The Current Status of Ultrasound Education in United States Medical Schools.

Objectives: Ultrasound is used by nearly every medical specialty. Medical schools are integrating ultrasound education into their curriculum but studies show this to be inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to provide an updated description of ultrasound in the curricula of United States Accredited Medical Schools (USAMS).

Degradation of rat cardiac troponin I during ischemia independent of reperfusion.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) degradation has been noted in the stunned myocardium of rodents after ischemia and reperfusion and is one proposed mechanism for the decreased left ventricular (LV) contractility in postischemic hearts. cTnI degradation has been best described after reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium. The effect of ischemia, independent of reperfusion, on cTnI breakdown has not been well characterized.

Tension-time index, fatigue, and energetics in isolated rat diaphragm: a new experimental model.

The tension-time index (TTI) has been used to estimate mechanical load, energy utilization, blood flow, and susceptibility to fatigue in contracting muscle. The TTI can be defined, for a rhythmically contracting muscle, as the product of average force development divided by maximum tetanic force times duty cycle [contraction time / (contraction + relaxation time)]. In this study, the TTI concept was applied to isolated diaphragm via a method that allowed TTI to be clamped at a predetermined value.

Glucose, insulin and potassium (GIK) during reperfusion mediates improved myocardial bioenergetics.

Previous studies suggest glucose, insulin and potassium (GIK) infusion during ischemia reduces infarct size and improves post-ischemic myocardial function in acute myocardial infarction and following surgical revascularization of the heart. The potential use of GIK when given only during reperfusion after a period of global ischemia, as might occur during cardiac arrest, is unclear. To test the hypothesis that GIK reperfusion improves post-ischemic myocardial bioenergetics and function, we utilized a perfused heart model.

Low flow after global ischemia to improve postischemic myocardial function and bioenergetics.

Objective: In this study, we test the hypothesis that a period of low flow perfusion before full reperfusion improves ventricular function and bioenergetics.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Reactive oxygen species generated during myocardial ischemia enable energetic recovery during reperfusion.

We studied the differences between the functional and bioenergetic effects of antioxidants (AOX) administered before or after myocardial ischemia. Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were perfused with a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution and bubbled with 95% O(2)-5% CO(2). The protocol consisted of 10 min of baseline perfusion, 20 min of global ischemia, and 30 min of reperfusion.