Autograft Reoperation Following the Ross Procedure: Evolving Strategies and Future Perspectives.

Pulmonary autograft failure remains a cause of reoperation following the Ross procedure. The aim of this study is to describe our evolving approach to autograft reoperations. Retrospective study of all patients who underwent a pulmonary autograft reoperation following a Ross procedure between June 1997 and July 2022.

An unmet need: arrhythmia detection by implantable loop recorder in the systemic right ventricle.

Aims: Patients with systemic right ventricles are at high risk of sudden cardiac death. Arrhythmia is a significant risk factor. Routine Holter monitoring is opportunistic with poor adherence.

Outcomes of the Ross procedure in young adults with previous aortic valve interventions.

Objectives: Contemporarily modified Ross procedure continues to deliver excellent outcomes and remains part of the treatment strategy for aortic valve disease in the young adult population. The aim of this study was to assess whether Ross procedure carried out as a second or subsequent intervention for aortic valve disease carries similar risk and long-term benefit, when compared to Ross procedure for the first-time aortic valve replacement.

Methods: A total of 158 patients aged 16-60 years from a single congenital cardiac centre between 1997 and 2020 were included.

Don't Stop Beleafing: A Unique Case of Fungal Infective Endocarditis.

We present the case of a 60-year-old man who was successfully treated for obstructive fungal infective endocarditis of the ascending aorta caused by . This extremely rare cause of fungal infective endocarditis required surgical and prolonged medical management, facilitated by effective multidisciplinary cooperation. ().

Heart transplantation at a single tertiary adult congenital heart disease centre: Too little, too late?

Background: Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of death in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Heart transplantation can be an effective therapy for them, albeit unfavourable anatomy, end-organ damage, pulmonary vascular disease, HLA sensitization and lack of robust selection criteria currently limit its application.

Methods: Consecutive CHD patients considered for heart or combined heart and lung transplantation at our tertiary ACHD centre between 2000 and 2018 constitute our study population.

Single ventricle systolic function and cardiopulmonary exercise performance in adult patients with Fontan circulation.

Objective: We employed echocardiographic tissue characterization for the assessment of single ventricle systolic function and examined its relationship with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) performance in the Fontan circulation.

Methods: 40 consecutive adult Fontan patients (16 female, 24 male; mean age 26.3 ± 5.

Measurement data from sample plots characterizing three development stages of a subalpine spruce forest and describing the bird assemblages associated with them.

The paper presents data on tree stands located in a subalpine spruce forest in the Gorce National Park (Western Carpathians, Poland) as well as on the birds inhabiting them in the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The authors conducted stand measurements on a total of twenty-four sample plots, with eight plots established in each of the three studied forest development stages (mature, break-up, and growing-up) representing successive phases of subalpine forest development. The study area designated for each stage was 30 ha.

Use of standard diagnostic techniques to determine eradication of infection in experimental equine septic arthritis.

Septic arthritis is an important disease in horses, necessitating aggressive and prolonged therapy. In order to guide therapy, reliable methods of detecting the eradication of infection are needed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate detection of eradication of infection in an experimental model of equine septic arthritis using standard diagnostic techniques.

High-Sensitive Cardiac Troponin T and Systemic Right Ventricular Area Predict Outcomes in Adults With Congenitally Corrected Transposition.

Background: Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) is a rare clinical condition in which the morphologically right ventricle sustains systemic circulation. This congenital heart anomaly exposes patients with ccTGA to adverse events over time. Strategies to identify persons who are at high risk of clinical events will be crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Left aberrant subclavian artery. Systematic study in adult patients.

Background: Left aberrant subclavian artery (LASA), is a type of right aortic arch (RAA) branching, which takes-off distally to the right subclavian artery and usually crosses behind the esophagus to the left upper limb. Taking into account the rarity of RAA, LASA is much more rarely seen than the right aberrant subclavian artery (RASA) originating from the left aortic arch. However, RAA may be associated with much more frequent presence of LASA, than left aortic arch with RASA.

High sensitivity cardiac troponin T and systemic right ventricular function in adults with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.

Background: High sensitive troponin T (hsTnT), a marker of myocardial injury, appears to be a promising diagnostic tool in patients with congenital heart disease. However, little is known about its distribution among adults with systemic right ventricle (sRV). We aimed to assess the distribution of hsTnT concentrations in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) and to evaluate its relationship with sRV function and NT-proBNP.

