Toxic effects of Fusarium mycotoxin butenolide on rat myocardium and primary culture of cardiac myocytes.

Mycotoxin toxicosis has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of Keshan disease (KD), an endemic cardiomyopathy prevailing in some regions of China. Butenolide (4-acetamido-4-hydroxy-2-butenoic acid gamma-lactone, CAS No. 16275-44-8), a mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species such as Fusarium tricinctum and Fusarium graminearum, is frequently detected from the cereals in the endemic areas of KD. The present study is undertaken to investigate whether this mycotoxin can induce myocardial damage. Exposure of primary culture of cardiac myocytes to butenolide resulted in significant cytotoxicity, manifested by changes in cell morphology and decreases in cell viability. Consistent with the in vitro findings, distinct myocardial toxicity in vivo was observed after administration of rats by gavage with butenolide (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) for 2 months, and the myocardial injuries were characterized by focal necrosis of myocardium and fragmentation of myofiber. Butenolide also induced significant oxidative damage to the myocardium in vitro evidenced by a concentration-dependent lipid peroxidation in the myocardial homogenates, whereas antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) provided significant protections against this oxidative effect. Taken together, these results clearly reveal that butenolide possesses the potential to induce myocardial toxicity. The present findings may reinforce the hypothesis that toxicosis by mycotoxins is one of the etiological factors for KD.     

Scintigraphic evaluation of myocardial uptake of thallium 201 and technetium 99m pyrophosphate utilizing a rat model of chronic doxorubicin cardiotoxicity

To evaluate the usefulness of myocardial scintigraphy as a monitoring tool for chronic doxorubicin (DXR) cardiotoxicity, a rat model was used to investigate the relationship between the myocardial uptake of thallium 201 (Tl) or rechnetium 99m pyrophosphate (^99mTc-PPi) and histological changes of the heart. Although there was no significant difference in myocardial Tl uptake between control and DXR-treated rats at an early phase after Tl injection, late-phase Tl uptake was significantly higher in the DXR-treated rats than in the control rats, indicating a slow wash-out of Tl from the myocardium. The wash-out rate calculated from scintigraphic examination of DXR-treated rats was significantly decreased with increasing degree of cardiomyopathy. Since the Tl wash-out rate was sharply decreased even in animals with minimal histological changes, it may be a possible monitoring tool for the early detection of chronic DXR cardiotoxicity. On the other hand, myocardial^99mTc-PPi images could be obtained only in rats with severe myocardial changes and hence would not useful for early detection.     

The effects of altering time delays of coupled pacing during acute atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Coupled pacing (CP), which consists of delivering a premature electrical stimulation to the heart after the effective refractory period of ventricular activation, is a novel method for controlling ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF). It also has been established that CP improves pump function by enhancing external cardiac work and myocardial efficiency. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine if two time delays for CP (short and long) would result in similar improvements in ventricular function. METHODS: In a canine model, we applied CP at two time delays (CP-S and CP-L) during two stages: sinus rhythm (SR) and acute AF. The cardiac responses to CP during SR served as the nontachycardic and nondepressed control. During both rhythms, we shortened the coupling interval until we obtained maximal contractility, designated CP-S. Next, we increased the delay until we started to see a measurable secondary contraction (left ventricular pressure development of approximately 20 mmHg). These longer delays were designated CP-L. RESULTS: Our results showed that the ventricular rate of intrinsic activation (VRIA) remained decreased despite prolongation of the time delay of CP during both AF and SR. Also, both delays of CP increased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and dLVP/dt, which are indices of myocardial contractility. In contrast, CP increased external cardiac work only during AF. Prolonging this time delay did not markedly decrease the improvement in external cardiac work. Myocardial O(2) consumption (MVO(2)) did not significantly change as the result of CP during either SR or AF. Finally, myocardial efficiency improved during AF as the result of CP at both time delays. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, shorter time delays for CP increased contractile strength during both SR and AF. However, extending the time delay of CP had minimal effects on diminishing the improved ventricular pump function and energetics that resulted from CP during AF. Thus, the maximal enhancement of myocardial contractility via CP-S was not needed to maintain the improved ventricular function during acute AF when CP is applied.     

