Autophagy and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis processes in left ventricular mass loss in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the intensity of autophagy and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis processes occurring in myocardium of left ventricle (LV) in subsequent stages of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to determine mechanisms responsible for LV mass loss in a monocrotaline-induced PAH rat model. LV myocardium samples collected from 32 Wistar rats were analyzed in an early PAH group (n = 8), controls time-paired (n = 8), an end-stage PAH group (n = 8), and their controls (n = 8). Samples were subjected to histological analyses with immunofluorescence staining, autophagy assessment by western blotting, and evaluation of ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in the LV by immunoprecipitation of ubiquitinated proteins.

Comparison of the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced mammography in detecting malignant lesions in patients with extremely dense breasts compared to the all-densities population.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) recombinant images in detecting malignant lesions in patients with extremely dense breasts compared to the all-densities population.

Material And Methods: 792 patients with 808 breast lesions, in whom the final decision on core-needle biopsy was made based on CEM, and who received the result of histopathological examination, were qualified for a single-centre, retrospective study. Patient electronic records and imaging examinations were reviewed to establish demographics, clinical and imaging findings, and histopathology results.

Description and prevalence of ventricular mitral annular disjunction: variation of normality or pathological variant?

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate a new variation of the atrial wall-mitral annulus-ventricular wall junction along the mural mitral leaflet and commissures: the ventricular mitral annular disjunction (v-MAD). This new variant is characterized by spatial displacement of the mitral leaflet hinge line by more than 2mm toward the left ventricle.

Methods: We examined a cohort of autopsied human hearts (n=224, 21.

Aortic root morphometry revisited-Clinical implications for aortic valve interventions.

The complex anatomy of the aortic root is of great importance for many surgical and transcatheter cardiac procedures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive morphological description of the nondiseased aortic root. We morphometrically examined 200 autopsied human adult hearts (22.

Definition and anatomical description of the left atrial appendage neck.

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is well known as a source of cardiac thrombus formation. Despite its clinical importance, the LAA neck is still anatomically poorly defined. Therefore, this study aimed to define the LAA neck and determine its morphometric characteristics.

Morphology of the mural and commissural atrioventricular junction of the mitral valve.

Objective: This study investigates mitral annular disjunctions (MAD) in the atrial wall-mitral annulus-ventricular wall junction along the mural mitral leaflet and commissures.

Methods: We examined 224 adult human hearts (21.9% females, 47.

BIRADS 4 - Is it possible to downgrade lesions that do not enhance on recombinant contrast-enhanced mammography images?

Purpose: Analysis of the morphology of lesions classified into the BI-RADS 4 category and assessment of the possibility of downgrade the BI-RADS category in those that did not show enhancement on recombinant contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) images.

Method: The retrospective, single-center study included 528 patients who underwent a core needle biopsy performed from January 2017 to November 2022 due to a breast lesion classified as BI-RADS 4 on CEM. Patients' electronic records and imaging examinations were reviewed.

Aortic valve fenestrations: Macroscopic assessment and functional anatomy study.

Aortic valve fenestrations are defined as a loss of aortic valve leaflet tissue. They are a common but overlooked finding with unclear significance. The aim of this study was to investigate the varied functional anatomies of aortic valve fenestrations.

Pulmonary valve morphometry revisited: Clinical implications for valvular and supravalvular interventions.

In this cadaver-based study, we aimed to present a novel approach to pulmonary valve (PV) anatomy, morphometry, and geometry to offer comprehensive information on PV structure. The 182 autopsied human hearts were investigated morphometrically. The largest PV area was seen for the coaptation center plane, followed by basal ring and the tubular plane (626.

Mutual Arrangements of Coronary Blood Vessels within the Right Atrial Appendage Vestibule.

Background: The aim of our study was to investigate the presence and mutual relationships of coronary vessels within the right atrial appendage (RAA) vestibule.

Methods: We examined 200 autopsied hearts. The RAA vestibule was cross-sectioned along its isthmuses (superior, middle, and inferior).

Thickness of the left atrial wall surrounding the left atrial appendage orifice.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the thickness of the left atrial wall surrounding the left atrial appendage (LAA) orifice.

Methods And Results: The tissue thickness around the LAA orifice was measured at four points (superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior) in 200 randomly selected autopsied human hearts. The thickest tissue was observed at the anterior point (3.

Morphology and Position of the Right Atrioventricular Valve in Relation to Right Atrial Structures.

