Simultaneous costal cartilage-sparing modified Ravitch procedure and latissimus dorsi transfer for chest wall deformity repair in Poland's syndrome.

Poland's syndrome is a constellation of rare congenital anomalies that include hypoplasia of breast and underlying subcutaneous tissue, absence of the costosternal portion of the pectoralis major muscle, deformity or absence of ribs, absence of axillary hair, and syndactyly. Various surgical techniques have been described to repair such chest wall defects. We report a case of simultaneous Fonkalsrud procedure (costal cartilage-sparing version of the modified Ravitch procedure) and latissimus dorsi transfer in a 15-year-old boy with Poland's syndrome.

Improvement of myocardial contractility in a porcine model of chronic ischemia using a combined transmyocardial revascularization and gene therapy approach.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a novel fibroblast growth factor-2 gene formulation, providing a localized and sustained availability of the adenoviral vector from a collagen-based matrix, in combination with CO 2 transmyocardial laser revascularization would lead to an enhanced angiogenic response and improved myocardial function.

Methods: Fibroblast growth factor-2 gene was delivered by means of an adenoviral vector (adenoviral fibroblast growth factor-2) formulated in a collagen-based matrix. The ischemic areas of 33 animals were then treated.

Myocardial functional recovery after fibroblast growth factor 2 gene therapy as assessed by echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Although it has been shown that gene therapy is capable of inducing neovascularization in ischemic myocardium, the functional significance of such therapeutic angiogenesis remains less certain. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an experimental link could be made between the ability of a novel fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) gene formulation to promote neovascularization, and its ability to restore myocardial function.

Methods: Fibroblast growth factor 2 gene was delivered by means of an adenovirus vector formulated in a collagen-based matrix to provide localized and sustained gene activity.