Functional Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement? Our "Road Map" for the Appropriate Strategy.

The optimal surgical approach for the treatment of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) remains controversial. Current guidelines suggest that the surgical approach has to be tailored to the individual patient. The aim of the present study was to clarify further aspects of this tailored treatment.

Mind-body practices, interoception and pain: a scoping review of behavioral and neural correlates.

Objective: Chronic pain is a significant source of suffering in the United States, and many individuals increasingly turn towards yoga for pain relief. However, little is known regarding how yoga improves pain. Herein we seek to examine the scope of the literature linking mind-body practices, pain and interoception; an emerging mechanism by which yoga may improve chronic pain.

Incidence and Predictors of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (wtATTR-CM) is characterized by heart failure, conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, particularly ventricular tachycardias (VTs), in wtATTR-CM is unclear. With the development of targeted therapies and improved overall prognosis, there is an unmet need to identify patients at high risk for VTs who might benefit from ICD therapy.

Yoga, aerobic and stretching exercise effects on neurocognition: Randomized controlled trial protocol.

As the global population ages, the prevalence of cognitive decline and dementia is expected to rise, creating a significant health and economic burden. The purpose of this trial is to rigorously test, for the first time, the efficacy of yoga training as a physical activity intervention to mitigate age-related cognitive decline and impairment. We are conducting a 6-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) of exercise among 168 middle aged and older adults to compare the efficacy of yoga vs.

Development of a Remote Version of the Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensation, and Prehension (GRASSP): Validity and Reliability.

Background: The Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensation, and Prehension (GRASSP V1.0) was developed in 2010 as a 3-domain assessment for upper extremity function after tetraplegia (domains: Strength, Sensibility, and Prehension). A remote version (rGRASSP) was created in response to the growing needs of the field of Telemedicine.

Yoga Impacts Cognitive Health: Neurophysiological Changes and Stress Regulation Mechanisms.

Yoga, a physical and contemplative practice, offers the practitioner a unique mind-body exercise experience demonstrating preliminary efficacy in improving cognitive health. We examine the evidence for underlying mechanisms that explain the yoga-cognition relationship in healthy older adults. The cognitive benefits of yoga may be the result of improved stress regulation and neurocognitive resource efficiency that facilitate bidirectional brain-body communication.

Surgical treatment of isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis: Midterm data.

Background: Isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis (TVE) is a rare disease which is managed medically in most patients. Only in specific cases, surgical intervention becomes necessary. Hence, data about surgical outcomes are sparse.

Stroke after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A severe complication with low predictability.

Objectives: We aimed to describe stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and to identify associated risk factors.

Background: Stroke/TIA after TAVR is a major complication.

Methods: A total of 1919 concomitant patients underwent TAVR in a single center from 2007 to 2017.

Different Rates of Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Failure With Perimount™ and Trifecta™ Bioprostheses.

Objectives: The use of bioprostheses in surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has increased in younger patients. Comparative analysis of different types of bioprostheses is lacking. We aimed to compare two proprietary bioprostheses with different designs, i.

Results after Repair of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation with a Three-Dimensional Annuloplasty Ring.

Background: Tricuspid valve (TV) repair is the recommended treatment for severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (fTR) in patients undergoing left-sided surgery. For this purpose, a wide range of annuloplasty devices differing in form and flexibility are available. This study reports the results using a three-dimensional annuloplasty ring (Medtronic, Contour 3D Ring) for TV repair and analysis of risk factors.

Anatomical reasons for failure of dual-filter cerebral embolic protection application in TAVR: A CT-based analysis.

Background: The dual-filter Sentinel™ Cerebral Protection System (Sentinel-CPS) is increasingly used during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, complex vascular anatomy may challenge Sentinel-CPS deployment.

Aim Of The Study: We sought to investigate the impact of anatomic features of the aortic arch and the supra-aortic arteries on technical device failure of Sentinel-CPS application.

Normative database of postural sway measures using inertial sensors in typically developing children and young adults.

Objective: Reference values utilizing the APDM MobilityLab® inertial sensor system have not been established in children and young adults ages 5-30. These values are necessary for clinicians and researchers to compare to children with balance impairments.

Methods: A group of 144 typically developing children and young adults from age 5-30 years completed the instrumented SWAY test during 6 test conditions: normal stance, firm surface, eyes open (EO) and closed (EC); normal stance, foam surface, EO and EC; and tandem stance, firm surface, EO and EC.

Mitral valve repair with the edge-to-edge technique: A 20 years single-center experience.

Objectives: For tailored treatment of primary mitral regurgitation (MR), surgeons developed different repair techniques. One of them, the edge-to-edge repair has recently seen a revival, especially for Barlow's disease.

Methods: This study was designed to assess the outcomes of the edge-to-edge technique in mitral valve (MV) repair.

Effects of a dual-filter-based cerebral embolic protection device in transcatheter aortic valve replacement on cerebral oxygen saturation: A prospective pilot study.

Purpose: The Sentinel Cerebral Protection System (Sentinel-CPS) is increasingly used in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the impact of inserting the Sentinel-CPS inside the brain-supplying arteries on cerebral perfusion and oxygenation is unknown.

Methods: Twenty patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR with (n = 10) and without (n = 10) cerebral embolic protection using the Sentinel-CPS were prospectively observed.

RAB33B recruits the ATG16L1 complex to the phagophore via a noncanonical RAB binding protein.

Autophagosome formation is a fundamental process in macroautophagy/autophagy, a conserved self-eating mechanism in all eukaryotes, which requires the conjugating ATG (autophagy related) protein complex, ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 and lipidated MAP1LC3/LC3 (microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3). How the ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 complex is recruited to membranes is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that RAB33B plays a key role in recruiting the ATG16L1 complex to phagophores during starvation-induced autophagy.

Normative database of spatiotemporal gait parameters using inertial sensors in typically developing children and young adults.

Background: Inertial sensors are increasingly useful to clinicians and researchers to detect gait deficits. Reference values are necessary for comparison to children with gait abnormalities.

Objective: To present a normative database of spatiotemporal gait and turning parameters in 164 typically developing children and young adults ages 5-30 utilizing the APDM Mobility Lab® system.

Patient eligibility for application of a two-filter cerebral embolic protection device during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: does one size fit all?

Objectives: This study sought to determine the percentage of patients potentially eligible for implantation of the Sentinel™ Cerebral Protection System (Sentinel-CPS) during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to identify the reasons for treatment exclusion.

Methods: We retrospectively performed an analysis of pre-TAVI multislice computed tomography (MSCT) aortograms and data review of all patients undergoing a TAVI procedure in 2017 (n = 317). MSCT evaluation included the assessment of aortic arch anatomy and the vascular dimensions of the brachiocephalic and left common carotid artery.

Inhibition of K-Ras4B-plasma membrane association with a membrane microdomain-targeting peptide.

The association of K-Ras4B protein with plasma membrane (PM) is required for its signaling activity. Thus, direct inhibition of K-Ras4B-PM interaction could be a potential anti-Ras therapeutic strategy. However, it remains challenging to modulate such protein-PM interaction.

Electroporated recombinant proteins as tools for in vivo functional complementation, imaging and chemical biology.

Delivery of native or chemically modified recombinant proteins into mammalian cells shows promise for functional investigations and various technological applications, but concerns that sub-cellular localization and functional integrity of delivered proteins may be affected remain high. Here, we surveyed batch electroporation as a delivery tool for single polypeptides and multi-subunit protein assemblies of the kinetochore, a spatially confined and well-studied subcellular structure. After electroporation into human cells, recombinant fluorescent Ndc80 and Mis12 multi-subunit complexes exhibited native localization, physically interacted with endogenous binding partners, and functionally complemented depleted endogenous counterparts to promote mitotic checkpoint signaling and chromosome segregation.

Impact of a Two-Filter Cerebral Embolic Protection Device on the Complexity and Risk of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: There is a growing use of cerebral protection devices in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We aimed to analyze if the use of these devices itself has an impact on the complexity and the risk of TAVR.

Methods: Between February 2016 and July 2017, 391 patients underwent transfemoral TAVR with Medtronic CoreValve Evolut R ( = 196) or Edwards Sapien 3 ( = 195).

Spatial Cycling of Rab GTPase, Driven by the GTPase Cycle, Controls Rab's Subcellular Distribution.

Rab GTPases (>60 members in humans) function as master regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking. Correct and specific localization of Rab proteins is required for their function. How the distinct spatial distribution of Rab GTPases in the cell is regulated remains elusive.

Mid-Term Results After Sternal Reconstruction Using Titanium Plates: Is It Worth It to Plate?

Background: Sternal dehiscence after median sternotomy is a challenging problem in situations of frail bone, fractures, or complete sternectomy. Plate osteosynthesis offers a promising approach to restore sternal integrity. However, there is only scarce data on mid-term outcome.

Incidental findings in multislice computed tomography prior to transcatheter aortic valve implantation: frequency, clinical relevance and outcome.

Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has emerged as the mainstay in patients planned for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Incidental findings (IF) in MSCT are common. However, the exact incidence, clinical relevance and further consequences of IF are unclear and it is controversial whether IF adversely affect patients' outcome.

Cerebral protection during transcatheter aortic valve implantation in an extreme high-risk patient.

Stroke during transcatheter aortic valve replacement is one of the most feared complications. New technologies have been developed, attempting to prevent cerebral embolization of thrombotic and calcific debris. We report a 78-year-old patient (EuroSCORE log 45.

Spatiotemporal imaging of small GTPases activity in live cells.

Ras-like small GTPases function as molecular switches and regulate diverse cellular events. To examine the dynamics of signaling requires spatiotemporal visualization of their activity in the cell. Current small GTPase sensors rely on specific effector domains that are available for only a small number of GTPases and compete for endogenous regulator/effector binding.