A handsewn pericardial valved pulmonary conduit: pulsatile flow loop in vitro and acute porcine in vivo evaluation.

Objectives: Right ventricle to pulmonary artery anatomic discontinuity is common in complex congenital heart malformations. Handsewn conduits are a practised method of repair. In a proof-of-concept study, we evaluated pulmonary valve replacement with a handsewn pericardial valved pulmonary conduit in vitro and in vivo.

Trileaflet Semilunar Valve Reconstruction: Acute Porcine in Vivo Evaluation.

The surgical treatment of malformed semilunar valves in congenital heart defects is challenging in terms of providing both longevity and the potential to grow with the recipient. We investigated a new surgical technique "Trileaflet Semilunar Valve Reconstruction" in an acute porcine model, a technique with geometrical properties that could remain sufficient and allow for some growth with the child. An acute 60-kg porcine model was used.

Organocatalyzed Decarboxylative Trichloromethylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts in Batch and Continuous Flow.

Two protocols for the organocatalyzed decarboxylative trichloromethylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) substrates have been developed. Applying sodium trichloroacetate, as the trichloromethyl anion precursor, in combination with an organocatalyst and acetylated MBH-alcohols, the desired trichloromethylated products were obtained in good yields at room temperature in batch. The method was next extrapolated into a two-step continuous flow protocol, starting directly from the MBH alcohols, in combination with tributylamine acting both as base and catalyst.

Antiinflammatory properties of a peptide derived from interleukin-4.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a potent antiinflammatory cytokine. However its use in the clinic is hampered by side effects. We here describe the identification of a novel synthetic peptide, termed Ph8, derived from α-helix C of IL-4, which interacts with IL-4 receptor α (IL-4Rα).