促红细胞生成素心肌保护作用的研究进展

促红细胞生成素（erythropoietin，EPO）是一种造血细胞生长因子，主要用于治疗多种原因所致的贫血。近年来其非造血生物作用逐渐引起关注，EPO具有组织保护作用，这一作用涉及多种不同组织和细胞，心肌保护一直是心血管病研究领域重要、关键的课题。EPO对心肌保护的作用近两年已渐有报道，这无疑为临床心肌保护的研究提供了新的思路和方向。现就EPO心肌保护作用的相关研究成果、发现以及有待解决的问题作一综述。     

老年人急性心肌梗塞的临床特点

目的：研究60岁以上老年人急性心肌梗塞的临床特点。方法：对86例老年人急性心肌梗塞资料进行临床分析,并与同期255例小于60岁的急性心肌梗塞病人进行对比。结果：老年急性心肌梗塞患者女性的比例较60岁以下者明显增多(P＜0.01),老年无痛性心肌梗塞比例(30.5%)明显增多(P＜0.05),并发症心力衰竭(P＜0.01)、心律失常(P＜ 0.05),死亡率(P＜0.01)也明显增多。结论：老年人无痛性急性心肌梗塞多见,并发症发生率、死亡率高,应予重视。     

支架术治疗颈动脉狭窄的临床研究

目的　观察支架术治疗颈动脉狭窄的近期疗效 ,探讨临床应用中的相关问题。方法　将临床经颈部B超、脑血管造影确诊的颈动脉狭窄患者 10 8例 ,实施颈动脉支架术 ,15例行预扩张 ,12例后扩张成形 ,9例使用滤器装置 ,围手术期给予抗血小板聚集等治疗。结果　 2例手术失败 ;术后 2例发生脑出血 ,1例脑栓塞 ,1例支架内血栓形成 ,除 1例脑出血死亡外 ,3例治疗后恢复 ;1～ 6个月的随访中 ,10 5例患者无复发。手术并发症发生率低 ,近期疗效满意。结论　颈动脉狭窄段支架术治疗颈动脉狭窄具有可行性 ,近期疗效肯定 ,是临床上有推广潜力的治疗颈动脉狭窄的方法 ,但远期疗效尚需进一步观察。     

骨髓细胞移植上调血管内皮生长因子及其受体的表达并改善缺血心脏功能

目的：通过骨髓细胞移植对心肌梗死大鼠模型血管内皮生长因子及其受体表达的影响，探讨骨髓细胞移植改善缺血心脏功能的可能机制。方法：利用左前降支冠状动脉结扎术制备大鼠心肌梗死模型，然后行异体骨髓细胞移植；分别于术后1d，3d，7d，14d和28d取材；利用免疫荧光和RT—PCR技术分析细胞移植对血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及其受体(Flk一1)表达的影响和移植细胞的分化情况；通过免疫组化计算血管数量；应用血流动力学检测大鼠心脏功能在术后各时间点的变化。结果：VEGF和Flk-1在移植组动物的心肌梗死区残存细胞、梗死周边区细胞以及部分移植细胞内表达。移植组VEGF和Flk-1的mRNA表达明显高于对照组。分别于术后3d和14d达到高峰，以后逐渐减弱。术后7d，14d和28d移植组血管数量较同期对照组明显增加，移植组心脏功能较对照组明显改善。术后14d可在部分移植细胞中检测到心肌细胞或血管内皮细胞特异性蛋白的表达。结论：骨髓细胞移植通过上调移植细胞及受者内源性VEGF和Flk—1的表达，促进血管新生，进而改善缺血心脏功能。     

A comprehensive strategy for the evaluation and triage of the chest pain patient: A cost comparison study

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive, risk-based triage system, composed of multiple critical pathways, with the use of early myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in low-risk patients. We found previously that a chest pain evaluation system that uses MPI in low-risk patients was safe and effective, but the cost-effectiveness of this approach was not studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared two groups. The Acute Cardiac Team (ACT) group (n = 874) was assigned prospectively to 1 of 4 risk levels by emergency department (ED) physicians. Level 1, 2, and 3 patients were admitted; level 4 patients were evaluated in the ED. Level 3 and 4 patients underwent ED MPI. The control group (n = 713) represented consecutive patients evaluated in the prior year according to standard care and assigned retrospectively to an ACT level based on the presenting electrocardiographic and clinical data. Record and hospital administrative data were assessed for clinical variables, outcomes, lengths of stay, and all expenses incurred within 30 days of the index visit. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar, including age, sex, myocardial infarction prevalence, and 30-day revascularization rates within each level or between the two groups. Mean costs per encounter were reduced for the ACT patients for each level, which was significant when all patients were compared ($5,030 +/- $7,081 vs $6,044 +/- $10,432, P =.02). Use of MPI in the low-risk patients was associated with reduced costs (level 3, $4,958 +/- $4,948 vs $5,051 +/- $7,036; level 4, $1,529 +/- $2,664 vs $1,794 +/- $6,854) and was associated with a significantly lower angiography rate and shorter length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a comprehensive strategy for chest pain evaluation and triage reduced overall costs for patients with chest pain on presentation. Acute MPI in the ED setting did not increase net cost.     

