The Role of Extracellular Matrix in the Experimental Acute Aortic Regurgitation Model in Rats.

Background: Mechanisms involved in cardiac remodelling by aortic regurgitation (AR) and the moment when cardiac dysfunction begins are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate cardiac morphology and function after 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of experimental AR in Wistar rats. Extracellular matrix was also investigated as the potential mechanism that underlies the AR remodelling process.

Acute doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is associated with matrix metalloproteinase-2 alterations in rats.

Background: Doxorubicin can cause cardiotoxicity. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are responsible for degrading extracellular matrix components which play a role in ventricular dilation. Increased MMP activity occurs after chronic doxorubicin treatment.

Antidepressant treatment decreases daily salt intake and prevents heart dysfunction following subchronic aortic regurgitation in rats.

Depression is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with heart failure. Selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may improve these outcomes. Left ventricular volume overload induced hypertrophy that is associated with aortic regurgitation (AR) leads to ventricular dysfunction and heart failure.

Influence of N- acetylcysteine on oxidative stress in slow-twitch soleus muscle of heart failure rats.

Background: Chronic heart failure is characterized by decreased exercise capacity with early exacerbation of fatigue and dyspnea. Intrinsic skeletal muscle abnormalities can play a role in exercise intolerance. Causal or contributing factors responsible for muscle alterations have not been completely defined.

The role of lipotoxicity in smoke cardiomyopathy.

Background/aims: Experimental and clinical studies have shown the direct toxic effects of cigarette smoke (CS) on the myocardium, independent of vascular effects. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well known.

Methods: Wistar rats were allocated to control (C) and cigarette smoke (CS) groups.

Diastolic function and functional capacity after a single session of continuous positive airway pressure in patients with compensated heart failure.

Objective: The effects of acute continuous positive airway pressure therapy on left ventricular diastolic function and functional capacity in patients with compensated systolic heart failure remain unclear.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 43 patients with heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction <0.50 who were in functional classes I-III according to the New York Heart Association criteria.

Left ventricular sphericity index predicts systolic dysfunction in rats with experimental aortic regurgitation.

Although an increased left ventricular (LV) diastolic diameter (DD) and a decreased ejection fraction have been used as markers for the surgical replacement of an insufficient aortic valve, these signals may be observed when irreversible myocardium damage has already occurred. The aim of this study was to determine whether change in LV geometry predicts systolic dysfunction in experimental aortic regurgitation. Male Wistar rats underwent surgical acute aorta regurgitation (aorta regurgitation group; n = 23) or a sham operation (sham group; n = 12).

Serum metalloproteinases 2 and 9 as predictors of gait status, pressure ulcer and mortality after hip fracture.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum activity of metalloproteinases (MMPs) -2 and -9 as predictors of pressure ulcer (PU), gait status and mortality 6 months after hip fracture.

Methods: Eighty-seven patients over the age of 65 admitted to the orthopedic unit from January to December 2010 with hip fracture were prospectively evaluated. Upon admission, patient demographic information, including age, gender and concomitant diseases, was recorded.

Atrophic cardiac remodeling induced by taurine deficiency in Wistar rats.

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiency is observed in heart failure patients. Taurine, for example, represents 50% of total free amino acids in the heart, and in vivo studies have linked taurine deficiency with cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Thirty-four male Wistar rats (body weight = 100 g) were weighed and randomly assigned to one of two groups: Control (C) or taurine-deficient (T (-)).

Higher salt preference in heart failure patients.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome that involves changes in behavioral, neural and endocrine regulatory systems. Dietary salt restriction along with pharmacotherapy is considered an essential component in the effective management of symptomatic HF patients. However, it is well recognized that HF patients typically have great difficulty in restricting sodium intake.

Cardiac remodeling induced by 13-cis retinoic acid treatment in acne patients.

Background: Currently, 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) is the most effective therapy for acne. Isotretinoin, a first-generation synthetic 13-cis-RA compound, is associated with numerous adverse effects. To investigate the cardiac effects of 13-cis-RA, acne patients receiving 13-cis-RA were studied.

Tobacco smoke induces ventricular remodeling associated with an increase in NADPH oxidase activity.

Background: Recent studies have assessed the direct effects of smoking on cardiac remodeling and function. However, the mechanisms of these alterations remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate de role of cardiac NADPH oxidase and antioxidant enzyme system on ventricular remodeling induced by tobacco smoke.

Influence of taurine on cardiac remodeling induced by tobacco smoke exposure.

Background/aims: To investigate the effect of taurine on cardiac remodeling induced by smoking.

Methods: In the first step, rats were allocated into two groups: Group C (n = 14): control; Group T (n = 14): treated with taurine (3% in drinking water), for three months. In the second step, rats were allocated into two groups: Group ETS (n = 9): rats exposed to tobacco smoke; Group ETS-T (n = 9): rats exposed to tobacco smoke and treated with taurine for two months.

Retinoic acid prevents ventricular remodelling induced by tobacco smoke exposure in rats.

Objective: Our objective was to test the hypothesis that retinoic acid supplementation could attenuate ventricular remodelling induced by tobacco smoke exposure in rats.

