Usefulness of combined quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion and velocities by myocardial contrast and doppler tissue echocardiography during coronary blood flow reduction.

Objectives: We sought to characterize regional myocardial perfusion and contraction in a closed-chest swine model during and after coronary blood flow reduction using myocardial contrast and Doppler tissue echocardiography.

Methods And Results: Regional myocardial perfusion was assessed by myocardial contrast echocardiography using the corrected contrast peak intensity (baseline-subtracted contrast peak intensity), the peak intensity ratio (contrast peak intensity in ischemic/control wall), and a transmural video-intensity gradient. Regional peak systolic velocities and strain rate were measured using M-mode color Doppler tissue echocardiography.

[Vasodilator effects of bradykinin on the resistive circulation of the forearm of coronary patients].

This study was undertaken to determine the vascular effects of bradykinin and its modes of action on the resistive circulation of the forearms of coronary patients and healthy volunteers. Two groups were studied: Group I comprising 8 coronary patients with normal left ventricular function and Group II with 8 healthy volunteers. The method of measurement of forearm blood flow was occlusive venous plethysmography with a mercury strain gauge.

Molsidomine improves flow-dependent vasodilation in brachial arteries of patients with coronary artery disease.

Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of human blood vessels is essential to adaptation and regulation of peripheral blood flow, and is mediated by endogenously produced nitric oxide. Endothelial function is impaired in many pathologic states, especially in coronary heart disease. We questioned in this study whether exogenous nitric oxide (NO) would restore endothelial dysfunction in peripheral arteries of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

[Indications for antiplatelet medications].

Platelet active drugs are part of the antithrombotics. Their biological effect is not assessed in current practice. Their clinical efficacy has been firmly established in randomised controlled trials.

Improvement of bradykinin endothelium-mediated vasodilation of forearm resistance circulation by quinaprilat in patients with coronary artery disease with or without left ventricular dysfunction.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition potentiates bradykinin and acetylcholine endothelium-mediated vasodilation. Three groups were studied. Group I (n = 10) was the reference group; group II was composed of nine patients with coronary artery disease; and group III of seven patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction.