Negative effect of high-level infrasound on human myocardial contractility: In-vitro controlled experiment.

Background: Human exposure to infrasound is increasing due to man-made factors, such as occupational conditions, wind farms and transportation. The concern among the public regarding the safety of infrasound exposure is growing.

Aims: To evaluate whether exposure to infrasound interferes directly with human cardiac function and contributes to pathological processes.

Reduced right atrial contractile force in patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: A study in human atrial fibers-contractile force and diastolic dysfunction.

Background/objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate right heart contractile force in patients with diastolic dysfunction (DD) with preserved left heart ejection fraction undergoing cardiac surgery. We examined the contractile properties of skinned human fibers obtained from the right auricle in two groups (DD and controls).

Methods: Right atrial tissue from 64 patients, who were undergoing cardiac surgery, were collected before extracorporal circulation.

Contractile properties of the right atrial myofilaments in patients with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration.

Background: Myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve is a common pathological finding in mitral valve surgery and the most common reason for severe mitral valve regurgitation. Considering the importance of right ventricular remodeling and global function after mitral valve surgery we tried to elucidate a possible association of myxomatous mitral valve and impairment of right atrial and ventricular function, which might have an impact on global ventricular performance after mitral valve surgery.

Methods: Right atrial tissue was harvested from 47 patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.

Immunomodulatory effects of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition contribute to improved cardiac function and survival during acute cardiac rejection.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that the peroxynitrite-poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) pathway is activated during acute allograft rejection. Therefore, we investigated whether PARP inhibition improves transplant outcome and the extent to which immunologic factors contribute to the effects of PARP inhibition.

Methods: Isogeneic Lewis-to-Lewis and allogeneic Dark Agouti (DA)-to-Lewis rat cardiac transplants were studied under treatment with placebo, the PARP inhibitor INO-1001 (1 mg/kg/day), cyclosporine (2.

Contractile dysfunction in experimental cardiac allograft rejection: role of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase pathway.

Recent studies suggested that the peroxynitrite-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) pathway is activated during acute allograft rejection. We investigated whether PARP inhibition improves transplant function during cardiac rejection. Isogeneic Lewis-to-Lewis and allogeneic Dark Agouti-to-Lewis rat cardiac transplants were studied under treatment with placebo or with the PARP-inhibitor INO-1001 (1 mk/kg/day), Functional, biochemical and histological analysis were performed 3 and 5 days after transplantation.

Effects of inosine on reperfusion injury after heart transplantation.

Objective: Inosine, a break-down product of adenosine, has been recently shown to exert inodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the effects of inosine on ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat heart transplantation model.

Methods: Intraabdominal heterotopic transplantation was performed in Lewis rats.

Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibition protects against myocardial and endothelial reperfusion injury after hypothermic cardiac arrest.

Objective: Free radical production and related cytotoxicity during ischemia and reperfusion might lead to DNA strand breakage, which activates the nuclear enzyme poly-ADP-ribose synthetase and initiates an energy-consuming and inefficient cellular metabolic cycle with transfer of the adenosine diphosphate-ribosyl moiety of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) to protein acceptors. We investigated the effects of poly-ADP-ribose synthetase inhibition on myocardial and endothelial function during reperfusion in an experimental model of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: Twelve anesthetized dogs underwent hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

L-arginine protects the mesenteric vascular circulation against cardiopulmonary bypass-induced vascular dysfunction.

Background: The aim of our study was to determine whether addition of the nitric oxide donor l-arginine at reperfusion may prevent the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)-induced vascular alterations in the intestine.

Methods: Twelve dogs underwent 90-minute hypothermic CPB. After 60 minutes, the cardiac arrest-treated group (n = 6) received 40 mg/kg intravenous bolus l-arginine, followed by 3 mg/kg/min infusion for 20 minutes.

Modulation of catecholamine responsiveness and beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylyl cyclase pathway during cardiac allograft rejection1 2.

Background: This study investigated the changes of catecholamine responsiveness and beta-adrenergic receptor/adenylyl cyclase pathway during acute cardiac transplant rejection.

Methods: Isogeneic Lewis to Lewis and allogeneic Dark Agouti (DA) to Lewis rat cardiac transplants were studied 3 and 5 days after heterotopic intraabdominal transplantation (n=6/group). Myocardial blood flow (MBF), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximum pressure development (+dP/dt), and end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were measured using an intraventricular balloon.

Poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase inhibition reduces reperfusion injury after heart transplantation.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor PJ34 (N-(6-oxo-5,6-dihydro-phenanthridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethylacetamide) on myocardial and endothelial function after hypothermic ischemia and reperfusion in a heterotopic rat heart transplantation model. After a 1-hour ischemic preservation, reperfusion was started either after application of placebo or PJ34 (3 mg/kg). The assessment of left ventricular pressure-volume relations, total coronary blood flow, endothelial function, myocardial high energy phosphates, and histological analysis were performed at 1 and 24 hours of reperfusion.