Methods And Results: Wistar rats were allocated into three groups: control (C, n = 8); exposed to tobacco smoke (ETS, n = 9); exposed to tobacco smoke and all-trans-retinoic acid (ETS-RA, n = 9). After two months, cardiac function and geometry were assessed by echocardiography, and geometry changes were confirmed by morphometric analysis.

Pharmacological dose of {alpha}-tocopherol induces cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats determined by echocardiography and histology.

The effect of pharmacological dose of α-tocopherol on heart health was determined in Wistar rats. Animals were randomly assigned to either C (control, n = 11) or E (α-tocopherol, n = 11) group. Animals received corn oil (C) or α-tocopherol dissolved in corn oil (250 mg α-tocopherol/[kg body wt/day]) (E) by gavage for a 7-week period.

Quality of life in patients with severe and stable coronary atherosclerotic disease.

Background: There are few data on the factors decreasing quality of life (QoL) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) before a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objective: To associate clinical variables with QoL scores in patients with stable CAD before the PCI and with unfavorable outcomes, 12 months after the procedure.

Methods: The present is a longitudinal study of 78 patients (43 men and 35 women), before an elective PCI.

Influence of AIN-93 diet on mortality and cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats.

Background: The AIN-93 diet was proposed by the American Institute of Nutrition with the objective of standardising studies in experimental nutrition. Our objective was to analyze the effects of AIN-93 diet after myocardial infarction in rats.

Methods: Post weaning, the animals were divided into two groups: control (C, n=62), fed the standard diet of our laboratory (Labina); AIN-93 Group (n=70), fed the AIN-93 diet.

Tissue vitamin A insufficiency results in adverse ventricular remodeling after experimental myocardial infarction.

Background/aims: The role of tissue vitamin-A insufficiency on post-infarction ventricular remodeling is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that cardiac vitamin A insufficiency on post-infarction is associated with adverse myocardial remodeling.

Methods: After infarction, rats were allocated into two groups: C (controls, n=25); VA (dietary vitamin A restriction, n= 26).

Influence of different doses of retinoic acid on cardiac remodeling.

Objective: The role of retinoic acid in promoting postnatal heart alterations is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the cardiac alterations caused by all-trans- retinoic acid (ATRA) in normal adult rat hearts are physiologic or pathologic and if these alterations are dose-dependent.

Methods: Rats were allocated into a control group that received a diet without ATRA (n=16), a group that received 0.

Relevance of the ventricular remodeling pattern in the model of myocardial infarction in rats.

Background: The relevance of the remodeling pattern in the model of infarcted rats is not known.

Objective: To analyze the presence of different patterns of remodeling in this model and its functional implications.

Methods: Infarcted rats (n=47) have been divided according to the geometry pattern, analyzed by echocardiogram: normal (normal mass index and normal relative thickness), concentric remodeling (normal mass index and increased relative thickness), concentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and increased relative thickness) and eccentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and normal relative thickness).

Ventricular remodeling induced by tissue vitamin A deficiency in rats.

Background/aims: Experimental studies suggest that vitamin A plays a role in regulating cardiac structure and function. We tested the hypothesis that cardiac vitamin A deficiency is associated with adverse myocardial remodeling in young adult rats.

Methods: Two groups of young female rats, control (C - n = 29) and tissue vitamin A deficient (RVA - n = 31), were subjected to transthoracic echocardiography exam, isolated rat heart study and biochemical study.

Influence of lisinopril on cardiac remodeling induced by tobacco smoke exposure.

Background: To investigate the effect of lisinopril on cardiac remodeling induced by smoking.

Material/methods: Rats were allocated into 3 groups: group CON (n=8): control; group CSE (n=8): cigarette smoke exposure; group CSE-LIS (n=8): exposed to tobacco smoke and treated with lisinopril.

Results: After 2 months, the tail systolic pressure was lower in CSE-LIS (CON=116 +/-27 mm Hg, CSE=126+/-16, CSE-LIS=89+/-12; P<.

Heart failure with normal ejection fraction.

Heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) is a complex syndrome that has been broadly studied since the last decade. It is caused by diastolic ventricular dysfunction demonstrated by complementary methods, such as hemodynamic study or echocardiogram, in the presence of a normal ejection fraction (EF). It affects primarily elderly individuals with comorbidities, such as systemic arterial hypertension, coronary failure and obesity.

Remodeling pattern and ventricular function in rats exposed to cigarette smoke.

Background: The relevance of the remodeling pattern in the model of rats exposed to cigarette smoke is not known.

Objective: Analyzing the presence of different remodeling patterns in this model and its relation with the ventricular function.

Methods: Smoking rats (n=47) have been divided according to the geometry pattern, analyzed by echocardiogram: normal (normal mass index and normal relative wall thickness), concentric remodeling (normal mass index and increased relative wall thickness), concentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and increased relative wall thickness) and eccentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and normal relative wall thickness).

[Association between sphericity, ventricular function and size of the infarction in rats].

Background: The left ventricular (LV) sphericity is a factor associated with ventricular dysfunction, but it is not well-characterized in the experimental infarction model in rats.

Objective: To analyze the association between the sphericity index (SI), the ventricular function and the infarcted area in an experimental rat model.

Methods: Six months after the infarction (AMI, n=33) or simulated surgery (SHAM, n=18), the animals were submitted to an echocardiogram.