Postoperative, but Not Preoperative, MELD-3.0 Prognosticates 3-Month Procedural Success in Patients Undergoing Orthotopic Heart Transplantation.

: Multi-organ failure (MOF) often complicates advanced heart failure (HF), contributing to a poor prognosis. The Model of End-Stage Liver Disease 3.0 (MELD-3.

Pacemaker Implantation Following Heart Transplantation - Incidence and Risk Factors. Single-Center Experience.

Background: Bradyarrhythmias, requiring pacemaker (PM) implantation, are common complications following orthotopic heart transplantation (HTx). Currently used heart transplantation methods are primarily the bicaval technique and the total heart transplantation technique. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and risk factors, including donor parameters, of conduction disorders requiring pacing after HTx.

Hemodynamic effects of balloon pulmonary angioplasty for the treatment of total and subtotal pulmonary artery occlusions in inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has become a therapeutic option for inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Despite significant improvement in the technique, treatment of subtotal (STO) and total (TO) pulmonary artery occlusions with BPA may pose risk, but the efficacy is less known.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BPA in STO/TO.

Mature mediastinal teratoma with somatic type malignancy including neuroblastoma and intestinal type of adenocarcinoma: A Case Report.

Introduction And Importance: The majority of mediastinal tumours develop asymptomatically and are often detected incidentally on a chest X-ray performed for another reason. Mediastinal tumours, although mostly asymptomatic, may cause non-specific symptoms associated with advanced tumour growth.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 30-year-old woman who presented with exhaustion and lower back pain accompanied by severe headaches with symptoms of visual disturbances, followed by the typical Horner syndrome.

Plasma fibrin clot properties and cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: a long-term follow-up study.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at high risk of cardiovascular mortality, but the mechanisms behind this remain unclear. Prothrombotic fibrin clot properties have been shown in T2DM and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that formation of denser clots, which are resistant to fibrinolysis, has a negative impact on cardiovascular mortality in T2DM.

Left Internal Mammary Artery Skeletonization Reduces Bleeding-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of skeletonized versus pedicled left internal mammary artery (LIMA) harvesting on bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: In a randomized, single-blinded trial with a parallel group design and equal allocation, we randomly assigned 62 patients undergoing primary elective CABG in a tertiary cardiac center to skeletonized or pedicled LIMA dissection. Before surgery, all aspects of coagulation were assessed.

Final 5-year outcomes following aortic valve replacement with a RESILIA™ tissue bioprosthesis.

Objectives: Long-term durability of bioprosthetic valves is predominantly limited by structural valve deterioration. RESILIA™ tissue has exhibited reduced calcification in pre-clinical and early clinical studies. This study evaluated the 5-year clinical and haemodynamic outcomes of an aortic valve with this tissue.

Intermediate-term outcomes after aortic valve replacement with a novel RESILIA tissue bioprosthesis.

Background: The durability of bioprosthetic heart valves is limited by structural valve deterioration (SVD) due to long-term calcification. A novel bioprosthetic tissue (RESILIA) has been developed which, in preclinical studies, has shown reduced calcification. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intermediate-term clinical outcomes and hemodynamic performance of this tissue.

Absence of perioperative excessive bleeding in on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting cases performed by residents.

Objectives: On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with elevated bleeding risk. Our aim was to evaluate the role of surgical experience in postoperative blood loss.

Methods: A propensity score-matched analysis was employed to compare on-pump CABG patients operated on by residents and specialists.

A comparison of aortic root measurements by echocardiography and computed tomography.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate an optimal way to assess the dimensions of the aortic root and each of the sinuses of Valsalva and examine how a single measurement in 1 plane (echocardiography or 2-dimensional computed tomography) can underestimate the maximum dimension of the aortic root.

Methods: Computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography images of the aortic root and ascending aorta of 112 patients were analyzed. The minimum and maximum aortic root dimensions, the root perimeter, and the total area of all 3 sinuses of Valsalva were measured on a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the aorta using 3-dimensional multiplanar reconstruction.

Applications of low-cost 3D printing in left atrial appendage closure using epicardial approaches - initial clinical experience.

Introduction: Left atrial appendage occlusion procedure (LAAO) became an alternative method for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with contraindication or intolerance for oral anticoagulation therapy. However, LAA anatomy is complex with several different types of LAA morphology. Therefore matching the correct size of a delivery device to LAA morphology is difficult.

Primary safety and effectiveness feasibility study after surgical aortic valve replacement with a new generation bioprosthesis: one-year outcomes.

Background: Structural valve deterioration (SVD) is a major obstacle to lifetime durability for bioprosthetic heart valves. A bio-prosthetic valve created with RESILIA™ tissue was designed to produce long-term resistance to SVD.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and performance of this new class of RESILIA™ tissue aortic bio-prosthesis.

Stenotic Bicuspid and Tricuspid Aortic Valves - Micro-Computed Tomography and Biological Indices of Calcification.

Background: Valve calcification is well estimated by ex-vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between micro-CT findings and biological indices of calcification in aortic stenosis (AS), as well as differences between bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV).

Methods and results: Aortic valves and plasma were obtained from patients undergoing valve surgery.

Comparative proteomic profiling of refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma reveals biomarkers involved in resistance to bortezomib-based therapy.

Identifying biomarkers of the resistance in multiple myeloma (MM) is a key research challenge. We aimed to identify proteins that differentiate plasma cells in patients with refractory/relapsed MM (RRMM) who achieved at least very good partial response (VGPR) and in those with reduced response to PAD chemotherapy (bortezomib, doxorubicin and dexamethasone). Comparative proteomic analysis was conducted on pretreatment plasma cells from 77 proteasome inhibitor naïve patients treated subsequently with PAD due to RRMM.

Use of dressing with human fibrin and thrombin during resection of a right atrial angiosarcoma.

Primary malignant cardiac tumors are rare and are usually detected at an advanced stage of disease. Their location and infiltration often hinder surgical resection. Tissue sarcomas, especially angiosarcomas, are composed of irregular and delicate vascular tissue.

Does the postoperative troponin I blood concentration measured in the perioperative period influence hemodynamic function of a transplanted heart?

Introduction: Plasma troponin I (TnI) concentration is a well-established and widely-used marker of myocardial damage.

Aim: To determine the correlation between TnI concentration measured within the first 4 days following heart transplantation (HTX) and clinical course, with consideration of hemodynamic performance.

Material And Methods: The retrospective study included 54 patients (12-62 years) who underwent HTX.

Effects of glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate on nutrient utilisation and performance of broiler chickens.

A completely randomised design study with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was conducted to observe effects of an emulsifier (glyceryl polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (GPR)) on nutrient utilisation and performance of broiler chickens. A total of 384 male broiler chickens were used to determine the influence of GPR (without addition or added at 0.04% of diet) and two levels of apparent metabolisable energy (AMEN) (according to standard requirements (Diets SE) or energy reduced by 0.

Aortic valve replacement with a novel anti-calcification technology platform.

Background And Aim: The primary cause of long-term failure of bioprosthetic valves is structural valve deterioration due to tissue calcification. A novel anti-calcification technology platform was developed that may irreversibly block calcium binding sites in bioprosthetic valves.

Methods: Twenty patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent isolated aortic valve replacement using a bioprosthetic valve treated with the novel anti-calcification technology.