American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
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Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyEffect of a maldistribution of microvascular blood flow on capillary O(2) extraction in sepsis.
Inherent in the remote organ injury caused by sepsis is a profound maldistribution of microvascular blood flow. Using a 24-h rat cecal ligation and perforation model of sepsis, we studied O(2) transport in individual capillaries of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) skeletal muscle. ⋯ Capillary O(2) extraction increased threefold (P < 0.05) and was directly related to the degree of stopped flow in the EDL. Thus impaired O(2) transport in early stage sepsis is likely the result of a microcirculatory dysfunction.
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Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyBeneficial effects of the Ca(2+) sensitizer levosimendan in human myocardium.
Levosimendan has been reported to increase cardiac Ca(2+) sensitivity, thereby not enhancing intracellular Ca(2+) or diastolic tension. This may be advantageous for the treatment of heart failure patients. Therefore, the present study investigates the mode of action of levosimendan in both failing and nonfailing (NF) human myocardium. ⋯ After application of isoprenaline, levosimendan shortened relaxation and contraction kinetics. Levosimendan did not change the systolic Ca(2+) transient but it improved the force-frequency relationship in DCM. In conclusion, levosimendan improves contraction in failing human myocardium under conditions with already increased intracellular Ca(2+).