Use of a "CNI holidays" strategy in acute renal dysfunction late after heart transplant. Report of two cases.

Background: Acute renal dysfunction (ARD) may appear in heart transplant (HTx) patients both in the early postoperative period and during follow-up, even after several years. CD25 is a subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor which is found exclusively on activated CD4 T lymphocytes. CD25 is crucial for clonal expansion of anti-allograft host lymphocytes that mediate in acute rejection.

Mesenchymal stem cells provide better results than hematopoietic precursors for the treatment of myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of human CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to treat myocardial infarction (MI) in a model of permanent left descendent coronary artery (LDA) ligation in nude rats.

Background: Transplantation of human CD34(+) cells and MSC has been proved to be effective in treating MI, but no comparative studies have been performed to elucidate which treatment prevents left ventricular (LV) remodelling more efficiently.

Methods: Human bone marrow MSC or freshly isolated CD34(+) cells from umbilical cord blood were injected intramyocardially in infarcted nude rats.

Changes in alpha-tocopherol and retinol levels during cardiopulmonary bypass correlate with maximal arterial partial pressure of oxygen.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with oxidative stress. This study examined antioxidant levels in adults undergoing CPB surgery and their correlation with clinical variables. Arterial blood samples were obtained from 27 patients undergoing CPB.

Electrophysiologic evaluation of phrenic nerve and diaphragm function after coronary bypass surgery: prospective study of diabetes and other risk factors.

Objective: Phrenic neuropathy after coronary artery bypass grafting has been related to various risk factors with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, characteristics, and clinical consequences of phrenic neuropathy and the influence of diabetes and other risk factors.

Methods: We conducted an observational, prospective study of parallel groups including 94 consecutive patients subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting, half of them with diabetes and associated polyneuropathy.

Arterial graft extension with radial artery: a method of total arterial revascularization.

A method of total arterial revascularization is presented. This technique is based on the extension of a semi-skeletonized right internal thoracic artery graft with an entire radial artery in an end to end fashion. A complete arterial revascularization is achieved with a bilateral in situ internal thoracic artery strategy preserving the left internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending artery bypass as an isolated graft.

Long electrodes for radio frequency ablation: comparative study of surface versus intramural application.

There is increasing use of radio frequency (RF) ablation with long electrodes in the intraoperative treatment of atrial fibrillation. Nevertheless, the disparity in the lesion geometry in both depth and width is the major pitfall in the use of RF currents. The objective of this study was to differentiate the shape and size of long lesions created by three surface application electrodes (SAE) and two intramural electrodes (IE).

Comprehensive experience with the Ross operation in Spain.

Objective: Although the first pulmonary autograft operations were performed in Spain in 1991, this procedure has gained substantial interest and has been consolidated since 1997. The establishment of the Spanish Registry of the Ross Operation pretends to evaluate the results of this option in aortic valve disease patients in our setting.

Methods: In a yearly fashion, the cardiac surgery departments in Spain currently performing this intervention send data from new patients or follow-ups to the reference center.