Sympathetic neural overdrive and diminished exercise capacity in reduced ejection fraction heart failure related to anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Cardiotoxicity is the most worrying cardiovascular alteration in patients treated with chemotherapy. To improve the understanding regarding the cardiotoxicity, we studied whether ) patients with cardiac dysfunction related to anthracycline-based chemotherapy have augmented sympathetic nerve activity and decreased exercise capacity and ) these responses are similar to those observed in patients with heart failure caused by other etiologies. Sixteen patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction related to anthracycline-based chemotherapy with or without chest radiation (HFrEFCA), 10 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection not related to cancer therapy (HFrEF), and 16 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy control subjects were studied.

Cholestasis in a murine experimental model: lesions include hepatocyte ischemic necrosis.

Objective: To establish a murine experimental model of bile duct obstruction that would enable controlled observations of the acute and subacute phases of cholestasis.

Methodology: Adult male isogenic BALB/c mice underwent a bile duct ligation (22 animals) or a sham operation (10 animals). Fifteen days after surgery, or immediately after the animal's death, macroscopic findings were noted and histological study of the liver, biliary tree, and pancreas was performed (hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichromic staining).