Metabolic myocardial viability assessment with iodine 123-16-iodo-3-methylhexadecanoic acid in recent myocardial infarction: Comparison with thallium-201 and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose

The best test presently available to ascertain residual viability within an infarct-related area involves the use of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to detect the persistence of some cellular metabolism. Rest reinjection of thallium-201 is a less accurate alternative but is easy to perform. Iodinated fatty acids, which are used with standard gamma cameras, are proposed as markers of cellular metabolism. This study was performed to assess the value of 16-iodo-3-methyl-hexadecanoic acid (MIHA) as a marker of the residual cellular metabolism by comparison with FDG in patients with a recent myocardial infarction, and to evaluate its contribution compared with the²⁰¹Tl stress-redistribution-reinjection technique. Stress-redistribution-reinjection²⁰¹T1 imaging, rest MIHA imaging and glucoseloaded FDG imaging were performed in 22 patients with recent myocardial infarction. Out of the 628 myocardial segments obtained from the left ventricular analysis, 400 were hypoperfused (relative uptake <0.75 of maximum uptake on stress²⁰¹T1 imaging), 177 of which were severely hypoperfused (relative uptake <0.50). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting metabolic myocardial viability with FDG were derived from the results in respect of (a)²⁰¹T1 activity during exercise, redistribution and reinjection and (b) MIHA up-take, using the two FDG thresholds most commonly considered to define metabolic viability (0.50 and 0.60). Analysis of the 400 hypoperfused segments demonstrated that²⁰¹T1 reinjection was the most accurate test in predicting the presence of myocardial viability (area under the ROI curves=0.85 and 0.86 at the 0.50 and 0.60 FDG thresholds, respectively;P<0.05 vs other tests). The global predictive values of MIHA and²⁰¹T1 reinjection were, respectively, 0.87 and 0.89 at the 0.50 FDG threshold (NS), and 0.82 and 0.87 at the 0.60 FDG threshold (NS). When only the 177 severely hypoperfused segments were considered,²⁰¹T1 reinjection remained the most accurate test (accuracy 0.84 at the 0.50 FDG threshold and 0.82 at the 0.60 FDG threshold), while the accuracy of MIHA decreased significantly (0.78 at the 0.50 FDG threshold and 0.73 at the 0.60 FDG threshold,P<0.05 vs²⁰¹T1 reinjection). In all circumstances, MIHA was less specific than²⁰¹T1 reinjection for the detection of metabolic viability. In conclusion, in patients with recent myocardial infarction, MIHA accurately detects the persistence of metabolic viability, but is not superior to²⁰¹T1.     

Myocardial metabolic imaging by means of fluorine-18 deoxyglucose/technetium-99m sestamibi dual-isotope single-photon emission tomography

The detection of preserved glucose uptake in hypoperfused dysfunctional myocardium by fluorine-18 deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) represents the method of choice in myocardial viability diagnostics. As the technique is not available for the majority of patients due to cost and the limited capacity of the PET centres, it was the aim of the present work to develop and test FDG single-photon emission tomography (SPET) with the means of conventional nuclear medicine. The perfusion marker sestamibi (MIBI) was used together with the metabolic tracer FDG in dual-isotope acquisition. A conventional SPET camera was equipped with a 511-keV collimator and designed to operate with simultaneous four-channel acquisition. In this way, the scatter of 18F into the technetium-99m energy window could be taken into account by a novel method of scatter correction. Thirty patients with regional wall motion abnormalities at rest were investigated. The results of visual wall motion analysis by contrast cine-ventriculography in nine segments/heart were compared with the results of quantitative scintigraphy. The scintigraphic patterns of MIBI and FDG tracer accumulation were defined as normal, matched defects and perfusion-metabolism mismatches. Spatial resolution of the system was satisfactory, with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 15.2 mm for ¹⁸F and 14.0 mm for ^99mTe, as measured by planar imaging in air at 5 cm distance from the collimator. Image quality allowed interpretation in all 30 patients. 88% of segments without relevant wall motion abnormalities presented normal scintigraphic results. Seventy-five akinetic segments showed mismatches in 27%, matched defects in 44% and normal perfusion in 29%. We conclude that FDG-MIBI dual-isotope SPET is technically feasible with the means of conventional nuclear medicine. Thus, the method is potentially available for widespread application in patient care and may represent an alternative to the ²⁰¹T1 reinjection technique.