An updated meta-analysis of device related thrombus following left atrial appendage closure in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Device related thrombus (DRT) is a known complication of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). However, the relation between DRT and elevated risk of ischemic events remains controversial. This study is sought to reassessed the incidence of DRT following LAAC and the relation between DRT and elevated risk of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism (SE) with latest clinical trials included.

Establishment of a lipid metabolism disorder model in ApoEb mutant zebrafish.

Background And Aims: ApoEb is a zebrafish homologous to mammalian ApoE, whose deficiency would lead to lipid metabolism disorders (LMDs) like atherosclerosis. We attempted to knock out the zebrafish ApoEb, then establish a zebrafish model with LMD.

Methods: ApoEb was knocked out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and the accumulation of lipids was confirmed by Oil Red O staining, confocal imaging, and lipid measurements.

The Application and Teaching Value of a Ventricular Septal Defect Canine Model Established by Transcatheter Puncture.

This study aimed to improve and further explore a ventricular septal defect (VSD) canine model on the basis of the transcatheter puncture method and to evaluate its application and teaching value.In order to lessen the complications of VSD closure, it is necessary to improve the currently available treatment devices using appropriate animal models.In this study, we used 16 healthy adult canines as our models.

Zfp36l1b protects angiogenesis through Notch1b/Dll4 and Vegfa regulation in zebrafish.

Background And Aims: Angiogenesis is a key process for establishing functional vasculature during embryogenesis and involves different signaling mechanisms. The RNA binding protein Zfp36l1 was reported to be involved in various diseases in different species, including cardiovascular diseases. However, whether Zfp36l1b, one of the 2 paralogs of Zfp36l1 in zebrafish, works like mammalian Zfp36l1, and if the molecular mechanisms are different remains unclear.

Percutaneous occlusion of transseptal puncture-related free wall perforation at the coronary sinus with a ventricular septal occluder during left atrial appendage closure: A case report.

Coronary sinus perforation is a life-threatening complication of transseptal puncture and needs to be repaired immediately. In this study, we report a case of a 74-year-old female patient with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, who is a poor long-term anticoagulation candidate. During the manipulation of transseptal puncture, a perforation of the free right atrial wall at the coronary sinus ostium occurred, which was caused by the Brockenbrough needle and followed by the immediate advancement of an 8.

Plasma miR-451 with echocardiography serves as a diagnostic reference for pulmonary hypertension.

Due to the lack of typical clinical symptoms, the average delay time for diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is longer than 2 years. It is urgent to find biomarkers for PH diagnosis. In this study we investigated whether plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as biomarkers for PH diagnosis.

Neoblast-enriched zinc finger protein FIR1 triggers local proliferation during planarian regeneration.

Regeneration, relying mainly on resident adult stem cells, is widespread. However, the mechanism by which stem cells initiate proliferation during this process in vivo is unclear. Using planarian as a model, we screened 46 transcripts showing potential function in the regulation of local stem cell proliferation following 48 h regeneration.

Rapamycin and CHIR99021 Coordinate Robust Cardiomyocyte Differentiation From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Via Reducing p53-Dependent Apoptosis.

Background: Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells can serve as an unexhausted source for a cellular cardiac disease model. Although small molecule-mediated cardiomyocyte differentiation methods have been established, the differentiation efficiency is relatively unsatisfactory in multiple lines due to line-to-line variation. Additionally, hurdles including line-specific low expression of endogenous growth factors and the high apoptotic tendency of human pluripotent stem cells also need to be overcome to establish robust and efficient cardiomyocyte differentiation.

MicroRNA-199a acts as a potential suppressor of cardiomyocyte autophagy through targeting .

Autophagy is an adaptive response to cardiomyocytes survival under stress conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miR) have been described to act as potent modulators of autophagy. To investigate whether and how miR-199a modulated autophagy , primary cardiomyocytes were treated under starvation to induce autophagy.

Transcatheter Closure of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defects Using Dual Wire-Maintaining Technique.

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSDs) with dual wire-maintaining technique (DWMT).

Patients/methods: From January 2010 to December 2013, a total of 241 patients (men: 109, women: 132; mean age: 22.2±15.

