Unusual 30-year durability of Hancock II porcine bioprosthesis in tricuspid position.

Introduction: We describe an unusual durability of a Hancock II porcine bioprosthesis in tricuspid position. Sustainability of bioprostheses is known to be limited especially in young patients.

Presentation Of The Case: A 52-year old Caucasian woman with a history of multiple valve interventions.

Gonococcal ascending aortic aneurysm with penetrating ulcer and bovine arch.

We describe a patient with ascending aorta aneurysm and bovine aortic arch who initially presented with fever. A 65-year-old man with a 2-month history of intermittent fever was referred to our hospital and diagnosed as having a gonococcal ascending aorta aneurysm with penetrating ulcers. He was successfully treated by resection of the ascending aorta and ulcers, replacement of the aortic valve, and prolonged postoperative antibiotic therapy.

Sustained release and activation of the growth factor basic fibroblast growth factor from loaded scaffolds in heart valve tissue engineering.

Objectives: Loading of biological matrices offers an opportunity to induce specific cell behaviour. We previously reported the use of growth factors to promote cell invasion and proliferation in tissue valve engineering. We investigated biological matrices preloaded with heparin as an ionically attractive template for the binding, activation and sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

Readily available porcine aortic valve matrices for use in tissue valve engineering. Is cryopreservation an option?

The clinical use of acellular biological valves as scaffolds in tissue valve engineering would require them to be readily available. This study examines the feasibility of cryopreserving porcine aortic valve matrices for use in tissue valve engineering. Matrices prepared using an enzymatic-detergent decellularization protocol were examined before and after cryopreservation.