Improving risk assessment for post-surgical low cardiac output syndrome in patients without severely reduced ejection fraction undergoing open aortic valve replacement. The role of global longitudinal strain and right ventricular free wall strain.

Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is related to increased mortality and treatment related costs. We aimed to evaluate whether echocardiography-derived left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) relates to the occurrence of postoperative LCOS in patients undergoing SAVR. We prospectively enrolled 75 patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >40%, NYHA Class

The role of the submandibular glands in extrarenal erythropoietin production in mice.

The plasma erythropoietic activity of anephric mice and anephric mice without submandibular glands was compared. The erythropoietin production was stimulated by anemia (phenylhydrazine) and hypobaric hypoxia (0.4 atm). The activity was measured by the 59Fe incorporation in total circulating red blood cells in mice rendered polycythemic by hypoxia. The results were also calculated in units (IRP) of erythropoietin. The plasma erythropoietic activity of anephric mice was neutralized by antiserum against normal erythropoietin. Extrarenal erythropoietin production was significantly reduced in mice deprived of submandibular glands. These data indicate that this phenomenon is not restricted to the rat and support the concept that the submandibular glands are important extrarenal sources of erythropoietin.