INTRODUCTION Biomarkers in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) reflect various pathobiological processes, including neurohormonal activation, oxidative stress, matrix remodeling, myocyte injury and myocyte stretch. We assessed the role of biomarkers in clinical and echocardiographic parameters and in left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (LVRR). METHODS In this prospective study of 50 DCM patient...

BACKGROUND Few studies have reported the effect of aldosterone receptor antagonist (ARA) on myocardial remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study was undertaken to investigate the preventive effect of ARA on myocardial remodeling after AMI. METHODS A total of 616 patients who had been admitted into the CCU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from ...

AIM To evaluate risk factors related to total mortality in an unselected population of patients implanted with a cardioverter defibrillator. METHODS Survival analysis was performed retrospectively investigating the records of 77 consecutive patients implanted with defibrillators (median 67 years, range 38-83 years; 63 men). All patients were followed regularly in 3-month intervals. The cause ...

BACKGROUND Bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is reduced in heart failure (HF). Recent studies suggest cross-talk between NO and H2S signaling. We previously reported that sodium nitrite (NaNO2) ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and HF. Nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the antioxidant proteins expression and is upregulate...

OBJECTIVE To test the usage of serial echocardiography in mice with induced myocardial infarct (MI) and to characterize the mouse model of MI. METHODS C57 mice underwent open-chest surgery to induce left coronary artery occlusion or sham-operation (SH). Echocardiography was performed before and at 1, 2.5, 6 and 9 weeks after surgery. Left ventricular end diastolic and end systolic dimensions ...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the presence and extent of cardiac calcifications and aortic stiffness in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). PATIENTS AND METHODS The study group consisted of 60 patients with ESRD with a mean age of 51.7 years, treated with peritoneal dialysis. In all patients transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to assess the following parameters: left ventricular end...

BACKGROUND The purpose of the research was to find out the factors which influence plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, then to assess whether preoperative plasma NT-proBNP levels could predict postoperative outcomes of cardiac surgery. METHODS Between November 2008 and February 2010,225 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in our department were included in t...

AIMS The objectives of this study were to analyse the effect of heart failure (HF) on several proteins of nuclear pore complex (NPC) and their relationship with the human ventricular function. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 88 human heart samples from ischemic (ICM, n = 52) and dilated (DCM, n = 36) patients undergoing heart transplant and control donors (CNT, n = 9) were analyzed by Western ...

OBJECTIVE To examine the mid-term results of patients on whom a coronary revascularization as well as a mitral ring and suture annuloplasty have been performed due to coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). METHODOLOGY Totally 73 patients on whom a revascularization and a mitral valve repair due to CAD and IMR had been performed in our clinic between 2000-2008 ...