Echocardiographic quantification of myocardial function using tissue deformation imaging, a guide to image acquisition and analysis using tissue Doppler and speckle tracking

Recent developments in the field of echocardiography have allowed the cardiologist to objectively quantify regional and global myocardial function. Regional deformation (strain) and deformation rate (strain-rate) can be calculated non-invasively in both the left and right ventricle, providing information on regional (dys-)function in a variety of clinical settings. Although this promising novel technique is increasingly applied in clinical and preclinical research, knowledge about the principles, limitations and technical issues of this technique is mandatory for reliable results and for implementation both in the clinical as well as the scientific field. In this article, we aim to explain the fundamental concepts and potential clinical applicability of strain and strain-rate for both tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) derived and speckle tracking (2D-strain) derived deformation imaging. In addition, a step-by-step approach to image acquisition and post processing is proposed. Finally, clinical examples of deformation imaging in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) are presented.     

The SPORTCOR registry: a national databank for sports cardiology

Being physically active is generally regarded as the best buy to prevent (cardiovascular) disease. Although the positive effects of regular exercise prevail, negative aspects of sports activity, particularly sportsrelated injuries, should not be ignored. Sudden cardiac death can be regarded as the most tragic sports-related injury.     

Targeting residual inflammatory risk in coronary disease: to catch a monkey by its tail

Netherlands Heart Journal - Patients with coronary disease remain at high risk for future cardiovascular events, even with optimal risk factor modification, lipid-lowering drugs and antithrombotic...     

Physical training in patients with chronic heart failure: An elaboration of the statements from the Committee on Cardiac Rehabilitation of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation and review of studies on physical training in chronic heart failure

Chronic heart failure (CHF) can be defined as a complex of symptoms and signs caused by cardiac dysfunction. Dyspnoea on exertion, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance and fluid retention are hallmarks of the syndrome.Reduced peripheral blood flow, endothelial dysfunction, alterations in skeletal muscle structure and function, an increased activity of the muscle ergoreflex, as well as autonomic and neurohormonal activation reduce exercise performance, ultimately leading to physical deconditioning in CHF patients.The beneficial effects of physical training for CHF patients are increasingly acknowledged. Based on European and American guidelines on physical training in CHF, results from controlled randomised trials (summarised in this paper) and expert opinions, the Dutch Committee on Cardiac Rehabilitation has formulated statements on physical training in CHF.In addition, recommendations implementing physical training programmes in CHF patients are given. The selection criteria, contraindications and methods, and duration of a physical training programme in heart failure are discussed. Concomitant with the training programme, a multidisciplinary intervention programme is needed to stimulate patients to adopt and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.     

Effect of Age-Stiffening Tissues and Intraocular Pressure on Optic Nerve Damages

Age-stiffening of ocular tissues is statistically linked to glaucoma in the elderly. In this study, the effects of age-stiffening on the lamina cribrosa, the primary site of glaucomatous nerve damages, were modeled using computational finite element analysis. We showed that glaucomatous nerve damages and peripheral vision loss behavior can be phenomenologically modeled by shear-based damage criterion. Using this damage criterion, the potential vision loss for 30 years old with mild hypertension of 25mmHg intraocular pressure (IOP) was estimated to be 4%. When the IOP was elevated to 35mmHg, the potential vision loss rose to 45%; and age-stiffening from 35 to 60 years old increased the potential vision loss to 52%. These results showed that while IOP plays a central role in glaucomatous damages, age-stiffening facilitates glaucomatous damages and may be the principal factor that resulted in a higher rate of glaucoma in the elderly than the general population.     

Genbank accession #: AJ133707

Plant Molecular Biology -     

Genbank accession #: AJ237597

Plant Molecular Biology -     

Genbank accession #: 133708

Plant Molecular Biology -     

Improvement in in?vitro fertilization outcome following in?vivo synchronization of oocyte maturation in mice

Synchronization of oocyte maturation in vitro has been shown to produce higher in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates than those observed in oocytes matured in vitro without synchronization. However, the increased IVF rates never exceeded those observed in oocytes matured in vivo without synchronization. This study was therefore designed to define the effect of in vivo synchronization of oocyte maturation on IVF rates. Mice were superovulated and orally treated with 7.5 mg cilostazol (CLZ), a phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) inhibitor, to induce ovulation of immature oocytes at different stages depending on frequency and time of administration of CLZ. Mice treated with CLZ ovulated germinal vesicle (GV) or metaphase I (MI) oocytes that underwent maturation in vitro or in vivo (i.e. in the oviduct) followed by IVF. Superovulated control mice ovulated mature oocytes that underwent IVF directly upon collection. Ovulated MI oocytes matured in vitro or in vivo had similar maturation rates but significantly higher IVF rates, 2–4 cell embryos, than those observed in control oocytes. Ovulated GV oocytes matured in vitro showed similar maturation rates but significantly higher IVF rates than those observed in control oocytes. However, ovulated GV oocytes matured in vivo had significantly lower IVF rates than those noted in control oocytes. It is concluded that CLZ is able to synchronize oocyte maturation and improve IVF rates in superovulated mice. CLZ may be capable of showing similar effects in humans, especially since temporal arrest of human oocyte maturation with other PDE3A inhibitors in vitro was found to improve oocyte competence level. The capability of a clinically approved PDE3A inhibitor to improve oocyte fertilization rates in mice at doses extrapolated from human therapeutic doses suggests the potential scenario of the inclusion of CLZ in superovulation programs. This may improve IVF outcomes in infertile patients.