Right anterior thoracotomy vs. upper hemisternotomy for aortic valve replacement with Perceval S: is there a difference?

Background: Our study aimed to evaluate the early outcomes of aortic valve replacement with Perceval S sutureless valve through the right anterior thoracotomy and upper hemisternotomy approaches, and to determine if there are any differences between these two approaches.

Methods: We carried out a study using data from 174 patients who underwent minimally invasive Perceval S valve implantation for aortic valve stenosis between January 2018 and August 2023. This was a retrospective, single-center observational study.

Involvement of different K channel subtypes in hydrogen sulfide-induced vasorelaxation of human internal mammary artery.

Background: Changes in K channel expression/function are associated with disruption of vascular reactivity in several pathological conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Gasotransmitters achieve part of their effects in the organism by regulating ion channels, especially K channels. Their involvement in hydrogen sulfide (HS)-mediated vasorelaxation is still unclear, and data about human vessels are limited.

Characteristics of Akinetic and Dyskinetic Left Ventricular Aneurysms in the Context of Echocardiographic Diagnosis and Treatment Selection.

. Distinct pressure curve differences exist between akinetic (A-LVA) and dyskinetic (D-LVA) aneurysms. In D-LVA, left ventricular (LV) ejection pressure decreases relative to the aneurysm size, whereas A-LVA does not impact pressure curves, indicating that the decrease in stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output is proportional to the size of dyskinesia.

DNA degradation of bloodstains on cotton fabric caused by different washing procedures.

DNA degradation in biological material needs to be better understood. Bloodstains on washed clothing are disturbed by washing procedures, sometimes transferred to other fabrics, often with latent bloodstains and usually with significantly degraded DNA. The samples (cotton fabric with bloodstains) are divided into six main groups, depending on the washing method regarding water temperature (95, 60, and 30 °C) and the detergent use.

Case Report: Optical coherence tomography to guide PCI of iatrogenic injury of the circumflex artery after minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

We present a case of a 42-year-old man who suffered an iatrogenic injury to his left circumflex (Cx) coronary artery after mitral valve (MV) repair surgery. After the patient suffered from myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation following minimally invasive MV surgery, we performed repeated coronary angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT), which revealed severe coronary stenosis of the dominant Cx caused by intramural hematoma. In addition, we proceeded with percutaneous coronary intervention and stent implantation.

Influence of Catalytic Infrared Radiation on the Protective Properties of Industrial Epoxy Primers.

The application of organic coatings is a common way of protecting metal substrates against corrosion. To dry the coating faster, catalytic infrared radiation (IR) can be applied. This paper aims to assess the differences in the physical, chemical, and corrosion properties of primer coatings dried with catalytic infrared radiation, compared to the same coatings dried under atmospheric conditions.

Hypoplastic arteries of the cerebral arterial ring in the blind spot of computed tomography angiography.

Background: Some variations of the cerebral arterial circle (CAC) are associated with an increased risk for the development of various pathological conditions. This paper aimed to determine the prevalence of hypoplastic arteries of CAC and to emphasize the limited possibility of their visualization by computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Materials And Methods: The research was performed on 400 adult cadavers by macro- and microdissection of the cerebral arteries.

An Analysis of Early Results after Valve Replacement in Isolated Aortic Valve Stenosis by Using Sutureless vs. Stented Bioprostheses: A Single-Center Middle-Income Country Experience.

: There is a lack of data about the survival of patients after the implantation of sutureless relative to stented bioprostheses in middle-income settings. The objective of this study was to compare the survival of people with isolated severe aortic stenosis after the implantation of sutureless and stented bioprostheses in a tertiary referral center in Serbia. : This retrospective cohort study included all people treated for isolated severe aortic stenosis with sutureless and stented bioprostheses from 1 January 2018 to 1 July 2021 at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases "Dedinje".

Durability and Corrosion Properties of Waterborne Coating Systems on Mild Steel Dried under Atmospheric Conditions and by Infrared Radiation.

Increasing attention is given to waterborne coatings for corrosion protection due to the lower ecological impact on the environment. It has been found that by using waterborne coatings, the emission of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is reduced by more than 50 g/L. However, they require longer drying time, their anti-corrosion performance is not as good as solvent-borne coatings and they still have not been developed for all corrosion environments.

Clinical and echocardiographic predictors of the anterior mitral leaflet repair failure.

Background: Anterior mitral leaflet prolapse repair is a highly effective procedure, but despite excellent operative results still has an inferior long-term durability when compared to posterior leaflet repair.

Methods: We analysed mitral repair durability in 74 consecutive patients operated for anterior leaflet prolapse between 2010 and 2021. Their pre- and postoperative clinical, echocardiographic data and repair durability as well, were compared with 74 randomly assigned posterior leaflet prolapse patients who underwent valve repair during the same period.

Mechanisms underlying the vasorelaxant effect of hydrogen sulfide on human saphenous vein.

Hydrogen sulfide (H S) represents the third and the youngest member of the gaseous transmitters family. The dominant effect of H S on isolated vessels is vasodilation. As the mechanism of H S-induced relaxation in human vessels remains unclear, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of H S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), on isolated human saphenous vein (HSV) and to determine the mechanism of action.

Surgical Treatment of Pseudoaneurysm of the Ascending Aorta in a Patient with Sepsis.

Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta (PAA) is a hazardous and potentially fatal cardiovascular disease. This condition is caused by the rupture of at least one layer of the vessel and contained by the remaining vascular layers or the surrounding mediastinal structures. We presented the surgical treatment of a patient with sepsis and large PAA and brachiocephalic trunk, which was compressing the brachiocephalic trunk leading to syncope.

