Performance of the EuroSCORE II Model in Predicting Short-Term Mortality of General Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Study in Taiwan.

Background: The latest European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II is a well-accepted risk evaluation system for mortality in cardiac surgery in Europe.

Objectives: To determine the performance of this new model in Taiwanese patients.

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2014, 657 patients underwent cardiac surgery at our institution.

A Facile Fabrication of Biodegradable and Biocompatible Cross-Linked Gelatin as Screen Printing Substrates.

This study focuses on preparation and valuation of the biodegradable, native, and modified gelatin film as screen-printing substrates. Modified gelatin film was prepared by crosslinking with various crosslinking agents and the electrode array was designed by screen-printing. It was observed that the swelling ratio of C-2, crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and EDC/NHS (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide) was found to be lower (3.

Angiogenesis-promoting effect of LIPUS on hADSCs and HUVECs cultured on collagen/hyaluronan scaffolds.

Angiogenesis refers to blood vessel formation through endothelial cell migration and proliferation. Angiogenesis is crucial and beneficial for wound healing and tissue regeneration. In the current study, we prepared porous collagen and collagen/hyaluronan (Col/HA) scaffolds composed of collagen (7 mg/mL) and hyaluronan (HA) (0.

In vitro and in vivo study of the application of volvox spheres to co-culture vehicles in liver tissue engineering.

Unlabelled: Volvox sphere is a biomimetic concept of a natural Volvox, wherein a large outer sphere contains smaller inner spheres, which can encapsulate cells and provide a double-layer three-dimensional environment for culturing cells. This study simultaneously encapsulated rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and AML12 hepatocytes in volvox spheres and extensively evaluated the effects of various culturing modes on cell functions and fates. The results showed that compared with a static flask culture, MSCs encapsulated in volvox spheres differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells with a 2-fold increase in albumin (ALB) expression and a 2.

Young Adult Patent Ductus Arteriosus Treated with Endovascular Stent Grafting.

Endovascular stent-grafting is an alternative treatment for adult patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), especially in elderly patients. Regarding young adults, endovascular therapy is a reasonable choice if the landing zone is sufficient. In this study, we report on a young adult with PDA successfully treated with endovascular stent-grafting.

Targeted Delivery of Hyaluronan-Immobilized Magnetic Ceramic Nanocrystals.

Effective cancer therapy relies on delivering the therapeutic agent precisely to the target site to improve the treatment outcome and to minimize side effects. Although surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are the standard methods commonly used in clinics, hyperthermia has been developed as a new and promising strategy for cancer therapy. In this study, magnetic bioceramic hydroxyapatite (mHAP) nanocrystals have been developed as heat mediator for intracellular hyperthermia.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the effect of nano-sized collagen molecules and nicotinamide on mesenchymal stem cell differentiation.

Advances and improvements in mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) and cell replacement therapies have been promising approaches to treat diabetes mellitus (DM) since their potent capacities for differentiation into various functional cells match the demands of tissue repair and regeneration. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of nano-sized type I collagen molecules in combination with nicotinamide (NCT) and exendin-4 (EX4) on MSC differentiation into insulin-secreting cells in vitro and to evaluate their reparative effects against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in vivo. Differentiation of MSCs in the presence of NCT, nano-sized type I collagen molecules and EX4 was represented with insulin production and Nkx6.

Nano-sized collagen I molecules enhanced the differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of nano-sized collagen I molecules (nanoparticles or nanofibrils) and a 5-azacytidine (5-aza) treatment to enhance the differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) toward a cardiomyogenic phenotype in vitro. Second passaged MSCs were cocultured with nano-sized collagen I molecules for 24 h and then treated with 10 μM 5-aza for 24 h. The results demonstrated that the size of the cells increased significantly and acquired a flattened, triangular-shaped morphology after treatment with nano-sized collagen I molecules and 5-aza.

Treatment strategies for acute coronary syndrome with severe mitral regurgitation and their effects on short- and long-term prognosis.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) of even mild severity affects the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The present study retrospectively analyzed 1,142 patients with ACS and MR of varying severity. Of the 95 patients with severe MR, 57 (60%) underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention only and 38 (40%) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and mitral valve replacement (MVR).

Left atrial expansion index for predicting atrial fibrillation and in-hospital mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common complication after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), is associated with prolonged hospital stay. This prospective study assessed the accuracy of left atrial parameters and additional preoperative characteristics for predicting post-CABG AF and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: A total of 197 patients without hemodynamic-significant valvular problems, who received isolated CABG, were enrolled.

Evaluation of bone growth using artificial bone substitute (osteoset) and platelet gel mixtures: a preliminarily study in dogs.

Platelet gels (PG), activated by bovine thrombin (BT), have increasingly been used in orthopedic surgery. However, BT may induce immunological reactions and carry potential viral and prion risks. To avoid these side effects, thrombin derived from human plasma (human thrombin, HT) is becoming the preferred platelet activator to prepare PG.

Percutaneous management of acutely thrombosed hemodialysis grafts: the double balloon occlusion technique.

Objectives: The aim of this article is to introduce a new technique, named the "double balloon occlusion technique" (DBOT), for the salvage of acutely thrombosed grafts and to demonstrate its safety and efficacy.

Background: Acute thrombosis is recognized as the most common factor of acute graft failures. A suitably percutaneous technique should be devised to remove thrombi safely and effectively.

Main pulmonary artery aneurysm.

Pulmonary artery aneurysm is a rare lesion of the thoracic cavity. Different etiologies have been reviewed, but idiopathic lesions without other symptoms are seldom reported. Usually, surgical interventions are suggested, but the long-term outcomes are not well established.

Tissue Doppler velocity is not totally preload-independent: a study in a uremic population after hemodialysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of regional tissue Doppler velocity after volume removal following regular hemodialysis (HD) in uremic patients. Is tissue Doppler velocity really preload-independent?

Background: Diastolic dysfunction was divided into four stages: normal pattern, abnormal relaxation pattern, pseudonormalization pattern, and restrictive pattern. Pulse wave Doppler and color Doppler echocardiography were important diagnostic tools for these forms of diastolic dysfunction.

Coculture of endothelial and smooth muscle cells on a collagen membrane in the development of a small-diameter vascular graft.

In this study, we have evaluated the feasibility of developing a biodegradable collagenous small diameter vascular graft of 2mm diameter and 1cm length. In brief, bi-layer type I collagen membrane was fabricated under vacuum suction and lyophilization methods. The smooth muscle cells were inoculated into the lower side of the porous membrane, while endothelial cells were seeded onto upper smooth side of the membrane.

Bolus injection of adenosine before cardioplegic induction improves postischemic global function in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Alternative strategies to optimize preexisting cardioplegia during myocardial preservation are currently under extensive investigation. Adenosine, an endogenous purine nucleoside, has been approved for its cardioprotective potential against ischemic-reperfusion injury. Yet, little information is available with respect to the use of adenosine for cardioplegic induction in humans.