Donato D'Agostino

ADMINISTRATION OF FRUCTOSE 1,6-DIPHOSPHATE DURING EARLY REPERFUSION SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES RECOVERY OF CONTRACTILE FUNCTION IN THE POSTISCHEMIC HEART☆☆☆★

OBJECTIVES Fructose-1,6-diphosphate is a glycolytic intermediate that has been shown experimentally to cross the cell membrane and lead to increased glycolytic flux. Because glycolysis is an important energy source for myocardium during early reperfusion, we sought to determine the effects of fructose-1,6-diphosphate on recovery of postischemic contractile function. METHODS Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts were infused with fructose-1,6-diphosphate (5 and 10 mmol/L, n = 5 per group) in a nonischemic model. In a second group of hearts subjected to 35 minutes of ischemia at 37 degrees C followed by reperfusion (n = 6 per group), a 5 mmol/L concentration of fructose-1,6-diphosphate was infused during the first 30 minutes of reperfusion. We measured contractile function, glucose uptake, lactate production, and adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine levels by phosphorus 31-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS In the nonischemic hearts, fructose-1,6-diphosphate resulted in a dose-dependent increase in glucose uptake, adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine, and inorganic phosphate levels. During the infusion of fructose-1,6-diphosphate, developed pressure and extracellular calcium levels decreased. Developed pressure was restored to near control values by normalizing extracellular calcium. In the ischemia/reperfusion model, after 60 minutes of reperfusion the hearts that received fructose-1,6-diphosphate during the first 30 minutes of reperfusion had higher developed pressures (83 +/- 2 vs 70 +/- 4 mm Hg, p < 0.05), lower diastolic pressures (7 +/- 1 vs 12 +/- 2 mm Hg, p < 0.05), and higher phosphocreatine levels than control untreated hearts. Glucose uptake was also greater after ischemia in the hearts treated with fructose-1,6-diphosphate. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that fructose-1,6-diphosphate, when given during early reperfusion, significantly improves recovery of both diastolic and systolic function in association with increased glucose uptake and higher phosphocreatine levels during reperfusion.

EVALUATION OF PROCALCITONIN, VITAMIN D AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS IN SEPTIC PATIENTS WITH POSITIVE EMOCOLTURES. OUR PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE

FRANCESCA DI SERIO*, ROBERTO LOVERO*, DONATO D’AGOSTINO**, LUCIA NISI*, GIUSEPPE MIRAGLIOTTA***, RENATO CONTINO*, ADRIAN MAN****, MARCO MATTEO CICCONE*****, LUIGI SANTACROCE****** *Clinical Pathology Service, University Hospital “Policlinico”, Bari, Italy **Dept. of Emergency and Organ Transplantations, Sect. of Cardiac Surgery, University of Bari, Italy ***Interdisciplinary Dept. of Medicine. Sect. of Microbiology and Virology, University of Bari, Italy ****Microbiology Lab., University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Tirgu Mures, Romania *****Dept. of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Sect. of Cardiology, University of Bar, Italy ******Ionian Dept. & Microbiology and Virology Service, University of Bari, Italy