British scientists have identified a heart protection mechanism in mice that might lead to improved human cardiac care.

   University of Bristol researchers led by Professor of cardiac physiology Saadeh Suleiman discovered surprising responses of the heart to mock cardiac surgery in a mouse model. When the heart was stopped and restarted -- mimicking the conditions used in most heart bypas ssurgery -- scientists found hearts with coronary disease from genetically modified mice were more resistant to damage than hearts without coronary disease.

   The scientists said their finding confirms a widely held belief that in certain patients who have survived a heart attack, the heart might become naturally pre-conditioned against further damage.

   The team at the Bristol Heart Institute details the research in the October issue of the journal Critical Care Medicine.

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