Calcification in Pulmonary Heart Valve Tissue Engineering: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Large-Animal Studies.

Tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHVs) are emerging alternatives to current valve prostheses and prospectively a lifelong replacement. Calcification, a pathological complication for biological protheses, has been reported in preclinical TEHV studies. Systematic analysis of its occurrence is missing.

Animal studies for the evaluation of in situ tissue-engineered vascular grafts - a systematic review, evidence map, and meta-analysis.

Vascular in situ tissue engineering (TE) is an approach that uses bioresorbable grafts to induce endogenous regeneration of damaged blood vessels. The evaluation of newly developed in situ TE vascular grafts heavily relies on animal experiments. However, no standard for in vivo models or study design has been defined, hampering inter-study comparisons and translational efficiency.

Pulmonary valve tissue engineering strategies in large animal models.

In the last 25 years, numerous tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV) strategies have been studied in large animal models. To evaluate, qualify and summarize all available publications, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. We identified 80 reports that studied TEHVs of synthetic or natural scaffolds in pulmonary position (n = 693 animals).

Integrative Multi-Omics Analysis in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease Reveals a Link to the Formation of Amyloid-Like Deposits.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease in the developed world, yet no pharmacological therapy exists. Here, we hypothesize that the integration of multiple omic data represents an approach towards unveiling novel molecular networks in CAVD. Databases were searched for CAVD omic studies.

Clinical versus histological grading in the assessment of cutaneous graft versus host disease.

Background: Skin biopsies are often used in daily practice for the diagnosis of acute (aGvHD) or chronic graft versus host disease (cGvHD). With the latest understanding in pathogenesis and new National Institute of Health (NIH) classifications for aGvHD and cGvHD, there is a need to evaluate the current prognostic value of histological grading cutaneous GvHD and its correlation to the clinical grade.

Methods: In a retrospective study with 120 skin biopsies (all taken for suspected GvHD) from 110 patients (all classified according to the NIH), biopsies were revised and graded, blinded for clinical information, for either acute of chronic features.

Engineering a 3D-Bioprinted Model of Human Heart Valve Disease Using Nanoindentation-Based Biomechanics.

In calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), microcalcifications originating from nanoscale calcifying vesicles disrupt the aortic valve (AV) leaflets, which consist of three (biomechanically) distinct layers: the fibrosa, spongiosa, and ventricularis. CAVD has no pharmacotherapy and lacks in vitro models as a result of complex valvular biomechanical features surrounding resident mechanosensitive valvular interstitial cells (VICs). We measured layer-specific mechanical properties of the human AV and engineered a three-dimensional (3D)-bioprinted CAVD model that recapitulates leaflet layer biomechanics for the first time.

Radiation Protection for Interventional Fluoroscopy: Results of a Survey Among Dutch Hospitals.

A survey was conducted among 20 Dutch hospitals about radiation protection for interventional fluoroscopy. This was a follow-up of a previous study in 2007 that led to several recommendations for radiation protection for interventional fluoroscopy. The results indicate that most recommendations have been followed.

Radiation Protection in Pediatric Radiology: Results of a Survey Among Dutch Hospitals.

A survey about radiation protection in pediatric radiology was conducted among 22 general and seven children's hospitals in the Netherlands. Questions concerned, for example, child protocols used for CT, fluoroscopy and x-ray imaging, number of images and scans made, radiation doses and measures taken to reduce these, special tools used for children, and quality assurance issues. The answers received from 27 hospitals indicate that radiation protection practices differ considerably between general and children's hospitals but also between the respective general and children's hospitals.

Results of a survey on the implementation of diagnostic reference levels for X-rays among Dutch hospitals.

Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for medical x-ray procedures are being implemented currently in the Netherlands. By order of the Dutch Healthcare Inspectorate, a survey has been conducted among 20 Dutch hospitals to investigate the level of implementation of the Dutch DRLs in current radiological practice. It turns out that hospitals are either well underway in implementing the DRLs or have already done so.

Evaluation of a cyanoacrylate protectant to manage skin tears in the acute care population.

Skin tears are a common problem that can impact the quality of life due to pain and the potential of becoming complicated wounds if not treated properly. The use of a cyanoacrylate skin protectant to manage skin tears was evaluated in 30 patients in an acute care setting.