Progressive Reinvention or Destination Lost? Half a Century of Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering.

The concept of tissue engineering evolved long before the phrase was forged, driven by the thromboembolic complications associated with the early total artificial heart programs of the 1960s. Yet more than half a century of dedicated research has not fulfilled the promise of successful broad clinical implementation. A historical account outlines reasons for this scientific impasse.

Long-term experience in autologous in vitro endothelialization of infrainguinal ePTFE grafts.

Objective: Based on a previous randomized study showing significantly superior patency rates for in vitro endothelialized expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts we investigated whether it was feasible for a nontertiary institution to offer autologous in vitro endothelialization to all elective infrainguinal bypass patients who had no suitable saphenous vein available.

Methods: Over a period of 15 years, 310 out of 318 consecutive nonacute patients (age 64.7 +/- 8.

Enhanced endothelial cell retention on shear-stressed synthetic vascular grafts precoated with RGD-cross-linked fibrin.

Clinical in vitro endothelialization has been shown to increase the patency of synthetic vascular grafts. The shear stress resistance of the cultured autologous endothelium represents a crucial cornerstone of the concept. We investigated whether an enrichment of the precoating matrix with adhesion sites can augment endothelial cell attachment.

Mitral valve repair with the Colvin-Galloway Future Band.

Background: A new annuloplasty device, the Colvin-Galloway Future Band, has been developed to allow simple and safe mitral valve repair surgery. Here we report its clinical use and the clinical results after a short-term, 2-year follow-up.

Methods: We assessed the performance of this new device in 40 consecutive patients (55% male; mean age, 68.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-negative antiproteinase 3 syndrome presenting as vasculitis, endocarditis, polyneuropathy and Dupuytren's contracture.

Antiproteinase 3 antibodies (antiPR3) are assumed to be subtypes of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA), with a high specificity for active Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis. Thus, antiPR3 positivity in ELISA, together with negativity in indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) is a rare finding. A 56-year-old man with Dupuytren's contracture and polyneuropathy was admitted for leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

Hyperlipidemia coincides with reversible growth impairment of cultured human autologous endothelial cells.

Patient-related risk factors for the growth of autologous endothelial cells were assessed in a clinical series of 100 consecutive recipients of in vitro endothelialized prosthetic vascular grafts. For all patients, the indication for bypass operation was arteriosclerotic occlusive disease of the distal arteries. Endothelial cells were harvested from a small piece of subdermal vein and cultured in medium containing 20% of autologous serum.