Novel Variants and Haplotypes are Associated with Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Ficolins are pattern recognition molecules that are involved in innate immune defense. Ficonin-2 (FCN2) has a specific affinity for lipoteichoic acid present in the cell wall of , an etiological agent for rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We have estimated FCN2 serum levels and analyzed the functional variants of in 400 RHD patients, 617 healthy controls, and 581 individuals belonged to various ethnic populations, who are inhabited in various geographical regions of India.

Mitral Valve Surgery Using a Modified Superior Left Atrial Approach.

Most surgeons use a longitudinal right lateral left atrial incision behind the inter-atrial groove for the exposure of the mitral valve, even though several other surgical techniques have been described. The shortest route to the mitral valve is, however, through the roof of the left atrium, where the incision is closest to the mitral annulus. This was first described by Meyer et al.