Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Including Na, Age, and Sex Is Powerful Predictor of Survival in COVID-19 Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Aim: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is resource-intensive, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and requires careful patient selection. This study examined whether the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is a suitable predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients with COVID-19 on ECMO at our institution from March 2020 to May 2021.

Hydrogel-coated and active clearance chest drains in cardiac surgery: real-world results of a single-center study.

Purpose: Cardiac surgery patients require chest drains for postoperative fluid drainage. Innovations in this field include chemical drain coating and manual clot extraction systems, aiming to provide reduced clotting and improved patient comfort. This study compares outcomes using hydrogel-coated, active clearance and conventional chest drains.

Pectoral muscle mass is not a robust prognostic factor for survival after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are an established treatment for end-stage left ventricular heart failure. Parameters are needed to identify the most appropriate patients for LVADs. This study aimed to evaluate pectoral muscle mass and density as prognostic parameters.

Impact of psoas muscle evaluation on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation.

Aims: The measurement of muscle mass reflects the physical components of frailty, which might affect postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative skeletal muscle evaluation and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing LVAD implantation.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2017, a total of 63 patients were enrolled in this single-centre study.

Safety, Pharmacokinetic, and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of a 2'-(2-Methoxyethyl)-D-ribose Antisense Oligonucleotide-Triantenarry -Acetyl-galactosamine Conjugate that Targets the Human Transmembrane Protease Serine 6.

Cellular uptake of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) is one of the main determinants of in vivo activity and potency. A significant advancement in improving uptake into cells has come through the conjugation of ASOs to triantenarry -acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc), a ligand for the asialoglycoprotein receptor on hepatocytes. The impact for antisense oligonucleotides, which are already taken up into hepatocytes, is a 10-fold improvement in potency in mice and up to a 30-fold potency improvement in humans, resulting in overall lower effective dose and exposure levels.

Risk and Consequences of Postoperative Delirium in Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Delirium is a common complication after cardiac surgery that leads to increased costs and worse outcomes. This retrospective study evaluated the potential risk factors and postoperative impact of delirium on cardiac surgery patients.

Methods: One thousand two hundred six patients who underwent open-heart surgery within a single year were included.

Conversion of Atrial Fibrillation after Cardiosurgical Procedures by Vernakalant® as an Atrial Repolarization Delaying Agent (ARDA).

Postoperative, new-onset atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of the most common complications after cardiosurgical procedures. Vernakalant has been reported to be effective in the conversion of POAF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vernakalant for atrial fibrillation after cardiac operations, and to investigate predictors for the success of vernakalant treatment.

Anxiety and Depression in Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery: A Prospective Clinical Study.

Background: Impending cardiac surgery presents an existential experience that may induce psychological trauma. Moreover, quality of life long after successful coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) can be impaired.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the time course of anxiety and depression in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery and compare it with our earlier results of patients undergoing CABG, a disease that is likely to be related to psychosomatic disorders.

Feasibility of intravitreal injections and ophthalmic safety assessment in marmoset () monkeys.

To safeguard patients, regulatory authorities require that new drugs that are to be given by the intravitreal (IVT) route are assessed for their safety in a laboratory species using the same route of administration. Due to the high similarity of ocular morphology and physiology between humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs) and due to the species specificity of many biotherapeutics, the monkey is often the only appropriate model. To this end, intravitreal administration and assessment of ocular toxicity are well established in cynomolgus monkeys ().

A case of lethal spontaneous massive hemothorax in a patient with neurofibromatosis 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by multiple dermatological disorders amongst others. Among the less frequent manifestations are vascular abnormalities. Here, we present a case of spontaneous massive hemothorax in a 39-year-old Caucasian woman with neurofibromatosis 1 and a thoracic meningocele with a lethal outcome despite extensive surgical intervention as well as intensive care measures.

Perioperative and long-term development of anxiety and depression in CABG patients.

Background: The high incidence of symptomatic anxiety and depression in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients may lead to impaired quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality. This prospective longitudinal study on CABG patients should provide data for future preoperative and postoperative psychotherapeutic interventions.

Methods: From 2009 to 2010, 135 consecutive patients who were able and prepared were consulted by one interviewer immediately before 1  week (early) and 6 months (late) after surgery to complete the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" questionnaire.

Cardiac stunning in the clinic: the full picture.

Cardiac stunning refers to different dysfunctional levels occurring after an episode of acute ischemia, despite blood flow is near normal or normal. The phenomenon was initially identified in animal models, where it has been very well characterized. After being established in the experimental setting, it remained unclear, whether a similar syndrome occurs in humans.

