A very rare image in cardiology: posterolateral artery myocardial bridge

Muscle overlying of an epicardial coronary artery is termed a myocardial bridge. The frequency of myocardial bridging reported in angiographic studies varies from 0.5 to 16%.1 Myocardial bridging is usually confined to the left anterior descending coronary artery. A myocardial bridge of the branches of the right coronary artery is very rare.     

双源CT 冠状动脉血管成像诊断心肌桥的价值探讨

目的：研究双源CT 冠状动脉血管成像诊断心肌桥的临床价值。方法：选择260 例具有典型心前区不适的患者进行双源CT 冠脉血管成像检查,观察其发生部位,测量其长度和深度并进行分析。结果：260 例受检患者中,62例共70 段存在心肌桥,检出率 达20.76%,高于文献报道的检出率18.2%。所有心肌桥均发生于左前降支,其中近段17 段(24.4%),中段43 段(61.4%),远段10 段 (14.2%)。心肌桥平均长度为15.8± 6.4mm,深度为1.4± 0.85mm。结论：双源CT 冠状动脉血管成像因其便捷无创,不受心率严格 限制且价格低廉可作为心肌桥筛查的理想检查手段。     

双源CT冠状动脉血管成像诊断心肌桥的价值探讨

目的：研究双源CT冠状动脉血管成像诊断心肌桥的临床价值。方法：选择260例具有典型心前区不适的患者进行双源CT冠脉血管成像检查,观察其发生部位,测量其长度和深度并进行分析。结果：260例受检患者中,62例共70段存在心肌桥,检出率达20.76%,高于文献报道的检出率18.2%。所有心肌桥均发生于左前降支,其中近段17段（24.4%）,中段43段（61.4%）,远段10段（14.2%）。心肌桥平均长度为15.8±6.4mm,深度为1.4±0.85mm。结论：双源CT冠状动脉血管成像因其便捷无创,不受心率严格限制且价格低廉可作为心肌桥筛查的理想检查手段。     

Comparative analysis of the X-ray morphology of coronary atherosclerosis and the results of endovascular interventions performed in the subacute period and 6 months after prior myocardial infarction

The study was undertaken to analyze the morphology of coronary lesion and the angiographic results of interventions made in the subacute period and 6 months after prior myocardial infarction. It included 593 patients with and without prior Q-wave myocardial infarction. The X-ray morphological parameters of the coronary bed were analyzed in the patients who had undergone invasive studies within a month (n = 362) and 6 months (n = 231) after sustained myocardial infarction. In both groups, the successful intervention rate was also estimated during endovascular treatment. The study showed that the number of stenoses with the complicated morphology (type B) was significantly more 6 months after sustained myocardial infarction than that in the subacute period. The number of occluded segments with the characteristics that were unfavorable for endovascular intervention (bridge collaterals, extended occlusions) was also significantly more in the late periods. In the subacute period, the angiographic success rate of endovascular recanalizations of chronic occlusions was 83.4%, which was significantly higher than that (62.6%) 6 months following infarction. The findings have led us to the conclusion that it is necessary to make routine coronary angiography in all postinfarction patients during their hospital stay in order to define the potentialities of early revascularization.     

Dynamic myocardial contractile parameters from left ventricular pressure-volume measurements

A new dynamic model of left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume relationships in beating heart was developed by mathematically linking chamber pressure-volume dynamics with cardiac muscle force-length dynamics. The dynamic LV model accounted for >80% of the measured variation in pressure caused by small-amplitude volume perturbation in an otherwise isovolumically beating, isolated rat heart. The dynamic LV model produced good fits to pressure responses to volume perturbations, but there existed some systematic features in the residual errors of the fits. The issue was whether these residual errors would be damaging to an application where the dynamic LV model was used with LV pressure and volume measurements to estimate myocardial contractile parameters. Good agreement among myocardial parameters responsible for response magnitude was found between those derived by geometric transformations of parameters of the dynamic LV model estimated in beating heart and those found by direct measurement in constantly activated, isolated muscle fibers. Good agreement was also found among myocardial kinetic parameters estimated in each of the two preparations. Thus the small systematic residual errors from fitting the LV model to the dynamic pressure-volume measurements do not interfere with use of the dynamic LV model to estimate contractile parameters of myocardium. Dynamic contractile behavior of cardiac muscle can now be obtained from a beating heart by judicious application of the dynamic LV model to information-rich pressure and volume signals. This provides for the first time a bridge between the dynamics of cardiac muscle function and the dynamics of heart function and allows a beating heart to be used in studies where the relevance of myofilament contractile behavior to cardiovascular system function may be investigated.     

