BACKGROUND Human heart failure (HF) usually exhibits blunted response to beta-adrenergic receptor (AR) stimulation. Here, we examined whether expression of nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2, or inducible NOS) contributes to this loss of inotropic reserve in human HF. METHODS AND RESULTS Failing human hearts were obtained at transplantation. Contraction and [Ca2+]i measurements were performed in i...

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) promotes glucose transport, maintains ATP stores, and prevents injury and apoptosis during ischemia. AMPK has several direct molecular targets in the heart but also may interact with other stress-signaling pathways. This study examined the role of AMPK in the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In isolated heart muscles, the AMPK ac...

Anatomical studies were made on 70 necropsied hearts with atrioventricular defects from patients with situs solitus and atrioventricular concordance, all having a common atrioventricular orifice. The arterial connections were concordant in 68 and were double outlet right ventricle in two; cases with arterial discordance (transposition) or single outlet of the heart were excluded. It proved pos...

cirrhosis is associated with hyperdynamic circulation, manifesting as increased cardiac output and decreased systemic vascular resistance. the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cirrhosis on heart apoptosis and involvement of nitric oxide (no) and oxidative stress in the possible altered apoptosis of cirrhotic hearts. twenty-eight days after bile duct ligation, heart tissues wer...

The combined effects of electrical stimulation and carcass holding temperature were evaluated on some biochemical and quality characteristics of intact and hot-boned ovine muscles. Twenty-four lamb sides were randomly assigned to 4 treatments. Electrical stimulation was performed within 15 minutes postmortem (350 V with 10 Hz) for 4 minutes. Electrically stimulated and slowly chilled (5 hr at 1...

The mechanism of action of adrenaline on cardiac contractility in rat papillary muscles containing V1 and V3 isomyosins was analyzed during barium-activated contractures at 25 degrees C by frequency domain analysis using pseudo-random binary noise-modulated perturbations. The analysis characterizes a frequency (fmin) at which dynamic stiffness of a muscle is a minimum, a parameter that reflects...

The demand for premium beef continues to increase along with changes in the lifestyle of upper middle class, increasing tourists and expatriates from abroad. Local cattle usually cannot produce beef, but aging can improve quality meat. This study aimed characterize physical (pH, cooking loss, water holding capacity, tenderness) bali different times. used three types muscles, which is Longissimu...

Objective(s): To determine the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) intracoronary perfusion in isolated hearts and short-term administration in rats on the left ventricular (LV) phosphorylation patterns of Akt and ERK1/2. Materials and Methods: Cardiodynamic and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated in Langendorff–perfused hearts. Left ventr...

By means of injections made into the coronary arteries of beating hearts it has been possible to determine the number of capillaries in the normal heart muscle. This study has shown a very rich blood supply with an average of approximately one capillary for each muscle fibre in the ventricular walls and papillary muscles, and a less abundant supply in the auricular muscle and Purkinje system. T...

RATIONALE Protein kinase (PK)C-induced phosphorylation of cardiac troponin (cTn)I has been shown to regulate cardiac contraction. OBJECTIVE Characterize functional effects of increased PKC-induced cTnI phosphorylation and identify underlying mechanisms using a transgenic mouse model (cTnI(PKC-P)) expressing mutant cTnI (S43E, S45E, T144E). METHODS AND RESULTS Two-dimensional gel analysis sh...