Comparison of tissue Doppler dynamics to Doppler flow in evaluating left atrial appendage function by transesophageal echocardiography.

Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) patterns from the left atrial appendage (LAA) were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography. Reproducible, characteristic triphasic or biphasic tissue velocities similar to Doppler flow of the LAA were obtained. Patient peak TDI velocities correlated well with flow and were measurable in atrial fibrillation.

Exercise acutely increases circulating endothelial progenitor cells and monocyte-/macrophage-derived angiogenic cells.

Objectives: We investigated whether a single episode of exercise could acutely increase the numbers of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and cultured/circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) in human subjects.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells and CACs can be isolated from peripheral blood and have been shown to participate in vascular repair and angiogenesis. We hypothesized that exercise may acutely increase either circulating EPCs or CACs.

Difficult cases in heart failure: Role of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in refractory heart failure.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) offers a new modality for use in the treatment of refractory congestive heart failure (CHF). Although the use of peritoneal dialysis to treat refractory heart failure is not new, improved understanding of the physiology and technique of this system has allowed its use over prolonged periods of time. The application of continuous peritoneal dialysis to the cardiac patient changes its scope considerably.

iNOS gene expression modulates microvascular responsiveness in endotoxin-challenged mice.

Septic shock is characterized by vasodilation and decreased responsiveness to vasoconstrictors. Recent studies suggest this results from nitric oxide (NO) overproduction after expression of the calcium-independent isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) in smooth muscle cells. However, direct evidence linking iNOS (NOS2) expression and decreased microvascular responsiveness after septic stimuli is lacking.