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Acetylcholine stimulated dilatation and stretch induced myogenic constriction in mesenteric artery of rats with chronic heart failure.

Rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) develop increased myogenic constriction in mesenteric resistance arteries. Here we investigated increased myogenic constriction in relation to alterations in EDHF‐ and NO‐mediated dilatation in CHF‐rats.

Long-term outcome of patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in relation to treatment: a single-centre study:

Introduction: Outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poor. With the introduction of automated external defibrillators, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) the prognosis of patients after OHCA appears to be improving. The aim of this study was to evaluate short and long-term outcome among a non-selected population of patients who experienced OHCA and were admitted to a hospital working within a ST elevation myocardial infarction network. Methods: All patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (n=456) admitted to one hospital after OHCA were included. Initial rhythm, reperfusion therapy with PCI, implementation of MTH and additional medical management were recorded. The primary outcome measure was survival (hospital and long term). Neurological status was measured as cerebral performance category. The inclusion period was January 2003 to August 2010. Follow-up was complete until April 2014. Results: The mean patient age was 63±14 years and 327 (72%) were men. The initial rhythm was ventricular fibrillation, pulseless electrical activity, asystole and pulseless ventricular tachycardia in 322 (71%), 58 (13%), 55 (12%) and 21 (5%) of the 456 patients, respectively. Treatment included PCI in 191 (42%) and MTH in 188 (41%). Overall in-hospital and long-term (5-year) survival was 53% (n=240) and 44% (n=202), respectively. In the 170 patients treated with primary PCI, in-hospital survival was 112/170 (66%). After hospital discharge these patients had a 5-year survival rate of 99% and cerebral performance category was good in 92%. Conclusions: In this integrated ST elevation myocardial infarction network survival and neurological outcome of selected patients with ROSC after OHCA and treated with PCI was good. There is insufficient evidence about the outcome of this approach, which has a significant impact on utilisation of resources. Good quality randomised controlled trials are needed. In selected patients successfully resuscitated after OHCA of presumed cardiac aetiology, we believe that a more liberal application of primary PCI may be considered in experienced acute cardiac referral centres.

Heart failure highlights in 2012-2013

Heart failure has become the cardiovascular epidemic of the century. The European Journal of Heart Failure is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in the field of heart failure management. In 2012 and 2013, several pioneering scientific discoveries and paradigm‐shifting clinical trials have been published. In the current paper, we will discuss the most significant novel insights into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of heart failure that were published during this period. All relevant research areas are discussed, including pathophysiology, co‐morbidities, arrhythmias, biomarkers, clinical trials, and device therapy, including left ventricular assist devices.

A functional erythropoietin receptor in a rat heart is linked to anti-apoptotic effects

vasodilator (Bk, 50 pl , lo-B,5 to 1 O6 M) were recorded before and after global zero-flow normotherme I/R ( 40140 min. ) on 14 isolated perfused rat hearts. Coronary bloodflow (CBF) changes were expressed as the percentage of baseline flow. Folate (4,5 .lO%l ) was added on the affluent of 7 hearts during 30 min as a pretreatment before IR. 7 control hearts received only Krebs-solution as pre-treatment. IR caused a significant reduction ot the vasodilator responses to Bk (pcO.01). However, after pretreatment with folate, the vasodilator respons to Bk remained unchanged after IR (p>O.O5). 330A ABSTRACTS Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction

Effect of metformin on outcome in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for st-segment elevation myocardial infarction

The oral antihyperglycemic agent metformin was associated with favorable outcome and smaller myocardial infarct size in patients with diabetes undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) [1, 2]. However, these findings have not been validated.

Heart Failure after Myocardial Infarction—Benefit beyond Hemoglobin from Erythropoietin Erythropoietin Induces Neovascularization and Improves Cardiac Function in Rats with Heart Failure after Myocardial Infarction

Despite a great deal of recent progress in the treatment of heart failure ([1][1]), the prognosis of this condition continues to be poor and new approaches to its treatment are most welcome. One such new approach was originally based on the recognition that anemia is a strong predictor of outcome ([