Cardiac Performance (cardiac + performance)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


CAUSMIC (First US Randomized Controlled Trial Utilizing 3-dimensional Guided, Catheter-based Delivery of Autologous Skeletal Myoblasts for Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Feasibility, Safety and Improvement in Cardiac Performance)

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Article first published online: 6 AUG 200
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Does anthracycline administration by infusion in children affect late cardiotoxicity?

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2004
G. A. Levitt
Summary The severity of late cardiotoxicity after anthracycline treatment for childhood cancer relates mainly to the cumulative anthracycline dose received, but all dose ranges cause some cardiac dysfunction. Anthracycline administration by infusion in order to lower peak drug concentration has been used in an attempt to reduce cardiotoxicity. Cardiac performance was assessed by echocardiography in children who were relapse-free survivors of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). They received the same cumulative anthracycline dose (daunorubicin 180 mg/m2) either by bolus injection (UKALL X protocol, n = 40) or by infusion (UKALL XI protocol, n = 71) with a follow-up duration of 5·3 ± 2·0 and 5·4 ± 1·0 years respectively. On analysis, both the bolus administration and infusion groups showed similar mild impairment of cardiac performance, characterized by increased left ventricular end systolic stress and impaired left ventricular function. In conclusion, subclinical abnormality of left ventricular performance was confirmed in both groups despite the relatively modest cumulative anthracycline dose received. We were unable to demonstrate an advantage of anthracycline administration by 6-h infusion with respect to late cardiotoxicity at this dose. [source]


Effect of combined supplementation with vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid on myocardial performance during in vivo ischaemia-reperfusion

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2000
Coombes
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute significantly to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. Recently the combination of the antioxidants vitamin E (VE) and alpha-lipoic acid (, -LA) has been reported to improve cardiac performance and reduce myocardial lipid peroxidation during in vitro I-R. The purpose of these experiments was to investigate the effects of VE and , -LA supplementation on cardiac performance, incidence of dysrhythmias and biochemical alterations during an in vivo myocardial I-R insult. Female Sprague,Dawley rats (4-months old) were assigned to one of the two dietary treatments: (1) control diet (CON) or (2) VE and , -LA supplementation (ANTIOXID). The CON diet was prepared to meet AIN-93M standards, which contains 75 IU VE kg,1 diet. The ANTIOXID diet contained 10 000 IU VE kg,1 diet and 1.65 g , -LA kg,1 diet. After the 14-week feeding period, significant differences (P < 0.05) existed in mean myocardial VE levels between dietary groups. Animals in each experimental group were subjected to an in vivo I-R protocol which included 25 min of left anterior coronary artery occlusion followed by 10 min of reperfusion. No group differences (P > 0.05) existed in cardiac performance (e.g. peak arterial pressure or ventricular work) or the incidence of ventricular dysrhythmias during the I-R protocol. Following I-R, two markers of lipid peroxidation were lower (P < 0.05) in the ANTIOXID animals compared with CON. These data indicate that dietary supplementation of the antioxidants, VE and , -LA do not influence cardiac performance or the incidence of dysrhythmias but do decrease lipid peroxidation during in vivo I-R in young adult rats. [source]


Matters of the heart: the physiology of cardiac function and failure

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Godfrey Smith
Heart failure as a result of a myocardial infarction (MI) is a common condition with a poor prognosis. The adaptive changes in the surviving myocardium appear to be insufficient in terms of both mechanical/contractile performance and electrical stability. The modification of the underlying myocardial physiology is complex, varying across the different layers within the wall of the ventricle and within one layer. Two therapeutic strategies are briefly discussed, as outlined here. (i) Enhancing contractility by alteration of the expression of a single protein (e.g. sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, SERCA) could potentially reverse both mechanical and electrical abnormalities. However, experimental data involving the upregulation of SERCA suggest that the therapeutic range of this approach is narrow. (ii) The use of regular exercise training to improve cardiac performance in heart failure. This appears to act by normalizing a number of aspects of myocardial physiology. [source]


Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide as an in vivo regulator of cardiac function in Rana ridibunda frog

