Serial assessments of microvascular obstruction by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance predict contractile recovery and clinical outcome after reperfused acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to investigate, using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), the presence and time course of microvascular obstruction (MO) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to test its relationship with cardiac remodeling and clinical outcomes.

Methods And Results: 53 patients with AMI and successful percutaneous reperfusion underwent CMR examination at four separate timepoints: within the first 48 hours, at 10 days, at six and twelve months after infarction. MO was quantified immediately (early imaging) and 10 minutes (late imaging) after contrast administration in each session.

Change of walking distance in intermittent claudication: impact on inflammation, oxidative stress and mononuclear cells: a pilot study.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process involving the immune system and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated changes of mononuclear blood cells and ROS production in relation to the walking distance of patients with intermittent claudication during home-based exercise training.

Methods: Forty patients with intermittent claudication were asked to perform a home-based exercise training for a mean time of 12 months.

Low IL-10/TNFα ratio in patients with coronary artery disease and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with a poor prognosis after 10 years.

Monocytes and dendritic cells (DC) produce tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α during inflammatory processes, but secrete interleukin (IL)-10 simultaneously in order to balance the pro-inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the expression of TNFα and IL-10 by monocytes and DC in patients with a poor cardiovascular prognosis after 10 years. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from 30 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with stable angina pectoris (SAP), or with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Gene therapy with iNOS enhances regional contractility and reduces delayed contrast enhancement in a model of postischemic congestive heart failure.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of transient local myocardial gene transfer of iNOS on cardiac function in a large mammal animal model of heart failure induced by chronic ischemia.

Methods: Chronic myocardial ischemia was induced using a minimally invasive model in 16 landrace pigs. Upon demonstration of heart failure, eight animals were treated with liposome-mediated iNOS-gene-transfer by local intramyocardial injection; eight animals received a sham procedure to serve as control.

Comparison of the quantitative first pass myocardial perfusion MRI with and without prospective slice tracking: comparison between breath-hold and free-breathing condition.

Physiologic motion of the heart is one of the major problems of myocardial blood flow quantification using first pass perfusion-MRI method. To overcome these problems, a perfusion pulse sequence with prospective slice tracking was developed. Cardiac motion was monitored by a navigator directly positioned at heart's basis to overcome no additional underlying model calculations connecting diaphragm and cardiac motion.

Local transient myocardial liposomal gene transfer of inducible nitric oxide synthase does not aggravate myocardial function and fibrosis and leads to moderate neovascularization in chronic myocardial ischemia in pigs.

Background: This study was designed to explore the effect of transient inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) overexpression via cationic liposome-mediated gene transfer on cardiac function, fibrosis, and microvascular perfusion in a porcine model of chronic ischemia.

Methods And Results: Chronic myocardial ischemia was induced using a minimally invasive model in 23 landrace pigs. Upon demonstration of heart failure, 10 animals were treated with liposome-mediated iNOS-gene-transfer by local intramyocardial injection and 13 animals received a sham procedure to serve as control.

Usefulness of MRI to differentiate between temporary and long-term coronary artery occlusion in a minimally invasive model of experimental myocardial infarction.

The surgical technique employed to determine an experimental ischemic damage is a major factor in the subsequent process of myocardial scar development. We set out to establish a minimally invasive porcine model of myocardial infarction using cardiac contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ce-MRI) as the basic diagnostic tool. Twenty-seven domestic pigs were randomized to either temporary or permanent occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD).

Critical single proximal left arterial descending coronary artery stenosis to mimic chronic myocardial ischemia: a new model induced by minimal invasive technology.

Background/aims: The present report examines a new pig model for progressive induction of high-grade stenosis, for the study of chronic myocardial ischemia and the dynamics of collateral vessel growth.

Methods: Thirty-nine Landrace pigs were instrumented with a novel experimental stent (GVD stent) in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Eight animals underwent transthoracic echocardiography at rest and under low-dose dobutamine.

Resistance of the internal mammary artery to restenosis: a histomorphologic study of various porcine arteries.

Background/aims: Restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts is much less pronounced than in other arteries and venous grafts. The aim of the study was to test whether various arteries respond differently to dilatation.

Methods: PTA of the IMA, carotid, renal and circumflex coronary (RCx) arteries was performed in 9 pigs (balloon to artery ratio of 1:1.

Elevated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 serum levels in patients at risk for coronary artery disease.

Background: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is involved in the recruitment of monocytes into the arterial vessel wall as one of the major events leading to atherosclerotic vascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: The study group comprised 263 volunteers aged between 18 and 85 years who were admitted to hospital or clinic for scheduled invasive and non-invasive diagnostic procedures. MCP-1 serum levels were determined using a sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Quantification of resting myocardial blood flow in a pig model of acute ischemia based on first-pass MRI.

Qualitative and semiquantitative contrast-enhanced (CE) dynamic perfusion MRI techniques are established as noninvasive diagnostic means of assessing coronary artery disease. However, to date quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) has not reached the same acceptance as MBF quantification with nuclear techniques. To validate quantification of MBF at rest using the extracellular contrast agent (CA) Gd-DTPA, we performed an animal study in a pig model of acute myocardial ischemia.

Influence of contrast agent dose and image acquisition timing on the quantitative determination of nonviable myocardial tissue using delayed contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Delayed contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) has been shown to identify areas of irreversible myocardial injury due to infarction (MI) with high spatial resolution, allowing precise quantification of nonviable (hyperenhanced) myocardium. The aim of our study was to investigate the size of nonviable myocardium quantitatively as a function of time post-contrast when inversion time is held constant in patients post-myocardial infarction using two contrast agent (CA) doses.

Methods: Nine patients with chronic MI underwent two MR scans on a 1.

Diagnostic value of routine clinical parameters in acute myocardial infarction: a comparison to delayed contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Delayed enhancement and routine clinical parameters after myocardial infarction.

Aims: Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ceMRI) has been shown to reliably identify irreversible myocardial injury. The aim of this study was to compare the findings on ceMRI with routine clinical markers of myocardial injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods And Results: Twenty-four patients with acute MI were investigated at 1.