Recovery of left ventricular function after surgery for aortic and mitral regurgitation with heart failure.

Background: Severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and mitral regurgitation (MR) can lead to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction; however, there are limited data about recovery of LV after surgery for AR or MR. Little is known to guide the management of combined AR and MR (mixed valvular heart disease [VHD]). This study is sought to investigate the predictors of postoperative LV function recovery in left-sided regurgitant VHD with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), especially for mixed VHD.

Comprehensive comparative efficacy and safety of potent P2Y inhibitors in patients undergoing coronary intervention: A systematic review and -analysis.

Potent P2Y receptor antagonists have been used widely for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with different results. Benefits from different regimens various between trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have restrictive inclusion and exclusion criteria; thus, they may limit the generalizability of the findings to a broader population.

A new technique for separating platelet-rich plasma by a copolymer device － without a centrifugation process.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is beneficial for clinical applications in various medical fields. Although commercial PRP preparation kits are already available in the market, most of these kits employ centrifugation.

Methods: We used a new cationic copolymer coating on a polyurethane (PU) sponge to promote platelet separation from the blood.

Fabrication of "electroactive cells" using bio-inspired polydopamine-derived carbon nanoparticles for manipulation of cells with electrical stimulation.

In this study, we report some bio-inspired carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) that exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields, good conductivity, excellent dispersion in aqueous solution, high cell-uptake efficiency, and no cytotoxicity as well. We were inspired by mussels' adhesive components to synthesize polydopamine nanoparticles and then use a carbonization process to prepare fluorescent CNPs. Using some surfactants, we could control the sizes of CNPs and increase their dispersion in water.

Clinical Experience of Patients With Hepatitis C Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals After Heart Transplantation.

Background: Hepatitis C increases the mortality and morbidity of patients after heart transplant. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are the primary drugs for hepatitis C treatment. However, such drugs are expensive and frequently unaffordable for patients.

Guillain-Barré syndrome in a heart transplantation recipient.

A rare case of a heart transplantation recipient with Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred, which was associated with peripheral nervous system damage. Based on a review of epidemiological research, the symptom development process, and diagnostic tools, the authors highlight the extreme rarity of this postinfectious immune disease. After diagnosis, plasma exchange and immunoregulatory therapy should be performed because they result in rapid recovery.

Functional effects of urotensin-II on intracellular pH regulators in human radial artery smooth muscle cells.

The regulation of intracellular pH (pH) plays a vital role in various cellular functions. We previously demonstrated that three different acid extruders, the Na-H exchanger (NHE), Na-HCO co-transporter (NBC) and H-linked monocarboxylate transporter (MCT), functioned together in cultured human radial artery smooth muscle cells (HRASMCs). However, the functions of acid-loading transporters in HRASMCs remain poorly understood.

Functional and molecular characterization of transmembrane intracellular pH regulators in human dental pulp stem cells.

Objective: Homeostasis of intracellular pH (pH) plays vital roles in many cell functions, such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and metastasis. Thus far, Na-H exchanger (NHE), Na-HCO co-transporter (NBC), Cl/HCO exchanger (AE) and Cl/OH exchanger (CHE) have been identified to co-regulate pH homeostasis. However, functional and biological pH-regulators in human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) have yet to be identified.

Anatomic Consideration of Stitch Depth in Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty.

Background: The durability of De Vega's tricuspid valve annuloplasty might be related to tension of the annulus and could be reinforced by increasing stich depth. However, depth of stitches to date has not been addressed in the literature. Thus, it is important to better understand the anatomical distance between the tricuspid valve annulus and the right coronary artery.

Functional characterization of intracellular pH regulators responsible for acid extrusion in human radial artery smooth muscle cells.

Intracellular pH (pHi) is a critical factor influencing many important cellular functions. Acid extrusion carriers such as an Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger (NHE) Na⁺/HCO₃⁻ cotransporter (NBC) and monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) can be activated when cells are in an acidic condition (pHi < 7.1).

Effects of urotensin II on intracellular pH regulation in cultured human internal mammary artery smooth muscle cells.

The Na(+)-H(+) exchanger (NHE) and the Na(+)-HCO3(-) co-transporter (NBC) have been confirmed as two major active acid extruders in many mammalian cells. Whether the NHE and NBC functional co-exist in human internal mammary artery smooth muscle cells (HIMASMCs) remains unclear. The aims of the present study were to investigate the acid-extruding mechanisms and to explore the effects of urotensin-II (U-II), a powerful vasoconstrictor, on pHi regulators in HIMASMCs.