Mechanics of the left ventricular myocardial interstitium: effects of acute and chronic myocardial edema

Myocardial interstitial edema forms as a result of several disease states and clinical interventions. Acute myocardial interstitial edema is associated with compromised systolic and diastolic cardiac function and increased stiffness of the left ventricular chamber. Formation of chronic myocardial interstitial edema results in deposition of interstitial collagen, which causes interstitial fibrosis. To assess the effect of myocardial interstitial edema on the mechanical properties of the left ventricle and the myocardial interstitium, we induced acute and chronic interstitial edema in dogs. Acute myocardial edema was generated by coronary sinus pressure elevation, while chronic myocardial edema was generated by chronic pulmonary artery banding. The pressure-volume relationships of the left ventricular myocardial interstitium and left ventricular chamber for control animals were compared with acutely and chronically edematous animals. Collagen content of nonedematous and chronically edematous animals was also compared. Generating acute myocardial interstitial edema resulted in decreased left ventricular chamber compliance compared with nonedematous animals. With chronic edema, the primary form of collagen changed from type I to III. Left ventricular chamber compliance in animals made chronically edematous was significantly higher than nonedematous animals. The change in primary collagen type secondary to chronic left ventricular myocardial interstitial edema provides direct evidence for structural remodeling. The resulting functional adaptation allows the chronically edematous heart to maintain left ventricular chamber compliance when challenged with acute edema, thus preserving cardiac function over a wide range of interstitial fluid pressures.     

Cooperative mechanisms of thin filament activation and their contribution to the myocardial contractile function: Assessment in a mathematical model

A mathematical model was used for comparative analysis of the contribution to the myocardial mechanical activity of two potentially possible variants of the cooperative influence of myosin cross-bridges on calcium activation of sarcomere actin filaments. One of these variants implies that the cooperative action of the cross-bridge on the affinity of troponin C for calcium is localized within the functional group A₇TmTn (seven adjacent globular actin monomers, tropomyosin, and one troponin complex TnC + TnI + TnT) where this bridge is attached. The second variant is based on the assumption that cross-bridges may influence the troponin C affinity for calcium also in neighboring A₇TmTn groups (and the closer the group is positioned relative to the bridge, the stronger is the influence on the CaTnC complex affinity in this group). The contribution of each of these two variants to the active mechanical behavior of the cardiac muscle in the contraction-relaxation cycle was assessed. It turned out that adequate simulation of the muscle mechanical activity is provided only by the second variant. Thus, the results of modeling argue in favor of the existence of just this variant of cooperativity.     

Impaired myocardial perfusion reserve in experimental hypercholesterolemia is independent of myocardial neovascularization

