Towards navigation on the heart surface during coronary arterty bypass grafting.

Object: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard treatment for advanced coronary artery diseases. In a preoperative MSCT, both wall plaque formations and resulting optimal anastomotic site are visible to the surgeon. During surgery, the identification of this position on the surface of the heart is of utmost importance for an effective revascularisation procedure.

Over-expression of IGF-related peptides in stenoses of native arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are known to play an important role in atherogenesis. The aim of our study was to assess the local expression of IGF-related peptides in stenosed hemodialysis fistulas and compare these with their respective serum levels.

Methods: We investigated 15 stenosed vein segments of primary arteriovenous fistulas, 29 non-stenosed control vein segments from uremic patients and 15 non-stenosed control saphenous vein segments.

Comparative evaluation of multimedia driven, interactive, and case-based teaching in heart surgery.

Background: Multimedia-augmented instruction with various approaches is used in heart surgery. There is little evidence which instructional techniques and media are of advantage to impart knowledge more effectively and lead to better application of knowledge in the operation room.

Methods: Sixty-nine students learned with an interactive, case-based teaching (ICBT) course about aortic valve replacement.

Multimedia-driven teaching significantly improves students' performance when compared with a print medium.

Background: In this study, we compared the educational value of a multimedia module about aortic valve replacement as a preparation for the operating room with a print medium of identical content.

Methods: One hundred twenty-six students were randomly assigned in a prospective study to either use the multimedia course (n = 69) or a print version (n = 57). A 20-item multiple-choice test was performed before and after learning with the respective medium.

Intimal hyperplasia and expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 in saphenous veins and internal mammary arteries before coronary artery surgery.

Background: The development of fibromuscular intimal hyperplasia and subsequent graft failure remains an urgent problem in cardiac surgery. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is involved in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis through induction of extracellular matrix proteins. We tested the hypothesis that intimal hyperplasia is already present in human saphenous veins and left internal mammary arteries before coronary artery bypass surgery and is associated with an increased expression of TGF-beta1.

Thiazolidinediones reduce endothelial expression of receptors for advanced glycation end products.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are critically involved in atherogenesis in diabetes by binding to receptors for AGE (RAGEs) in vascular cells, thus inducing the expression of proinflammatory mediators. In animal models, interruption of the AGE-RAGE interaction reduces lesion size and plaque development. Therefore, limiting RAGE expression might be an intriguing concept to modulate vascular disease in diabetic patients.

Virtual reality and 3D visualizations in heart surgery education.

Background: Computer assisted teaching plays an increasing role in surgical education. The presented paper describes the development of virtual reality (VR) and 3D visualizations for educational purposes concerning aortocoronary bypass grafting and their prototypical implementation into a database-driven and internet-based educational system in heart surgery.

Materials And Methods: A multimedia storyboard has been written and digital video has been encoded.

Increased expression of TGF-beta1 and IGF-I in inflammatory stenotic lesions of hemodialysis fistulas.

Background: Hemodialysis fistula dysfunction due to stenotic lesions remains a frequent cause of hospitalization for hemodialysis patients. Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are known to be involved in atherogenesis. The latent TGF-beta1 binding protein-1 (LTBP-1) targets extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and is involved in the regulation of TGF-beta latency.