Myocardial inflammation is associated with impaired mitochondrial oxidative capacity in ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Myocardial inflammation and impaired mitochondrial oxidative capacity are hallmarks of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. The extent of myocardial inflammation in patients suffering from ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and its association with mitochondrial energy metabolism are unknown. We aimed at establishing a relevant role of cardiac inflammation in the impairment of mitochondrial energy production in advanced ischaemic and non-ischaemic HF.

Anthracycline therapy induces an early decline of cardiac contractility in low-risk patients with breast cancer.

Aims: Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a dreaded complication of anthracycline therapy. CTRCD most frequently appears in patients with cardiovascular risk factors (CVR) or known cardiovascular disease. However, limited data exist on incidence and course of anthracycline-induced CTRCD in patients without preexisting risk factors.

Unveiling the mechanism of deformation-induced supersaturation.

A Cu-6at%Ag cast alloy was deformed by means of high-pressure torsion to different applied strain levels until a steady-state regime is reached. The continuous structural refinement is attended by the successive dissolution of the Ag precipitates in the Cu matrix. The results show that the Ag regions need to fall below a phase size of ~ 5 nm to fully dissolve.