[Clinical characterization and outcome of patients with noncompaction of ventricular myocardium].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and outcome of patients with noncompaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM).

Methods: Clinical manifestations, electrocardiograms and echocardiographies data were analyzed in 18 patients with NVM. Mean follow-up period was (11 +/- 5) months.

Cytochrome P-450 epoxygenases protect endothelial cells from apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha via MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Endothelial cells play a vital role in the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), cytochrome P-450 (CYP) epoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid in endothelial cells, possess potent and diverse biological effects within the vasculature. We evaluated the effects of overexpression of CYP epoxygenases on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced apoptosis in bovine aortic endothelial cells.

[Effect of imidapril on the effective refractory period and sodium current of ventricular noninfarction zone in healed myocardial infarction].

Aim: To investigate the effects of imidapril (IMI) on effective refractory period (ERP) and sodium current (I(Na)) of myocytes in ventricular noninfarction zone of healed myocardial infarction (HMI) in rabbit models.

Methods: Rabbits with left coronary artery ligation were prepared and IMI (0.625 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 8 weeks) was orally administered.

Effects of imidapril on heterogeneity of action potential and calcium current of ventricular myocytes in infarcted rabbits.

Aim: To investigate the effects of chronic treatment with imidapril on the electrophysiologic heterogeneous change of the noninfarcted myocardium of rabbits after myocardial infarction and the mechanism of its antiarrhythmic efficacy.

Methods: Rabbits with left coronary artery ligation were prepared and allowed to recover for 8 weeks. Myocytes were isolated from subendocardial, midmyocardial, and subepicardial regions of the noninfarcted left ventricular wall.

Effects of transforming growth factor-beta1 and signal protein Smad3 on rat cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Background: SMAD proteins have recently been identified as the first family of putative transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) signal transducers. This study was to investigate the effects of TGF-beta1 and signal protein Smad3 on rat cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods: The incorporation of [(3)H]-leucine was measured to determine the hypertrophy of cardiomyocyte incubated with different doses of TGF-beta1 in cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes.

Up-regulation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase by endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor involves mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C signaling pathways.

Cytochrome P450 (P450)-dependent metabolites of arachidonic acid, the epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), are proposed to be endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors (EDHF) that affect vascular tone; however, the effects of EDHF on endothelial-derived nitric oxide biosynthesis remain unknown. We examined the regulation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) by EDHF and investigated the relevant signaling pathways involved. The P450 epoxygenases CYP102 F87V mutant, CYP2C11-CYPOR, and CYP2J2 were transfected into cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells, and the effects of endogenously formed or exogenously applied EETs on eNOS expression and activity were assessed.

Effect of imidapril on heterogeneity of slow component of delayed rectifying K+ current in rabbit left ventricular hypertrophic myocytes.

Aim: To investigate the transmural heterogeneous change of slow component of delayed rectifying potassium current in rabbit left ventricular hypertrophic myocytes and the effect of long-term treatment with imidapril (Imi).

Methods: Rabbits were divided into hypertrophy group (left ventricular hypertrophy induced by partial ligation of abdominal aorta), Imi-treated group (surgical treatment as hypertrophy group was treated with Imi), and Sham-operated group as control. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record potassium currents.

[Heterogeneity of action potential and ion currents in the left ventricular myocytes of the rabbit].

Experiments were performed to investigate the heterogeneity of the action potential and ion currents in left ventricular myocytes of the rabbit. Myocytes were isolated by enzymatic method. The sub-endocardial (Endo) and sub-epicardium (Epi) tissues were separated from the other region (midmyocardium, M) with a razor.