Antiarrhythmic effects of dehydroevodiamine in isolated human myocardium and cardiomyocytes.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dehydroevodiamine alkaloid (DeHE), a bioactive component of the Chinese herbal medicine Wu-Chu-Yu (Evodiae frutus), exerted antiarrhythmic effect in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. We further characterize the electromechanical effects of DeHE in the human atrial and ventricular tissues obtained from hearts of patients undergoing corrective cardiac surgery or heart transplantation.

Materials And Methods: The transmembrane potentials of human myocardia were recorded with a traditional microelectrode technique while sarcolemmal Na(+) and Ca(2+) currents in single human cardiomyocytes were measured by a whole-cell patch-clamp technique.

Intracellular Acid-extruding regulators and the effect of lipopolysaccharide in cultured human renal artery smooth muscle cells.

Homeostasis of the intracellular pH (pHi) in mammalian cells plays a pivotal role in maintaining cell function. Thus far, the housekeeping Na(+)-H(+) exchanger (NHE) and the Na(+)-HCO3(-) co-transporter (NBC) have been confirmed in many mammalian cells as major acid extruders. However, the role of acid-extruding regulators in human renal artery smooth muscle cells (HRASMCs) remains unclear.

Facile fabrication of ordered nanostructures from protruding nanoballs to recessional nanosuckers via solvent treatment on covered nanosphere assembled monolayers.

We present a facile lithographic nanosphere production process by laminating a nanosphere monolayer with a UV resin and applying various gentle solvent treatments to produce "bottom-up" and "bottom-down" nonclose-packed patterns and investigate their practical applications in nanolenses for optical display and nanosuckers for adhesion. The solvents effect depending on its solubility parameter and solubility tendency toward the interior polystyrene nanospheres was discussed. The polymer-based nanosucker pattern displays shear adhesion force as high as 75.

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.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 interacts with and activates p38α to facilitate erythroid differentiation.

Protein arginine methylation is emerging as a pivotal posttranslational modification involved in regulating various cellular processes; however, its role in erythropoiesis is still elusive. Erythropoiesis generates circulating red blood cells which are vital for body activity. Deficiency in erythroid differentiation causes anemia which compromises the quality of life.

Incremental value of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over the two-dimensional technique in the assessment of aortic aneurysm and dissection.

We compared findings from intraoperative live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) with surgery in 67 patients having aortic aneurysm and/or aortic dissection. Of these, 20 patients had aortic aneurysm without dissection, 21 aortic aneurysm and dissection, and 26 aortic dissection without aneurysm. 3DTEE diagnosed the type and location of aneurysm correctly in all patients unlike 2DTEE, which missed an aneurysm in one case.

Midterm results of vascular ring connector in open surgery for aortic dissection.

Objectives: This study observed midterm results of vascular ring connectors in surgery for aortic dissection.

Methods: Vascular ring connectors were used as stents in vascular grafts to achieve quick, sutureless anastomoses. Tapes were used to secure ringed vascular grafts from outside the aorta.

[An investigation of the diet preferences of patients with metabolic syndrome who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery].

Background: The coronary artery disease (CAD) patients are not free of disease recurrence following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. There may be risk of restenosis or occlusion in coronary blood flow. Risk reduction, such as diet control, is needed for long-term vascular patency.

Using the theory of planned behavior to predict the use of incentive spirometry among cardiac surgery patients in Taiwan.

Objective: The use of incentive spirometry (IS) is reported to prevent and treat postoperative pulmonary complications. This study sought to use the theory of planned behavior to predict the use of IS in this population.

Methods: The study used a prospective design, with convenience sampling, to recruit a total of 116 postcardiac-surgery patients from 2 medical centers in Taipei, Taiwan, from November 2008 to May 2009.

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.

Technological innovations in the development of cardiovascular clinical information systems.

Recent studies have shown that computerized clinical case management and decision support systems can be used to assist surgeons in the diagnosis of disease, optimize surgical operation, aid in drug therapy and decrease the cost of medical treatment. Therefore, medical informatics has become an extensive field of research and many of these approaches have demonstrated potential value for improving medical quality. The aim of this study was to develop a web-based cardiovascular clinical information system (CIS) based on innovative techniques, such as electronic medical records, electronic registries and automatic feature surveillance schemes, to provide effective tools and support for clinical care, decision-making, biomedical research and training activities.

[Quality of life and related factors in metabolic syndrome patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery].

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a high-prevalence health problem worldwide. In Taiwan, some 16.1-20.