Case Series of Percutaneous Mechanical Aspiration of Mitral Valve Endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis of the mitral valve that is refractory to medical therapy requires surgical debridement. However, patients who are high risk for surgery have limited options. We report 3 cases of refractory infective endocarditis involving the mitral valve that were treated with percutaneous mechanical aspiration with an embolic protection system.

Clinical outcomes of percutaneous debulking of tricuspid valve endocarditis in intravenous drug users.

Objectives: A retrospective case series of a percutaneous approach to debulk tricuspid valve endocarditis (TVE) using an 8 French mechanical aspiration system in patients with a history of intravenous drug use (IVDU) was reported. IVDU associated TVE is increasing in the United States and is associated with high mortality despite early surgical debridement. Patients with advanced disease, shock, and respiratory failure may not be candidates for surgical debridement or replacement.

The Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Regulator Cyclophilin D Exhibits Tissue-Specific Control of Metabolic Homeostasis.

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is a key regulator of mitochondrial function that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic disease. Cyclophilin D (CypD) is a critical regulator that directly binds to mPTP constituents to facilitate the pore opening. We previously found that global CypD knockout mice (KO) are protected from diet-induced glucose intolerance; however, the tissue-specific function of CypD and mPTP, particularly in the control of glucose homeostasis, has not been ascertained.

Distal coronary perforation in patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery: The importance of early treatment.

In patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, distal coronary perforations are commonly considered to be at low risk for causing cardiac tamponade due to a potential protective role of pericardial adhesions, which obliterate the pericardial space. Loculated effusions can however form in such patients, compressing various cardiac structures and causing hemodynamic compromise. We present two cases of distal coronary perforation in prior CABG patients undergoing chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

Regulation of exercise-induced fiber type transformation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and angiogenesis in skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle exhibits superb plasticity in response to changes in functional demands. Chronic increases of skeletal muscle contractile activity, such as endurance exercise, lead to a variety of physiological and biochemical adaptations in skeletal muscle, including mitochondrial biogenesis, angiogenesis, and fiber type transformation. These adaptive changes are the basis for the improvement of physical performance and other health benefits.