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Iliyana V. Ivanova
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CART peptide on cardiac performance and on the physiological signalling pathways involved using Rana ridibunda frog heart preparations in vivo. The CART peptide, when injected into the venous sinus, significantly and reproducibly increased the force of frog heart contractions by up to 33.0 ± 6.4% during the first 15 min after its application but did not influence the chronotropic activity of the frog heart. The positive inotropic effect was entirely blocked by prazosin, pertussis toxin, Rp -adenosine 3,,5,-cyclic monophosphorothioate, autosauvagine 30 or metyrapone, as well as by extirpation of the pituitary gland, functional elimination of the inter-renal glands and long-lasting starvation, and was not observed on isolated heart preparations. Propranolol and double pithing were without significant effect on this phenomenon. It was concluded that: (i) CART peptide, administered to frogs in vivo, increases the force of heart contractions; (ii) this effect of the peptide is exerted via activation of the hypothalamic,pituitary,inter-renal gland axis through a corticoliberin-sensitive mechanism; (iii) CART augments the pumping function of the heart via a corticosteroid-dependent potentiation of myocardial ,1 -adrenoreceptors signalling; and (iv) prolonged food deprivation abolishes the positive inotropic effect of CART, suggesting the participation of endogenous CART in the physiological adaptation of the circulatory system to limitations of energy consumption. [source]


Subclinical Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Migraine Attacks

HEADACHE, Issue 1 2006
Manuel Vidalón MD
Objective.,The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac performance of patients with migraine attacks during the overload produced by phenylephrine infusion. Background.,It is known that circulatory changes occur during migraine. However, the relationship between this finding and transient cardiac dysfunction is still unknown. Methods.,By means of two-dimensional direct M-mode echocardiography, we measured fractional shortening, ejection fraction, and mean velocity of circumferential fibers shortening in 18 patients with migraine and in 10 normal subjects as a control group. These measures were performed in two different periods: during attack-free intervals and during attacks. Pain intensity of typical migraine attack was evaluated on a 0 to 10 scale. Results.,Cardiac size and function were normal at rest in both groups. However, during migraine attacks, phenylephrine infusion provoked significant decrease in fractional shortening, EF, and mean velocity of circumferential fibers shortening, followed by concomitant increase of headache severity. On the other hand, during the attack-free interval and in the control group phenylephrine infusion did not show significant changes in cardiac function parameters. Conclusions.,Our data suggest that left ventricular dysfunction during the phenylephrine test could participate in the complex pathophysiological mechanism of migraine attacks. [source]


Infusion of hypertonic saline/starch during cardiopulmonary bypass reduces fluid overload and may impact cardiac function

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2010
V. L. KVALHEIM
Objective: Peri-operative fluid accumulation resulting in myocardial and pulmonary tissue edema is one possible mechanism behind post-operative cardiopulmonary dysfunction. This study aimed to confirm an improvement of cardiopulmonary function by reducing fluid loading during an open-heart surgery. Materials and methods: Forty-nine elective CABG patients were randomized to an intraoperative infusion of hypertonic saline/hydroxyethyl starch (HSH group) or Ringer's solution (CT group). Both groups received 1 ml/kg/h of the study solution for 4 h after baseline values were obtained (PICCO® transpulmonary thermodilution technique). Net fluid balance (NFB), hemodynamic and laboratory parameters were measured. Results: NFB was four times higher in the CT group compared with the HSH group during the first 6 h post-operatively. The total fluid gain until the next morning was lower in the HSH group, 2993.9 (938.6) ml, compared with the CT group, 4298.7 (1059.3) ml (P<0.001). Normalized values (i.e., %-changes from the baseline) of the cardiac index and the global end diastolic volume index increased post-operatively in both groups. Both parameters were significantly higher at 6 h in the HSH group compared with CT group (P=0.002 and 0.005, respectively). Normalized values of the intrathoracic blood volume index were lower in the HSH group at 6 h post-operatively when compared with the CT group. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio decreased similarly in both groups early post-operatively, but recovery tended to be more rapid in the HSH group. Although serum-sodium and serum-chloride levels were significantly higher in the HSH group, the acid,base parameters remained similar and within the normal range. Conclusions: An intraoperative infusion of HSH during cardiac surgery contributes to reduced fluid loading and an improvement in the post-operative cardiac performance. No adverse effects of the HSH infusion were observed. [source]


Successful Use of Levosimendan in a Patient During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2 2007
Erkan Iriz M.D.
Positive inotropic support is routinely used for weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass circulation in patients with reduced left ventricular function. This case report represents the successful usage of LS for weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass circulation after coronary artery bypass surgery. Levosimendan infusion was started at the sixth hour of cardiopulmonary bypass circulation. There was a dramatic increase in cardiac output 20 minutes after LS infusion, and weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass circulation was achieved. We suggest that LS enhances cardiac performance during and after cardiopulmonary bypass, and can be useful for patients who are unable to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. [source]


Reduced oxidative stress in parallel to improved cardiac performance one year after selective removal of anti-beta 1-adrenoreceptor autoantibodies in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: data of a preliminary study,

