Selective increase of cardiomyocyte derived extracellular vesicles after experimental myocardial infarction and functional effects on the endothelium.

Introduction: Wound healing after myocardial infarction (MI) is mediated by different cell types, secreted proteins, components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and, as increasing evidences suggest, extracellular vesicles (EVs). We aim to determine the dynamics of release and origin of EVs after MI, as well as their biological activity on endothelial cells (ECs).

Methods: MI was induced in WT mice and blood and tissues collected at baseline, 3, 15 and 30 days post-ligation for cardiac function (echocardiography) and histological evaluation.

Noncoronary Vascular Calcification, Bone Mineral Density, and Muscle Mass in Institutionalized Frail Nonagenarians.

The purpose of this study was to compare the vascular calcification in thoracic aorta (TAC), abdominal aorta (AAC), iliac arteries (IAC), and femoral arteries (FAC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebrae between frail and robust nonagenarians, as well as to verify the associations between vascular calcification with BMD, muscle tissue quality, and quantity in both groups. Forty-two elderly subjects participated in this study: 29 institutionalized frail (92.0 ± 3.

Assessment of left ventricular parameters in orthotopic heart transplant recipients using dual-source CT and contrast-enhanced echocardiography: comparison with MRI.

Objectives: To establish the accuracy and reliability of cardiac dual-source CT (DSCT) and two-dimensional contrast-enhanced echocardiography (CE-Echo) in estimating left ventricular (LV) parameters with respect to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as the reference standard.

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive heart transplant recipients (20 male, mean age 62.7±10.

Systolic prospectively ECG-triggered dual-source CT angiography for evaluation of the coronary arteries in heart transplant recipients.

Objectives: To assess feasibility, image quality, and radiation dose of prospectively ECG-triggered coronary CT angiography (CTA) in orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) recipients.

Methods: 47 consecutive OHT recipients (40 men, mean age 62.1 ± 10.

Allograft morphology and function in heart transplant recipients surviving more than 15 years by magnetic resonance imaging and dual-source computed tomography.

Objective: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy and late graft failure are the main limiting factors of long-term success of heart transplantation, and little is known about graft function in the long-term survivors. The aim of this study was to assess the ventricular function and the allograft vasculopathy in long-term survivors (>15 years) with the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiogram.

Methods: In our database, 34 cardiac recipients have more than 15 years of follow-up and were evaluated for this study; 22 (65%) of them were enrolled.

[Effect of the left ventricular pacing site on echocardiographic parameters of ventricular dyssynchrony in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy].

Introduction And Objectives: Cardiac resynchronization therapy has been shown to be an option in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure. The current indication for this treatment is based on clinical and electrocardiographic criteria, although echocardiography has also been shown to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of ventricular dyssynchrony. The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular dyssynchrony by echocardiography and to evaluate the effect of the stimulation site on the magnitude of resynchronization.