Metabolic interventions in myocardial preservation
Abstract It is possible to manipulate myocardial metabolism to improve recovery after ischaemic insults. We studied 2 metabolic manipulations: addition of amino acids during cardioplegia, and treatment with orotic acid before cardioplegia. Aspartate improved recovery after cardioplegic arrest, and glutamate exerted a minimal protective effect. We studied the recently infarcted heart to determine whether orotic acid therapy could improve recovery after cardioplegia. The infarct placed the non-infarcted myocardium under stress and increased its sensitivity to hypothermic cardioplegia. This sensitivity was reduced by treatment with orotic acid. Metabolic supplementation may be useful during cardiac surgery, after myocardial infarction, and in the early period after cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE ::: The present study describes the advantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of bladder pheochromocytoma. ::: ::: ::: METHODS/RESULTS ::: A case of bladder pheochromocytoma is described, with special reference to the diagnostic aspects and the usefulness of MRI in the evaluation of patients with this condition. ::: ::: ::: CONCLUSIONS ::: Bladder pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor type. Since most of these are catecholamine-producing lesions, early diagnosis is warranted to avoid the severe complication of hypertensive episodes that may arise from unnecessary maneuvers. MRI is the diagnostic imaging method of choice in those cases with a clinical and analytical suspicion of pheochromocytoma.