Effect of incomplete sampling description in DNA reports on bloodstain pattern analysis and reconstruction of a crime scene.

DNA analysts in forensic laboratories are engaged in analysing and sampling bloodstains from bloodstained items. Detailed and precise descriptions of bloodstains on items of interest are very important for bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA). DNA and BPA reports were examined from forensic laboratories in Serbia ( = 88).

Mechanisms of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by procyanidin B2 in venous bypass graft.

Cardioprotective abilities of procyanidins, might, at least in part, attribute to their vasodilator properties. The present study was undertaken to assess the vasorelaxant effect of procyanidin B2 on isolated human saphenous vein (HSV) and its underlying mechanisms. Procyanidin B2 relaxed phenylephrine-induced contraction of HSV rings in concentration-dependent manner.

Multiplex Label Free Characterization of Cancer Cell Lines Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging.

Rapid multiplex cell surface marker analysis can expedite investigations in which large number of antigens need to be analyzed. Simultaneous analysis of multiple surface antigens at the same level of sensitivity is however limited in the current golden standard analysis method, flow cytometry. In this paper we introduce a surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi)-based technique for 44-plex parameter analysis using a single sample, in less than 20 min.

The role of ministernotomy in aortic valve surgery-A prospective randomized study.

Background And Aims: The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to compare the early and midterm outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) through upper ministernotomy with conventional AVR through median sternotomy.

Methods: One hundred patients undergoing elective AVR were randomized into two groups: the M group (upper ministernotomy group, n = 50) and the C group (conventional sternotomy group, n = 50). The operative data, major adverse outcomes, and postoperative variables were compared between the two groups of patients.

Trends in SPR Cytometry: Advances in Label-Free Detection of Cell Parameters.

SPR cytometry entails the measurement of parameters from intact cells using the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon. Specific real-time and label-free binding of living cells to sensor surfaces has been made possible through the availability of SPR imaging (SPRi) instruments and researchers have started to explore its potential in the last decade. Here we will discuss the mechanisms of detection and additionally describe the problems and issues of mammalian cells in SPR biosensing, both from our own experience and with information from the literature.

Nanoparticle Enhancement Cascade for Sensitive Multiplex Measurements of Biomarkers in Complex Fluids with Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging.

There is a large unmet need for reliable biomarker measurement systems for clinical application. Such systems should meet challenging requirements for large scale use, including a large dynamic detection range, multiplexing capacity, and both high specificity and sensitivity. More importantly, these requirements need to apply to complex biological samples, which require extensive quality control.

(-)-Epicatechin-induced relaxation of isolated human saphenous vein: Roles of K and Ca channels.

In this study, we aimed to investigate relaxant effect of flavanol (-)-epicatechin on the isolated human saphenous vein (HSV), as a part of its cardioprotective action, and to define the mechanisms underlying this vasorelaxation. (-)-Epicatechin induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of HSV pre-contracted by phenylephrine. Among K channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine, margatoxin, and iberiotoxin significantly inhibited relaxation of HSV, while glibenclamide considerably reduced effects of the high concentrations of (-)-epicatechin.

Surface Plasmon Resonance is an Analytically Sensitive Method for Antigen Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles.

Background: Identification, enumeration, and characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) are hampered by the small size of EVs, a low refractive index, and low numbers of antigens on their surface.

Methods: We investigated the potential of a 48-multiplex surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) system to perform EV phenotyping. Antigen surface density of 11 antigens was measured on the human breast cancer cell lines HS578T, MCF7, and SKBR3 and their EVs by use of both SPRi and the widely used flow cytometry (FCM).

Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect of procyanidin B2 on human internal mammary artery.

The aim of the present study was to investigate and characterize vasorelaxant effect of procyanidin B2 on human internal mammary artery (HIMA) as one of the mechanisms of its protective effect against vascular risk. Procyanidin B2 induced strong concentration-dependent relaxation of HIMA rings pre-contracted by phenylephrine. Pretreatment with L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, hydroxocobalamin, a NO scavenger, and ODQ, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, significantly inhibited procyanidin B2-induced relaxation of HIMA, while indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, considerably reduced effects of low concentrations.

Preoperative Insight Into the Quality of Radial Artery Grafts.

We investigated the impact of preoperative ultrasonography of the forearm circulation on radial artery conduit selection. Preoperative ultrasound of the forearm circulation was performed routinely in 536 patients planned for radial artery harvesting. The safety assessment of the harvest included the following algorithm of tests: the ultrasound, the Allen test, and pulse oximetry.

Capture of Tumor Cells on Anti-EpCAM-Functionalized Poly(acrylic acid)-Coated Surfaces.

The presence of tumor cells in blood is predictive of short survival in several cancers and their isolation and characterization can guide toward the use of more effective treatments. These circulating tumor cells (CTC) are, however, extremely rare and require a technology that is sufficiently sensitive and specific to identify CTC against a background of billions of blood cells. Immuno-capture of cells expressing the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) are frequently used to enrich CTC from blood.

Modeling single cell antibody excretion on a biosensor.

We simulated, using Comsol Multiphysics, the excretion of antibodies by single hybridoma cells and their subsequent binding on a surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) sensor. The purpose was to confirm that SPRi is suitable to accurately quantify antibody (anti-EpCAM) excretion. The model showed that antibody loss by diffusion away from the sensor was less than 1%.