Calcium Cycling Proteins and Heart Failure: Mechanisms and Therapeutics
Ca2+-dependent signaling is highly regulated in cardiomyocytes and determines the force of cardiac muscle contraction. Ca2+ cycling refers to the release and reuptake of intracellular Ca2+ that drives muscle contraction and relaxation.
Signaling Effectors Underlying Pathologic Growth and Remodeling of the Heart
Cardiac hypertrophy is the strongest predictor for the development of heart failure, arrhythmia, and sudden death. Here we discuss therapeutic avenues emerging from molecular and genetic studies of cardiovascular disease in animal models.
Preload Sensitivity in Cardiac Assist Devices
In this review, we stratify the preload sensitivity of 17 implantable cardiac assist devices relative to the native heart and discuss the effect of preload sensitivity on left ventricular volume unloading, levels of cardiac support, and the future development of continuous-flow total artificial heart technology.
A Quantitative Comparison of Mechanical Blood Damage Parameters in Rotary Ventricular Assist Devices: Shear Stress, Exposure Time and Hemolysis Index
In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to calculate the hemodynamics in three clinical VADs and two investigational VADs and the shear stress, residence time, and hemolysis were investigated.
Regenerating New Heart with Stem Cells
This article discusses current understanding of myocardial biology, emphasizing the regeneration potential of the adult human heart and the mechanisms involved.
Transesophageal Echocardiography Probe Insertion Failure in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
A retrospective chart review of all neonates ≤4 kg who underwent cardiac surgery at our institution from 12/2001 to 12/2006 was performed. Patients who underwent operations that did not typically require TEE were excluded. Risk factors for TEE probe insertion failure were assessed.
Mechanical Circulatory Support for Heart Failure: Past, Present and a Look at the Future
This review provides a perspective on the past, present and future of mechanical circulatory support and addresses the changes in technology, patient selection and management strategies needed to have this therapy fully embraced by the heart failure community, and perhaps replace heart transplantation either as the therapy of choice or as a strategy by which to delay transplantation in younger patients.
Anticoagulation in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Low Ejection Fraction and Sinus Rhythm: Back to the Drawing Board
Heart failure patients present an important thrombo-embolic risk, including symptomatic or silent peripheral arterial embolism, pulmonary embolism and stroke.