Multiple M-mode echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function are currently in use, but their reliability is disputed. Therefore, we correlated echo ejection fraction (EF) using quadratic (Q) and cubic (C) formulae, percentage of minor axis shortening (%S), mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVCF), and peak VCF with angiographic EF in 37 subjects, including 10 normal su...

Instantaneous left ventricular dynamics were measured from cineradiographs utilizing implanted tantalum coils as myocardial site markers in the orthotopically transplanted canine heart. Four parameters of myocardial synergy were obtained: mean shortening, anisotropy of contraction, mean time to half shortening, and asynchrony of contraction. Estimates of end diastolic volume, end systolic volum...

BACKGROUND Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobin childhood disorder, frequently complicated by pulmonary hypertension and cardiac involvement. Cardiovascular events and complications are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with SCD. Tissue Doppler imaging and the myocardial performance index (Tei index), are simple indices for the assessment of the cardiac fu...

The stem-bark of Kalopanax pictus (KP, family Araliaceae), of which main constituent is kalopanaxsaponin B, has been used for asthma, rhinitis, and arthritis in Chinese traditional medicine. To clarify anticolitic effect of KP, we examined anti-inflammatory effect of KP extract and kalopanaxsaponin B in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophage and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic...

Myogenic stem cells and transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR) have been used independently to treat patients with coronary heart disease. We assessed the hypothesis that implantation of autologous myogenic stem cells during TMR will augment ventricular function by new muscle formation and will improve perfusion by neovascularization. Thirty two mini-swine were subjected to myocardial is...

AIMS Atrial and brain natriuretic peptide levels closely reflect impaired left ventricular function in patients with heart failure. In the present study we assessed the determinants and the clinical significance of atrial and brain natriuretic peptide plasma levels in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS In 44 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (40+/-15 years) we evaluated:...

Digitised M mode echocardiograms were analysed in 22 patients with possible Björk-Shiley mitral prosthetic dysfunction. Patients with paraprosthetic mitral regurgitation had a significantly greater shortening fraction, an increased peak rate of dimension change during systole, and an increased peak velocity of circumferential fibre shortening than those with poor left ventricular function. Pati...

Tasidotin (ILX-651), an orally active synthetic microtubule-targeted derivative of the marine depsipeptide dolastatin-15, is currently undergoing clinical evaluation for cancer treatment. Tasidotin inhibited proliferation of MCF7/GFP breast cancer cells with an IC(50) of 63 nmol/L and inhibited mitosis with an IC(50) of 72 nmol/L in the absence of detectable effects on spindle microtubule polym...

BACKGROUND The size of the heart assessed by cardiothoracic ratio on chest radiography is often used as a screening test for the presence of heart failure and for assessing its severity. METHODS We compared cardiothoracic ratio (CTR), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from radionuclide ventriculography, and left ventricular dimensions from echocardiography in a population of 91 patien...