Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein and Ischemia-Modified Albumin for Detection of Myocardial Infarction After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Background: Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) have been put forward as novel biomarkers to detect myocardial injury shortly after onset of ischemia. We compared hFABP and IMA with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) for speed and reliability in the diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Methods: In all, 210 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled in a prospective study.

Low Incidence of Paravalvular Leakage With the Balloon-Expandable Sapien 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve.

Background: We evaluated the clinical and hemodynamic performance of the new balloon-expandable Sapien 3 (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) transcatheter heart valve (S3 THV).

Methods: Between April 2013 and January 2015, 54 consecutive high-risk patients presenting with aortic stenosis were treated with the new S3 THV. Clinical and hemodynamic data as well as device and procedure variables were obtained at baseline, intraoperatively and at 30-days according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2.

Transapical transcatheter aortic valve for severe aortic regurgitation: expanding the limits.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the self-expandable ACURATE TA device (Symetis SA, Ecublens, Switzerland) in a cohort of patients with pure aortic regurgitation (AR).

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been initially considered as an alternative for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. Although the current experience is limited, TAVR might be also an alternative to treat patients with pure, severe AR.

Cardioprotective and prognostic effects of remote ischaemic preconditioning in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: a single-centre randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.

Background: Remote ischaemic preconditioning has been associated with reduced risk of myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We investigated the safety and efficacy of this procedure.

Methods: Eligible patients were those scheduled to undergo elective isolated first-time CABG surgery under cold crystalloid cardioplegia and cardiopulmonary bypass at the West-German Heart Centre, Essen, Germany, between April, 2008, and October, 2012.

A new self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve for transapical implantation: feasibility in acute and chronic animal experiments.

Objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is currently expanding worldwide, however all available prostheses share some fundamental design drawbacks. We investigated the feasibility, safety and hemodynamic performance of the innovative transapical Acurate TA™ self-expandable device, which has the unique advantage of offering anatomically correct self-alignment within the aortic root.

Design: Transapical TAVI was performed in six acute swine and six chronic sheep procedures, with follow-up of 7, 14, 21, 28, 60 and 90 days.

Remote ischemic preconditioning: the surgeon's perspective.

Since cardiac surgery began, surgeons have aimed to find methods of minimizing myocardial injury resulting from ischemia and reperfusion. The concept of somehow conditioning the heart in order to attenuate ischemia and reperfusion-related injury has evolved in cardiovascular research over decades, from ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning to, more recently, remote ischemic preconditioning (and postconditioning). Although many strategies have proven to be beneficial in the experimental arena, a few have been successfully translated into clinical practice.

Prognostic significance of cardiac troponin I on admission for surgical treatment of acute pulmonary embolism: a single-centre experience over more than 10 years.

Objectives: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a highly sensitive, specific marker for myocardial cell injury. We sought to determine whether cTnI on admission may help to identify patients with increased risk of open surgical embolectomy with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients with confirmed acute PE were enrolled in this prospective study.

Open balloon aortic valvuloplasty in aortic stenosis: implications for transcatheter aortic valve implantations.

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) plays a crucial role in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). However, data on morphology during BAV are lacking. During surgical aortic valve replacement, open BAV was performed as a non-therapeutic in-vivo model prior to aortic valve excision.

Chick ex ovo culture and ex ovo CAM assay: how it really works.

Chicken eggs in the early phase of breeding are between in vitro and in vivo systems and provide a vascular test environment not only to study angiogenesis but also to study tumorigenesis. After the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) has developed, its blood vessel network can be easily accessed, manipulated and observed and therefore provides an optimal setting for angiogenesis assays. Since the lymphoid system is not fully developed until late stages of incubation, the chick embryo serves as a naturally immunodeficient host capable of sustaining grafted tissues and cells without species-specific restrictions.