The prostaglandin agonist beraprost aggravates doxorubicin-mediated apoptosis by increasing iNOS expression in cardiomyocytes.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used as an anti-cancer agent although it causes irreversible cardiomyopathy by increasing oxidative stress and deregulating nitric oxide production. Beraprost (BPS), a stable prostacyclin (PGI2) analog, is a potent vasodilator that has beneficial effects on myocardial ischemia. The objectives of the present study were to delineate the uncertain effects of prostcyclin therapy on DOX induced cardiomyopathy and to explore the mechanisms underlying PGI2 and DOX interaction.

Prediction of severity of isolated aortic regurgitation by echocardiography: an aortic regurgitation index study.

Background: No single precise qualitative method is recommended for evaluating the severity of aortic regurgitation (AR). Quantitative methods for AR assessment are, typically, cumbersome and time-consuming. The purpose of this study was to develop a more comprehensive method for predicting the severity of AR.

Value of parasternal long-axis vena contracta width for predicting severity of aortic regurgitation in left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Correlations derived for the relations between parasternal long-axis vena contracta width and effective regurgitant orifice area, regurgitant volume, and regurgitant fraction were highly significant. A vena contracta width of <3.0 or >5.

Coronary stent graft for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy combined with coronary artery disease.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stenting are established therapeutic modalities for coronary artery disease (CAD). Percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation has become increasingly important for the treatment of symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). We report a case of HOCM combined with CAD involving the left anterior descending coronary artery.