Eight open chest dogs underwent 25 min of coronary occlusion to determine whether brief myocardial ischemia disrupts the normal myocardial inotropic response to sympathetic nervous stimulation. If so, this could represent a mechanism contributing to postischemic myocardial dysfunction. Myocardial segment shortening was measured using ultrasonic dimension crystals before and after coronary arter...

Eight open chest dogs underwent 25 min of coronary occlusion to determine whether brief myocardial ischemia disrupts the normal myocardial inotropic response to sympathetic nervous stimulation. If so, this could represent a mechanism contributing to postischemic myocardial dysfunction. Myocardial segment shortening was measured using ultrasonic dimension crystals before and after coronary arter...

We examined the influence of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) on the mechanical interaction between ischemic and nonischemic areas during acute myocardial ischemia. Circumferentially oriented ultrasonic segment gauges were implanted in the midwall of the anterior apex and posterior apex of the left ventricle in seven anesthetized dogs. Stroke volume was measured with a flow probe...

BACKGROUND For reasons of simplicity, studies on isolated human myocardium have been conducted using exclusively isometric contractions, although positive inotropic interventions may differently influence force development, extent of shortening and myocardial work performance. We investigated human left ventricular failing and non-failing preparations comparing isometric versus isotonic, i.e., ...

Binary cardiac transgenic (Tg) overexpression of P2X(4) receptors (P2X(4)R) improved the survival of the cardiomyopathic calsequestrin (CSQ) mice. Here we studied the mechanism of rescue using binary P2X(4)R/CSQ Tg and CSQ Tg mice as models. Cellular and intact heart properties were determined by simultaneous sarcomere shortening (SS) and Ca(2+) transients in vitro and echocardiography in vivo....

SERENDIPITY and technology have combined forces to reveal a phenomenon of striking proportions. What may prove to be the quantum element underlying contraction was discovered by chance, following the development of a high-resolution optical diffractometer designed to follow the dynamics of shortening in isolated cardiac muscle. Records showed a most unusual feature: periods of sarcomere shorten...

ICAM-1 mediates interaction of cardiomyocytes with the extracellular matrix and leukocytes and may play a role in altering contractility. To investigate this possibility, rat ventricular cardiomyocytes were activated using TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, or LPS, washed, cultured with quiescent rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) for 4 h, and electrically stimulated to determine fractional shortening. ...

We examined the influence of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) on the mechanical interaction between ischemic and nonischemic areas during acute myocardial ischemia. Circumferentially oriented ultrasonic segment gauges were implanted in the midwall of the anterior apex and posterior apex of the left ventricle in seven anesthetized dogs. Stroke volume was measured with a flow probe...

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to evaluate how torsion is influenced by left ventricular (LV) remodeling associated with age, sex, and hypertension in a large community-based population. METHODS AND RESULTS Myocardial shortening and torsion were assessed by tagged cardiac magnetic resonance in 1478 participants without clinically apparent cardiovascular disease in the Multi-Ethni...