Maximizing patient benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy with the addition of structured exercise training: a randomized controlled study.

Objectives: We evaluated the benefits of additional exercise training after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy results in improved morbidity and mortality in appropriate patients. We hypothesized that a structured exercise training program in addition to CRT would maximize the improvements in exercise capacity, symptoms, and quality of life (QOL).

Medium-term results of surgical ventricular restoration with papillary muscle realignment: providing additional benefits in enlarged ischemic left ventricle.

In 2001, we described a new surgical technique of surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) in severe heart failure by papillary muscle re-alignment and volume reduction. This procedure has been offered in our institution to patients with severely impaired left ventricular function. Here we examine our mid-term results and also compare them with a similar cohort of patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) only.

Confusion over thiazolidinedione-induced heart failure: need for a better definition of heart failure.

Evaluation of: Erdmann E, Wilcox RG. Weighing up the cardiovascular benefits of thiazolidinedione therapy: the impact of increased risk of heart failure. Eur.

Incremental prognostic value of changes in B-type natriuretic peptide in heart failure.

Purpose: B-type natriuretic peptide is one of the most sensitive and specific biohumoral markers of heart failure. We hypothesized that B-type natriuretic peptide changes during treatment of heart failure may provide independent information on disease progression and outcome in patients enrolled in the Val-HeFT trial.

Methods: Patients were divided into four groups according to concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide at baseline versus 4 months (n = 3740) or 12 months (n = 3343), with respect to the baseline median (97 pg/mL): low-->low (stable below median, 44%-46%), high-->high (stable above median, 32%-37%), high-->low (above to below median, 12%-14%), and low-->high (below to above median, 6%-9%).

Role of cardiac power in heart failure.

The heart is a muscular mechanical pump with an ability to generate both flow (cardiac output) and pressure. The product of flow output and systemic arterial pressure is the rate of useful work done, or power output. Cardiac pumping capability can be defined as the cardiac power output (CPO(max)) achieved by the heart during maximal stimulation.

Characterisation of isoprenaline myotoxicity on slow-twitch skeletal versus cardiac muscle.

Background: Elevated catecholamines are known to be cardiotoxic, but their potential injurious effects on skeletal muscles are largely unknown. We have investigated whether isoprenaline induces in vivo myocyte necrosis in rat soleus muscle, and characterised the time-course, dose-response, spatial distribution and adrenoceptor involvement of its myotoxicity, in comparison with effects on cardiomyocytes in the same animals.

Material And Methods: Myocyte necrosis in response to subcutaneous isoprenaline was detected in vivo using a monoclonal anti-myosin antibody.