Determinants of Myocardial Strain in Experimental Chronic Myocardial Infarction.

We evaluated the relationships between regional myocardial strain measured by speckle tracking echocardiography and viability, fibrosis, hypertrophy and oxygen consumption in the infarcted or remote myocardium in a pig model of chronic myocardial infarction (MI). Thirteen farm pigs with surgical occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and five sham-operated pigs were studied 3 mo post-MI. Computed tomography revealed significant left ventricle remodeling.

Accuracy of echocardiographic area-length method in chronic myocardial infarction: comparison with cardiac CT in pigs.

Background: We evaluated echocardiographic area-length methods to measure left ventricle (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) in parasternal short axis views in comparison with cardiac computed tomography (CT) in pigs with chronic myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Male farm pigs with surgical occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (n = 9) or sham operation (n = 5) had transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac-CT 3 months after surgery. We measured length of the LV in parasternal long axis view, and both systolic and diastolic LV areas in parasternal short axis views at the level of mitral valve, papillary muscles and apex.

Influence of triple disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy on carotid artery inflammation in drug-naive patients with recent onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Increased atherosclerosis in RA is not fully explained by the ordinary risk factors, but it may be related to vascular inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of carotid artery inflammation in drug-naive patients with early RA before and after DMARD triple therapy.

Methods: Fifteen non-diabetic patients with recently diagnosed RA [age 51 (16) years, 6 males] were examined before and at 2 and 4 weeks after the initiation of combination therapy with MTX, SSZ, HCQ and ⩽10 mg/day oral prednisolone.

Effect of levosimendan therapy on myocardial infarct size and left ventricular function after acute coronary occlusion.

Background: Levosimendan is an inotropic agent with cardioprotective and vasodilating properties used for the management of acutely decompensated heart failure. We studied the effects of levosimendan treatment on the size of myocardial infarction (MI) and left ventricular (LV) function in experimental pig model of post MI heart failure.

Methods: After occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, animals received levosimendan 5 mg/kg/day orally for 8 weeks (n=7) or no treatment (n=18).

Cardiac remodeling in a new pig model of chronic heart failure: Assessment of left ventricular functional, metabolic, and structural changes using PET, CT, and echocardiography.

Aims: Large animal models are needed to study disease mechanisms in heart failure (HF). In the present study we characterized the functional, metabolic, and structural changes of myocardium in a novel pig model of chronic myocardial infarction (MI) by using multimodality imaging and histology.

Methods And Results: Male farm pigs underwent a two-step occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery with concurrent distal ligation and implantation of a proximal ameroid constrictor (HF group), or sham operation (control group).