Long-term outcome of heart transplantation performed after ventricular assist device compared with standard heart transplantation.

Background: Data on the long-term outcome of heart transplantation in patients with a ventricular assist device (VAD) are scarce.

Aim: To evaluate long-term outcome after heart transplantation in patients with a VAD compared with no mechanical circulatory support.

Methods: Consecutive all-comers who underwent heart transplantation were included at a single high-volume centre from January 2005 until December 2012, with 5 years of follow-up.

Atrial natriuretic peptide regulates adipose tissue accumulation in adult atria.

The abundance of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia. However, both the origin and the factors involved in EAT expansion are unknown. Here, we found that adult human atrial epicardial cells were highly adipogenic through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition both in vitro and in vivo.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with the fibrotic remodelling of adipose tissue in the subepicardium of human and sheep atria.

Aims: Accumulation of atrial adipose tissue is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We examined the relationship between the characteristics of fatty infiltrates of the atrial myocardium and the history of AF.

Can magnetic targeting of magnetically labeled circulating cells optimize intramyocardial cell retention?

Therapeutic intracavitary stem cell infusion currently suffers from poor myocardial homing. We examined whether cardiac cell retention could be enhanced by magnetic targeting of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles. EPCs were magnetically labeled with citrate-coated iron oxide nanoparticles.

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of a Takayasu disease on an abdominal aortic dissection.

Background: To report the rare diagnosis and the surgical treatment of a young patient presenting a symptomatic dissection of the abdominal aorta revealing a Takayasu's arteritis (TA).

Methods And Results: A 24-year-old woman developed a painful chronic dissection of the infrarenal aorta associated with a claudication of both lower extremities. As the patient was still symptomatic despite an optimal medical treatment, a surgical revascularization was proposed.

The significance of endoleaks in thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair.

Background: Endoleak is one of the rare complications that occur after thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR). The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of endoleaks and the predictive factors for their occurrence, as well as their effect on secondary interventions after TEVAR.

Methods: Medical and radiological data of all TEVAR procedures performed between 2004 and 2008 were entered prospectively into our database and reviewed retrospectively.

Skeletal myoblasts preserve remote matrix architecture and global function when implanted early or late after coronary ligation into infarcted or remote myocardium.

Background: The inability of skeletal myoblasts to transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes suggests that their beneficial effects on cardiac function after a myocardial infarction are mediated by paracrine effects. We evaluated the roles of these factors in the preservation of matrix architecture (in the infarct and remote regions) by varying the timing (postmyocardial infarction) and delivery site of the implanted cells.

Methods And Results: Skeletal myoblasts (5x10(6)) or control media were injected into the infarct or noninfarcted myocardium at 5 or 30 days after coronary artery ligation in rats.