Minimally invasive aortic valve repair using geometric ring annuloplasty.

Objectives: As aortic valve repair (AVr) for aortic insufficiency (AI) expands, minimally invasive (Mi) approaches are increasingly being applied. Cardiac surgical techniques can be more difficult through small incisions, and this report analyzes medium-term outcomes for MiAVr facilitated by geometric ring annuloplasty.

Methods: Since 2013, 58 patients were selected for AVr through upper sternotomy third-interspace incisions.

First uses of HAART 300 rings for aortic valve repair in Poland - 4 case studies.

Introduction: Aortic valve reconstructions using geometric annuloplasty rings HAART 300/200 open new era in aortic valve surgery. The HAART technology resizes, reshapes, stabilizes and simplifies aortic valve repair. The HAART aortic repair rings are designed to be implanted directly into aortic annulus (under aortic valve leaflets).

Short- and long-term effects of interleukin-2 treatment on the sensitivity of periadolescent female mice to interleukin-2 and dopamine uptake inhibitor.

Interleukin (IL)-2, a T-helper 1 (Th1) cell-derived cytokine, which potently modulates dopamine activity and neuronal excitability in mesolimbic structures, is linked with pathological outcomes (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, etc.

Risk stratification and prognostic effects of internal thoracic artery grafting during acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Surgeons are occasionally requested to perform coronary artery bypass grafting during acute myocardial infarction. We intended to test the safety of coronary artery bypass grafting and internal thoracic artery grafting early after myocardial infarction using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

Methods: The database was queried for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting less than 24 hours after a myocardial infarction from 2002 to 2008.

Accessory tragus: a possible sign of Goldenhar syndrome.

The accessory tragus is a relatively common benign congenital anomaly. The tragus is a cartilaginous projection that normally occurs anterior to the external auditory meatus. Although aberrancy of the tragus may occur in isolation and is exclusively derived from the first branchial arch, it may occasionally signal a defect in the first or second branchial arches.