The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Twist-related protein 1 negatively regulated osteoblastic transdifferentiation of human aortic valve interstitial cells by directly inhibiting runt-related transcription factor 2.
Valve calcification involves transdifferentiation of valve interstitial cells (VICs) into osteoblasts. Twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1) has been established as a negative regulator of osteoblast differentiation in both mouse and human mesenchymal stem cells, but its function in human aortic VICs is unknown. In our study, we determined the mechanism of TWIST1 action in regulating osteoblastic transdifferentiation of human aortic VICs. ⋯ Our study results suggest that TWIST1 could play an important role in preventing human aortic valve calcification by negatively regulating osteoblastic transdifferentiation of human aortic VICs through direct inhibition of RUNX2.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Does grafting of the left anterior descending artery with the in situ right internal thoracic artery have an impact on late outcomes in the context of bilateral internal thoracic artery usage?
Despite their well-established advantages, bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA) are still largely underused. This is partly because of the technical complexities associated with the use of the right internal thoracic artery (RITA) to guarantee the universally accepted gold standard left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) graft. The use of the in situ RITA for LAD grafting is a less technically demanding strategy. The impact of this strategy on early and late outcomes is investigated in the context of BITA usage. ⋯ Using in situ BITA with retrosternal in situ RITA for LAD grafting is a technically less demanding, safe, and effective strategy that can increase usage of BITA by avoiding a composite graft configuration or technically challenging retrocaval routing of in situ RITA through the transverse sinus.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: experience with the transapical approach, alternate access sites, and concomitant cardiac repairs.
Transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TA-TAVR) is a viable treatment option for selected high-risk elderly patients. We analyzed the 30-day mortality and perioperative complications, focusing on the "learning curve" since our first TA procedure in 2007. We also introduce unique cases, demonstrating new possibilities for alternate access sites and concurrent cardiac interventions using the apical approach. ⋯ Although working with the fragile apical tissues in high-risk elderly patients remains a challenge, we have demonstrated a reduction in mortality and complications with increasing experience in TA-TAVR. We have successfully demonstrated novel combined procedures and uses for the transapical approach and alternate access sites, which should continue to be explored.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Midterm follow-up of the reimplantation technique in patients with relatively normal annulus: is David I still a clinically valid option?
The aim of this study was to evaluate the midterm results of the reimplantation technique with a straight tubular graft in patients with aortic root aneurysms with or without aortic insufficiency. ⋯ The reimplantation procedure using a straight tube is a safe and reproducible valve-sparing technique that can achieve no in-hospital mortality and durable midterm results, either in bicuspid or tricuspid valves. Further studies are needed to assess the behavior of repaired valves under physical stress at long-term follow-up.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Oct 2014
Congestive hepatopathy after Fontan operation and related factors assessed by transient elastography.
Congestive hepatopathy after a Fontan operation can have a major effect on long-term morbidity. We evaluated congestive hepatopathy in patients with Fontan circulation using transient elastography to determine which risk factors for hepatopathy are related to liver stiffness (LS). ⋯ The present study revealed that congestive hepatopathy developed in a significant fraction of patients with long-term Fontan circulation and that transient elastography could be an easy and useful method to assess congestive hepatopathy in these patients.