CASP3 and myocardial infarction: SF-PreCon significantly augmented cardiac function (LVEF: +8.2% compared to MI/R in DM, P < 0.05, Fig. 1A; ±Dp/dt: 22.1% and 21.8% increase compared to MI/R in DM, P < 0.05, Fig. 1C;), decreased infarct size (−14.8% compared to MI/R in DM, P < 0.05, Fig. 2A), and decreased apoptosis (−11.9% TUNEL stain positive cells compared to MI/R, P < 0.05, Fig. 2B; −29.6% caspase-3 activity compared to MI/R in DM, P < 0.05, Fig. 2C).