A new mixed reality tool for training in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery.

Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is developing an increasing role in surgical practice. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to introduce this paradigm into surgical training programs. However, the steep learning curve of RAS remains a problem that hinders the development and widespread use of this surgical paradigm.

Advanced systemic amyloidosis secondary to metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Secondary amyloidosis is a rare complex complication related to chronic inflammatory disease. This complication is sparsely associated to malignant neoplasms. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common solid organ malignancy related with this paraneoplastic syndrome.

Stoma reversal after surgery for complicated acute diverticulitis: A multicentre retrospective study.

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION THE AIM: was to analyse the stoma reversal rate after surgery for complicated acute diverticulitis (CAD), and more specifically the end-stoma-reversal, as well as the delay, feasibility, complications and risk factors for stoma maintenance.

Methods: A multicentre retrospective study of patients who had undergone urgent surgery for CAD with stoma formation in ten hospitals during a period of 6 years. The frequency of reversal over time and the factors affecting the decision for reversal were analysed.

The effects of transdermal rotigotine on non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease: a multicentre, observational, retrospective, post-marketing study.

Aim: This study evaluated the effect of ≥6 months of transdermal rotigotine on non-motor and motor symptoms of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in Spain between September 2011 and December 2012 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01504529).

Assessment of late cardiomyopathy by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with all-trans retinoic acid and idarubicin.

Late cardiomyopathy CMP is regarded as a potential severe long-term complication after anthracycline-based regimens for acute promyelocitic leukaemia (APL). We assess by MRI the incidence and severity of clinical and subclinical long-term CMP in a cohort of adult APL patients in first complete remission with PETHEMA trials. Adult patients diagnosed with APL in first complete remission lasting ≥2 years underwent anamnesis and physical examination and were asked to perform a cardiac MRI.

Surgical treatment of acute diverticulitis. A retrospective multicentre study.

Introduction: To analyze short and medium-term results of different surgical techniques in the treatment of complicated acute diverticulitis (CAD).

Methods: Multicentre retrospective study including patients operated on as surgical emergency or deferred-urgency with the diagnosis of CAD.

Results: A series of 385 patients: 218 men and 167 women, mean age 64.

Electrical Isolation of Pulmonary Veins Using Laser Catheter in the Treatment of Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. One-year Results.

Introduction And Objectives: A new laser balloon that allows visualization of atrial tissue has recently been introduced for pulmonary vein electrical isolation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term safety and efficacy of this catheter in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Laser balloon ablation was performed in 71 patients with paroxysmal (80%) or persistent (20%) atrial fibrillation.

The use of multisite left ventricular pacing via quadripolar lead improves acute haemodynamics and mechanical dyssynchrony assessed by radial strain speckle tracking: initial results.

Aims: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of multipoint pacing (MPP) on acute haemodynamics, cardiac contractility, and left ventricle (LV) dyssynchrony, in comparison with conventional cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods And Results: An open-label, non-randomized, single-centre, prospective study was designed. Twenty-seven consecutive patients were included.

Gene expression network analysis reveals new transcriptional regulators as novel factors in human ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is characterized by transcriptomic changes that alter cellular processes leading to decreased cardiac output. Because the molecular network of ICM is largely unknown, the aim of this study was to characterize the role of new transcriptional regulators in the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses to ischemia.

Methods: Myocardial tissue explants from ICM patients and control (CNT) subjects were analyzed by RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) and quantitative Real-Time PCR.

Initial Experience with a New Image Integration Module Designed for Reducing Radiation Exposure During Electrophysiological Ablation Procedures.

Introduction: Reduction of radiation exposure during cardiac arrhythmia ablation procedures is desirable. We sought to evaluate the utility of a new image integration module (CARTOUNIVU(TM) ) in reducing fluoroscopy times and dosages during left atrial arrhythmia (LAA) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedures.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients undergoing LAA (n = 28)/VT (n = 13) ablation using the CARTOUNIVU(TM) module were included.

Heart mitochondrial proteome study elucidates changes in cardiac energy metabolism and antioxidant PRDX3 in human dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a public health problem with no available curative treatment, and mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in its development. The present study is the first to analyze the mitochondrial proteome in cardiac tissue of patients with DCM to identify potential molecular targets for its therapeutic intervention.

Methods And Results: 16 left ventricular (LV) samples obtained from explanted human hearts with DCM (n = 8) and control donors (n = 8) were extracted to perform a proteomic approach to investigate the variations in mitochondrial protein expression.

ATP synthase subunit alpha and LV mass in ischaemic human hearts.

