We recently discovered an opioid peptide analgesic, 2',6'-dimethyltyrosine (Dmt)-D-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH(2) ([Dmt(1)]DALDA), that can protect against ischemia-induced myocardial stunning. In buffer-perfused hearts, 30-min global ischemia followed by reperfusion resulted in a significant increase in norepinephrine (NE) overflow immediately upon reperfusion and significant decline in contractile force (...

We discuss the current state of knowledge related to the pathogenesis of myocardial stunning as well as the potential mechanisms responsible for the clinical presentation of myocardial stunning in hemodialysis patients. We suggest future research areas for this critical and clinically important condition in this high-risk patient population. In consideration of acute and chronic changes seconda...

There is no evidence regarding the effect of stunning on maximization of regional myocardial external work (EW) or efficiency of energy transfer (EET) in relation to regional afterload (end-systolic stress, sigma(es)). To that end, we studied these relationships in both the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) and left circumflex coronary artery regions in anesthetized, open-chest p...

Although the majority of birds slaughtered in UK processing plants are stunned using electrical waterbath systems, an increasing number of plants are killing poultry using gas. This process has the potential to eliminate some of the welfare concerns associated with electrical waterbath stunning, including such issues as uncrating the birds which can cause handling stress, live shackling, pre-st...

European legislation demands that slaughter animals, including poultry, be rendered immediately unconscious and insensible until death occurs through blood loss at slaughter. This study addressed requirements for stunner settings (i.e., voltage, wave oscillation frequency) and response parameters (i.e., applied current, behavior) affecting effective water bath stunning. An inventory of current ...

OBJECTIVE Current guidelines have advised against the performance of (131)I-iodide diagnostic whole body scintigraphy (dxWBS) to minimize the occurrence of stunning, and to guarantee the efficiency of radioiodine therapy (RIT). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of stunning on the efficacy of RIT and disease outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This retrospective analysis included 208 p...

We investigated the effects of the selective bradycardic agent ivabradine, an I(f) channel inhibitor, on exercise-induced ischemia and resulting myocardial stunning. Seven dogs were chronically instrumented to measure left ventricular (LV) wall thickening (Wth), aortic pressure and coronary blood flow (CBFv) (Doppler). Circumflex coronary artery stenosis was set up to suppress the increase in C...