The effects of the Cox maze procedure on left atrial function could only be detected by analyzing segmental wallmotion. Understanding the precise physiologic effects of the Cox HM781-36B order maze procedure on atrial function will help in developing less-damaging lesion sets for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.”
“Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug used in the treatment of schizophrenia. Controversial results have been obtained measuring different serum antioxidant enzymes and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) in schizophrenic patients treated with olanzapine. The aim of this study is to find the effect of olanzapine
on total antioxidant status (TAS) and lipid peroxidation in schizophrenic patients. Thirty schizophrenic patients were treated orally with olanzapine (10-20 mg/day) for 2 months. Thirty healthy subjects were also included as a control group. Blood samples were taken from patients before and after olanzapine therapy, and analyzed AICAR molecular weight for serum
TAS and MDA. In schizophrenic patients, mean values of pretreatment serum TAS were significantly less (difference = 37.4% of control) than the control value, whereas serum MDA levels were significantly higher (difference = 176% of control) than the control values. Olanzapine treatment for 2 months significantly increased serum TAS levels (37.8%) and reduced serum MDA levels (22.2%) in comparison to respective pretreatment values. In conclusion, the data suggest that olanzapine therapy for 2 months at least partially ameliorates adverse effects on the antioxidant defense mechanism in schizophrenia. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Objectives: Low cardiac output state is the principal cause of morbidity after surgical intervention for congenital heart disease. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, apoptosis, capillary leak syndrome, and myocardial edema are associated factors. We established a clinically relevant model to examine relationships between myocardial ischemia, edema, and cardiac dysfunction and to assess the role of the water transport proteins aquaporins.
Methods: Sixteen
lambs were studied. Seven were control animals not undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, and 9 underwent bypass. Six had 90 minutes of aortic cross-clamping Depsipeptide in vitro with blood cardioplegia and moderate hypothermia. The remaining 3 underwent cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic crossclamping. Hemodynamic and biochemical data were recorded, and myocardial edema, apoptotic markers, and aquaporin expression were determined after death.
Results: The group undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with aortic crossclamping had a low cardiac output state, with early postoperative tachycardia, hypotension, increased serum lactate levels, and impaired tissue oxygen delivery (P,. 05) compared with the group undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic crossclamping.