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in the development of ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). In this study, the mitochondrial proteome in the cardiac tissue of ICM patients was analysed by quantitative differential electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and mass spectrometry (MS) for the first time to provide new insights into cardiac dysfunction in this cardiomyopathy. We isolated mitochondria from LV samples of explanted hearts of ICM patients (n = 8) and control donors (n = 8) and used a proteomic approach to investigate the variations in mitochondrial protein expression.

Value of the Electrocardiogram as a Predictor of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Right Ventricular Volume Overload.

Introduction And Objectives: Pulmonary regurgitation is a common complication in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot or congenital pulmonary stenosis. Electrocardiographic variables have been correlated with parameters used to evaluate right ventricular function. We aimed to analyze the diagnostic value of the width and fragmentation of the electrocardiogram in the identification of patients with right ventricular dysfunction and/or dilation.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress induces different molecular structural alterations in human dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a multifunctional organelle responsible for the synthesis and folding of proteins as well as for signalling and calcium storage, that has been linked to the contraction-relaxation process. Perturbations of its homeostasis activate a stress response in diseases such as heart failure (HF). To elucidate the alterations in ER molecular components, we analyze the levels of ER stress and structure proteins in human dilated (DCM) and ischemic (ICM) cardiomyopathies, and its relationship with patient's functional status.

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.

RNA sequencing analysis and atrial natriuretic peptide production in patients with dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: The atrium is the major site of ANP synthesis, which has been said to increase in heart failure as a result of increased production in the left ventricular (LV) myocardium. This is a key issue related to its diagnostic and prognostic capabilities. We aimed to evaluate protein levels of proANP and ANP and the enzymes that cleave the natriuretic peptides, corin and furin, in the LV tissue of heart transplant patients with dilated (DCM) and ischemic (ICM) cardiomyopathy compared with control donors (CNT).

Metabolic syndrome in heart transplantation: impact on survival and renal function.

The aim of our study was to analyze the early presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in heart transplant (HTx) patients, and to assess its long-term impact on survival and renal function. From January 2000 to October 2011, 253 consecutive HTx patients who survived more than 90 days were included. MS was diagnosed if patients met revised NCEP-ATP III criteria at HTx or within 3 months post-HTx.

Heart failure entails significant changes in human nucleocytoplasmic transport gene expression.

Background: Heart failure (HF) induces alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, which is essential to the cardiomyocyte biology. The objective of this study was to analyze the changes in gene expression in human HF, particularly focusing on nucleocytoplasmic transport-related genes.

Methods And Results: 29 RNA heart samples from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 12) and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM, n = 12) patients undergoing heart transplantation and control donors (CNT, n = 5) were extracted to perform a microarray profiling using Affymetrix Human Gene® 1.

MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 Variability in Patients with Essential Hypertension: 1-Year Follow-Up Study.

The aim of this study is to analyze MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 variability, potent predictors of cardiovascular events, in stable hypertensive patients during a 12-month followup. 234 asymptomatic patients (age 60 ± 13, 136 male) out of 252 patients with essential hypertension were followed up. MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 were measured at baseline and after 12 months (stage I).

Variability of NT-proBNP and its relationship with inflammatory status in patients with stable essential hypertension: a 2-year follow-up study.

Background: The variability of NT-proBNP levels has been studied in heart failure, yet no data exist on these changes over time in hypertensive patients. Furthermore, studies on the relationship between natriuretic peptides and inflammatory status are limited.

Methodology/principal Findings: 220 clinically and functionally asymptomatic stable patients (age 59 ± 13, 120 male) out of 252 patients with essential hypertension were followed up, and NT-proBNP was measured at baseline, 12 and 24 months.

Influence of heart failure on nucleolar organization and protein expression in human hearts.

We investigate for the first time the influence of heart failure (HF) on nucleolar organization and proteins in patients with ischemic (ICM) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A total of 71 human hearts from ICM (n=38) and DCM (n=27) patients, undergoing heart transplantation and control donors (n=6), were analysed by western-blotting, RT-PCR and cell biology methods. When we compared protein levels according to HF etiology, nucleolin was increased in both ICM (117%, p<0.

Myocardial G protein receptor-coupled kinase expression correlates with functional parameters and clinical severity in advanced heart failure.

Background: In heart failure (HF), sympathetic hyperactivation induces deleterious effects in myocardial β-adrenergic signaling, with receptor down-regulation and desensitization mediated by G protein receptor-coupled kinases (GRKs). We hypothesised that changes in GRK isoforms may be associated with clinical status in advanced HF, using the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) scale.

Methods: We included 31 patients with advanced HF undergoing transplantation.