Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is usually characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning. Due to the clinical symptoms which include chest pain, electrocardiographic changes, and elevated myocardial markers, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is frequently mimicking ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the absence of a significant coronary artery disease. Otherwise an acute occlusion of t...

• Since the report of Evans and Matsuoka ' a half century ago, it has been known that myocardial oxygen uptake increases in approximately a linear fashion with mean arterial pressure, but is affected only slightly by increases in cardiac output.' This paradox, that "pressure work" is much more costly than "volume work," complicated the analysis of the energetics of myocardial contraction. A con...

BACKGROUND The relationship between regional and global left ventricular function has not been evaluated. The present study aimed to assess whether regional myocardial contraction and relaxation reflect global left ventricular systolic and early diastolic function, respectively. METHODS AND RESULTS The study involved 45 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Conventional echocardiograph...

The mechanics of a normal ventricular contraction are precise. The cardiac cycle can be divided into the cyclical sequence of systolic ejection, isovolumic relaxation, diastolic filling, isovolumic contraction, and the next systole. This sequence is mediated by a chain of high-energy steps that include the rapid intracellular recycling of calcium ions within the contractile proteins; the timing...