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Biomedical subjects

A Kitabatake

Publications and source records attributed to A Kitabatake.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Predominant beta-adrenoceptor blocking effect of xamoterol averaged over the day in patients with mild to moderate heart failure: insight into the mechanism of its long-term clinical efficacy.

Xamoterol acts as a beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist at low sympathetic activity and as an antagonist at high activity. Although its long-term efficacy has been proven in patients with mild to moderate heart failure, it remains unclear which effect, agonism or antagonism, accounts for its long-term activity. To clarify the effect of xamoterol on cardiac sympathetic activity in daily life, 24-h R-R interval histograms were obtained during administration of xamoterol 100 mg b.d. for 1 week to 10 patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Eight normal subjects were also studied as controls. To examine the relation between the effect of xamoterol and sympathetic activity, plasma noradrenaline (NA) levels were measured under 5 graded conditions simulating daily living. Xamoterol administration significantly decreased the standard deviation of the R-R interval, both in patients with heart failure and in normal subjects. The mean R-R interval, however, was increased in patients with heart failure, relative to normal subjects. In both groups, the R-R interval histograms had two peaks, i.e. a short daytime peak and a long night-time peak. Xamoterol decreased the median of the night-time peak without changing the daytime peak in normal subjects. In contrast, it increased the median of the daytime peak without producing a significant change in the night-time peak in patients with heart failure. Levels of plasma NA were significantly higher in patients than in normal subjects under all conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Polyphosphoinositide metabolism in hypertrophic rat heart.

The accumulations of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and inositol-1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4) after hormonal stimulation may have a physiological role, possibly by alteration of Ca2+ levels in cardiac tissue. But the accumulation of inositol polyphosphate in a pathophysiological condition has not been studied. We investigated phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) metabolism in hypertrophic cardiac myocytes, and clarified that the accumulations of IP3, IP4 and diacylglyceride after stimulation with norepinephrine were significantly enhanced in isolated myocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rat heart. Phospholipase C activity increased with age in SHRSP heart cells. These data suggest that PI turnover pathways, which can be mediated by both phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate and diacylglyceride, may play an important role in development of hypertrophy in the hearts of rats with spontaneous hypertension.

Animals↗

Adverse effects of epinephrine in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction: analysis of ventriculo-arterial coupling.

We examined the response of ventriculo-arterial coupling to epinephrine in 19 patients with normal left ventricular function and with left ventricular dysfunction of various degrees using a conductance catheter. They were divided into three groups: group I, seven patients without left ventricular wall motion abnormality; group II, six patients with ejection fraction of 45-60%; group III, six patients with ejection fraction of 28-40%. Changes in the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (end-systolic elastance), the effective arterial elastance, the ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance and the ventricular work efficiency during administration of two different doses of epinephrine (0.05 and 0.1 micrograms/kg/min) were compared among the three groups. At baseline there were no significant differences among the three groups in the ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance, or ventricular work efficiency. At the lower dose of epinephrine, the mean ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance decreased and the mean ventricular work efficiency increased in any groups. At the higher dose of epinephrine the mean ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance further decreased and the mean ventricular work efficiency further increased in groups I and II. However, the mean ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance did not decrease but the mean ventricular work efficiency even decreased in group III. Thus, in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction, even a high dose of epinephrine does not modulate the ventriculo-arterial coupling to increase ventricular work efficiency.

Aged↗

Role of atrial contraction and synchrony of ventricular contraction in the optimisation of ventriculoarterial coupling in humans.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of pacing modes on the interaction between the left ventricle and arterial system in humans. DESIGN: The slope of the end systolic pressure-volume relation (end systolic elastance), effective arterial elastance, the ratio of effective arterial elastance to end systolic elastance, and mechanical energy efficiency were compared under different pacing modes (atrial, atrioventricular, and ventricular). PATIENTS: Nine male patients with sick sinus syndrome who had cardiac catheterisation for diagnosis and to see whether they needed a pacemaker. INTERVENTIONS: A conductance catheter with tip-manometer was inserted into the left ventricle to obtain pressure-volume loops, and two pacing catheters were inserted into the right atrium and into the right ventricle respectively. RESULTS: End systolic elastance was lower in atrioventricular pacing than in atrial pacing, but effective arterial elastance was not significantly different. End systolic elastance was lower in ventricular pacing than in atrioventricular pacing, and effective arterial elastance was higher in ventricular pacing than in atrioventricular pacing. Consequently the ratio of effective arterial elastance to end systolic elastance was lowest in atrial pacing and highest in ventricular pacing, and mechanical energy efficiency was highest in atrial pacing and lowest in ventricular pacing. CONCLUSIONS: Atrial contraction and synchronous ventricular contraction independently optimise ventriculoarterial coupling in terms of a transfer of energy. Thus atrial pacing gives the best ventriculo-arterial coupling among these pacing modes.

