Diastolic dysfunction, which is increasingly viewed as being influential in precipitating heart failure and determining prognosis, is often unrecognized and has therapeutic implications distinct from those that occur with systolic dysfunction. In this review, several therapeutic modalities including pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, and surgical approaches for primary diastolic dysfunction and heart failure will be discussed.
Heart Failure ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Pericarditis, Constrictive*

Heart failure with a normal ejection fraction is interchangeably termed diastolic heart failure. This condition is often unrecognized and it does have diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications that are distinct from those conditions with systolic dysfunction. It is clinically important to understand and assess the diastolic function to reliably manage the patients suffering with heart failure. With the results of randomized trials for this distinct clinical syndrome, as well as the probability of better diagnostic testing in the future, physicians will in a better position not only to diagnose diastolic dysfunction or heart failure, but also to manage it more effectively. In this review, the physiology of the diastole and how to evaluate the abnormalities of the diastolic function will be discussed.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Diastole ; Heart Failure ; Heart Failure, Diastolic ; Humans ; Physiology ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left*

The purpose of our study was to investigate changes in immunological parameters induced by weaning stress (including milk restriction) in calves. Fifteen Holstein calves were subjected to weaning at 6 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected at -14, -7, -2, 1, 3, and 5 days post-weaning (DPW; 0 DPW = 42 days). Weaning caused significant (p < 0.01) increases in the neutrophil (NE):lymphocyte (LY) ratio at 5 DPW with a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of LYs. The concentration of acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) also increased significantly (p < 0.05) at 3 and 5 DPW compared to -2 DPW. Levels of the iron-binding protein lactoferrin decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after weaning. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cortisol levels were elevated (p < 0.05) at 3 DPW, while those of serum interferon-gamma decreased (p < 0.05) at 1 and 3 DPW compared to levels observed before weaning. Weaning significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the percentage of CD25+ T cells in the peripheral blood. In conclusion, weaning stress affected the NE:LY ratio along with the levels of acute phase proteins, lactoferrin, cortisol, and inflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood of calves. Weaning stress may induce an acute phase response possibly through the elevation of cortisol production and modulation of inflammatory cytokines.
Acute-Phase Proteins/*immunology/metabolism ; Acute-Phase Reaction/immunology/*veterinary ; Animals ; Cattle/*immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Haptoglobins/analysis/immunology ; Hydrocortisone/blood/immunology ; Interferon-gamma/blood/immunology ; Lactoferrin/analysis/immunology ; Leukocyte Count/veterinary ; Leukocytes/cytology/*immunology ; Male ; Serum Amyloid A Protein/analysis/immunology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood/immunology ; Weaning

BACKGROUDN: The ratio of mitral inflow (E) and annular velocity (E') to stroke volume (E/E'/SV) has been used as an index of diastolic elastance (Ed). However, its change during exercise has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that Ed values obtained during exercise would be abnormal in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM). METHODS: Ed was measured at rest and during graded supine bicycle exercise (25 Watts, 3 minute increments) in 15 patients with ApHCM (12 male; mean age, 57 years) and in 15 age- and gender-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Ed was not significantly different at rest and during 25 W of exercise. However, Ed was significantly higher at 50 W of exercise in patients with ApHCM compared to control subjects (0.21+/-0.05 vs. 0.15+/-0.04 cm/s, p=0.0059). There was significant positive correlation between the magnitude of change in proBNP levels during exercise and the change of Ed from rest to 50 W of exercise (r2=0.69, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Noninvasively-determined Ed was similar at rest and during mild exercise between patients with ApHCM and control subjects. However, Ed was significantly higher during moderate exercise in ApHCM patients, suggesting a dynamic change in LV stiffness during exercise in these patients.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Humans ; Male ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUDN: The ratio of mitral inflow (E) and annular velocity (E') to stroke volume (E/E'/SV) has been used as an index of diastolic elastance (Ed). However, its change during exercise has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that Ed values obtained during exercise would be abnormal in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM). METHODS: Ed was measured at rest and during graded supine bicycle exercise (25 Watts, 3 minute increments) in 15 patients with ApHCM (12 male; mean age, 57 years) and in 15 age- and gender-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Ed was not significantly different at rest and during 25 W of exercise. However, Ed was significantly higher at 50 W of exercise in patients with ApHCM compared to control subjects (0.21+/-0.05 vs. 0.15+/-0.04 cm/s, p=0.0059). There was significant positive correlation between the magnitude of change in proBNP levels during exercise and the change of Ed from rest to 50 W of exercise (r2=0.69, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Noninvasively-determined Ed was similar at rest and during mild exercise between patients with ApHCM and control subjects. However, Ed was significantly higher during moderate exercise in ApHCM patients, suggesting a dynamic change in LV stiffness during exercise in these patients.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Humans ; Male ; Stroke Volume

The aflatoxin B1 degrading abilities of two different ruminants were compared in this study. One set of experiments evaluated the aflatoxin B1 degradation ability of different rumen fluid donors (steers vs. goats) as well as the rumen fluid filtration method (cheese cloth filtered vs. 0.45 microm Millipore) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Additional studies examined aflatoxin B1 degradation by collecting rumen fluid at different times (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h) after feeding. Cannulated Holstein steers (740 +/- 10 kg bw) and Korean native goats (26 +/- 3 kg bw) were fed a 60% timothy and 40% commercial diet with free access to water. Rumen fluid from Korean native goats demonstrated higher (p < 0.01) aflatoxin B1 degradability than Holstein steers. However, filtration method had no significant influence on degradability. In addition, aflatoxin degradation did not depend upon rumen fluid collection time after feeding, as no significant differences were observed. Finally, a comparison of two types of diet high in roughage found aflatoxin degradability in goats was higher with timothy hay opposed to rice straw, although individual variation existed. Thus, our findings showed the aflatoxin degradability is comparatively higher in goats compared to steers.
Aflatoxin B1/*chemistry/*metabolism ; Animals ; Body Fluids/*chemistry/metabolism ; Cattle/*physiology ; Goats/*physiology ; Korea ; Male ; Rumen/*metabolism