Publications by authors named "Linda M Shecterle"

Cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of deaths worldwide. Atherosclerosis, the most common type of cardiovascular disease, has continued to progress due to many factors, genetics, and lifestyles. All cells require adequate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels to maintain their integrity and function.

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Purpose: Percutaneous placement of transcatheter prosthetic aortic valves without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) continues to gain clinical acceptance. However, information on pressure-loading characteristics of the aortic root/annular areas is limited. For this reason, we designed a preclinical model, implanting an aortic root load transducer with a power source/telemetry system for chronic, conscious, loading data acquisition.

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A healthy cellular system involves the maintenance of an intracellular metabolic balance. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are constantly produced as a normal product of cellular metabolism; however, during situations of cellular stress, these levels can increase dramatically with the potential to cause deleterious cellular structural and/or functional consequences. There is a significant elevation in these ROS following stressful situations, such as ischemia, hypoxia, high-intensity exercise, and in many diseases.

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Cardiovascular diseases account for more deaths worldwide than any other illness. Myocardial ischemia, a common finding in cardiovascular diseases, lowers cellular energy levels, which affects a cell's integrity and function. Pre-clinical animal studies have reported lower cellular energy levels with an associated decreased function following myocardial ischemia.

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Oxygen free radicals are produced during stress, are unstable, and potentially interact with other cellular components or molecules. This reactivity can influence cellular function, including a prolongation in tissue recovery following exercise. We tested the effect of ribose (d-ribose), a pentose carbohydrate, in a double-blinded, crossover study on markers of free radical production during hypoxic exercise.

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The incidence of congestive heart failure continues to escalate worldwide, taxing health care systems. Current therapies focus on clinical management. Current accepted regimens have provided some success; however, most patients show progression of their disease.

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Dermal benefits of topical D-ribose.

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol

September 2009

Our aging skin undergoes changes with reductions in collagenous and elastic fibers, fibroblasts, mast cells, and macrophages with free radical production, which can result in reduced skin tone and wrinkle formation. Fibroblasts are important for dermal integrity and function with a decrease in function producing less skin tone, thinning, and wrinkle formation. Dermal levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) decline with aging, potentially altering dermal function.

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Background And Aim Of The Study: The long-term outcomes of mitral valve repairs are enhanced with an annuloplasty device. Although, in general, semirigid and rigid annuloplasty devices remodel the shape of the mitral valve annulus, the effect of geometric alteration on annular motion has not been fully assessed. Hence, the study aim was to investigate the influence of semi-rigid annuloplasty devices on the motion of the mitral valve annulus in adult sheep.

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Patients born with congenital right ventricular outflow tract lesions are faced with invasive procedures to establish hemodynamic and physiological stability. Commonly, multiple subsequent surgical procedures are required due to deterioration of a previous repair. These procedures carry additive risks of mortality and morbidity.

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Prosthetic heart valves undergo mandatory preclinical animal testing prior to human clinical trials. Historically, a non-site-specific placement of a valve prosthesis has been commonly performed; however, recently site-specific placement continues to attract interest. Various animal models have been used for preclinical evaluation of both aortic and mitral valve prostheses; however, a universally accepted animal model for orthotopic total aortic root replacement with acceptable early and late mortality for long-term evaluation has been lacking.

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