Adult↗

Endogenous adenosine blunts beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response in hypoperfused canine myocardium.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine attenuates beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic responses through GTP-binding protein in vitro. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that endogenous adenosine released from the ischemic myocardium blunts the inotropic response to beta-adrenergic stimulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 45 open-chest dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was perfused through an extracorporeal bypass tube from the carotid artery. Coronary perfusion pressure was reduced so that coronary blood flow was decreased to 60% of the basal level by partial occlusion of the bypass tube, and the reduced coronary perfusion pressure was kept constant thereafter. Inotropic responses to isoproterenol were assessed by fractional shortening of the myocardium in the perfused area. After the onset of hypoperfusion, lactate extraction ratio (18.8 +/- 1.2%) and fractional shortening (20.7 +/- 1.1%) were significantly decreased to -8.4 +/- 8.0% and 5.9 +/- 1.5%, respectively, and coronary arteriovenous differences of adenosine were increased from 4.6 +/- 3.6 to 89.4 +/- 10.5 pmol/ml. In the untreated condition, an intravenous infusion of isoproterenol (150 ng/kg/min) augmented fractional shortening from 5.9 +/- 1.5% to 13.6 +/- 0.8%. When adenosine release was attenuated by administration of prazosin (4 micrograms/kg/min i.c.) during hypoperfusion, the response of fractional shortening to isoproterenol (from 5.3 +/- 1.2% to 20.5 +/- 1.4%) was much greater (p less than 0.05) than that in the untreated control condition. Exogenous administration of adenosine significantly attenuated the inotropic response to isoproterenol in the prazosin-treated hearts. In contrast, an adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline, also enhanced the inotropic response to isoproterenol. The attenuation of beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response by adenosine could not be attributed to the inhibition of norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nerve endings, because identical results were observed in the chemically denervated hearts. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous adenosine released from the ischemic myocardium attenuates beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inotropic response in the ischemic heart.

Adenosine↗

Lack of myocardial perfusion immediately after successful thrombolysis. A predictor of poor recovery of left ventricular function in anterior myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: We investigated myocardial perfusion dynamics after thrombolysis and its clinical implications. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 39 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI). Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was performed before and immediately after successful reflow with intracoronary injection of sonicated Ioxaglate. The average segmental score by two-dimensional echocardiography (graded 0, normal, to 3, akinetic/dyskinetic) and global ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF%) by left ventriculography were measured at 1 day and at 4 weeks after reflow. Hypokinesis in the infarct region was assessed by the centerline method and expressed in terms of standard deviations (regional wall motion [RWM]: SD/chord) of normal. Immediately after reflow, 30 of 39 patients (group A) showed significant contrast enhancement within the risk area. The other nine patients (23%, group B), however, showed the residual contrast defect in the risk area (myocardial no reflow). There were no significant differences in the elapsed time, angiographic collateral grade, and degree of residual stenosis between group A and group B. Before reflow, both groups exhibited similar levels of global and regional left ventricular function. Improvement in global (LVEF, average segmental score) and regional left ventricular function was greater in group A than in group B (average segmental score, 0.44 +/- 0.41 versus 0.97 +/- 0.36, p less than 0.01; LVEF, 56.4 +/- 13.4 versus 42.7 +/- 8.9, p less than 0.05; RWM, -1.87 +/- 0.85 versus -3.18 +/- 0.52, p less than 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: MCE demonstrates that angiographically successful reflow cannot be used as an indicator of successful myocardial reperfusion in AMI patients. The residual contrast defect in the risk area demonstrated immediately after reflow is a predictor of poor functional recovery of the postischemic myocardium.