Inotropic, vasodilating and preconditioning actions of levosimendan in the heart.

Background: Levosimendan improves ventricular function, induces vasodilation and induces myocardial preconditioning. We determined the external efficiency and assessed the effects on arrhythmias.

Methods: In isolated, blood-perfused rabbit hearts, levosimendan (0.

Ca2+ sensitizer superior to catecholamine during myocardial stunning?

Background: After open-chest cardiac surgery, ventricular function remains depressed (myocardial stunning). Catecholamines (epinephrine) improve ventricular function by increasing the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. In parallel, the oxygen consumption is increased, so that the hitherto intact myocardium can be jeopardized.

Management of the persistent ductus arteriosus in infants of very low birth weight: early and long-term results.

The hemodynamically relevant persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) impairs pulmonary and cardiac function. Frequently, PDA can be closed only via surgery. In this retrospective study, early and long-term results in very low birth weight newborns are evaluated.

Does adenosine pharmacologically precondition human myocardium during coronary bypass surgery?

Aim: Adenosine (Ado) triggers ischemic preconditioning. We investigated whether Ado provides additional myocardial protection in patients during intermittent aortic cross-clamping (IAC) bypass surgery.

Methods: The placebo group was made of 15 male of 66+/-8 years while the Ado group was made of 19 male of 65+/-10 years.

Evidence for palliative enlargement of the right ventricular outflow tract in severe tetralogy of Fallot.

Objective: If the pulmonary artery (PA) tree in patients with Fallot's tetralogy (TOF) is extremely hypoplastic, a shunt procedure may be difficult and not desirable because of side-effects. Moreover, the failing catch-up growth of the pulmonary annulus is well known. In patients with a severe form of TOF, we performed palliative transannular patching of the right ventricular outflow tract.

Intermittent aortic cross-clamping for coronary artery bypass grafting: a review of a safe, fast, simple, and successful technique.

Since the very beginning of coronary artery bypass grafting, the search for optimal myocardial protection has fascinated both clinicians and basic researchers. This retrospective review of a large patient cohort aims to display the advantages of one of the protective procedures, namely simple, intermittent aortic cross-clamping (IAC). Thus, this review aims to significantly contribute to daily bypass surgery.

Determination of the coronary flow reserve of the LAD in patients with HOCM using the intracoronary Doppler catheter.

Objective: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is still a serious problem that is characterized by an increasing hypertrophy of the cardiac muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis whether in HOCM the coronary flow reserve in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is influenced by pharmacologic stimulation or stimulation using a pacemaker.

Patients And Methods: The study was carried out in 15 patients (6 male, 9 female) with the typical echocardiographic signs of HOCM without coronary artery disease.

Coronary flow reserve in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy assessed by intracoronary Doppler catheter.

Background: In spite of progress in diagnosis and treatment, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) remains a serious medical problem. Among many issues, the pathophysiology of the coronary circulation in HOCM has not yet been fully examined.

Aim: To assess coronary flow reserve in HOCM.

Preconditioning: myocardial function and energetics during coronary hypoperfusion and reperfusion.

Background: Ischemic preconditioning (IP) is gaining more acceptance as a protective method in beating heart surgery. Yet it remains controversial whether preconditioning can attenuate myocardial dysfunction during reperfusion after severe coronary hypoperfusion. We examined this issue and also the issue of whether this protection is mediated by adenosine A1 receptors.

[The isolated rabbit heart: comparison between five different modifications].

Background: The isolated heart as an experimental model has been firmly established for more than 100 years.

Material And Methods: In this study, five modifications are compared: 1. modified Langendorff apparatus (LA) with modified Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution a) not containing bovine serum albumin (BSA; n = 13) and b) containing BSA (n = 16), 2.

Perioperative levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and troponin-T in patients with uncomplicated coronary artery surgery.

Hypothesis: increased ANP levels after uncomplicated coronary artery surgery (CAS) indicate functional reduction.

Experimental Design: prospective, randomized. Preoperative upto the 12 week postoperative.

Repair of critical aortic coarctation in neonatal age.

Background: The data of 111 (male: 64; female: 47) in the period of 1967 until 12/93 consecutive operated neonatals (<1 month) were studied retrospectively (mean weight 3270 g, mean age at operation 14 days).

Methods: Preductal anatomy was present in 96 patients. The coarctation was isolated in 30 patients (group I), 34 patients had additional large ventricular septal defects (group II) and 47 had complex heart disease (group III).