Blood flow dynamics of one cardiac cycle and relationship to mechanotransduction and trabeculation during heart looping.

Analyses of form-function relationships during heart looping are directly related to technological advances. Recent advances in four-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) permit observations of cardiac dynamics at high-speed acquisition rates and high resolution. Real-time observation of the avian stage 13 looping heart reveals that interactions between the endocardial and myocardial compartments are more complex than previously depicted.

Age-related changes in the aortic valve affect leaflet stress distributions: implications for aortic valve degeneration.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The degeneration of aortic valve leaflets occurs primarily due to high mechanical stresses in zones of leaflet flexion. Aging, which has been identified as a risk factor for degenerative aortic stenosis, is associated with reductions in stretch and in compliance, and an increase in tissue thickness of the leaflet and root. The study aim was to investigate the effects of age-related tissue changes on valve opening dynamics and leaflet stress patterns, and its implications for valve degeneration.

Delivery strategies to target therapies to inflammatory tissue.

Background: Inflammation plays a key role in many chronic disease processes as well as an acute role in injury and wound healing. Various cell types are recruited from the bloodstream to the inflamed site through adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines and others.

Objectives: This review examines many drug-targeting strategies that make use of these molecules or signaling pathways, and seeks to describe certain commonalities irrespective of the disease process or agent to be delivered.

Prediction of pressure recovery location in aortic valve stenosis: an in-vitro validation study.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Pressure recovery is a source of discrepancy between Doppler-derived and catheter aortic valve pressure drops. Pressure recovery occurs where the stenotic jet reattaches to the aortic wall. An equation to predict the jet reattachment location has been developed based on the density and viscosity of blood, the velocity in the stenotic jet, and the aortic root and valve areas.

Immuno-targeting of nonionic surfactant vesicles to inflammation.

Niosomes composed of sorbitan monostearate (Span 60), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (Tween 61), cholesterol, and dicetyl phosphate were conjugated with a purified monoclonal antibody to CD44 (IM7) through a cyanuric chloride (CC) linkage on the polyoxyethylene group of the Tween 61 molecule. Inclusion of small amounts of Tween 61 within the surfactant component of niosomes formed using thin film hydration techniques and sonication did not hamper vesicle stability as compared to Span 60 niosomes. Conjugation was verified by UV absorbance of fluorescently tagged IM7 in non-fluorescing niosomes and fluorescent micrographs.