Coronary Circulation↗

Superoxide dismutase enhances ischemia-induced reactive hyperemic flow and adenosine release in dogs. A role of 5'-nucleotidase activity.

To test the hypothesis that 5'-nucleotidase activity during ischemia is attenuated by oxygen-derived free radicals, we measured ischemia-induced reactive hyperemic flow, adenosine release, and 5'-nucleotidase activity in dogs (n = 62). A 1-minute occlusion of the coronary artery caused reactive hyperemic flow (307 +/- 5 versus 92 +/- 1 ml.100 g-1.min-1 at baseline) with increased release of adenosine (14.4 +/- 1.4 versus 0.4 +/- 0.1 nmol.100 g-1.min-1 at baseline). Superoxide dismutase augmented (p less than 0.001) both peak coronary blood flow (333 +/- 6 ml.100 g-1.min-1) and repayment (436 +/- 12 versus 320 +/- 7 ml/100 g in the untreated group). Adenosine release during reperfusion was augmented (22.7 +/- 1.9 nmol.100 g-1.min-1, p less than 0.001), and 8-phenyltheophylline completely abolished the enhanced reactive hyperemia. Enzymatic assay of 5'-nucleotidase activity revealed that the administration of superoxide dismutase increases ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity in ischemic myocardium. When an inhibitor of ecto-5'-nucleotidase, alpha, beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate, was administered, the effects of superoxide dismutase were completely abolished. Thus, we conclude that 1) the augmentation of reactive hyperemic flow caused by superoxide dismutase is attributed to the enhanced release of adenosine and 2) the enhanced release of adenosine over the untreated controls is attributed to the protection of ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity during ischemia.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Assessment of valvular regurgitation using cine magnetic resonance imaging coupled with phase compensation technique: comparison with Doppler color flow mapping.

To elucidate whether or not a newly developed technique in cinematic-displayed (cine) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve the semiquantitative evaluation of valvular regurgitant flow, 20 patients with valvular lesions were studied. Three pulse sequences of cine MRI, ie, standard, short echo time (TE), and rephasing scans, were compared with reference obtained by Doppler color flow mapping. Short TE technique and rephasing scan technique improved image quality remarkably as compared with standard technique. Each of the three cine MRI techniques showed good correlation with the Doppler method (p < 0.001). However, short TE and rephasing scan techniques gave a faithful estimation of the extent as compared with the Doppler method, whereas standard technique overestimated the regurgitation. Thus, cine magnetic resonance imaging with phase compensation technique can be utilized for the semiquantitative assessment of valvular regurgitation in a manner similar to that of Doppler color flow mapping.

Aged↗

Blunted cardiac responses to exercise-induced sympathetic stimulation in non-failing aortic regurgitation: insight into role of cardiac dilation in hyporesponse of failing hearts.

Although blunted cardiac response to sympathetic stimulation in patients with heart failure is usually attributed to myocardial beta 1-adrenoceptor downregulation secondary to elevated circulating catecholamines, cardiomegaly per se may also play a role through presynaptic mechanisms such as reduction in cardiac norepinephrine (NE) concentration. To evaluate effects of cardiac dilatation on cardiac response to sympathetic stimulation, we studied left ventricular contractile and heart rate responses to plasma NE levels increased by exercise in 10 asymptomatic patients with a dilated left ventricle due to aortic regurgitation (AR), but with normal resting plasma NE levels, using 10 normal subjects and 10 patients with heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as controls. Plasma NE levels, systemic blood pressure, echocardiographic left ventricular dimensions, and heart rate were measured at rest, and at 3 submaximal levels of supine bicycle exercise. The ratio of peak systolic blood pressure to end-systolic dimension (P/D ratio), heart rate, and plasma NE increased with the intensity of exercise. In each subject, both P/D ratio and heart rate increased in a logarithmic manner against plasma NE levels. The slope of the regression line for log (plasma NE)--P/D ratio relation, and that for log (plasma NE)--heart rate relation, were significantly less in patients with AR than in normal subjects (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05, respectively), and were less in patients with DCM than in patients with AR (p less than 0.005 and p = 0.051, respectively). Thus, the left ventricular contractile and heart rate responses to sympathetic stimulation are blunted in patients with dilated hearts due to AR, even in the absence of overt heart failure and elevated plasma NE levels. These responses were further decreased in patients with heart failure due to DCM. Cardiac responses to sympathetic stimulation appear to be blunted by cardiac dilatation per se, independently of myocardial beta 1-receptor downregulation secondary to high circulating catecholamines. The decrease in mechanical response to sympathetic stimulation in failing hearts is likely to be combined result of cardiac dilatation and beta 1-receptor downregulation.

