Carbon monoxide protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro via antioxidant properties.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is believed to mediate many of the cytoprotective effects attributed to the activation of heme oxygenase (HO-1), the enzyme responsible for CO production. Recently, the study of CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) has provided a new approach for the delivery of CO. In the present study, we examined whether the cardioprotective properties of CO-RM2 in isolated rat hearts subjected to an ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) sequence were associated with the presence of CO.

Clinical experience with a novel thermosensitive temporary coronary artery occluder (LeGoo).

Background: A bloodless field is important for visualizing relevant anatomical structures and facilitating construction of high-quality coronary anastomoses during off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCABG). Currently employed devices can damage target arteries as well as myocardium and are not uniformly effective, especially with diseased arteries.

Methods: LeGoo (Pluromed, Woburn, MA) is a thermosensitive polymer that is a viscous liquid at room temperatures and changes into a firm occlusive plug instantaneously when exposed to body temperatures.