Our objective was to investigate the functional role of hypercholesterolemia-associated myocardial neovascularization in early atherosclerosis using the antiangiogenic thalidomide. Experimental atherosclerosis is characterized by myocardial neovascularization, associated with a decrease in myocardial perfusion response to challenge, coronary endothelial dysfunction, and high oxidative stress. However, the functional significance of these neovessels is not known. Three groups of pigs (n = 6 each) were studied after 12 wk of normal or hypercholesterolemic diet without (HC) or with thalidomide (HC + Thal). Myocardial perfusion and permeability were assessed at baseline and in response to cardiac challenge, using electron beam computed tomography, and coronary endothelial function was assessed using organ chambers. Myocardial samples were scanned ex vivo with a three-dimensional microscopic computed tomography scanner, and the spatial density of the myocardial microvessels was quantified. Growth factors and oxidative stress were measured in the myocardial tissue. As a results of these procedures, myocardial perfusion response to adenosine and dobutamine was blunted in both HC and HC + Thal pigs compared with normal pigs (P < 0.05, HC and HC + Thal vs. normal) as was the coronary endothelial function. Myocardial permeability response to adenosine was increased in both HC and HC + Thal pigs compared with normal pigs (P < 0.05, HC and HC + Thal vs. normal, and HC + Thal vs. HC). The microvascular density was increased in HC pigs compared with normal pigs but normalized in HC + Thal pigs (P < 0.001 HC vs. normal and HC + Thal). HC + Thal pigs showed decreased expression of Flk-1 and basic FGF but increased expression of VEGF compared with normal and HC pigs. Oxidative stress was increased in both HC and HC + Thal pigs compared with normal pigs. In conclusion, chronic administration of thalidomide attenuates myocardial neovascularization in experimental HC pigs without affecting myocardial perfusion response to stimulation. This suggests that the myocardial neovascularization may not contribute to the attenuated myocardial perfusion response in hypercholesterolemia.     

ACS,myocardial bridging,Tako-tsubo syndrome and mitral regurgitation

Isolated systolic compression of the mid portion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) by a bridge of overlying cardiac muscle is an infrequent but well-recognised angiographic anomaly that is often considered harmless. The long-term prognosis appears to be excellent, but occasional reports of patients with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and sudden death indicate that this is not always true. The prevalence of the anomaly in the normal population is unknown, but the incidence is low and ischaemic events are rare.Tako-tsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction syndrome (TTS) is characterised by ischaemia, anterior ST-segment elevation, no significant coronary artery disease and reversible ampulla-like left ventricular ballooning in postmenopausal females after emotional or physical stress. Dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is a rare but potentially fatal complication of acute anterior wall infarction.We present a patient with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with ST-segment elevation in the anterior leads, transient TTS and transient LVOT obstruction with systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve and severe mitral regurgitation. This is the first report of myocardial bridging associated with TTS, and the first report of TTS associated with dynamic LVOT obstruction with SAM and mitral regurgitation.     

急性心肌梗死患者肠道优势菌群分析

目的探讨急性心肌梗死患者肠道优势菌群的改变及其与疾病严重程度的关系。方法共筛选急性心肌梗死患者71名及正常健康体检者33名,急性心肌梗死患者根据是否心衰分为急性心肌梗死组36名和急性心肌梗死伴泵衰竭组35名,所有入选者收集大便及血清标本,分别采用qPCR及化学发光仪测定肠道优势菌群改变和血清脑钠肽前体及肌钙蛋白水平。结果急性心肌梗死患者肠道优势菌群显著改变,肠道肠杆菌以及肠球菌细菌数量较对照组显著增加,均与脑钠肽前体、肌钙蛋白、Killip分级显著正相关,而双歧杆菌、乳酸杆菌等细菌数量显著降低,与脑钠肽前体、肌钙蛋白、Killip分级显著负相关。结论急性心肌梗死患者呈现典型的肠道菌群紊乱,且与患者疾病严重程度相关。     

Mesenchymal stem cell injection after myocardial infarction improves myocardial compliance

Cellular therapy for myocardial injury has improved ventricular function in both animal and clinical studies, though the mechanism of benefit is unclear. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of cellular injection after infarction on myocardial elasticity. Coronary artery ligation of Lewis rats was followed by direct injection of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the acutely ischemic myocardium. Two weeks postinfarct, myocardial elasticity was mapped by atomic force microscopy. MSC-injected hearts near the infarct region were twofold stiffer than myocardium from noninfarcted animals but softer than myocardium from vehicle-treated infarcted animals. After 8 wk, the following variables were evaluated: MSC engraftment and left ventricular geometry by histological methods, cardiac function with a pressure-volume conductance catheter, myocardial fibrosis by Masson Trichrome staining, vascularity by immunohistochemistry, and apoptosis by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay. The human cells engrafted and expressed a cardiomyocyte protein but stopped short of full differentiation and did not stimulate significant angiogenesis. MSC-injected hearts showed significantly less fibrosis than controls, as well as less left ventricular dilation, reduced apoptosis, increased myocardial thickness, and preservation of systolic and diastolic cardiac function. In summary, MSC injection after myocardial infarction did not regenerate contracting cardiomyocytes but reduced the stiffness of the subsequent scar and attenuated postinfarction remodeling, preserving some cardiac function. Improving scarred heart muscle compliance could be a functional benefit of cellular cardiomyoplasty.     