Adult↗

Norepinephrine disrupts cytoskeletal framework of microtubules in rat hearts.

Sympathetic activations may deteriorate myocardial failure due to progression of myocardial cell injury. In the present study, to test whether microtubules, calcium ion (Ca2+) sensitive cytoskeletons, are disrupted by norepinephrine (NE) and whether beta-adrenoceptor antagonist could attenuate the disruption of microtubules, structures of microtubules are studied in rat hearts with continuous subcutaneous infusions of norepinephrine. In the sham operated rats the microtubules stained by immunohistochemical technique showed normal network structures. A low dose of NE infusion (2 micrograms/kg/h) for 6 h resulted in a minimal change in microtubule structures. However, infusion for 24 h of NE (2 micrograms/kg/h) and a large dose of NE infusion (20 micrograms/kg/h) for 6h caused disruptions of microtubules in small patchy lesions (8 +/- 3%, 12 +/- 4% of area, respectively). A large dose of NE infusion for 24 h increased systolic blood pressure from 116 +/- 6 to 152 +/- 4 mmHg and increased plasma NE concentration from 430 +/- 40 to 17100 +/- 3700 pg/ml and further disrupted the network of microtubules in 40 +/- 6% of the total area. Propranolol (500 micrograms/kg/h) markedly attenuated NE-induced disruptions of microtubules. Disruptions of microtubules may be one of the underlying mechanism of deterioration of myocardial failure in chronic heart failure in which sympathetic activity is markedly activated.

Animals↗

Disruption of microtubules in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes during rapid contractions: protective effects of beta-adrenoceptor antagonist.

Tachycardia may play a key role in the progression of heart failure probably through Ca2+ overload. In the present study, to test whether microtubules, Ca(2+)-sensitive cytoskeletons, are disrupted by rapid contractions and whether the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, propranolol could attenuate the disruption of microtubules, cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with various contraction rates were studied. The microtubules were stained by immunohistochemical technique and the extent of microtubule disruption was quantified by disruption scores (grade 0-intact; grade 3-severe disruption). In 97% of the non-contracting cells, intact microtubules (grade 0) were observed, whereas in the cells that contract at the rate of 100-120/min, intact microtubules were observed only in 25% of the cells. The disruption scores were significantly correlated with contraction rates of the cells. Treatment with propranolol (10(-6)M) decreased the extent of microtubule disruption associated with a decrease in the contraction rate. However, this treatment did not alter the relationship between the contraction rate and the disruption score of microtubules. These results indicate that rapid contractions may induce disruption of microtubules which can be attenuated by beta-blocker mainly by its negative chronotropic effect. This may be one of the underlying mechanisms of the long-term effect of beta-blockers for chronic heart failure.

Animals↗

Sequential appearance of fibronectin, collagen and elastin during fatty streak initiation and maturation in hypercholesterolemic fat-fed rabbits.

To elucidate whether tissue fibronectin increases in the early stages of atherogenesis induced by hypercholesterolemia without mechanical trauma, we investigated sequential changes in the distribution of tissue fibronectin during fatty streak initiation and maturation in the aortas of hypercholesterolemic fat-fed rabbits. The presence of fibronectin was examined on immunoperoxidase stained tissue specimens with the aid of a microscope-photometric technique. Twenty male albino rabbits were used. Cholesterol supplemented chow (1%) was given for 4 weeks (n = 6), 8 (n = 5) or 14 weeks (n = 5). A membrane-like layer positive for fibronectin was observed along the endothelium in the normal aorta. After 4 weeks of the cholesterol-feeding, fatty streaks were initiated in the intima, where fibronectin was more densely accumulated than the normal intima. After 8 weeks of the cholesterol-feeding, fatty streaks were expanding, associated with the dense staining for fibronectin. After 14 weeks, fibronectin was still concentrated in the endothelial layer and also in the superficial areas of the thickened intima, but decreased in the deep areas of the thickened intima where collagen and elastin appeared as bundles. The photometric data of fibronectin supported these visual observations. Thus, fibronectin appeared early and disappeared later in the intima during the process of fatty streak initiation and maturation. These findings suggest that in hypercholesterolemia without mechanical endothelial injury, fibronectin may play an important role in an early process of atherogenesis.

