Impaired calcium homeostasis and altered expression of Ca2+-binding proteins are associated with cardiomyopathies, myocardial hypertrophy, infarction or ischemia. S100A1 protein with its modulatory effect on different target proteins has been proposed as one of potential candidates which could participate in these pathological processes. The exact localization of S100A1 in human heart cells on ...

Two cases of acute myocardial ischaemia precipitated by oral ergotamine therapy for migraine are described from patients with no previous history of ischaemic heart disease. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. In many forms of heart disease, including heart failure, ischaemic heart disease and diabetic cardiomyopathies, changes in cardiac mitochondrial energy metabolism contribute to contractile dysfunction and to a decrease in cardiac efficiency. Specific metabolic changes include a relative increase in cardiac fatty acid oxidation rates and an un...

Background. Earlier classifications of cardiomyopathies described them in terms of their morphologic characteristics (dilated, hypertrophic) or functional consequences (restrictive). The current classification of cardiomyopathies has recently been updated [1] as diseases of the myocardium that are associated with mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction that exhibit inappropriate ventricular hy...

Abstract Introduction: Resent studies have been shown beneficial effects of hyperoxia pretreatment against ischemia-reperfusion injury in different organs. The aim of the present study was to investigate early and late effects of normobaric hyperoxia (≥95% O2) pretreatment on ischemia-reperfusion injuries in isolated rat hearts. Methods: Following 60 and 180 minutes of hyperoxia, rat hearts w...

In a treatment planning study, radiosurgical treatment plans designed to produce lesions on the left atrium were created using two different methodologies. In one, structures in the heart (mitral valve and coronary arteries) were designated as critical structures while this was not done in the second plan. The treatment plans that were created were compared with standards for heart dose used wh...

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is the major nonlysosomal pathway for intracellular protein degradation, generally requiring a covalent linkage of one or more chains of polyubiquitins to the protein intended for degradation. It has become clear that the UPS plays major roles in regulating many cellular processes, including the cell cycle, immune responses, apoptosis, cell signaling, and p...

Gap junctions produce low resistance pathways between cardiomyocytes and are major determinants of electrical conduction in the heart. Altered distribution and function of connexin 43 (Cx43), the major gap junctional protein in the ventricles, can slow conduction, and thus contribute to arrhythmogenesis in experimental models such as ischemic rat heart and pacing-induced atrial fibrillation. Th...

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the community. Despite improvements in the treatment of heart failure in recent years, for example the use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy, morbidity, mortality and resource consumption remain high. In the U.K. heart failure absorbs 1% of the National Health Service budget Current evidence from developed cou...

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a central role in protein degradation and regulates a variety of critical cellular processes. During recent years, the cardiac UPS has become increasingly recognized as a key regulator of cardiac function under both physiological and pathological conditions. Numerous studies have demonstrated that altered UPS function is involved in the pathogenesis o...