Blood biomarkers to detect functional impairment in adult patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: The relationship between plasma brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) with structural adaptions and exercise capacity remains incompletely described in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF).

Methods: Peripheral venous blood samples were drawn for 99 patients with repaired TOF, 59 patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and 40 patients with no or mild PR. NT-proBNP was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN).

Clinical and Prognostic Implications of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Stress Echocardiography in Asymptomatic Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.

The current guidelines recommend intervention in severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) in symptomatic patients or asymptomatic patients with left ventricular dilatation or dysfunction. The insidious onset of symptoms may mean that patients do not report their symptoms. The role of systematic exercise testing for symptoms in MR is not clearly defined.

Determinants of post-operative left ventricular dysfunction in degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Aims: Chronic degenerative mitral regurgitation leads to volume overload causing left ventricular (LV) enlargement and eventually LV impairment. Current guidelines determining thresholds for intervention are based on LV diameters and ejection fraction (LVEF). There are sparse data examining the value of LV volumes and newer markers of LV performance on outcomes of surgery in mitral valve prolapse.

Reduction of aerosols and splatter generated during ultrasonic scaling by adding food-grade thickeners to coolants: an in-vitro study.

Objective: The effectiveness of using food-grade coolant thickener solutions on the amount of aerosols generated and splatter contamination spread distance during simulated ultrasonic scaling was examined.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed using a phantom lower jaw placed on a black box. Simulated ultrasonic scaling was performed for 2 min using four coolant solutions: distilled water (control), 2% wt.

Natriuretic peptide release during exercise in patients with valvular heart disease: A systematic review.

Aim: Serum biomarkers have a potential role in the risk stratification of patients with heart valve disease and may help determine the optimal timing of intervention. Much of the published literature relates to biomarker sampling in a resting state, but the relationship of exercise biomarkers is less well described. We performed a systematic review to examine the significance of exercise natriuretic peptides on echocardiographic variables and cardiovascular events, in valvular heart disease.

Mitral valve prolapse.

: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common valve pathology with a spectrum of disease from isolated prolapse to myxomatous, multi-scallop Barlow's disease. The main complications relate to progression of mitral regurgitation, endocarditis, sudden death, and stroke. The timing of intervention in patients with asymptomatic severe mitral regurgitation is controversial.