Animals↗

Contributors of characteristic mitral flow velocity pattern in congestive heart failure--from clinical observations back to experimental validations.

Mitral flow velocity pattern in patients with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction usually includes decreased peak early diastolic filling velocity (E), slowed deceleration of the early diastolic filling wave and increased peak filling velocity at atrial contraction (A). However, the abnormal mitral flow velocity pattern can be normalized in the presence of concomitant congestive heart failure. In such cases E can be equal to or even higher than normal, its deceleration is normal or faster than normal value, and A can be normal or lower than normal value. Clinical observations in patients with severe heart failure showed that the mitral flow velocity pattern changes with vasodilating therapy, reflecting the changes in the left atrial (LA) to LV pressure difference rather than those in the absolute LA pressure or LV pressure alone. This was validated in the canine study in which levels of LV dysfunction were made by the injection of microspheres into the left coronary artery to study the interrelation among the mitral flow velocity pattern and LA and LV pressures. In this experiment, the changes in the mitral flow velocity pattern could not be explained by the changes in LA or LV pressure alone but was better explained by the changes in the LA to LV pressure difference. Not only LA-LV crossover pressure but also LA compliance seem to be important as determinants of LA pressure level in diastole. In addition to LV relaxation rate, incompleteness of relaxation, elastic recoil and LV passive elastic properties, extracardiac constraint is also considered to be an important determinant of the level of the LV diastolic pressure and hence of the mitral flow velocity pattern at least in the presence of congestive heart failure. Thus, mitral flow velocity pattern is determined by the interaction of LA and LV pressures, both of which are affected by chamber properties as well as loading conditions.

Animals↗

Doppler assessment of left ventricular diastolic filling pattern during the convalescent stage of acute myocardial infarction. Effects of infarct size and coronary thrombolysis.

Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was used to study left ventricular diastolic filling pattern (LVDFP) over the convalescent stage of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 25 patients. Twelve normal subjects served as a control group. The patients were divided on the basis of enzymatically estimated infarct size into 2 groups: 7 as the large AMI group, and the other 18 as the small AMI group. Peak early diastolic filling velocity (E) and the ratio of E to peak filling velocity at atrial contraction (E/A ratio) were determined from the Doppler transmitral flow velocity recordings at 1 and 4 weeks after the onset of AMI. At 1 week E and E/A ratio were significantly lower in the small AMI group compared to the control and the large AMI groups, however, there was no significant difference in E and E/A ratio between the control and the large AMI groups. E/A increased with cumulative CK release among the patients (r = 0.54, p < 0.01). In the following 3 weeks E and E/A ratio decreased only in the large AMI group, and E and E/A ratio at 4 weeks weakly correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r = 0.63, p < 0.01 and r = 0.65, p < 0.01) and ejection fraction (r = 0.50, p < 0.05 and r = 0.62, p < 0.01) among the patients. There was no significant difference in E or E/A ratio between patients with and without coronary thrombolysis. Thus, LVDFP in the early convalescent stage of AMI was characterized by low E and E/A ratio in patients with small AMI, however, a "pseudonormalized" pattern was observed in patients with large AMI. The effect of the infarct size on LVDFP diminished in the late convalescent stage of AMI. LVDFP in patients with AMI appears to be influenced by the infarct size and by the time of study. The effect of coronary thrombolysis on LVDFP was not evident throughout the convalescent stage of AMI in this study.

