We evaluated global myocardial function, including myocardial performance index (MPI), on echocardiography in MS patients after remote mitoxantrone treatment.

Methods and Results: Consecutive patients (n = 50) treated with standard-protocol mitoxantrone from 2002 to 2010 in our center were identified. After exclusion of those who had died (n = 4; all noncardiac) or had developed interim cardiovascular disease or risk CBL0137 datasheet factors

(n = 3), 33 (mean age 49 +/- 11 years, 45% male, median follow-up 77 months, mean cumulative dose 72 mg/m(2)) of the remaining patients (77%) underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography. A comparison group of 17 age- and sex-matched control subjects were included. No significant differences occurred in standard echocardiographic parameters between groups. However, mean MPI (defined as isovolumic contraction time plus isovolumic relaxation EX 527 time (IVRT) divided by ejection time) was significantly higher in patients (0.51 +/- 0.12 vs 0.39 +/- 0.06; P = .02) owing to a significantly prolonged IVRT (81 +/- 25 vs 60 +/- 9 ms; P = .04). Overall MPI was >0.5 in 18 patients compared with none of the control subjects (54.5% vs 0%; P <

.001).

Conclusions: A subclinical form of global myocardial dysfunction reflecting primarily diastolic dysfunction may be present in MS patients after remote standard-dose mitoxantrone treatment.”
“BACKGROUND: The availability of suitable lung donors has remained a significant barrier to lung transplantation. The clinical relevance of an isolated positive Gram

stain in potential donor lungs, which occurs in >80%, is unclear. Low doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been protective in several models of ischemia-reperfusion injury through a pre-conditioning response. We sought to demonstrate that low-dose LPS is protective against subsequent lung ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODS: Pathogen-free Long-Evans rats were pre-treated with vehicle or LPS 24 hours before 90 minutes of ischemia and up to 4 hours of reperfusion. Lungs were assessed for vascular permeability, myeloperoxidase content, bronchoalveolar lavage inflammatory cell and cytokine/chemokine content, as well as nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) and activator Selleckchem Luminespib protein-1 (AP-1), and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1) and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) activation.

RESULTS: Compared with positive controls, LPS pre-treatment resulted in reductions in vascular permeability (70%, p < 0.001), myeloperoxidase content (93%, p < 0.001), bronchoalveolar lavage inflammatory cells (91%, p < 0.001), and inflammatory cytokine/chemokine content (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant, 99%.p = 0.003; interleukin-1 beta, 72%, p < 0.0001; tumor necrosis factor-alpha, 76%, p < 0.0001), NF kappa B (86%, p < 0.001) and AP-1 (97%, p < 0.