Cardiovascular prosthetic surgery: an analysis of cellular and molecular patterns underlying valve implantation failure.

Cardiac valves have a very complex microscopic architecture, this is due to the presence of many cell types and to the variegated stroma. From a morphological point of view, both physiological and pathological processes clearly show there to be an anatomic continuity between valve leaflets and perivalvular tissues; indeed, both component should be taken into consideration during thrombotic processes and in fibrous tissue formation. At present, morphological features are well known and classified, while little is known about histogenetic features: fibrous tissue formation and the role of the various types of adhesion molecules and cells which participate in this process still have to be fully elucidated.

Evolution in the treatment of mediastinitis: single-center experience.

This study aimed to evaluate our 30-year experience in the treatment of deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery. Between 1979 and 2009, deep sternal wound infections occurred in 200 of 22,366 (0.89%) patients who underwent sternotomy.

A Starr-Edwards mitral prosthesis after 44 years of good performance.

The Starr-Edwards caged-ball prosthesis has been widely used to replace cardiac valves. The Model 6120 mitral prosthesis was introduced on the market in 1965 to reduce the high incidence of ball variance and thromboembolism of the previous model. We report the case of a Starr-Edwards Model 6120 which had been in place for 44 years and was still well functioning with no apparent structural damage.

Role of myofibroblasts in vascular remodelling: focus on restenosis and aneurysm.

Myofibroblasts (MFs) are contractile cells deriving from a multiplicity of resident cells and/or circulating progenitors that are known to play a key role in wound healing. They were first discovered and analysed in the early 1970s in granulation tissue. Since their first identification, the role of MF and their mechanisms of differentiation have been highlighted in a number of diseases, including organ fibrosis and tumours, with particular attention devoted to the liver, kidney, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in Caucasian master athletes: Differences with hypertension and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aim: To study, by conventional echocardiography, left ventricular remodelling and function in master athletes, hypertension and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: We studied 30 master athletes (MA; soccer players; mean age 43.9+/-5.

Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography of mammary artery grafts to assess graft function.

Background: Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography of internal mammary artery grafts (MAGs) has been tested by the supraclavicular approach, but little information is available about the parasternal approach.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of parasternal transthoracic Doppler echocardiography to assess the patency of left and right MAGs.

Patients And Methods: Forty-eight patients with previous MAGs were divided into two groups on the basis of coronary angiography: 42 patients had patent MAGs and six patients had severe MAG stenosis.

Scanning electron microscopy of aortic medial changes in aortic ascending dilatation.

The study of cystic cavities and collagen fibers fragmentation is useful to for a better knowledge of pathogenesis and surgical therapy of medial ascending aortic degeneration. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe by scanning electron microscopy the surfaces and shape of the cysts, measure their area, and identify microcystic spaces related to this degenerative disease. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed in 16 out of 36 patients who underwent surgery for ascending aorta dilatation with associated aortic valve disease.

Native versus primary prosthetic valve endocarditis: comparison of clinical features and long-term outcome in 353 patients.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to compare preoperative and intraoperative features, and long-term outcome of patients operated on for native (NVE) and primary prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE).

Methods: Between January 1978 and December 2002, 258 patients (mean age 47.5 +/- 16 years) were referred for NVE, and 95 for PVE.

Does antegrade blood cardioplegia alone provide adequate myocardial protection in patients with left main stem disease?

Background: The optimum route for cardioplegia administration in patients with severe coronary disease is still under debate. This study compared clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical results in patients with left main stem disease treated with 2 different strategies of myocardial protection.

Methods: Between March 2000 and November 2002, 148 consecutive patients with left main stem disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were divided into 2 groups according to the route of cardioplegia delivery: antegrade in 87 patients (group A) or antegrade followed by retrograde in 61 patients (group B).