Pulmonary artery dilation indicates severe obstructive sleep apnea in patients with resistant hypertension: the Resist-POL Study.

INTRODUCTION The effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on right ventricular (RV) function and pulmonary circulation parameters is unclear. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine whether newly diagnosed OSA and its severity has any impact on RV performance and echocardiographic parameters of pulmonary circulation in patients with true resistant hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 155 patients (93 men and 62 women; mean age, 47.

Transthoracic ultrasonic tissue indices identify patients with severe left anterior descending artery stenosis. Correlation with fractional flow reserve. Pilot study.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential clinical application of ultrasonic tissue indices, with a focus on systolic strain (SS) and systolic strain rate (SSR) parameters derived from transthoracic echocardiography, in the assessment of left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis.

Methods: The data of 30 patients with significant LAD stenosis were analysed. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography to obtain systolic myocardial velocity (Sm), longitudinal SS, and SSR from basal, mid, and apical segments of anterior and inferior walls in two-chamber apical view.

Ligation of FcγR Alters Phagosomal Processing of Protein via Augmentation of NADPH Oxidase Activity.

Proteolysis and the reduction of disulfides, both major components of protein degradation, are profoundly influenced by phagosomal redox conditions in macrophages. We evaluated the activation of phagocytic receptors that are known to influence activation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase (NOX2), and its effect on phagosomal protein degradation. Population-based and single phagosome analyses of phagosomal chemistries in murine macrophages revealed that activation of NOX2 via the Fcγ receptor (FcγR) during phagocytosis decreased rates of proteolysis and disulfide reduction.

Atrial tachycardia ablation in patients with a functional single ventricle after the Fontan surgery.

Background: Atrial tachyarrhythmias are a leading source of morbidity and mortality after Fontan-type procedures and antiarrhythmic drug therapy is often ineffective in these patients.

Aim: To evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of radiofrequency current ablation for atrial tachycardia (AT) in patients after the Fontan procedure, and to report clinical, electrophysiological and electroanatomical characteristics of these arrhythmias.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data obtained in 8 patients (5 males, 3 females) after the Fontan procedure who underwent ablation for AT between 2002 and 2013.

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of 2 meloxicam oral dosage formulations in healthy adult horses.

Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is approved for use in horses in several countries, but an equine formulation is not available in North America. However, meloxicam is being used in an extra-label manner in horses in Canada. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to assess the bioequivalence of an approved oral meloxicam suspension (Metacam 15 mg/mL for horses; Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmBH, Ingelheim, Germany) from the European Union with human meloxicam tablets (Meloxicam 15 mg tablets; TEVA Canada, Toronto, Ontario) compounded with molasses to improve palatability and administration.

High sensitivity troponin T in adult congenital heart disease.

Background: High sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) assays enable us to detect chronic heart failure (CHF). Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients are classified as being in at least stage B of CHF. The purpose of the study was to assess hsTnT levels in ACHD patients and determine its clinical significance.

Determinants of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with resistant hypertension: RESIST-POL study.

Left ventricular hypertrophy, especially concentric hypertrophy, has been shown to be an independent factor of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and/or metabolic syndrome (MS) are common in patients with resistant hypertension (RHTN). The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with concentric hypertrophy in patients with RHTN.

Independent association of obstructive sleep apnea with left ventricular geometry and systolic function in resistant hypertension: the RESIST-POL study.

Objective: We investigated the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and night blood pressure (BP) on left ventricular geometry and systolic function in patients with resistant hypertension (RHTN).

Methods And Results: Data from 155 patients with RHTN were analyzed. All patients underwent biochemical evaluations, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and polysomnography.

Factors associated with diastolic dysfunction in patients with resistant hypertension: resist-POL study.

Background: Diastolic dysfunction has been shown to be an independent factor of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension. Very often, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic syndrome (MS) coexist with resistant hypertension (RHTN) and may lead to diastolic dysfunction. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether OSA and MS are associated with diastolic dysfunction in patients with RHTN independently from other factors, including age, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and blood pressure (BP).

Intracellular chloride channel protein CLIC1 regulates macrophage function through modulation of phagosomal acidification.

Intracellular chloride channel protein 1 (CLIC1) is a 241 amino acid protein of the glutathione S transferase fold family with redox- and pH-dependent membrane association and chloride ion channel activity. Whilst CLIC proteins are evolutionarily conserved in Metazoa, indicating an important role, little is known about their biology. CLIC1 was first cloned on the basis of increased expression in activated macrophages.