Simultaneous recordings of intrinsic cardiac nerve activity and skin sympathetic nerve activity from human patients during the postoperative period.

Background: Intrinsic cardiac nerve activity (ICNA) and skin nerve activity (SKNA) are both associated with cardiac arrhythmias in dogs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ICNA and SKNA correlate with postoperative cardiac arrhythmias in humans.

Methods: Eleven patients (mean age 60 ± 13 years; 4 women) were enrolled in this study.

Simultaneous noninvasive recording of skin sympathetic nerve activity and electrocardiogram.

Background: Sympathetic nerve activity is important to cardiac arrhythmogenesis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for simultaneous noninvasive recording of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) and electrocardiogram (ECG) using conventional ECG electrodes. This method (neuECG) can be used to adequately estimate sympathetic tone.

Long-term results with cryopreserved arterial allografts (CPAs) in the treatment of graft or primary arterial infections.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate our results with CPAs in patients with infected grafts or primary arterial infection with emphasis on long-term durability of these grafts.

Methods: To evaluate the long-term durability of CPAs, clinical outcomes were analyzed following their use for either graft or primary arterial infections at a single institution over a 9-y period (2000-2009). The 30-d mortality rate, 90-d mortality rate, and the cause of early mortality were determined in each case.

Sensor to detect endothelialization on an active coronary stent.

Background: A serious complication with drug-eluting coronary stents is late thrombosis, caused by exposed stent struts not covered by endothelial cells in the healing process. Real-time detection of this healing process could guide physicians for more individualized anti-platelet therapy. Here we present work towards developing a sensor to detect this healing process.

Gender dimorphisms in progenitor and stem cell function in cardiovascular disease.

Differences in cardiovascular disease outcomes between men and women have long been recognized and attributed, in part, to gender and sex steroids. Gender dimorphisms also exist with respect to the roles of progenitor and stem cells in post-ischemic myocardial and endothelial repair and regeneration. Understanding how these cells are influenced by donor gender and the recipient hormonal milieu may enable researchers to further account for the gender-related disparities in clinical outcomes as well as utilize the beneficial effects of these hormones to optimize transplanted cell function and survival.

Proinflammatory cytokine effects on mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the ischemic heart.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold great promise for improving myocardial recovery after ischemia. The cardiothoracic surgeon is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of any clinical application of this therapy. As such, a basic understanding of stem cells and the cytokines that affect stem cell function will be an essential component of the surgeon's ever-expanding knowledge base.

MEK mediates the novel cross talk between TNFR2 and TGF-EGFR in enhancing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion from human mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may mediate their beneficial effects by paracrine mechanisms. Recently, we reported that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) increased the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from human MSCs and augmented transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha)-stimulated VEGF secretion. However, it is unknown whether TNF-alpha stimulates VEGF production via TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or 2 (TNFR2) and the mechanism by which TNF-alpha augments TGF-alpha (a ligand of epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR) stimulated VEGF production.

Pseudoaneurysm formation in a subset of patients with small intestinal submucosa biologic patches after carotid endarterectomy.

Background: The carotid artery is frequently patched after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to minimize the risks of early postoperative thrombosis and late recurrent stenosis. The small intestinal submucosa (SIS) patch is a biologic vascular patch derived from porcine small intestine. It is composed primarily of cell-free collagen and other extracellular matrix constituents that act as a scaffold for host cell deposition.