Effect of early changes in functional geometry of left ventricular contraction on the development of ventricular fibrillation during acute myocardial ischaemia. An experimental study.

Objective: The early appearance of ventricular fibrillation (VF) following acute myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with adrenergic effects and electrical interactions although some early "mechanical" changes may also occur. The aim of the present experimental study was to examine whether early changes in the functional geometry of left ventricular (LV) contraction may be associated with ventricular arrhythmias occurring during the first 120min of MI.

Methods: In 11 swine left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation was performed.

Rapid recovery from acute, potentially lethal myocarditis.

Two cases of acute myocarditis in young men, both with clinical and laboratory criteria indicating poor prognosis, were initially treated with conventional treatment (captopril plus metoprolol). The addition of intravenous immunoglobulin was followed by rapid clinical and laboratory recovery. This observation is considered to support previous but ambiguous evidence that autoimmune treatment may help recovery from acute myocarditis that has evidence of poor prognosis.

Effect of dobutamine on left ventricular functional geometry after acute myocardial infarction: experimental study.

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction causes left ventricular (LV) remodelling, which forms the substrate for its early and late complications. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the acute changes in LV functional geometry after acute myocardial infarction using echocardiography and to investigate the effect of continuous intravenous dobutamine administration on those changes.

Methods: In 22 pigs acute myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery.

Intima-media thickness score from carotid and femoral arteries predicts the extent of coronary artery disease: intima-media thickness and CAD.

Objectives: In the present study we measured carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) by B-Mode ultrasonography, as well as angiographic extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients referred for coronary arteriography, to assess the relation between individual IMT, scores incorporating IMT from the carotid and femoral arteries and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease.

Methods: Two hundred and two patients referred for elective coronary angiography underwent ultrasound imaging of both carotid and femoral arteries for IMT measurements. An IMT score was developed as the number of sites with abnormal IMT (range 0-8).

Arterial stiffness is increased in subjects with hypothyroidism.

Background: The association between hypothyroidism and increased vascular resistance, arterial wall thickening and endothelial dysfunction is well recognized. The aim of the present study was to examine if hypothyroid subjects have increased arterial stiffness, a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Sixty-five subjects (59 females and 6 males) with normal thyroid function or hypothyroidism of varying degree were investigated by radial artery applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis, for evaluation of arterial stiffness.