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 3 2005
Ingolf Schimke
Abstract Patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) were treated with selective immunoadsorption to remove anti-beta 1-adrenoreceptor autoantibodies (anti-beta1A-AB). After one year, the effect on cardiac performance and oxidative stress was tested. Extracorporeal immunoadsorption of the whole IgG class in IDC patients for the removal of anti-beta1A-AB reduced oxidative stress in parallel to an improvement of cardiac performance. However, the non-specificity of IgG adsorption means that these beneficial effects cannot be attributed exclusively to anti-beta1A-AB removal. In an open clinical pilot study enrolling 8 patients with IDC prior to and one year after selective immunoadsorption of anti-beta1A-AB, plasma markers for oxidative stress,thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), lipid peroxides (LPO) and anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein autoantibodies (anti-oxLDL-AB),were measured in parallel to evaluation of the left ventricular function using conventional echocardiography and wall motion analysis by tissue Doppler imaging. After one year, TBARS (Wilcoxon test with bootstrapping simulation for paired data: 95% confidence interval of the P value 0.020 to 0.029) and anti-oxLDL-AB (P = 0.025 to 0.035) were decreased in parallel to an improvement of the peak systolic wall motion velocity (P = 0.006 to 0.01) and left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.002 to 0.02). For changes over the study period, a direct correlation with borderline significance (P = 0.076) was calculated for TBARS to the left ventricular diameter in the diastole. One year after selective immunoadsorption for anti-beta1A-AB removal, patients with ICD show a reduction in oxidative stress and a parallel improvement in cardiac performance. J. Clin. Apheresis © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


The hypoxic threshold for maximum cardiac performance in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) during simulated exercise conditions at 18° C

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
L. M. Hanson
Perfused rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss hearts exposed to simulated exercise conditions (hypoxia, hyperkalemia and acidosis) at 18° C experienced complete failure of maximum cardiac performance at oxygen tensions <5·6 kPa and partial failure at <6·7 kPa. This hypoxic threshold, which occurred in the presence of maximal adrenergic stimulation (500 nM adrenaline), is unusually high compared with previous results at a colder acclimation temperature. Cardiac failure was primarily due to significant decreases (P < 0·05) in heart rate rather than cardiac stroke volume at all hypoxia levels tested. [source]


The efficacy and safety of external biphasic defibrillation in toy breed dogs

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue 4 2008
Seung-Gon Lee DVM
Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of biphasic (BP) defibrillation in toy breed dogs (<5 kg of body weight). Design: Prospective, clinical experimental study. Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital. Animals: Five dogs (pilot study) and 10 dogs (comparison study of biphasic versus monophasic defibrillation). Measurements and main results: The efficacy of defibrillation was compared by estimating E80 (80% probability of successful defibrillation) after biphasic (BP) and monophasic (MP) defibrillations. The E80 for BP defibrillation was 7.24±1.33 J (2.24±0.41 J/kg) and 10.24±1.34 J (3.18±0.12 J/kg) for MP defibrillation. BP waveform required 30% less shock energy for a successful defibrillation. In order to compare the safety of defibrillation, we evaluated changes in cardiac biomarkers, electrocardiogram, echocardiographical left ventricular index, and aortic pressure during and after BP and MP defibrillation. All dogs treated by either BP or MP defibrillation survived. Pulseless electrical activity occurred in 2 of 5 dogs during MP defibrillation. The levels of cardiac biomarkers were elevated and sustained for longer periods in the MP defibrillation group. Electrocardiographic changes (e.g., QT prolongation, the time to return to an isoelectric ST segment after shocks) were more severe and longer in the MP defibrillation group. In addition, overall left ventricular cardiac performance was severely depressed in the MP group compared with the BP group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that BP defibrillation is more effective and safer than MP defibrillation. We determined the acceptable shock energy to be 2,4 J/kg for toy breed dogs. [source]


Does anthracycline administration by infusion in children affect late cardiotoxicity?

