Brain death provokes very acute alteration in myocardial morphology detected by echocardiography: preventive effect of beta-blockers.

Our objective was to evaluate immediate acute changes in myocardial function during the autonomic storm of brain death (BD). Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 8/group): controls without any treatment, β-blocker (Esmolol®, 10 mg/kg), calcium channel blocker (Diltiazem®, 10 mg/kg), or alpha-blocker (Prazosin®, 0.3 mg/kg).

Brain death does not change epicardial action potentials and their response to ischemia-reperfusion in open-chest pigs.

Background: It is debated whether brain death (BD) causes transient functional ischemia. In this investigation we used monophasic action potential (AP) recording during BD as a sensitive means to assess: (i) whether ischemia was present; and (ii) the effect of BD on a subsequent ischemia-reperfusion challenge.

Methods: In Period 1, BD was induced (BD group, 6 pigs) or not induced (sham maneuver, control [C] group, 6 pigs), and effects were followed for 3 hours.

Stable myocardial function and endocrine dysfunction during experimental brain death.

Background: The origin of cardiac impairment during brain death (BD) is controversial. Using a pig experimental model we sought to assess hormonal changes during the first stage of brain death and how these changes contribute to hemodynamic alteration and myocardial dysfunction.

Methods: Twenty-two pigs were randomized into 2 groups: a control (C) group and a BD group.

Contrast enhancement in atherosclerosis development in a mouse model: in vivo results at 2 Tesla.

To develop an MRI method for the evaluation of contrast enhancement in early atherosclerotic plaque development in the abdominal aorta of a mouse model. Male apoE-/- mice from three groups, respectively 4 (n = 6), 8 (n = 11) and 16 (n = 4) weeks were included. Axial T1 spin echo images of the abdominal aorta were obtained above and below the renal arteries (90 microm spatial resolution) before and over 1 h after the injection of a macromolecular contrast agent.

In vivo colon wall imaging using endoluminal coils: feasibility study on rabbits.

Purpose: To assess in vivo distal colon wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feasibility on rabbits using an endoluminal radio frequency (RF) coil on a 1.5-T clinical scanner.

Materials And Methods: The endoluminal coil signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was compared to a clinical four-element phased-array body coil.