The carbon monoxide prodrug oCOm-21 increases Ca sensitivity of the cardiac myofilament.

Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass procedures require inotropic support to improve hemodynamic function and cardiac output. Current inotropes such as dobutamine, can promote arrhythmias, prompting a demand for improved inotropes with little effect on intracellular Ca flux. Low-dose carbon monoxide (CO) induces inotropic effects in perfused hearts.

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase activity is unchanged despite increased myofilament calcium sensitivity in Zucker type 2 diabetic fatty rat heart.

Systolic and diastolic dysfunction in diabetes have frequently been associated with abnormal calcium (Ca) regulation. However, there is emerging evidence that Ca mishandling alone is insufficient to fully explain diabetic heart dysfunction, with focus shifting to the properties of the myofilament proteins. Our aim was to examine the effects of diabetes on myofilament Ca sensitivity and Ca handling in left ventricular tissues isolated from the same type 2 diabetic rat hearts.

Treadmill running increases the calcium sensitivity of myofilaments in diabetic rats.

The cardiovascular benefits of regular exercise are unequivocal, yet patients with type 2 diabetes respond poorly to exercise due to a reduced cardiac reserve. The contractile response of diabetic cardiomyocytes to β-adrenergic stimulation is attenuated, which may result in altered myofilament calcium sensitivity and posttranslational modifications of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Treadmill running increases myofilament calcium sensitivity in nondiabetic rats, and thus we hypothesized that endurance training would increase calcium sensitivity of diabetic cardiomyocytes and alter site-specific phosphorylation of cTnI.

Increased myofilament calcium sensitivity is associated with decreased cardiac troponin I phosphorylation in the diabetic rat heart.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? In Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats, does cardiomyocyte myofilament function change through the time course of diabetes and what are the mechanisms behind alterations in calcium sensitivity? What is the main finding and its importance? Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats had increased myofilament calcium sensitivity and reduced phosphorylation at cardiac troponin I without differential O-GlcNAcylation.

Abstract: The diabetic heart has impaired systolic and diastolic function independent of other comorbidities. The availability of calcium is altered, but does not fully explain the cardiac dysfunction seen in the diabetic heart.

Spironolactone mitigates, but does not reverse, the progression of renal fibrosis in a transgenic hypertensive rat.

Hypertension plays an important role in the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. Studies to date, with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), have demonstrated varying degrees of results in modifying the development of renal fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate whether treatment with a MRA commenced following the establishment of hypertension, a situation more accurately representing the clinical setting, modified the progression of renal fibrosis.

Changes to management of a non-pandemic illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: case study of invasive management of acute coronary syndrome.

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires significant changes to standard operating procedures for non-COVID-19 related illnesses. Balancing the benefit from standard evidence-based treatments with the risks posed by COVID-19 to patients, healthcare workers and to the population at large is difficult due to incomplete and rapidly changing information. In this article, we use management of acute coronary syndromes as a case study to show how these competing risks and benefits can be resolved, albeit incompletely.

Carvedilol and metoprolol are both able to preserve myocardial function in type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: Increasing cohorts of patients present with diabetic cardiomyopathy, and with no targeted options, treatment often rely on generic pharmaceuticals such as β-blockers. β-blocker efficacy is heterogenous, with second generation β-blocker metoprolol selectively inhibiting β -AR, while third generation β-blocker carvedilol has α -AR inhibition, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic actions alongside nonselective β-AR inhibition. These additional properties have led to the hypothesis that carvedilol may improve cardiac contractility in the diabetic heart to a greater extent than metoprolol.

HIIT Improves Left Ventricular Exercise Response in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

Unlabelled: Type 2 diabetes is associated with reduced left ventricular reserve. It is unclear whether exercise training improves left ventricular function in people with type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether 3 months of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves left ventricular function during exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Cough-Induced Takotsubo (Stress) Cardiomyopathy.

• This case demonstrates cough as an extremely rare but notable cause of TC. • Plausible mechanisms include catecholamine surge, impaired cardiac microvascular and metabolic function, and extreme haemodynamic stress during cough. • Cough should be considered as a potential aetiology in differential diagnosis of TC.

Breeding Characteristics and Dose-dependent Blood Pressure Responses of Transgenic Cyp1a1-Ren2 Rats.

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. A new rodent model (transgenic male Cyp1a1-Ren2 rats) provides reversible induction of hypertension through the addition of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) to the diet, without the need for surgical intervention, thus giving researchers control over both the onset of hypertension and its magnitude (I3C dose-dependency). We here report the breeding performance and productivity of Cyp1a1-Ren2 rats.

Endovascular Renal Denervation in End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients: Cardiovascular Protection-A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Introduction: Sympathetic neural activation is markedly increased in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) reduces sympathetic overactivity and blood pressure in resistant hypertension. We investigated the effect of RDN on sympathetic neural activation and left ventricular mass in patients with ESKD.

