Advocacy at the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

The (WCPCCS) will be held in Washington DC, USA, from Saturday, 26 August, 2023 to Friday, 1 September, 2023, inclusive. The will be the largest and most comprehensive scientific meeting dedicated to paediatric and congenital cardiac care ever held. At the time of the writing of this manuscript, has 5,037 registered attendees (and rising) from 117 countries, a truly diverse and international faculty of over 925 individuals from 89 countries, over 2,000 individual abstracts and poster presenters from 101 countries, and a Best Abstract Competition featuring 153 oral abstracts from 34 countries.

Antioxidant Properties of Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz).

The recognition that oxidative stress is a major component of several chronic diseases has engendered numerous trials of antioxidant therapies with minimal or no direct benefits. Nanomolar quantities of nitric oxide released into the circulation by pharmacologic stimulation of eNOS have antioxidant properties but physiologic stimulation as through increased pulsatile shear stress of the endothelium has not been assessed. The present study utilized a non-invasive technology, periodic acceleration (pGz) that increases pulsatile shear stress such that upregulation of cardiac eNOS occurs, We assessed its efficacy in normal mice and mouse models with high levels of oxidative stress, e.

Non-invasive technology that improves cardiac function after experimental myocardial infarction: Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz).

Myocardial infarction (MI) may produce significant inflammatory changes and adverse ventricular remodeling leading to heart failure and premature death. Pharmacologic, stem cell transplantation, and exercise have not halted the inexorable rise in the prevalence and great economic costs of heart failure despite extensive investigations of such treatments. New therapeutic modalities are needed.

Iterative development of visual control systems in a research vivarium.

The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that reintroduction of Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI) methodology, a lean approach to management at Seattle Children's (Hospital, Research Institute, Foundation), would facilitate engagement of vivarium employees in the development and sustainment of a daily management system and a work-in-process board. Such engagement was implemented through reintroduction of aspects of the Toyota Production System. Iterations of a Work-In-Process Board were generated using Shewhart's Plan-Do-Check-Act process improvement cycle.

Biological basis of neuroprotection and neurotherapeutic effects of Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (pGz).

Exercise is a well known neuroprotective and neurotherapeutic strategy in animal models and humans with brain injury and cognitive dysfunction. In part, exercise induced beneficial effects relate to endothelial derived nitric oxide (eNO) production and induction of the neurotrophins; Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Glial Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF). Whole Body Periodic Acceleration (WBPA (pGz), is the motion of the supine body headward to footward in a sinusoidal fashion, at frequencies of 100-160 cycles/min, inducing pulsatile shear stress to the vascular endothelium.

The a3 problem solving report: a 10-step scientific method to execute performance improvements in an academic research vivarium.

The purpose of this study was to illustrate the application of A3 Problem Solving Reports of the Toyota Production System to our research vivarium through the methodology of Continuous Performance Improvement, a lean approach to healthcare management at Seattle Children's (Hospital, Research Institute, Foundation). The Report format is described within the perspective of a 10-step scientific method designed to realize measurable improvements of Issues identified by the Report's Author, Sponsor and Coach. The 10-step method (Issue, Background, Current Condition, Goal, Root Cause, Target Condition, Countermeasures, Implementation Plan, Test, and Follow-up) was shown to align with Shewhart's Plan-Do-Check-Act process improvement cycle in a manner that allowed for quantitative analysis of the Countermeasure's outcomes and of Testing results.

Preconditioning with periodic acceleration (pGz) provides second window of cardioprotection.

Aims: Whole body periodic acceleration (pGz) is achieved with a motorized platform that moves the supine body with repetitive, sinusoidal head to foot motion. This increases pulsatile shear stress to the endothelium thereby activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to produce increased release of nitric oxide (eNO). The current investigation was undertaken to determine whether or not pGz preconditioning can induce second window of protection (SWOP) cardioprotective affects in an in-vivo rat model of myocardial infarction.

The adaptor-related protein complex 2, alpha 2 subunit (AP2α2) gene is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor cardiac target gene.

A peroxisome proliferator-actived receptor (PPAR) response element (RE) in the promoter region of the adaptor-related protein complex 2, alpha 2 subunit (AP2α2) of mouse heart has been identified. The steroid hormone nuclear PPARs and the retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are important transcriptional factors that regulate gene expression, cell differentiation and lipid metabolism. They form homo- (RXR) and hetero- (PPAR-RXR) dimers that bind DNA at various REs.

Microcirculatory and therapeutic effects of whole body periodic acceleration (pGz) applied after cardiac arrest in pigs.

Aims: Cardiac arrest (CA) and resuscitation are models of whole body ischemia reperfusion injury. Interventions performed prior to (pre-treatment) or after (post-treatment) can result in cardioprotection. Myocardial stunning, characterized by microcirculatory and contractile dysfunction after CA, is an important component of the post-cardiac arrest syndrome.

Dual sources of vitronectin in the human lower urinary tract: synthesis by urothelium vs. extravasation from the bloodstream.

Vitronectin (VN), secreted into the bloodstream by liver hepatocytes, is known to anchor epithelial cells to basement membranes through interactions with cell surface integrin receptors. We report here that VN is also synthesized by urothelial cells of urothelium in vivo and in vitro. In situ hybridization, dideoxy sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA of urothelial cell mRNA, cDNA, tissue, and protein extracts demonstrated that the VN gene is active in vivo and in vitro.

Identification of a bladder cancer-specific ligand using a combinatorial chemistry approach.

Objectives: To develop bladder cancer-specific ligands using a combinatorial chemistry approach.

