The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2015
Endovascular stent grafting for ascending aorta repair in high-risk patients.
Standard treatment of ascending aortic pathology is open repair, but some patients are too high risk. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) of the ascending aorta has been used as an alternative. Our objectives were to characterize patients, describe repair methods, and assess outcomes. ⋯ Ascending TEVAR is a feasible alternative to medical therapy for repair of acute and chronic ascending disease in high-risk patients. Development of devices dedicated to treat ascending aortic pathology is needed to improve outcomes.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2015
C-terminal tensin-like protein mediates invasion of human lung cancer cells and is regulated by signal transducer and activator of transcription 3.
C-terminal tensin-like (Cten) protein, a component of focal adhesions, contributes to cell motility and invasion in multiple human cancers. Epidermal growth factor can activate signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and both contribute to invasion through focal adhesion interactions. We hypothesize that Cten may mediate invasion of lung cancer cells provided by epidermal growth factor via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. ⋯ These are the first findings in lung cancer to demonstrate that Cten expression mediates invasion of human lung cancer cells and is upregulated by epidermal growth factor via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. Cten should be considered a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2015
Preconditioning of skeletal myoblast-based engineered tissue constructs enables functional coupling to myocardium in vivo.
Skeletal myoblasts fuse to form functional syncytial myotubes as an integral part of the skeletal muscle. During this differentiation process, expression of proteins for mechanical and electrical integration is seized, which is a major drawback for the application of skeletal myoblasts in cardiac regenerative cell therapy, because global heart function depends on intercellular communication. ⋯ Although untreated skeletal myoblasts cannot couple to cardiomyocytes, we confirm that mechanical preconditioning enables transplanted skeletal myoblasts to functionally interact with cardiomyocytes in vivo and, thus, reinvigorate the concept of skeletal myoblast-based cardiac cell therapy.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2015
Physical exercise reduces transplant arteriosclerosis in a mouse aorta transplantation model.
Transplant arteriosclerosis limits long-term outcome after heart transplantation. The underlying mechanism of transplant arteriosclerosis remains alloreactivity, but it is also influenced by nonimmunologic cofactors. Physical exercise has well-established effects on the prevention of native arteriosclerosis. We hypothesized that physical exercise would reduce the development of transplant arteriosclerosis in an allogeneic transplantation setting. ⋯ Physical exercise has a protective effect against the development of transplant arteriosclerosis. This could be due to enhanced endothelial cell regeneration and function in the graft.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2015
A randomized assessment of an advanced tissue preservation technology in the juvenile sheep model.
Despite improved anticalcification technology, bioprosthetic heart valves still cannot be used in younger patients because of progressive structural valve degeneration. A novel advanced tissue preservation technology was developed that uses stable functional group capping and preservation by glycerolization. Valves incorporating this novel technology can be stored in a dry condition and do not require rinsing before use. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of this new technology in terms of valve function and durability in a chronic sheep model of orthotopic implantation. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the novel tissue preservation technology, when applied to the Perimount mitral valve, significantly improves hemodynamic and anticalcification properties compared with the standard Perimount, a valve currently considered the standard of care.