Acute ischemia results in deadly cardiac arrhythmias that are a major contributor to sudden cardiac death (SCD). The electrophysiological changes involved have been extensively studied, yet the mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmias during acute ischemia remain unclear. What is known is that during acute ischemia both focal (ectopic excitation) and nonfocal (reentry) arrhythmias occur, due to an...

OBJECTIVE The clinical benefit in terms of angina reduction after transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease who are not candidates for conventional procedures has been proved. The exact mechanisms of TMLR however, are still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular changes in relation to intramyocardial partial oxygen pr...

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a circulation-insufficiency event, occurring either suddenly or rapidly over a few weeks, that deprives one or several abdominal organs of adequate respiration to meet metabolic demands. Although mesenteric ischemia occurs infrequently, the mortality rate is from 60 to 100%, depending on the source of obstruction. The risk of atherosclerotic-related mesenteric occlu...

BACKGROUND Acute posterolateral ischemia in sheep results in ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). While complete ring annuloplasty prevents acute IMR, partial annuloplasty rings may offer a more physiologic repair, but are untested in animal models of IMR. METHODS Radiopaque markers were placed on the LV, mitral annulus (MA), and leaflets in 13 sheep. Seven sheep served as controls, and 6 had...

INTRODUCTION Intestinal or hepatic ischemia/reperfusion induces acute lung injury in animal models of multiple organ failure. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- alpha is involved in the underlying inflammatory mechanism of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although the inflammatory cascade leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome has been extensively investigated, the mechanical components o...

INTRODUCTION Ischemic bowel disease comprises both mesenteric ischemia and colonic ischemia. Mesenteric ischemia can be divided into acute and chronic ischemia. These are two separate entities, each with their specific clinical presentation and diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. However, diagnosis may be difficult due to the vague symptomatology and subtle signs. CASE PRESENTATION We repo...

We report a case of small bowel ischemia secondary to sickle cell disease. Acute bowel ischemia is an uncommon presentation of patients with sickle cell disease. Historically, only a handful of cases have been reported. We also provide a summary of the literature relevant to sickle cell patients with acute bowel ischemia.

Mesenteric ischemia can complicate acute aortic dissection. We report a case of acute type A aortic dissection with perioperative intestinal ischemia, which clinically manifested on the second postoperative day. Serial monitoring of serum lactate level by a conventional blood gas analyzer was useful for early diagnosis and for timely treatment of intestinal ischemia. In this report, monitoring ...

Background: In the patients with acute exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), gut displays ischemia, anoxia and oxidative stress, which lead to intestinal barrier failure. Therefore, it is desirable screen for effective barrier-related biomarkers monitor severity.