Prediction of prognosis in the UM-X7.1 hamster model of congestive heart failure using the Tei index.

Background: Cardiac function is difficult to evaluate in small animal models of heart disease. The Doppler Tei index is a simple and non-invasive measure that can express global cardiac function even in small animal models of congestive heart failure. However, its ability to predict prognosis has not been evaluated.

Repeated sauna therapy increases arterial endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide production in cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Background: Vascular endothelial dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure (CHF). It has been reported that sauna therapy, which allows thermal vasodilation, improves vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with CHF. The present study investigates the mechanisms through which sauna therapy improves endothelial dysfunction induced by CHF.

Dystrophin upregulation in pressure-overloaded cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

Dystrophin is a cytoskeletal protein localized to the sarcolemma of skeletal and cardiac muscle, and neurons. We have recently demonstrated that a significant cardiac damage including myocytes injury, inflammation, and fibrosis, was found in dystrophin-deficient myocardium during pressure overload [Kamogawa et al., 2001: Cardiovasc Res 50:509-515].