Convalescence↗

The role of calcium activated neutral protease on myocardial cell injury in hypoxia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between hypoxic myocardial cell injury and intracellular protease activity. Cardiac myocytes were isolated from neonatal rat hearts and cultured in Eagle's modified minimum essential medium. Myocytes were incubated in hypoxic conditions for 6 hours. The cell death rate during hypoxia rose to 80% after 6 hours. Extracellular protease activity was elevated to 4 units during hypoxia, much higher than the 0.7 units in aerobic states at 6 hours. This extracellular protease activity in hypoxic conditions was markedly inhibited by leupeptin and EDTA, and weakly inhibited by the cysteine protease inhibitor, NCO-700, but phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride did not inhibit the protease activity. To identify the protease activated during hypoxia, calpain-specific inhibitors were added to the incubation mixture. Calpain inhibitor 1 and calpastatin, an endogenous selective calpain inhibitor, markedly inhibited extracellular protease activity during hypoxia. NCO-700 also inhibited intracellular protease activity. NCO-700 reduced hypoxic cell death to 30% after 6 hours of hypoxygenation. These observations indicate that calpain is activated during hypoxia and leads to irreversible cell membrane degradation after 6 hours of hypoxygenation.

Animals↗

A central nervous system action of nitric oxide in blood pressure regulation.

We had reported that the systemic administration of N omega-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMA), a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis from L-arginine (ARG), raises arterial blood pressure (BP) while paradoxically enhancing central sympathetic outflow. Cervical spinal cord transection abolishes the increase in sympathetic outflow and attenuates the pressor effect of L-NMA. Thus, in addition to lowering BP by direct vasorelaxation, NO may also act in the central nervous system to reduce vascular sympathetic tone. To test this hypothesis we have injected L-NMA directly into the central nervous system in anesthetized rats. Intracisternally (i.c.), L-NMA elicited a small pressor response accompanied by a marked increase in sympathetic renal nerve activity (RNA). In contrast, the inactive stereoisomer N omega-methyl-D-arginine had neither pressor nor neural effects. The increases in RNA and BP elicited by i.c. L-NMA were abolished by spinal cord transection at C1 to C2 and by the i.v. administration of ARG. When administered i.c., ARG also abolished the increase in RNA elicited by i.v. L-NMA and significantly attenuated the pressor response. Thus, our findings indicate that L-NMA acts centrally by an ARG-reversible mechanism in the anesthetized rat to stimulate sympathetic nerve activity. Inasmuch as centrally synthesized NO has been postulated to play a second messenger and/or neurotransmitter role, our findings suggest that one such function would be the central regulation of sympathetic outflow and hence, BP.

Animals↗

[Evaluation of left ventricular relaxation by mitral regurgitant curve].

To examine whether left ventricular (LV) isovolumic relaxation can be assessed noninvasively using a continuous-wave Doppler technique, we compared Doppler-determined parameters derived from mitral regurgitation (MR) velocity curve with micromanometer-derived indices of LV relaxation, peak negative dP/dt and tau, in 9 patients with MR (5 with dilated cardiomyopathy, 2 with old myocardial infarction and 2 with rheumatic MR). The rate of LV pressure decay (delta P/delta t) at aortic valve closure was calculated from the recordings of MR jet velocities based on the simplified Bernoulli equation. The time constant of LV pressure decay (tD) was determined as the time from the aortic valve closure to the point where the velocity declined by (1/e)1/2. Doppler-determined delta P/delta t correlated well with hemodynamic peak negative dP/dt (r = 0.97, p < 0.001), and tD with hemodynamic tau (r = 0.89, p < 0.005). Thus, we concluded that left ventricular isovolumic relaxation can be noninvasively assessed with a continuous-wave Doppler technique in the presence of mitral regurgitation.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[A case of vasovagal syncope associated with venipuncture].

A 33 year-old-man presented recurrent syncopal episodes after venipuncture. This was sometimes associated with seizure. It was also noted that the syncope was aroused by mental stress. The patient was admitted to the department of neurological medicine because of epilepsy. Cardiac arrest of more than 15 seconds was detected during the venipuncture-prooshed syncope test. He had normal routine testing, holter monitoring, head CT scan, carotid sinus massage, valsalva maneuver etc. The syncope was similar to a malignant vasovagal one which has no typical warning signs. He had recurrent syncopal episodes without typical prodrome. Therefore a DDD pacemaker was implanted. It has not been completely established as effective in the treatment of vasovagal syncope, but for the treatment of syncope involving cardioinhibitory action, dual chamber pacing in considered as the main treatment available.

Adult↗