Donor hypernatremia and smoking addiction contribute to primary graft failure in heart transplantation.

Introduction: Primary graft failure (PGF) is an important contributor to early mortality, accounting for 41% of deaths within the first 30 days after heart transplantation (HT). Donor hypernatremia has been associated with PGF development. However, controversial data exist regarding the impact of sodium deregulation in patient survival after HT.

Intragraft vasculitis and gene expression analysis: Association with acute rejection and prediction of mortality in long-term heart transplantation.

Introduction: Vasculitis entails heterogeneous origins; it starts with an inflammatory process that leads to small vessels' necrosis, hemorrhage, and ischemic lesion, and may further result in occlusion of the vascular lumen. Vasculitis' contribution to allograft rejection is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the incidence of vasculitis in the early stages of heart transplantation as well as to assess the intragraft genes' expression associated with vascular function and subsequently to verify the way in which it affects the outcome of the allograft.

Down regulation of protective genes is associated with cellular and antibody-mediated rejection.

Unlabelled: Despite advances in immunosuppressive therapy, rejection still remains the main obstacle to a successful transplant. This study aims to explore the gene expression profile of the rejection process in order to decrease the number of unnecessary endomyocardial biopsies in stable patients.

Methods: A total of 300 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) endomyocardial biopsies sampled from 63 heart allograft recipients were included in this study.

Hybrid treatment of aortic arch disease.

Introduction: The management of thoracic aortic disease involving the ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta are technically challenging and is an area in constant development and innovation.

Objective: To analyze early and midterm results of hybrid treatment of arch aortic disease.

Methods: Retrospective study of procedures performed from January 2010 to December 2012.

Clinical evaluation of the Spiral Pump® after improvements to the original project in patients submitted to cardiac surgeries with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to present the results from Spiral Pump clinical trial after design modifications performed at its previous project. This pump applies axial end centrifugal hydraulic effects for blood pumping during cardiopulmonary bypass for patients under cardiac surgery.

Methods: This study was performed in 52 patients (51% males), between 20 to 80 (67±14.