4-Acetylantroquinonol B Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis by Inhibiting the Autophagy Pathway in a Simulated Microgravity Model.

Astronauts suffer from 1-2% bone loss per month during space missions. Targeting osteoclast differentiation has been regarded as a promising strategy to prevent osteoporosis in microgravity (μXg). 4-acetylantroquinonol B (4-AAQB), a ubiquinone from , has shown anti-inflammatory and anti-hepatoma activities.

Astragaloside VI and cycloastragenol-6-O-beta-D-glucoside promote wound healing in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Astragalus genus includes most of the common, historical herbal medicines that have various applications in Asian countries. However, clinical data and mechanistic insights into their actions are still lacking.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of astragalosides on wound healing in vitro and in vivo, as well as the underlying mechanisms of these actions.

Melaleuca alternifolia Induces Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression in Murine RAW264.7 Cells through Activation of the Nrf2-ARE Pathway.

Melaleuca alternifolia concentrate (MAC) is the refined essential oil of the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia. MAC has been reported to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in both murine RAW264.7 macrophages and human monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Transesophageal echocardiography for incremental value of Amplatezer cribriform septal occluder for percutaneous transcatheter closure of complex septal defects: Case series.

Background: The anatomy of septal defects can be complex and morphologically unpredictable. Balloon sizing of such defects may not be feasible, and an appropriately sized commercial occluder may not be available. Therefore, percutaneous transcatheter closure of such defects can be challenging because of an increased risk of complications.

Intraoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for assessing the defect geometries of mitral prosthetic paravalvular leak during transcatheter closure.

Background: Paravalvular leaks (PVLs) are a common complication of prosthetic valve replacement. Use of the transcatheter intervention technique is a suitable alternative in high-risk patients who may not tolerate repeat surgery. Common reasons for failure of this demanding intervention include poor imaging quality and unsuitable anatomy.

Transcatheter intervention for complex ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm after cardiac surgery.

Background: Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm (PsA) is an uncommon but surgically challenging problem with high morbidity and mortality. Herein we describe the efficacy and safety of the different approaches to transcatheter intervention for repair of ascending PsA and assess the selection of occluder devices using real-time 3-dimensional (RT 3D) color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).METHODS AND RESULTS: Three patients with complex ascending PsA after cardiac or aortic root surgery were treated with transcatheter intervention due to high risk for redo surgery.

The additional value of live/real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for assessing mitral regurgitation with eccentric jets.

Background: Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE) Doppler color flow imaging is the gold standard for assessing the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR). Severe MR with very eccentric jet may involve more than one mitral leaflet lesion and can be missed by 2D TEE. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness and the incremental value of real-time three-dimensional (RT 3D) TEE over 2D TEE findings in the evaluation of patients suffering eccentric MR with more than one mitral leaflet lesion.

Atrial septal occluder device embolization to an iliac artery: a case highlighting the utility of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous closure.

Percutaneous closure of secundum atrial defects has become an accepted treatment in part because it is minimally invasive and relatively low risk. Despite recent advances in implantation technique and device improvements, complications occur. Here, we report a case of device embolization during percutaneous repair of an atrial septal defect (ASD) with multiple fenestrations.

Successful intraoperative identification of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery using real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital defect that presents only infrequently in adults. An adult diagnosed with ALCAPA, heart failure, and mitral regurgitation underwent surgical ligation of the anomalous origin of the LCA from the pulmonary artery (PA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The anomalous origin in the PA and proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was successfully delineated via real time, three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography during surgery.

Successful transcatheter closure of a residual patent ductus arteriosus with complex anatomy after surgical ligation using an amplatzer ductal occluder guided by live three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Residual patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) after surgical ligation is not common, but the anatomy of the residual duct may be distorted by the surgical ligation resulting in a difficult transcatheter closure. Such distorted anatomy of the duct may not be demonstrated by the two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE). Fortunately, live 3D TEE provided the precise anatomy of the elongated distorted residual duct, and as in the case presented herein, guided the Amplatzer ductal occluder (ADO).

Emergent bedside real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with cardiac arrest following a caesarean section.

Post-caesarean pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant peri-operative morbidity and mortality. This report describes a case of sudden cardiac arrest 2 days post-caesarean due to massive PE diagnosed via bedside transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Recognition of the PE at the bifurcation of the right and left pulmonary arteries was achieved by real-time three-dimensional TEE, but not two-dimensional TEE.

Live three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in an unusual case of aorto-left ventricular tunnel with a large interventricular septal aneurysm.

Aorto-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT) is a rare congenital malformation. We report an unusual case of ALVT with a large interventricular septal aneurysm causing severe aortic regurgitation and left ventricular outflow obstruction diagnosed with real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE). Real time 3D TEE allows for assessment and novel views of complex cardiac abnormalities and can aid in perioperative monitoring.

Embolization of the stent to the right heart after a motor vehicle accident.

Endovascular stent grafts have become increasingly used in the management of arterial trauma, chronic vascular occlusive diseases, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Here, we describe a case of stent migration to the right heart due to a motor vehicle accident in a patient with iliac venous stent implanted for venous stenosis. Computed tomography (CT) scan imaging identification of a metallic stent was superior to the standard two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) techniques without imaging artifact from reverberation.

The utility of live three-dimensional echocardiography in the surgical treatment of bilateral coronary fistulas.

In patients with coronary and pulmonary arterial fistulas, the drainage sites may be difficult to identify if there are multiple connections by standard 2D echocardiography techniques. However, real time 3D TEE was used intraoperatively in our case to facilitate site identification, the number of fistulous connections, and documentation of the fistula ligation.

The routine use of live three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in mitral valve surgery: clinical experience.

Background: Perioperative monitoring of mitral valve (MV) anatomy, function, and pathology is essential for surgical management of different MV disease.

Aims: To overcome the several potential pitfalls of two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE) and offline 3D TEE.

Methods: Live 3D TEE was used to assess 73 patients (44 men and 29 women) with Carpentier type II MV regurgitation undergoing MV surgery perioperatively.

Occurrence of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex during Cesarean section under spinal anesthesia--a case report.

We report a 35-year-old parturient with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) history who sustained a nearly fatal Bezold-Jarisch reflex during Cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. A high spinal block combined with acute massive hemorrhage may produce life-threatening Bezold-Jarisch reflex which should be treated prophylactically and aggressively during surgery. Additionally, the autonomic disturbance associated with GDM might exaggerate the reflex in this episode.

Carbon dioxide embolism diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography during endoscopic vein harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting.

We describe a case of massive carbon dioxide embolism with an abrupt decrease in arterial blood pressure and continuous mixed venous oxygen saturation during endoscopic vein harvesting that was immediately diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography.