Establishment of a Reperfusion Model in Rabbits with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Clinically effective cardioprotection under acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can only be achieved by establishing the mechanisms of reperfusion-induced cardiac cell death. In spite of the numerous earlier studies on the prevention of ischemia–reperfusion injury of myocardium, the problem of cardiac cell death upon reperfusion is not yet resolved. Even though animal models provide an immense opportunity in the understanding of the mechanisms of ischemia–reperfusion injury, clinically relevant animal models through which translation of this knowledge into clinic are lacking. In this work, we have established a reperfusion model in rabbits with induced AMI by obstructing and releasing the left anterior ventricular branch of left circumflex coronary artery, which is clinically more relevant. This was achieved by cutting the two left ribs of the rabbit followed by obstructing and releasing the artery unlike the traditional approach, which involves incision through sternum and blocking the anterior descending coronary artery. This animal model of ischemia–reperfusion more closely mimics the physiological condition and also the trauma the animal suffers is much smaller with higher survival rate and thus is a potentially better model for studying the pathology related to ischemia–reperfusion injury.     

扶正化瘀胶囊对心肌梗死大鼠心肌纤维化的影响

目的：急性心肌梗死是危害人类健康的重大疾病之一,心肌梗死后心肌纤维化是造成心脏结构破坏、心功能下降、心律失常发生、心衰甚至猝死的微观病理机制。防治心肌纤维化是当前医学研究的重点和热点。本研究主要探讨扶正化瘀胶囊对心肌梗死大鼠心肌纤维化的干预作用。方法：大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、扶正化瘀胶囊组和卡托普利组,采用结扎冠状动脉前降支的方法建立心肌梗死模型,假手术组只穿线,不结扎。于造模成功后第10天开始给予相应药物治疗2个月。治疗结束后,检测左心室梗死范围和心肌胶原含量。结果：与假手术组比较,模型组、扶正化瘀胶囊组和卡托普利组的非梗死区面积显著减小（P〈0.01）。与模型组比较,扶正化瘀胶囊组和卡托普利组的梗死区面积和梗死百分比显著减小（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。在心肌胶原表达上,与假手术组比较,模型组和扶正化瘀胶囊组胶原含量显著增加（P〈0.01）。与模型组比较,卡托普利组和扶正化瘀胶囊组胶原含量显著降低（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。结论：扶正化瘀胶囊能够改善心肌缺血,缩小心肌梗死范围,抑制心肌胶原表达,除能用于肝纤维化的治疗外,还能用于防治心肌梗死后的心肌纤维化。     

Psychological Stress in Wives of Patients with Myocardial Infarction

In a study of the psychological consequences of myocardial infarction on 65 wives of husbands admitted to a coronary care unit feelings of loss, depression, and guilt were common at the time of infarction. Many wives (38%) found the period of convalescence after discharge very stressful, attributing this to fears of a recurrent infarct and marital tension owing to their husbands'' increased irritability and dependency. These anxieties and tensions gradually diminished and at one year after the initial illness only eight wives whose husbands had made a good physical recovery still showed considerable psychological disturbance. It is suggested that unnecessary emotional distress, particularly in the initial period after discharge from hospital, can be alleviated by increased help and support from the hospital and family doctor.