Materials And Methods: We performed a high-throughput one-bead one-compound combinatorial chemistry approach to identify ligands that bound to bladder transitional cell carcinoma cells. The whole-cell binding assay allowed successful identification of a few peptides that bound selectively to bladder cancer cells.

Whole body periodic acceleration (pGz) improves survival and allows for resuscitation in a model of severe hemorrhagic shock in pigs.

Background: Whole body periodic acceleration (pGz), the repetitive, head-foot sinusoidal motion of the body, increases pulsatile shear stress on the vascular endothelium producing increased release of endothelial derived nitric oxide (eNO) into circulation. Based upon prior CPR investigations, we hypothesized that pGz instituted prior to and during hemorrhagic shock (HS) should improve survival.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen anesthetized male pigs, 23 ± 5 kg, were randomized to receive 1 h pGz or no pGz (CONT) prior to and during severe controlled graded HS up to 2-1/2 h.

Fibroblast growth factor-10 signals development of von Brunn's nests in the exstrophic bladder.

von Brunn's nests have long been recognized as precursors of benign lesions of the urinary bladder mucosa. We report here that von Brunn's nests are especially prevalent in the exstrophic bladder, a birth defect that predisposes the patient to formation of bladder cancer. Cells of von Brunn's nest were found to coalesce into a stratified, polarized epithelium which surrounds itself with a capsule-like structure rich in types I, III, and IV collagen.

Periodic acceleration (pGz) prior to whole body ischemia reperfusion injury provides early cardioprotective preconditioning.

Aims: Periodic acceleration (pGz) is a method that applies repetitive sinusoidal head-to-foot motion to the horizontally positioned body. pGz adds pulses to the circulation as a function of frequency, thereby increasing shear stress to the endothelium. Pulsatile shear stress increases release of cardioprotective endothelial-derived nitric oxide prostaglandin E-2 and prostacyclin into the circulation.

In vivo upregulation of nitric oxide synthases in healthy rats.

Periodic acceleration (pGz), sinusoidal motion of the whole body in a head-foot direction in the spinal axis, is a novel noninvasive means for cardiopulmonary support and induction of pulsatile shear stress. pGz increases plasma nitrite levels, in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, pGz confers cardioprotection in models of ischemia reperfusion injury.

Low-amplitude pulses to the circulation through periodic acceleration induces endothelial-dependent vasodilatation.

Low-amplitude pulses to the vasculature increase pulsatile shear stress to the endothelium. This activates endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) to promote NO release and endothelial-dependent vasodilatation. Descent of the dicrotic notch on the arterial pulse waveform and a-to-b ratio (a/b; where a is the height of the pulse amplitude and b is the height of the dicrotic notch above the end-diastolic level) reflects vasodilator (increased a/b) and vasoconstrictor effects (decreased a/b) due to NO level change.

Periodic acceleration (pGz) acutely increases endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in endomyocardium of normal swine.

Introduction: Periodic acceleration (pGz) is a non-invasive method of increasing pulsatile shear stress to the endothelium. pGz is achieved by the sinusoidal head to foot motion to the supine body. pGz increases endogenous production of nitric oxide in whole animal models and isolated perfused vessel preparations, and is cardioprotective when applied prior to, during and after ischemia reperfusion.

Acute effects of "delayed postconditioning" with periodic acceleration after asphyxia induced shock in pigs.

Asphyxia cardiac arrest and shock are models for whole body ischemia reperfusion injury. Periodic acceleration (pGz) achieved by moving the body on a platform is a novel method for inducing pulsatile vascular shear stress and endogenous production of endothelial nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tissue plasminogen activator, and adrenomedullin. The aforementioned are cardioprotective during and after ischemia reperfusion injury.

Non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibition before periodic acceleration (pGz) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a porcine model of ventricular fibrillation.

Whole body periodic acceleration (pGz) along the spinal axis is a novel method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Oscillatory motion of the supine body in a horizontal fashion provides ventilation and blood flow to vital organs during cardiac arrest and pulsatile shear stress to the vascular endothelium. We previously showed in pigs that pGz-CPR affords better overall survival, post resuscitation myocardial function, and neurological outcomes compared to conventional chest compression CPR.

Periodic acceleration (pGz) CPR in a swine model of asphyxia induced cardiac arrest. Short-term hemodynamic comparisons.

Background: Asphyxia is one of the most common causes of pediatric cardiac arrest, and becoming a more frequently recognized cause in adults. Periodic acceleration (pGz) is a novel method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). pGz is achieved by rapid motion of the supine body headward-footward that generates adequate perfusion and ventilation during cardiac arrest.

The effects of prostaglandin inhibition on whole-body ischemia-reperfusion in swine.

Background: Prostaglandins (PGs), particularly PGE2 and PGI2, have a salutary effect on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial damage.

Objective: We investigated acute PG synthesis inhibition on outcomes from whole-body ischemia-reperfusion injury using a well-characterized model of ventricular fibrillation (VF)-induced cardiac arrest in pigs. In addition, we assessed early postresuscitation myocardial function in survivors using echocardiography as well as a biochemical measure of myocardial tissue damage.

Adrenomedullin is increased by pulsatile shear stress on the vascular endothelium via periodic acceleration (pGz).

Periodic acceleration (pGz) is produced by a platform which moves the supine body repetitively in a headward to footward direction. The imparted motion produces pulsatile shear stress on the vascular endothelium. Pulsatile shear stress on the vascular endothelium has been shown to elicit production of a host of cardioprotective, cytoprotective mediators.