Advances in Animal Cardiology
Online ISSN : 1883-5260
Print ISSN : 0910-6537
ISSN-L : 0910-6537
Volume 30, Issue 2
Displaying 1-5 of 5 articles from this issue
  • Shin-ichirou IMAMURA
    1997 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 35-47
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: September 17, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Cardiac hypertrophy is actually a compensatory mechanism in response to an increased load imposedd on the heart, and should, thus, be considered to be an adaptive and, essentially, favorable process. In the abcence of such compensation, the cardiac ventricles would be less able to respond adequately to any burden laid on the heart. However, hypertrophy is ultimately a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including coronary circulation abnormalities. Therefore, it is logical that an important goal of treatment is to control ventricular hypertrophy, but how effectively this can be done and whether the associated risk with ventricular hypertrophy is also brought under control is still a matter of discussion. In this review, to understand cardiac hypertrophy better from the aspect of molecular biology, the transition of myosin heavy chain isoforms which are among the most important contractile components, and signal trasduction pathways in cardiac myocytes to induce myocyte hypertrophy are summarized. In addition, a recent molecular approach to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in human medicine is described.
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  • Noboru MACHIDA
    1997 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 48-58
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: September 17, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Primary or idiopathic cardiomyopathies describe a clinical syndrome cused by generalized heart muscle diseases of unknown cause and are devided into dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive types. All types of cardiomyopathy are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in animals. In contrast to secondary causes of heart muscle diseases, such as nutritional deficiencies and toxic agents, relatively little is known about the pathogenesis of primary cardiomyopathies. Heart morphology is not always specific in this group of diseases, but a thorough pathologic examination provides the clue to the definitive diagnosis. In this article, the gross anatomic and histologic features of primary cardiomyopathies in cats, dogs and cattle are described.
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  • Hidekazu KOYAMA
    1997 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 59-73
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: September 17, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Cardiomyopathy is defined as a heart muscle disease with unknown etiology. It excludes primary valvular diseases and congenital heart defects. Primary myocardial diseases are subdivided morphologically and functonally into dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive forms based on the predominating anatomic and physiologic abnormalities detected clinically and at necropsy in dogs and cats. Idiopathic abnormalities diseases that do not clearly conform to one of these classifications are best regarded as indeterminate or unclassifiable cardiomyopathies. This article describes the clinical sign, physical, radiographic, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic features and managements of dogs and cats with cardiomyopathies.
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  • Hiroyuki ARAKAWA, Hiroshi KODAMA, Nobuya MATSUOKA, Isamu YAMAGUCHI
    1997 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 74-81
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: September 17, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The purpose of this study was to clarify the morphologic, biochemical and electrocardiographical character of young cardiomyopathic hamsters (BI014.6) compared with age-matched healthy hamsters (FIB). In the present study we report following ; (1) The relative weights of the heart and kidney were significantly increased in the cardiomyopathic hamsters compared with the healthy hamsters ; (2) Plasma levels of CPK, GOT, and GPT were significantly higher in the cardiomyopathic hamsters than in the healthy hamsters ; (3) There were no differences in ECG between the cardiomyopathic and healthy hamsters and also arrhythmias at the age of 2.5 months. The intervals of R-R and PQ were significantly shorter in the cardiomyopathic hamsters but the QT interval was significantly longer than in the healthy hamsters. These morphologic aspects and biochemical profiles indicated that the young cardiomyopathic hamsters exhibited a cardiac hypertrophy and disturbance in the heart muscle. However, from the electrophysiological viewpoint, it is probable that the cardiomyopathic hamsters have still managed to be normal at the age.
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  • Takayuki MURAKAMI, Kazuyuki UCHIDA, Hidemi KATAYAMA, Kouji OHWADA
    1997 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 82-85
    Published: 1997
    Released on J-STAGE: September 17, 2009
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Ventricular septal defect was observed in a sheep that died suddenly at the age of 119 days. The autopsy revealed hydrothorax, hydroperitoneum and congestion of the viscera. The atria, ventricles and pulmonary trunk were dilated, and a large defect was located in the trabecular septum.
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