Brief hypoxia conditions monocytes to protect reperfused cardiocytes against cell death via the CD11b receptor.

Background: Traditionally leukocytes have been viewed as the mediators and effectors of cell injury after tissue ischemia and reperfusion through the indiscriminate release of toxic cytokines and oxygen free radicals. This can be detrimental to functioning of the transplanted heart when reperfused after implantation. Paradoxically, evidence now suggests that certain cytotoxic cytokines and even oxygen free radicals can be cytoprotective in smaller concentrations.

Surgical treatment for chronic heart failure.

Advances in the surgical treatment of chronic heart failure including ventricular re-modeling, artificial heart technology and bridge to recovery have revolutionized cardiac surgical management. This article summarizes the most popular surgical treatment of heart failure with experiences from various institutes.

Acetylcholine attenuates cardiomyocyte oxidant stress during simulated ischemia and reoxygenation.

We wanted to determine whether oxygen radicals open the mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channels (K(ATP)) during an ischemic period to reduce cell death and oxidant stress. Chick embryonic cardiomyocytes were used. Cell viability was quantified with propidium iodide (5 microM), and free radicals was measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate.