Attenuation of Atherosclerosis with PAR4 Deficiency: Differential Platelet Outcomes in apoE vs. Ldlr Mice.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant burden globally and, despite current therapeutics, remains the leading cause of death. Platelet inhibitors are of interest in CVD treatment to reduce thrombus formation post-plaque rupture as well their contribution to inflammation throughout the progression of atherosclerosis. Protease activated receptor 4 (PAR4) is a receptor highly expressed by platelets, strongly activated by thrombin, and plays a vital role in platelet activation and aggregation.

Cardiac Remodeling and Repair: Recent Approaches, Advancements, and Future Perspective.

The limited ability of mammalian adult cardiomyocytes to proliferate following an injury to the heart, such as myocardial infarction, is a major factor that results in adverse fibrotic and myocardial remodeling that ultimately leads to heart failure. The continued high degree of heart failure-associated morbidity and lethality requires the special attention of researchers worldwide to develop efficient therapeutics for cardiac repair. Recently, various strategies and approaches have been developed and tested to extrinsically induce regeneration and restoration of the myocardium after cardiac injury have yielded encouraging results.

Isolation, Transfection, and Long-Term Culture of Adult Mouse and Rat Cardiomyocytes.

Ex vivo culture of the adult mammalian cardiomyocytes (CMs) presents the most relevant experimental system for the in vitro study of cardiac biology. Adult mammalian CMs are terminally differentiated cells with minimal proliferative capacity. The post-mitotic state of adult CMs not only restricts cardiomyocyte cell cycle progression but also limits the efficient culture of CMs.

Human antigen R as a therapeutic target in pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

RNA binding proteins represent an emerging class of proteins with a role in cardiac dysfunction. We show that activation of the RNA binding protein human antigen R (HuR) is increased in the failing human heart. To determine the functional role of HuR in pathological cardiac hypertrophy, we created an inducible cardiomyocyte-specific HuR-deletion mouse and showed that HuR deletion reduces left ventricular hypertrophy, dilation, and fibrosis while preserving cardiac function in a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model of pressure overload-induced hypertrophy.

Tefillin use induces remote ischemic preconditioning pathways in healthy men.

The present study assessed whether tefillin use (tight, nonocclusive, wrapping of the arm) elicits a remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC)-like effect in subjects with both acute and chronic use. RIPC, created by short bursts of ischemia-reperfusion, has not been successfully taken to the bedside. Several large population studies have found that Orthodox Jewish men (who wear tefillin almost daily) have decreased cardiovascular mortality compared with non-Orthodox counterparts.

Association of Preoperative Cell Counts With Outcomes After Operation for Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: We examined the association of preoperative cell count abnormalities, which have been shown to be associated with outcomes in adult cardiac patients, with morbidity and mortality after operation for congenital heart disease (CHD) in children.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on 4,865 children undergoing cardiac operation from 2004 to 2014. Our exposures of interest were presence of preoperative lymphopenia (lymphocyte count ≤ 3,000 cells/μL), thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150 × 10/μL), and neutrophilia (neutrophil count ≥ 7,000 cells/μL).

PAR2 (Protease-Activated Receptor 2) Deficiency Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Mice.

Objective: PAR2 (protease-activated receptor 2)-dependent signaling results in augmented inflammation and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of PAR2 deficiency on the development of atherosclerosis.

Approach And Results: PAR2 mRNA and protein expression is increased in human carotid artery and mouse aortic arch atheroma versus control carotid and aortic arch arteries, respectively.

Accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography in the identification of postoperative intramural ventricular septal defects.

Background: Intramural ventricular septal defects (VSDs), residual interventricular communications occurring after repair of conotruncal defects, are associated with poor postoperative outcomes. The ability of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to identify intramural VSDs has not yet been evaluated.

Methods: Intraoperative TEE and postoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) data in all patients undergoing all biventricular repair of conotruncal anomalies in our hospital between January 1, 2006, and June 30, 2013, were reviewed.

Intramural Ventricular Septal Defect Is a Distinct Clinical Entity Associated With Postoperative Morbidity in Children After Repair of Conotruncal Anomalies.

Background: Intramural ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are interventricular communications through right ventricular free wall trabeculations that can occur after repair of conotruncal anomalies. We assessed the prevalence of residual intramural VSDs and their effect on postoperative course.

Methods And Results: Children who underwent biventricular repair of a conotruncal anomaly from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2013, and had a postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram were included.