Experimental study of myocardial bridges

Myocardial bridges were reproduced in dogs by transfer of a fragment of the left ventricular wall above the upper portion of the anterior interventricular artery. The viability of this bridge was shown by coronarography, anatomic, histologic and electron microscopic studies, illustrating the vascular patency and the integrity of blood vessels and neighbouring myocardium in the cases postoperatively heparinized. The experimental model efficiency was also proved by ECG examinations revealing ischemic distresses induced by compression of the bridge against the underlying artery.     

大鼠心肌梗死模型构建和评价方法的改良

目的 优化和改良大鼠心肌梗死模型的构建和评价方法,提高模型的可靠性和稳定性.方法 取雄性SD大鼠结扎左冠状动脉前降支建立心肌梗死模型,在模型的构建过程中从麻醉、插气管、保温、手术操作、术后护理等环节进行优化和改进,并观察不同的麻醉方法和术后时间对心肌梗死程度的影响,用不同的染色方式进行心肌梗死模型的评价.结果 对比大鼠心肌梗死模型构建过程中各组大鼠麻醉时间、术后恢复以及心肌梗死面积的结果,戊巴比妥钠是更合适的麻醉药;结扎手术后时间对模型心肌梗死范围无明显影响（P＆gt;0.05）,但心肌缺血危险区面积随术后时间的延长明显减少（P〈0.01）;TTC与依文思蓝双重染色相对TTC染色能明显观察到心肌缺血危险区和梗死区范围.结论 优化和改进后的大鼠心肌梗死模型,提高了动物福利,制备和评价方法更加客观准确.     

Myocardial abscess complicating healed myocardial infarction.

An isolated myocardial abscess due to Bacteroides fragilis developed in the scar of a myocardial infarction. Fever, chills and signs of pericarditis were the main clinical features. Mild enteritis 1 week prior to the onset of symptoms related to the abscess was the most likely cause of the bacteremia. The diagnosis was established at thoracotomy, performed because of cardiac tamponade. Thirteen other cases of isolated bacterial myocardial abscess accompanying myocardial infarction have been reported, but all the infarctions were recent. Surgical resection for a suspected myocardial abscess should be considered in view of the high mortality, largely from cardiac rupture.     

Mesenchymal stem cells are superior to angiogenic growth factor genes for improving myocardial performance in the mouse model of acute myocardial infarction

Summary Both cell therapy and angiogenic growth factor gene therapy have been applied to animal studies and clinical trials. Little is known about the direct comparison between cell therapy and angiogenic growth factor gene therapy. The goal of this study was to compare the effects of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) transplantation and injection of angiogenic growth factor genes in a model of acute myocardial infarction in mice. The hMSCs were obtained from adult human bone marrow and expanded in vitro. The purity and characteristics of hMSCs were identified by flow cytometry and immunophenotyping. Immediately after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in male severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, culture-expanded hMSCs or angiogenic growth factor genes were injected intramuscularly at the left anterior free wall. The engrafted hMSCs were positive for cardiac marker, desmin. Infarct size was significantly smaller in the hMSCs-treated group than in the angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-treated group at day 28 after infarction. hMSCs transplantation was better in decreasing left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and increasing fractional shortening than Ang1 or VEGF gene therapy. Capillary density was markedly increased after hMSCs transplantation than Ang1 and VEGF gene therapy. In conclusion, intramyocardial transplantation of hMSCs improves cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction through enhancement of angiogenesis and myogenesis in the ischemic myocardium. hMSCs are superior to angiogenic growth factor genes for improving myocardial performance in the mouse model of acute myocardial infarction. Transplantation of MSCs may become the future therapy for acute myocardial infarction for myocardial regeneration.     