The right atrioventricular valve (RAV) is an important anatomical structure that prevents blood backflow from the right ventricle to the right atrium. The complex anatomy of the RAV has lowered the success rate of surgical and transcatheter procedures performed within the area. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology of the RAV and determine its spatial position in relation to selected structures of the right atrium.

Morphology of the Left Atrial Appendage: Introduction of a New Simplified Shape-Based Classification System.

Background: The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a heart structure with known prothrombogenic and pro-arrhythmogenic properties.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the specific anatomy of the LAA and to create a simple classification system based on the shape of its body.

Method And Results: This study investigated 200 randomly selected autopsied human hearts (25.

Topographical anatomy of the right atrial appendage vestibule and its isthmuses.

Introduction: The right atrial appendage (RAA) vestibule is an area located in the right atrium between the RAA orifice and the right atrioventricular valve annulus and may be a target for invasive transcatheter procedures.

Methods And Results: We examined 200 autopsied human hearts. Three isthmuses (an inferior, a middle, and a superior isthmus) were detected.

Anatomy of the left atrial ridge (coumadin ridge) and possible clinical implications for cardiovascular imaging and invasive procedures.

Background: The left atrial ridge is a structure located in the left atrium between the left-sided pulmonary veins ostia and the orifice of the left atrial appendage. Since it was commonly misdiagnosed as a thrombus, the ridge is also known as the "coumadin" or "warfarin" ridge. The left atrial ridge is a potential source of arrhythmias and can be an obstacle in ablation procedures.

Topographic characteristics of the left atrial medial isthmus.

Background: The purpose of this study was to provide detailed topography of the left atrial medial isthmus (situated between the right inferior pulmonary vein ostium and the medial part of the mitral annulus).

Methods: Two hundred human hearts (Caucasian, 22.5% females, 48.

The Arteries of the Central Forehead: Implications for Facial Plastic Surgery.

Background: The forehead has substantial importance as an aesthetic unit. The central and supraorbital parts of this area are supplied by the supratrochlear (ST) and supraorbital (SO) arteries as well as the recently defined paracentral (PA) and central arteries.

Objectives: The authors aimed to assess the morphometry of the vessels of the forehead in the context of plastic surgery and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.

Morphology of the Vieussens valve and its imaging in cardiac multislice computed tomography.

Introduction: To deliver accurate morphological descriptions of the Vieussens valve (VV) and to investigate whether this structure could be visualized using standard contrast-enhanced electrocardiogram-gated multislice computed tomography (MSCT).

Methods: A total of 145 human autopsied hearts and 114 cardiac MSCT scans were examined.

Results: The VV was observed in both study groups, however, the detection rate was significantly worse in the MSCT examination (18.

Fixative properties of honey solutions as a formaldehyde substitute in cardiac tissue preservation.

Objectives: To evaluate the properties of natural sweetener solutions in whole organ preservation and assess their influence on the dimension, weight and shape of cardiac tissue samples in stated time intervals, up to a one-year period of observation.

Background: Tissue fixation is essential for biological sample examination. Many negative toxic effects of formaldehyde-based fixatives have forced us to seek alternatives for formaldehyde based solutions.

Blood Vessels and Myocardial Thickness within the Left Atrial Appendage Isthmus Line.

Electric isolation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) and linear ablations in the area of the LAA base are gaining popularity. However, very little is known about the myocardial architecture and the presence of epicardial blood vessels within this region, which could significantly influence the course of such procedures. We examined 200 autopsied hearts (22.

The influence of fixation on the cardiac tissue in a 1-year observation of swine hearts.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of formaldehyde-based fixation on dimension, weight and shape of cardiac tissue during a 1-year observation.

Materials And Methods: Seven measuring sites were permanently marked in 40 swine hearts prior to fixation. Four study groups (n = 10 each) were assembled that differed only in concentration and the type of fixative.

Left-Sided Atrial Septal Pouch is a Risk Factor for Cryptogenic Stroke.

Background: The atrial septal pouch is an anatomic variant of the interatrial septum. The morphology of the left-sided septal pouch (LSSP) may favor blood stasis and predispose to thromboembolic events. The aim of this study was to determine the association between LSSP presence and cryptogenic stroke.

Mid-esophageal bicaval versus short-axis view of interatrial septum in two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis and measurement of atrial septal pouches.

Background: Recent studies suggest that the left-sided septal pouch (SP) may increase the risk of cryptogenic stroke and act as an arrhythmogenic substrate. The aim of this study was to compare two transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) projections of the interventricular septum: mid-esophageal bicaval and short-axis views toward evaluating their ability to detect SPs.

Materials And Methods: A total of 146 patients with both bicaval and short-axis TEE views were included in this study.