Phlorizin prevents electrically-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmia during ischemia in langendorff-perfused guinea-pig hearts.

Phlorizin is a type of flavonoids and has a peroxynitrite scavenging effect. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of phlorizin on ischemia-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT). Optical signals from the epicardial surface of the ventricle or left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were recorded during acute global ischemia in 42 Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts.

A Contractile Network of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Supratarsal Mueller's Smooth Muscle Fibers With Sparse Sympathetic Innervation.

Background: We previously reported that the supratarsal Mueller's muscle is innervated by both sympathetic efferent fibers and trigeminal proprioceptive afferent fibers, which function as mechanoreceptors-inducing reflexive contractions of both the levator and frontalis muscles. Controversy still persists regarding the role of the mechanoreceptors in Mueller's muscle; therefore, we clinically and histologically investigated Mueller's muscle.

Methods: We evaluated the role of phenylephrine administration into the upper fornix in contraction of Mueller's smooth muscle fibers and how intraoperative stretching of Mueller's muscle alters the degree of eyelid retraction in 20 patients with aponeurotic blepharoptosis.

Decrease in the density of t-tubular L-type Ca2+ channel currents in failing ventricular myocytes.

In some forms of cardiac hypertrophy and failure, the gain of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release [CICR; i.e., the amount of Ca(2+) released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum normalized to Ca(2+) influx through L-type Ca(2+) channels (LTCCs)] decreases despite the normal whole cell LTCC current density, ryanodine receptor number, and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) content.

Selective alpha 1A-adrenoceptor stimulation induces Mueller's smooth muscle contraction in an isolated canine upper eyelid preparation.

Purpose: It has been demonstrated that in patients with aponeurotic blepharoptosis, alpha(1)-adrenoceptor stimulation causes the contraction of the upper eyelid tarsal smooth muscle (Mueller's muscle) and opening of the eye. However, alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating the contraction of Mueller's muscle are still unclear. This study was designed to identify the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in Mueller's muscle.

Nicorandil ameliorates impulse conduction disturbances during ischemia in isolated arterially perfused canine atria.

Background: Nicorandil has protective effects on the ischemic atrial myocardium. However, effects of nicorandil on ischemia-induced impulse conduction disturbances are still uncertain.

Methods: Optical action potentials were recorded from 256 sites of the left atrium in isolated arterially perfused canine atria during the left atrial ischemia.

Mechanisms of preventive effect of nicorandil on ischaemia-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmia in isolated arterially perfused canine left ventricular wedges.

Whether nicorandil is effective at preventing ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) during acute myocardial ischaemia is still controversial. We examined effects of nicorandil on the induction of VT during acute myocardial ischaemia. Optical action potentials were recorded from the entire transmural wall of arterially perfused canine left ventricular wedges.

Alternative etiology and surgical correction of acquired lower-eyelid entropion.

When increased contraction of the levator muscle accompanied by the superior rectus muscle compensates for aponeurotic blepharoptosis, increased contraction of the inferior rectus muscle for foveation retracts the lower eyelid through the capsulopalpebral fascia, showing the lower sclera. We hypothesized that in patients with aponeurotic blepharoptosis, the capsulopalpebral fascia excessively retracts the posterior lamella of the lower eyelid alone while keeping the anterior lamella unretracted, especially in patients with both weak extension of the capsulopalpebral fascia to the pretarsal anterior lamella and increased contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle, resulting in entropion. Aponeurotic reinsertion to the tarsus for the upper eyelid improved entropion in 15 younger patients.