Caveolin as a Novel Potential Therapeutic Target in Cardiac and Vascular Diseases: A Mini Review.

Caveolin, a structural protein of caveolae, play roles in the regulation of endothelial function, cellular lipid homeostasis, and cardiac function by affecting the activity and biogenesis of nitric oxide, and by modulating signal transduction pathways that mediate inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. In this review, we present the role of caveolin in cardiac and vascular diseases and the relevant signaling pathways involved. Furthermore, we discuss a novel therapeutic perspective comprising crosstalk between caveolin and autophagy.

Interplay between Exosomes and Autophagy in Cardiovascular Diseases: Novel Promising Target for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Application.

Exosome, is identified as a nature nanocarrier and intercellular messenger that regulates cell to cell communication. Autophagy is critical in maintenance of protein homeostasis by degradation of damaged proteins and organelles. Autophagy and exosomes take pivotal roles in cellular homeostasis and cardiovascular disease.

Erratum to "Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic ApoE-/- Mice by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via Restoration of Autophagy through the mTOR Signaling Pathway".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/8134678.].

Commissuroplasty as a Main Operative Technique in Rheumatic Mitral Valve Repair: Surgical Experiences and Mid-Term Results.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of commissuroplasty in mitral valve repair for rheumatic mitral valve disease. For this purpose, we summarise our experience with this technique and analyse the mid-term postoperative outcomes.

Method: We retrospectively evaluated the records of patients with rheumatic valve disease who underwent mitral valve repair between January 2011 and January 2018 at our centre.

Transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement in low and intermediate risk patients with severe aortic stenosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and propensity score matching observational studies.

Background: To compare the outcome of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low and intermediate risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and propensity score matching (PSM) studies compare TAVR with SAVR in patients at low and intermediate surgical risk.

Methods: Two authors searched relevant literature independently, then extracted data from the included studies, and assessed risk of bias and quality of study separately according to different study designs, besides that, the extracted data was analyzed via utilization of GRADE system to evaluate the quality of evidence separately.

Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic ApoE-/- Mice by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via Restoration of Autophagy through the mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Background: There is a crosstalk between endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and autophagy, and autophagy could attenuate endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) exerts vascular protection functions. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the role of autophagy in diabetic atherosclerosis (AS) and the effect of GBE on autophagy and ERS.

Intraoperative method based on tricuspid annular circumference in patients with mild or no tricuspid regurgitation during left-sided cardiac valve surgery for the prophylactic tricuspid annuloplasty.

Background: During left-sided cardiac valve surgery in patients with mild or no tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the tricuspid valve exploration plays a vital role in the decision-making of concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty. Currently lack of an appropriate standard to define tricuspid annular dilatation is a challenge. The aim of this study is to introduce and evaluate an alternative intraoperative method for Tricuspid Valve annuloplasty based on annular circumference that could trace the extent of annular dilatation and predict TR-progression, which can also guide the surgeons to intraoperative decision.

A predictor for mitral valve repair in patient with rheumatic heart disease: the bending angle of anterior mitral leaflet.

Background: Mobility and flexibility of anterior mitral leaflet (AML) are considered to be the important factor for mitral valve (MV) repair in rheumatic population, we try to use the bending angle of AML to quantify its' mobility and flexibility and investigate whether it can predict the success of rheumatic MV repair or not.

Methods: Total 54 patients underwent rheumatic MV surgeries with mild lesions of subvalvular apparatus from August, 2017 to November, 2017 at the author institution, we divided the patients into MV repair and MV replacement groups which included directly MV replacement and repair attempt but failed repairing transfer to replacement intraoperatively. Patients' MV structure was carefully evaluated on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and scored by the Wilkins score (WS) preoperatively.

A meta-analysis of late outcomes of mitral valve repair in patients with rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a predominant health concern in developing countries. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the outcomes of mitral valve (MV) repair in patients with RHD, and identify predictors that may postoperatively affect treatment outcome.

Methods: A meta-analysis of eligible studies assessing patients undergoing MV repair with RHD and reporting the outcomes of MV repair, including 30-day mortality and long-term follow-up survival, MV reoperation rate and postoperative adverse events.