Administration of vascular endothelial growth factor adjunctive to fetal cardiomyocyte transplantation and improvement of cardiac function in the rat model.

Background: The functional impact of cellular transplantation and the potential role of the addition of angiogenic factors for survival of engrafts remain controversial.

Methods: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (25 ng/mL) was added to cultured fetal cardiomyocytes labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU), which was injected into the border zones of myocardial infarction 4 weeks after coronary occlusion in rat hearts. Group 1 (n = 12) received cells plus VEGF protein (100 ng), group 2 (n = 12) received cells without VEGF, group 3 (n = 10) received VEGF without cells, and group 4 (n = 12) received pure culture medium.

Cardioprotection by Carvedilol: antiapoptosis is independent of beta-adrenoceptor blockage in the rat heart.

Background: Carvedilol, a beta-blocking agent with beta-blocking properties is now widely used for the treatment of congestive heart failure. In addition to its beta-adrenergic receptor blockage, antiapoptotic effects have been demonstrated in experimental animals.

Objective: The cardioprotective effects of carvedilol and its hydroxylated analogue BM-91.

Transvenous pacemaker malposition in the systemic circulation and pacemaker infection: a case report and review of the literature.

Transvenous pacemaker malposition in the systemic circulation is a rare complication of pacemaker implantation; the incidence is not well known. However, with the aid of two-dimensional echocardiography, the problem of pacemaker malposition can be identified earlier. After pacemaker insertion, an electrocardiogram and a posterior-anterior and lateral chest x-ray should be routinely performed.