钙敏感受体通过JNK途径参与内毒素心肌损伤*

目的: 观察内毒素所致的心肌损伤中,钙敏感受体(CaSR)对c-Jun氨基末端激酶 (JNK)途径的影响。方法: 腹腔注射内毒素(5 mg/kg)制作新生大鼠内毒素心肌损伤模型,Wistar新生大鼠随机分为6组:对照组、内毒素组、CaSR激动剂组、CaSR抑制剂组、JNK抑制剂组、CaSR抑制剂+JNK抑制剂组。HE染色观察心肌形态, 测定血清乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量,PCR检测IL-6的mRNA表达,Western blot检测CaSR及JNK的蛋白表达。结果: 与对照组相比,内毒素组心肌损伤加重,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达均明显增加(P＜0.05)。与内毒素组比较,CaSR激动剂组心肌损伤加重,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达增加(P＜0.05); CaSR抑制剂组心肌损伤减轻,LDH含量、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达减少(P＜0.05);JNK抑制剂组心肌损伤进一步减轻,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达均减少(P＜0.05);CaSR抑制剂+JNK抑制剂组心肌损伤明显减轻,LDH含量、IL-6的mRNA表达、CaSR和JNK的蛋白表达进一步减少(P＜0.05)。结论: CaSR可能通过JNK途径参与内毒素所致的心肌损伤。     

Effect of Eleutherococcus on the subcellular structures of the heart in experimental myocardial infarct

The effect of Eleutherococcus on subcellular heart organization in rats with or without myocardial infarction was investigated. It was found that Eleutherococcus decreases ultrastructural lesions in the ischemic area, intensifies regeneration of subcellular structures and accelerates the recovery after myocardial infarction. The accumulation of glycogen, lipids and lysosomes is observed in lipocytes. It is suggested that positive effect of Eleutherococcus during myocardial infarction is related to lipid transformation into glycogen.     

Pregnancy-related myocardial infarction

Introduction

The risk of acute myocardial infarction in young women is low, but increases during pregnancy due to the physiological changes in pregnancy, including hypercoagulability. Ischaemic heart disease during pregnancy is not only associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality, but also with high neonatal complications. Advancing maternal age and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases may further increase the risk of ischaemic heart disease in young women.

Methods

We searched the coronary angiography database of a Dutch teaching hospital to identify women with acute myocardial infarction who presented during pregnancy or postpartum between 2011 and 2013.

Results

We found two cases. Both women were in their early thirties and both suffered from myocardial infarction in the postpartum period. Acute myocardial infarction was due to coronary stenotic occlusion in one patient and due to coronary artery dissection in the other patient. Coronary artery dissection is a relatively frequent cause of myocardial infarction during pregnancy. Both women were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention and survived.

Conclusion

Physicians should be aware of the increased risk of myocardial infarction when encountering pregnant or postpartum women presenting with chest pain.

     

Redistribution of myocardial blood flow in chronic ischemia under the effects of pharmacological agents

In the experiments with anesthetized dogs under chronic myocardial ischemia the effect of propranolol, diltiazem, lithium and sodium hydroxybutyrate on the myocardial blood flow redistribution was studied with the help of ultrasonic method. The redistribution was estimated by the ratio change of blood flows in veins which drain blood directly from the focus of myocardial ischemia and total myocardial of left ventricular (v cardiac magna). It was established that propranolol increases the ratio and diltiazem decreases it. Some differences in the effect of antihypoxic drugs were revealed. Sodium hydroxybutyrate redistributed the blood flow in favour of the focus of myocardial ischemia and lithium hydroxybutyrate increased the blood flow both in the focus of myocardial ischemia and in the conditionally-intact region of myocardium of left ventricular.