Magnetic resonance imaging changes in a patient with migraine attack and transient global amnesia after cardiac catheterization.

The presence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in patients with transient global amnesia has been an interesting phenomenologic finding. Several theories surround the occurrence of this syndrome, but little is known about its true physiopathology. We present a case of transient global amnesia after cardiac catheterization associated with migraine headache and MRI changes compatible with an ischemic insult.

C1q-deficiency is neuroprotective against hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal mice.

Background And Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine whether the initial component of the classical complement (C) activation pathway contributes to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal mice.

Methods: Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) was produced in C1q(-/-) and wild-type (WT) neonatal mice. At 24 hours after HI, neonatal mouse reflex performance and cerebral infarct volume were assessed.

Evidence for C-reactive protein's role in (CRP) vascular disease: atherothrombosis, immuno-regulation and CRP.

For clinicians plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are the only widely available tests that provide a tangible link between inflammation and atherosclerosis. New AHA/CDC joint guidelines from 2002-03 now include the measurement of CRP as a class IIa recommendation for stratifying patients with known cardiovascular disease (CVD) at a moderate (10-20%) 10-year event risk and a class IIb recommendation for patients without known CVD [1]. While the association of CRP and atherosclerosis is by now accepted, the molecular biology behind the association is evolving rapidly into a fascinating story.

Load dependence of cardiac output in biventricular pacing: right ventricular pressure overload in pigs.

Background: The effect of biventricular pacing on stroke volume is believed to be dependent on right ventricular/left ventricular delay, but effects in individual patients are unpredictable. This variability may reflect relative right and left ventricular volume and/or pressure overloads. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that the relation of cardiac output to right ventricular/left ventricular delay is load dependent in a pig model of pulmonary stenosis.

Reverse CPR: a pilot study of CPR in the prone position.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as described in 1960, remains the cornerstone of therapy for cardiopulmonary arrest. Recent case reports have described CPR in the prone position. We hypothesized rhythmic back pressure on a patient in the prone position with sternal counter-pressure (termed reverse CPR here) would increase intra-thoracic pressure and in turn systolic blood pressure (SBP) during cardiac arrest versus standard CPR.

Transcriptional control of cardiac allograft vasculopathy by early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1).

Expression of the zinc finger transcription factor early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) is triggered rapidly after mechanical vascular injury or after a precipitous drop in ambient oxygen, whereupon it induces the expression of diverse gene families to elicit a pathological response. Initially characterized as an early response transcriptional activator, the role of Egr-1 in more chronic forms of vascular injury remains to be defined. Studies were designed to examine whether Egr-1 induction may serve as a causal link between early preservation injury and delayed vascular consequences, such as coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV).

Suppression of murine cardiac allograft arteriopathy by long-term blockade of CD40-CD154 interactions.

Background: The interaction between CD40 on antigen-presenting cells and CD40L on T cells is critical in allograft rejection. CD154 blockade suppresses allograft rejection, but the role of this pathway in allograft vasculopathy remains obscure.

Methods And Results: A vascularized murine heterotopic cardiac transplant model was used to test whether perioperative CD154 blockade suppresses allograft vasculopathy or whether long-term CD154 blockade is required to suppress allograft vasculopathy.