Collecting biological tissue samples in a biobank grants a unique opportunity to validate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for translational and clinical research. In the present work, we provide our long-standing experience in establishing and maintaining a biobank of vascular tissue samples, including the evaluation of tissue quality, especially in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens (FFPE). Our Munich Vascular Biobank includes, thus far, vascular biomaterial from patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis ( = 1567), peripheral arterial disease ( = 703), and abdominal aortic aneurysm ( = 481) from our Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (January 2004⁻December 2018).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim was, to identify an estimate of left ventricular contractility derived from the aortic pressure wave without load changing manoeuvres. For this purpose, left ventricular contractility was assessed with several aortic pressure wave form derived parameters and was compared to standard parameters of left ventricular contractility (conductance technique) in an experimental study. Measurements were taken during baseline, after beta-stimulation and after injection of a beta-antagonist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Metabolic acidosis during hemorrhagic shock is common and conventionally considered to be due to hyperlactatemia. There is increasing awareness, however, that other nonlactate, unmeasured anions contribute to this type of acidosis.
Methods: Eleven anesthetized dogs were hemorrhaged to a mean arterial pressure of 45 mm Hg and were kept at this level until a metabolic oxygen debt of 120 mLO2/kg body weight had evolved.
Background: Therapeutic strategies to stabilize advanced arteriosclerotic lesions may prevent plaque rupture and reduce the incidence of acute coronary syndromes. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), like rosiglitazone, are oral antidiabetic drugs with additional antiinflammatory and potential antiatherogenic properties. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind trial, we examined the effect of 4 weeks of rosiglitazone therapy on histomorphological characteristics of plaque stability in artery specimen of nondiabetic patients scheduled for elective carotid endarterectomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPerfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions are intravascular oxygen therapeutics that temporarily enhance tissue oxygenation in dilutional anemia. However, PFC emulsions are not resuscitation fluids because PFCs only work optimally in the presence of high O2 partial pressure (hyperoxia); moreover, because they have no oncotic potential, dosing limitations prevent their use to permanently replace large hemorrhage volumes. Our objective was to clarify whether in the presence of hyperoxia a conventional colloid therapy supplemented by PFC is more efficacious than colloid alone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe prostaglandin I2 analogues epoprostenol and iloprost increase left ventricular contractility. Therefore, we hypothesize that the prostaglandin I2 analogues epoprostenol and iloprost improve also left ventricular diastolic function. To test this hypothesis, the effects of epoprostenol and iloprost on left ventricular diastolic function were assessed in vivo and compared to two vasodilators sodium nitroprusside and adenosine, not formerly associated with changes of left ventricular contractility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The principal effects of prostaglandin I(2) are vasodilation and inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by a rise in the intracellular second messenger cAMP. In the heart a rise in intracellular myocardial cAMP increases contractility. We examined whether prostaglandin I(2) increases left ventricular contractility in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Ventricle-to-coronary artery bypass (VCAB) is an experimental revascularization procedure that provides predominantly systolic instead of diastolic blood flow to a coronary artery.
Methods And Results: In a pig model, a stent-based procedure (VSTENT) was developed to create a VCAB. After thoracotomy, a covered VSTENT was implanted between the left ventricle and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD).