several animal models of myocardial infarction (MI). However, its efficacy following MI initiation (as in clinical reality) remains to be tested. Therefore, this study investigated whether HO-1 over-expression, by cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) administered after LAD ligation, is still able to improve functional and structural changes in left ventricle (LV) in a rat model of 4-week MI.