Heart Ventricles

A comparison of the data published in anatomy textbooks and anthropological tables does not reveal any change in basic heart dimensions during the period since the beginning of the 20th century to nowadays. However, normal values of many other parameters have changed up to 30% over the same period. These changes may be caused by the acceleration phenomenon or the extension of average lifespan.

Changes in patients' autonomic tone and specific pharmacologic interventions may modify the ventricular response (actual heart rate) during atrial fibrillation (AF). Hypnotic agents such as propofol may modify autonomic balance as they promote a sedative state. It has been shown that propofol slightly slows atrial fibrillatory activity, but the net global effect on the ventricular response remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate in patients in AF the effect of a propofol bolus on the ventricular rate and regularity at ECG.

AIM: To study the effect of artemisinin (Art) on outward rectifier potassium current in ventricular myocytes. METHODS: In isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes, the effects of Art on the two components of delayed outward rectifier K+ current (IK), the rapidly activating inward K+ current (IKr), and the slowly rectifying outward K+ current (IKs) were observed by the whole cell patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: Art decreased IK in a concentration-dependent manner.

AIM: To compare the effects of matrine, artemisinin, and tetrandrine on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. METHODS: A single ventricular myocyte was loaded with Fluo 3-acetoxymethyl (Fluo 3-AM). [Ca2+]i was recorded by laser scanning confocal microscope and represented by fluorescence intensity (FI). RESULTS: 1) KCl 60 mmol . L-1 elevated the FI from 299 +/ -19 to 1389 +/- 325 (P < 0.01) in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ 1.8 mmol . L-1. 2) Both matrine and artemisinin at the concentration of 100 micromol .

The in vitro cardiac properties of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) plus piperaquine phosphate (PQP) were compared with those of other antimalarial compounds. Results with antimalarial drugs, chosen on the basis of their free therapeutic maximum concentration in plasma (C(max)), were expressed as the fold of that particular effect with respect to their C(max). The following tests were used at 37 °C: hERG (human ether-à-go-go-related gene) blockade and trafficking, rabbit heart ventricular preparations, and sodium and slow potassium ion current interference (I(Na) and I(Ks), respectively).

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrhythmias, especially ventricular tachyarrhythmias are an important public health problem. QT dispersion (QTd), defined as the difference between maximal and minimal QT intervals, reflects the regional inhomogeneity of ventricular repolarization dispersion and may mark the presence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of Pranayama (breathing exercise) on QTd in patients with arrhythmia. PATIENTS: Fifteen patients with arrhythmia and ejection fractions <40% (mean = 28 ± 9%) who were on a stable medical regimen.

Excess cardiac triglyceride accumulation in diabetes and obesity induces lipotoxicity, which predisposes the myocytes to death. On the other hand, increased cardiac fatty acid (FA) oxidation plays a role in the development of myocardial dysfunction in diabetes. PPAR-alpha plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis of lipid metabolism.

AIMS: We investigated the effect of the water extract of Salacia oblonga (SOE), an ayurvedic antidiabetic and antiobesity medicine, on obesity and diabetes-associated cardiac hypertrophy and discuss the role of modulation of cardiac angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)) expression in the effect. METHODS: SOE (100 mg/kg) was given orally to male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats for 7 weeks. At the end-point of the treatment, the hearts and left ventricles were weighed, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional areas were measured, and cardiac gene profiles were analysed.

The bark of Terminalia arjuna (TA) has been used for centuries in ayurvedic medicine as cardiotonics for treatment of cardiac disorders. It became recently available as over-the-counter supplements marketed for maintaining a healthy heart. However, the cellular mechanism of its cardiotonic effect remains undefined. The present study was designed to investigate the physicochemical property and inotropic effect of the aqueous extract of TA bark (TA(AqE)) on adult rat ventricular myocytes in comparison with extracts prepared sequentially with organic solvents (organic extracts).

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.