Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society
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Two randomized studies have shown a neurological benefit of therapeutic hypothermia in comatose survivors after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but there are no studies of the cardiac neurohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients treated with hypothermia. ⋯ The measurement of BNP was found to provide valuable information regarding the neurological outcome of comatose survivors treated with mild hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to cardiac causes.
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Comparative Study
Diacylglycerol kinase zeta attenuates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.
The Gaq protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway, which includes diacylglycerol (DAG) and protein kinase C (PKC), plays a critical role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. DAG kinase (DGK) phosphorylates DAG and controls cellular DAG levels, thus acting as a regulator of GPCR signaling. It has been previously reported that DGK inhibited GPCR agonist-induced activation of the DAG-PKC signaling and subsequent cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, so the purpose of this study was to examine whether DGK modifies the development of cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload. ⋯ These results are the first in vivo evidence that DGKzeta suppresses cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis and prevents impaired left ventricular systolic function caused by pressure overload.
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It is well established that spiral wave reentry is the primary mechanism of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia, VF/VT), but information is still limited concerning pharmacological modification of spiral waves by ion channel blockers. In this brief review, the antiarrhythmic and proarrhythmic actions of K(+)-channel blockade (I(Kr) and I (K1)) are discussed in terms of spiral wave dynamics, primarily based on recent experimental findings in ventricular preparations perfused in vitro with the aid of high-resolution optical mapping, as well as their related theoretical studies using computer simulation.
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The long and short QT syndromes are heterogeneous diseases characterized by abnormal ventricular repolarization and episodes of syncope and/or life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Several disease-causing genes have been identified, including those encoding cardiac ion channel-composing proteins. ⋯ Genetic testing is of special importance for the genotyped patient's family members to prevent unexpected cardiac death. By means of recently advanced methodology in molecular genetics and electrophysiology it is expected that novel genes responsible for these disease entities will be identified.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the preoperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and the need for the inotropic support in the early postoperative period of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. ⋯ Measurement of the NT-proBNP level in the period before cardiac surgery can indicate the postoperative prognosis of the patient and may be a predictor of the need for postoperative inotropic treatment.