Effect of milrinone on short-term outcome of patients with myocardial dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Myocardial dysfunction needing inotropic support is a typical complication after on-pump cardiac surgery. In this study, we evaluate the effect of milrinone on patients with ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Methods: Seventy patients with impaired left ventricular function [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35%] undergoing on-pump CABG were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either an intraoperative bolus of milrinone (50 &#956;g/kg) or saline as placebo followed by a 24-hour infusion of each agent (0.5 &#956;g/kg/min). Hemodynamic parameters and transthoracic echocardiographic measurement of systolic and diastolic functions were the variables evaluated. Results: Serum levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), occurrence of myocardial ischemia or infarction, and mean duration of using inotropic agents were significantly lower in the milrinone group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding the development of ventricular arrhythmia, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, intra-aortic balloon pump and inotropic support requirement, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of intensive care unit stay and mortality rate. Although mean pre-operative LVEF was significantly lower in the milrinone group, there was no significant difference between post-operative LVEFs. Conclusions: We suggest that perioperative administration of milrinone in patients undergoing on-pump CABG, especially those with low LVEF, is beneficial. (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 1: 73-78

Quantum teleportation with nonclassical correlated states in noninertial frames

Quantum teleportation is studied in noninertial frame, for fermionic case, when Alice and Bob share a general nonclassical correlated state. In noninertial frames two fidelities of teleportation are given. It is found that the average fidelity of teleportation from a separable and nonclassical correlated state is increasing with the amount of nonclassical correlation of the state. However, for any particular nonclassical correlated state, the fidelity of teleportation decreases by increasing the acceleration.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, expanded version to appear in Quantum Inf. Proces

Pseudo-Entanglement Evaluated in Noninertial Frames

We study quantum discord, in addition to entanglement, of bipartite pseudo-entanglement in noninertial frames. It is shown that the entanglement degrades from its maximum value in a stationary frame to a minimum value in an infinite accelerating frame. There is a critical region found in which, for particular cases, entanglement of states vanishes for certain accelerations. The quantum discord of pseudo-entanglement decreases by increasing the acceleration. Also, for a physically inaccessible region, entanglement and nonclassical correlation are evaluated and shown to match the corresponding values of the physically accessible region for an infinite acceleration.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, published versio

RNA steady-state defects in myotonic dystrophy are linked to nuclear exclusion of SHARP

We describe a new mechanism by which CTG tract expansion affects myotonic dystrophy (DM1). Changes to the levels of a panel of RNAs involved in muscle development and function that are downregulated in DM1 are due to aberrant localization of the transcription factor SHARP (SMART/HDAC1-associated repressor protein). Mislocalization of SHARP in DM1 is consistent with increased CRM1-mediated export of SHARP to the cytoplasm. A direct link between CTG repeat expression and SHARP mislocalization is demonstrated as expression of expanded CTG repeats in normal cells recapitulates cytoplasmic SHARP localization. These results demonstrate a role for the inactivation of SHARP transcription in DM1 biology

The association between Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in atherosclerotic plaque and major risk factors in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Background and aim: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae pathogen inside the atherosclerotic plaque of patients undergoing CABG by using PCR assay and to determine whether there is any association between the presence of bacteria in atherosclerotic lesions and classical coronary risk factors. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 102 patients (20 to 79 years old; 73.5% male) undergoing CABG were evaluated in terms of major coronary risk factors and the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae. Results: Chlamydia pneumoniae was found in 23.4% of coronary plaque specimens. Of these, two patients had no risk factor and the rest of the patients had I to 3 risk factors. Patients with positive PCR were more likely to have hypercholesterolaemia (p = 0.009) and low HDL levels (p = 0.000) in comparison with the PCR-negative group. There were no statistical differences for other risk factors. Conclusion: Our results imply the synergic contribution of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA and known dyslipidaemia to the development of atherosclerotic lesions in patients undergoing CABG

Artykuł oryginalny Związek pomiędzy Chlamydia pneumoniae w blaszkach miażdżycowych a czynnikami ryzyka rozwoju choroby wieńcowej u chorych poddawanych rewaskularyzacji chirurgicznej

Background and aim: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae pathogen inside the atherosclerotic plaque of patients undergoing CABG by using PCR assay and to determine whether there is any association between the presence of bacteria in atherosclerotic lesions and classical coronary risk factors. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 102 patients (20 to 79 years old; 73.5% male) undergoing CABG were evaluated in terms of major coronary risk factors and the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae. Results: Chlamydia pneumoniae was found in 23.4% of coronary plaque specimens. Of these, two patients had no risk factor and the rest of the patients had 1 to 3 risk factors. Patients with positive PCR were more likely to have hypercholesterolaemia (p = 0.009) and low HDL levels (p = 0.000) in comparison with the PCR-negative group. There were no statistical differences for other risk factors. Conclusion: Our results imply the synergic contribution of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA and known dyslipidaemia to the development of atherosclerotic lesions in patients undergoing CABG.Wstęp: Od dawna sugerowano istnienie związku pomiędzy rozwojem choroby wieńcowej a infekcją Chlamydia pneumoniae. Cel: Ocena częstości występowania patogenu Chlamydia pneumoniae w blaszkach miażdżycowych uzyskanych z naczyń wieńcowych chorych poddawanych operacji pomostowania aortalno-wieńcowego (CABG). Metody: U 102 chorych (20&#8211;79 lat, 73,5% mężczyzn), u których wykonano CABG, oceniono czynniki ryzyka choroby wieńcowej oraz zbadano blaszki miażdżycowe z pobranych fragmentów tętnic wieńcowych na obecność Chlamydia pneumoniae (metoda PCR). Wyniki: Patogen Chlamydia pneumoniae został wykryty w 23,4% badanych blaszek miażdżycowych. Spośród chorych, od których pochodziły blaszki, u dwóch nie stwierdzono obecności czynników ryzyka chorób sercowo-naczyniowych, a u pozostałych występowało 1&#8211;3 takich czynników. Chorzy, u których stwierdzono w blaszkach miażdżycowych Chlamydia pneumoniae, mieli znacząco częściej hipercholesterolemię (p = 0,009) i niskie stężenie cholesterolu HDL (p = 0,000) niż chorzy bez tego patogenu. Wnioski: Wyniki naszego badania sugerują synergistyczny wpływ Chlamydia pneumoniae i dyslipidemii na rozwój blaszki miażdżycowej u chorych poddawanych CABG