Rodica Klein

Brain and Atrial Natriuretic Peptides in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease with and without Heart Failure

The objective of the study was the evaluation of natriuretic peptides in ischemic heart disease. Atrial and brain peptides (ANP, BNP) were elevated in patients with ischemic heart failure, as compared with patients with angina without over failure, and controls (p < 0.01). BNP/ANP ratio was higher in NYHA class IV than in class III patients (2.67 +/- 0.87 vs. 1.52 +/- 0.59, respectively). Patients in the angina group, in whom elevated BNP or ANP was found, had subclinical systolic or diastolic dysfunction. There was inverse correlation between BNP, ANP and the left-ventricular ejection fraction (each r = 0.78, p < 0.001). We conclude that BNP is elevated as a result of myocardial dysfunction, but not of ischemia and seems to be a better index of disease stage and prognosis than ANP.

Oral administration of Lactobacillus induces cardioprotection.

OBJECTIVES Our goal was to investigate the potential of oral administration of Lactobacillus to induce cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat hearts, and to determine whether this protection is associated with myocardial catalase activation and heat shock protein 70 expression. DESIGN Lactobacillus was administered orally to rats on a daily basis, from 1 to 21 days before global ischemia. Global ischemia was produced by full-stop flow in isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts for 20 minutes and was followed by reperfusion. Similarly, saline was administered to control animals. RESULTS Lactobacillus significantly reduced reperfusion tachyarrhythmia and improved functional recovery of the ischemic rat hearts. These cardioprotective effects were associated with reduction of norepinephrine release at the first minute of reperfusion, activation of myocardial catalase, and overexpression of 70 kd heat stress protein at ischemia and reperfusion (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Oral administration of Lactobacillus produces marked cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. This effect is attributed to activation of the cellular defense system, manifested by activation of the antioxidant pathway, and by expression of protective proteins. Norepinephrine is involved in this process. The results of this study suggest that Lactobacillus, which is generally considered safe, could serve as a basis for the development of a new agent for preventive therapy of various ischemic heart syndromes.