Impaired ventricular filling limits cardiac reserve during submaximal exercise in people with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Attenuated increases in ventricular stroke volume during exercise are common in type 2 diabetes and contribute to reduced aerobic capacity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether impaired ventricular filling or reduced systolic ejection were responsible for the attenuated stroke volume reserve in people with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Peak aerobic capacity and total blood volume were measured in 17 people with diabetes and 16 non-diabetic controls with no evidence of cardiovascular disease.

Safety and performance of the second generation EnligHTN™ Renal Denervation System in patients with drug-resistant, uncontrolled hypertension.

Background And Aims: Catheter-based renal denervation for the treatment of drug-resistant hypertension has been intensively investigated in recent years. To date, only limited data have been published using multi-electrode radiofrequency ablation systems that can deliver lesions with a pre-determined pattern. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and performance of the second generation EnligHTN™ Renal Denervation System.

Resting heart rate variability and exercise capacity in Type 1 diabetes.

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have lower exercise capacity (O) than their age-matched nondiabetic counterparts (CON), which might be related to cardiac autonomic dysfunction. We examined whether Heart Rate Variability (HRV; indicator of cardiac autonomic modulation) was associated with exercise capacity in those with and without T1D. Twenty-three participants with uncomplicated T1D and 17 matched CON were recruited.

β-Adrenergic Responsiveness in the Type 2 Diabetic Heart: Effects on Cardiac Reserve.

Unlabelled: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with reduced cardiac reserve and aerobic capacity. Altered myocardial autonomic nervous regulation has been demonstrated in humans with diabetes (indirectly) and animal models (directly).

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the chronotopic and inotropic response of the type 2 diabetic heart to β-adrenergic stimulation.

The Type 2 Diabetic Heart: Its Role in Exercise Intolerance and the Challenge to Find Effective Exercise Interventions.

The metabolic and microvascular benefits of regular exercise for people with diabetes are unequivocal. However, cardiovascular disease, which disproportionately affects people with diabetes, is not reduced by regular exercise, and heart disease remains the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes. 'Subclinical' changes in the function of the diabetic left ventricle are common and reduce cardiac reserve and exercise capacity.

Endovascular renal denervation: a novel sympatholytic with relevance to chronic kidney disease.

Endovascular renal denervation (sympathectomy) is a novel procedure developed for the treatment of resistant hypertension. Evidence suggests that it reduces both afferent and efferent sympathetic nerve activity, which may offer clinical benefit over and above any blood pressure-lowering effect. Studies have shown objective improvements in left ventricular mass, ventricular function, central arterial stiffness, central haemodynamics, baroreflex sensitivity and arrhythmia frequency.

Influence of the glutathione peroxidase 1 Pro200Leu polymorphism on the response of glutathione peroxidase activity to selenium supplementation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A genetic variant at codon 200 (Pro200Leu) of the gene encoding for glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), a selenium-dependent enzyme, is associated with lower enzyme activity; however, the evidence is limited to in vitro and observational studies.

Objective: The objective was to determine whether the GPx1 Pro200Leu genetic variants modify the response of whole-blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity to selenium supplementation in patients with coronary artery disease in New Zealand.

Design: The results from 2 parallel-design, double-blind trials were combined.

Plasma active matrix metalloproteinase 9 and indices of diastolic function in patients with preserved systolic function.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether the endogenous active levels of MMP-9 or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) were related to indices of diastolic dysfunction (DD) in the setting of contemporary treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: We prospectively studied 116 patients with CAD and preserved left ventricular LV systolic function (ejection fraction ≥ 45%). All patients were free of heart failure symptoms at recruitment and underwent percutaneous intervention (PCI) of culprit lesions.

Rapid cycle change to predominantly radial access coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention: effect on vascular access site complications.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the safety and feasibility of all operators at a single center changing from predominantly femoral to radial access for coronary percutaneous procedures.

Background: The radial artery is currently regarded as a useful vascular access site for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The reduction in local vascular access complications is thought to be a major advantage of the radial route.

Long-term clinical outcomes with the next-generation Resolute Stent System: a report of the two-year follow-up from the RESOLUTE clinical trial.

Aims: The 12-month results of RESOLUTE were favourable for the new Resolute stent. Two-year safety and efficacy results from RESOLUTE have been evaluated and are now reported.

Methods And Results: RESOLUTE was a prospective, multicentre, non-randomised, single-arm, controlled trial of the Resolute stent in 139 participants with symptomatic ischaemic heart disease due to single de novo lesions in a native coronary artery.

Clinical outcome of older patients with acute coronary syndrome over the last three decades.

Objective: To Evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) over three decades in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Design: Registry study.

Setting And Patients: all consecutive patients (n = 3,013) with ACS admitted to the CCU from 1979 to 1981 (n = 966) and from 1989 to 1991 (n = 1470) were included prospectively.

Accuracy of monitoring for sleep-related breathing disorders in the coronary care unit.

Study Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients presenting with acute cardiovascular events.

Design: Repeat observational study.

Setting: Coronary care unit of a university hospital.