Ventricular Function, Left

Studies on mice and rats have demonstrated that calorie restriction (CR) slows primary aging, has a protective effect against secondary aging, and markedly decreases the incidence of malignancies. However, the only way to determine whether CR "works" in humans is to conduct studies on people. Such studies are difficult to perform in free-living people. While research on CR in humans is still at an early stage, a modest amount of information has accumulated.

Several experimental studies and some clinical experience have shown that metabolic syndrome and caloric restriction exert opposite effects on thrombosis, because these two nourishing conditions are at extreme ends of the same spectrum. The antithrombotic action induced by caloric restriction happens through Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a gene/protein activated by the reduction of calorie intake lower than is typical. The antithrombotic effect is due to the activation of SIRT1 acting through an increase of insulin sensitivity, which reduces endothelial dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Implanting centers often require the identification of a dedicated caregiver before destination therapy left ventricular assist device (DT LVAD) implantation; however, the caregiver experience surrounding this difficult decision is relatively unexplored. METHODS AND RESULTS: From October 2012 through July 2013, we conducted semistructured, in-depth interviews with caregivers of patients considering DT LVAD. Data were analyzed using a mixed inductive and deductive approach.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the utility of the transesophageal echo-Doppler device in evaluating hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. DESIGN: This was a prospective, controlled, observational open study. SETTING: The study took place in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty patients with ASA physical statuses II and III undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled into the study. INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS: A standardized general anesthetic and surgical technique was used for all patients.

Bromelain (Br), a proteolytic enzyme extracted from the stem of the pineapple, is known to possess anti-inflammatory activity and has been shown to reduce blood viscosity, prevent the aggregation of blood platelets, and improve ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in a skeletal muscle model. We investigated the capacity of Br to limit myocardial injury in a global I/R model. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: control (PBS) and Br at 10 mg/kg in PBS administered via intraperitoneal injection (twice/day) for 15 consecutive days.

Glucose-mediated oxidative stress and the upregulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 pathway activity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several vascular complications of diabetes including diabetic neuropathy. However, in nondiabetic subjects, the cardiovascular safety of selective COX-2 inhibition is controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the links between hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, activation of the COX-2 pathway, cardiac sympathetic integrity, and the development of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in experimental diabetes.

Thymidylate kinase (TMPK) is a nucleoside monophosphate kinase that catalyzes phosphorylation of thymidine monophosphate to thymidine diphosphate. TMPK also mediates phosphorylation of monophosphates of thymidine nucleoside analog (NA) prodrugs on the pathway to their active triphosphate antiviral or antitumor moieties. Novel transgenic mice (TG) expressing human (h) TMPK were genetically engineered using the alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter to drive its cardiac-targeted overexpression.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this prospective, single-site, 2-year dietary intervention study was to evaluate the effects of moderate weight reduction and subsequent partial weight regain on cardiovascular structure and function. BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with adverse cardiac and vascular structural and functional alterations. METHODS: Sixty obese subjects (age 46 + or - 10 years, body mass index 37 + or - 3 kg/m(2)) were evaluated during their participation in a weight loss study.

BACKGROUND: In the general population, peripheral metabolic complications (MC) increase the risk for left ventricular dysfunction. Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) are associated with MC, left ventricular dysfunction, and a higher incidence of cardiovascular events than the general population. We examined whether myocardial nutrient metabolism and left ventricular dysfunction are related to one another and worse in HIV infected men treated with cART vs. HIV-negative men with or without MC.