No abstract

A B S T R A C T Free fatty acids (FFA) in excess FFA: albumin molar ratios have been determined to additionally compromise mechanical performance in ischemic hearts. Carnitine, an intracellular carrier of FFA and an agent which is lost to the heart during ischemia, has been postulated to in part restore function with its replacement. To test whether its benefits are also operative in a setting of excess FFA, these studies were performed. In the main protocol, four groups ofperfused swine hearts (n = 45) were compared during 50 min of control flow (179.7 ml/min) and 40 min of global ischemia (106.1 ml/min). Initial base-line serum FFA:albumin molar ratios and carnitine levels in all groups were 1.3:1 and 8.5 nmol/ml, respectively. In two of these groups FFA:albumin ratios were increased to 5.9:1 with constant infusions of Intralipid. In two alternate groups (one with and one without extra FFA supplements) DL-carnitine was supplied, sufficient to increase serum levels nearly 200-fold. Ischemia per se in 14 hearts significantly decreased several parameters of global and regional mechanical function including left ventricular (LV) and mean aortic pressures, LV isovolumetric pressure development (max dp/dt), LV epicardial motion, and LV work, together with concomitant decreases in myocardial oxygen consumption. Elevated FFA in 12 hearts rendered similarly ischemic further decreased mechanical function (LV pressure: -20.8%, P < 0.05; mean aortic pressure -26.9%, P < 0.05; LV max dp/dt: -39%, P < 0.05; regional LV shortening: -51.1%, P < 0.05; and LV work: -50.3%, P < 0. 15 March 1979. 440 dynamic performance. However, DL-carnitine in 10 high FFA-ischemic hearts effected several improvements as compared with the untreated group: LV pressure was increased 25.6%, P < 0.025; mean aortic pressure: +43.5%, P < 0.05; LV max dp/dt: +41.5%, P < 0.05; regional LV shortening: +241.3%, P < 0.001; and LV work: +76.2%, P < 0.05 at comparable levels of myocardial oxygen consumption. In a separate protocol, the effects of stereospecificity were also studied by comparing L-with DL-carnitine in globally perfused, palmitate-supplemented hearts (five hearts in each treatment group). At similar conditions of flow and serum FFA, changes in mechanical function were comparable, except for a tendency to perform greater LV work at reduced flows in the L-carnitine-treated hearts. Thus, it was demonstrated that carnitine in ischemic hearts is capable of preserving mechanical function under conditions of excess FFA, presumably by modifying the toxic effects of FFA intermediates. The major therapeutic actions appeared to derive from the L-isomer of carnitine.

A Compton X-ray backscatter imaging (CBI) system using a single detector and a mechanically rastered "flying spot" X-ray beam has been designed, built, and tested. While retaining the essential noninvasive imaging capability of previous multiple detector CBI devices, this single detector system incorporates several advances over earlier CBI devices: more efficient detection of scattered X-rays, reduced X-ray exposure, and a simplified scan protocol more suitable for use with humans. This new CBI system also has specific design features to permit automating data acquisition from multiple two-dimensional image planes for integration into a 3D dynamic surface image. A simulated multislice scan study of a human thorax phantom provided X-ray dosimetry data verifying a very low X-ray dose (~50 mrem) delivered by this imaging device. Validation experiments with mechanical models show that surface displacement at typical heart beat frequencies can be measured to the nearest 0.1 mm (SD).

A new technique induces localized myocardial infarction in closed-chest dogs by placing discrete plugs in coronary arteries without using cumbersome coaxial catheters or guide wires. Flexible plugs, essential to this method, are formed by extruding a dental impression polymer, rendered radiopaque with sodium iodide, into spaghetti-like strands. Segments of these strands can be injected through a catheter into a selected coronary artery. Contact with blood or saline causes plugs to swell. The mean increase in plug diameter due to swelling was 27 +/- 20%. Eight anesthetized dogs were embolized via carotid approach [6 left anterior descending (LAD), 1 left circumflex (LCX), and 1 LAD and LCX]. Plug positions were monitored fluoroscopically. One animal died at 2 days postembolization. The remaining seven dogs were killed after 14-37 days. Autopsies showed complete vessel occlusion and localized infarction. Infarcts resulting from coronary artery occlusion with one, two, or three plugs involved 2-26% of the left ventricular mass.