Impaired contractile recovery after low-flow myocardial ischemia in a porcine model of metabolic syndrome.

Clinical metabolic syndrome conveys a poor prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome, not fully accounted for by the extent of coronary atherosclerosis. To explain this observation, we determined whether postischemic myocardial contractile and metabolic function are impaired in a porcine dietary model of metabolic syndrome without atherosclerosis. Micropigs (n = 28) were assigned to a control diet (low fat, no added sugars) or an intervention diet (high saturated fat and simple sugars, no added cholesterol) for 7 mo.

PPAR-γ as a therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease: evidence and uncertainty.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) is a key regulator of fatty acid metabolism, promoting its storage in adipose tissue and reducing circulating concentrations of free fatty acids. Activation of PPAR-γ has favorable effects on measures of adipocyte function, insulin sensitivity, lipoprotein metabolism, and vascular structure and function. Despite these effects, clinical trials of thiazolidinedione PPAR-γ activators have not provided conclusive evidence that they reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Prescription-filling rates for key medications in Veterans Affairs patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Purpose: The six-month prescription-filling rates for key secondary-prevention drugs in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were studied.

Methods: Patient records for elective CABG from April 2000 through March 2002 (divided into four six-month periods) were analyzed. The study population included 8925 CABG-only patients surviving to hospital discharge.

An investigation of the cytotoxicity and histocompatibility of in situ forming lactic acid based orthopedic biomaterials.

The cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of polymer networks prefabricated from multifunctional lactic acid based oligomers that are being developed for orthopedic applications were assessed through in vitro cytotoxicity analysis and subcutaneous implantation. After 7 and 14 days, no significant difference was observed in the relative viability or alkaline phosphatase activity of primary rat calvarial osteoblasts cultured in the presence or absence of degrading polymer networks, indicating that the degradation products had no detrimental effect on the function or activity of the cultured cells. The tissue response to preformed lactic acid networks implanted in rats consisted of a mild inflammatory response with an increase in fibrous capsule thickness and inflammation correlating with faster degrading polymer compositions.