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2004
G. A. Levitt
Summary The severity of late cardiotoxicity after anthracycline treatment for childhood cancer relates mainly to the cumulative anthracycline dose received, but all dose ranges cause some cardiac dysfunction. Anthracycline administration by infusion in order to lower peak drug concentration has been used in an attempt to reduce cardiotoxicity. Cardiac performance was assessed by echocardiography in children who were relapse-free survivors of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). They received the same cumulative anthracycline dose (daunorubicin 180 mg/m2) either by bolus injection (UKALL X protocol, n = 40) or by infusion (UKALL XI protocol, n = 71) with a follow-up duration of 5·3 ± 2·0 and 5·4 ± 1·0 years respectively. On analysis, both the bolus administration and infusion groups showed similar mild impairment of cardiac performance, characterized by increased left ventricular end systolic stress and impaired left ventricular function. In conclusion, subclinical abnormality of left ventricular performance was confirmed in both groups despite the relatively modest cumulative anthracycline dose received. We were unable to demonstrate an advantage of anthracycline administration by 6-h infusion with respect to late cardiotoxicity at this dose. [source]


TASER X26 Discharges in Swine Produce Potentially Fatal Ventricular Arrhythmias

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 1 2008
Robert J. Walter PhD
Abstract Objectives:, Data from the authors and others suggest that TASER X26 stun devices can acutely alter cardiac function in swine. The authors hypothesized that TASER discharges degrade cardiac performance through a mechanism not involving concurrent acidosis. Methods:, Using an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)-approved protocol, Yorkshire pigs (25,71 kg) were anesthetized, paralyzed with succinylcholine (SCh; 2 mg/kg), and then exposed to two 40-second discharges from a TASER X26 with a transcardiac vector. Vital signs, blood chemistry, and electrolyte levels were obtained before exposure and periodically for 48 hours postdischarge. Electrocardiograms and echocardiography (echo) were performed before, during, and after the discharges. p-Values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results:, Electrocardiograms were unreadable during the discharges due to electrical interference, but echo images showed unmistakably that cardiac rhythm was captured immediately at a rate of 301 ± 18 beats/min (n = 8) in all animals tested. Capture continued for the duration of the discharge and in one animal degenerated into fatal ventricular fibrillation (VF). In the remaining animals, ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred postdischarge for 1,17 seconds, whereupon sinus rhythm was regained spontaneously. Blood chemistry values and vital signs were minimally altered postdischarge and no significant acidosis was seen. Conclusions:, Extreme acid,base disturbances usually seen after lengthy TASER discharges were absent with SCh, but TASER X26 discharges immediately and invariably produced myocardial capture. This usually reverted spontaneously to sinus rhythm postdischarge, but fatal VF was seen in one animal. Thus, in the absence of systemic acidosis, lengthy transcardiac TASER X26 discharges (2 × 40 seconds) captured myocardial rhythm, potentially resulting in VT or VF in swine. [source]


Maximizing management of patients with decompensated heart failure

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue S3 2000
E. Loh M.D.
Abstract Patients with decompensated congestive heart failure can be categorized into those with either acute or chronic presentations. Patients with acute decompensated heart failure most often have an acute injury that affects either myocardial performance (i.e., myocardial infarction) or valvular/chamber integrity (mitral regurgitation, ventricular septal rupture), which leads to an acute rise in left ventricular (LV) filling pressures resulting in pulmonary edema and dyspnea. Therapy for these patients is aimed at treating the underlying cause of the myocardial injury as well as pharmacologic strategies to reduce LV filling pressures and to improve cardiac performance. In contrast, the therapy of patients presenting with decompensated heart failure in the setting of chronic LV systolic dysfunction, treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, and maybe beta blockers, represent a poorly defined clinical entity that lacks clear guidelines for treatment. These patients can present with symptoms of volume overload and/or low cardiac output without evidence for a volume overloaded state. Potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches include (1) a pulmonary artery catheter for invasive hemodynamic monitoring, (2) intravenous inotropic therapy, (3) LV mechanical assist device therapy, and (4) cardiac transplantation. This review presents some of the advantages and disadvantages of each of these interventions for patients with chronic systolic dysfunction who present with decompensated symptoms and require specialized management in the hospital setting. [source]


Partial growth hormone deficiency in adults; should we be looking for it?

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Stephen M. Shalet
Summary Quantitatively, GH secretion exists as a continuum in states ranging from good health through to hypopituitarism. Currently, GH replacement is considered only for adults designated as being severely GH deficient (GHD). In clinical practice the gold standard, on which the biochemical diagnosis of severe GHD is based, centres on the presence of two or more additional anterior pituitary hormone deficits. Cohorts of adults with partial GHD (Growth Hormone Insufficiency [GHI]) have been reported with adverse body composition changes, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance, altered cardiac performance and increased carotid intima-media thickness. The diagnosis of GHI in an individual patient, however, is extremely difficult because such patients rarely exhibit additional anterior pituitary hormone deficits, and the levels of GH-dependent proteins, including IGF-I, are normal in the majority. Currently, GH replacement therapy should only be considered in a patient characterized as GHI by dynamic GH testing in whom there is a plausible cause for hypopituitarism and in whom the IGF-I level is pathologically low. [source]