Autologous in vitro expanded mesenchymal stem cell therapy for human old myocardial infarction.

Background: Stem cell transplantation after myocardial infarction has been claimed to restore cardiac function. Mesenchymal stem cells attract a lot of attention because of the feasibility of in vivo and ex vivo differentiation to cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells as well as their trophic effect on tissue repair. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in improving heart function in patients with old myocardial infarction.

Role of biatrial pacing in prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) constitutes the most common sustained arrhythmia and results in prolonged hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to assess simultaneous right and left atrial pacing as prophylaxis for postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Methods And Results: From July 2003 to May 2004, 120 patients without structural heart disease and who underwent CABG were randomly classified into one of the following 3 groups: biatrial pacing (BAP), left atrial pacing (LAP), and no pacing (control).

Pressure measurements during cardiac surgery--internal jugular vs central venous.

Although central venous pressure (CVP) is a valuable guide and measurement during cardiac surgery anesthesia, there are many occasions however, when the time consumed in inserting a peripheral catheter, defeats the actual purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare central venous pressure and internal jugular veins pressure, and to see whether the jugular veins pressures were a reliable guide to central venous pressure monitoring. Simultaneous measurements of the internal jugular (both left and right side) and right atrial venous pressures were made in 70 patients undergoing cardiac surgery both at times when the chests were closed and when they were opened.