MicroRNA-126a Directs Lymphangiogenesis Through Interacting With Chemokine and Flt4 Signaling in Zebrafish.

Objective: MicroRNA-126 (miR-126) is an endothelium-enriched miRNA and functions in vascular integrity and angiogenesis. The application of miRNA as potential biomarker and therapy target has been widely investigated in various pathological processes. However, its role in lymphatic diseases had not been widely explored.

Forkhead containing transcription factor Albino controls tetrapyrrole-based body pigmentation in planarian.

Pigmentation processes occur from invertebrates to mammals. Owing to the complexity of the pigmentary system, in vivo animal models for pigmentation study are limited. Planarians are capable of regenerating any missing part including the dark-brown pigments, providing a promising model for pigmentation study.

Percutaneous Closure of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect with Modified Double-disk Occluder: What Is the Outcome at 10-year Follow-up?

Objective: Percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect is one of the greatest challenges in interventional cardiology. The long-term follow-up data are still limited. This report presents our experience in percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect with modified double-disk occluder.

Balloon-expanding stent and delivery system for transcatheter aortic valve implantation: An animal study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and satefy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in animals by using a new balloon-expanding valved stent.

Methods: The balloon-expandable stent is made from cobalt-based alloy material and designed with a tubular, slotted structure. Fresh bovine pericardium was treated, sutured and fixed on the balloon-expandable stent.

Complete atrioventricular block after percutaneous device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect: A single-center experience on 1046 cases.

Background: Complete atrioventricular block (cAVB) has been deemed a rare complication after transcatheter closure for ventricular septal defect (VSD). However, this serious event appears to be underrecognized and is worth being investigated further.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and predisposing factors of cAVB associated with closure of VSD using a modified double-disk occluder (MDO).

Transcatheter closure of medium and large congenital coronary artery fistula using wire-maintaining technique.

Background: For medium and large coronary artery fistula (CAF), the initially selected device sometimes has to be exchanged by reconstruction of track wire loop due to the complexity of CAF.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transcatheter closure of medium and large CAF by using the wire-maintaining technique (WMT).

Methods: A total of 18 patients aged 15-56 years with congenital CAF underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure by WMT between April 2006 and October 2012.

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects improves cardiac remodeling and function of adult patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of dysrhythmia associated with atrial septal defects (ASDs) in patients older than 40 years. However, little is known about cardiac remodeling after transcatheter closure in patients with permanent AF. This study was designed to compare cardiac events and remodeling effects after transcatheter closure in such patients.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation assisted with microcatheter: a new method to avoid coronary artery obstruction.

Background: Lack of fluoroscopic landmarks can make valve deployment more difficult in patients with absent aortic valve (AV) calcification. The goal of this article was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of transcatheter implantation of a valved stent into the AV position of a goat, assisted with a microcatheter which provides accurate positioning of coronary artery ostia to help valved stent deployment.

Methods: The subjects were 10 healthy goats in this study.

Simultaneous transcatheter treatment of perimembranous ventricular septal defect and other congenital cardiopathies.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of simultaneous transcatheter corrections of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) and other congenital cardiopathies.

Patients/methods: From 2004 to 2012, 56 patients (25 male, 31 female), aged 14.2±10.

Decreased tricuspid regurgitation following percutaneous closure of congenital perimembranous ventricular septal defect: immediate and 6-month echocardiographic assessment.

As a common concomitant performance and the most frequent complications of transcatheter perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has rarely been concerned. From January 2008 to December 2012, a total of 70 patients (men: 33, women: 37; mean age: 30.0 ± 17.

Comparison of medium-term results of transcatheter correction versus surgical treatment for secundum type atrial septal defect combined with pulmonary valve stenosis.

This study was undertaken to compare the clinical results of traditional surgery and a percutaneous procedure for secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) combined with pulmonary valve stenosis (PS). A total of 78 consecutive patients were identified between March 2004 and July 2012 in our institution. Thirty-five patients (44.

Immediate- and medium-term effects of simultaneous percutaneous corrections of secundum type atrial septal defect combined with pulmonary valve stenosis in local anesthesia and without transesophageal echocardiography guidance.

Background: The feasibility and efficacy of simultaneous percutaneous treatment of secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) combined with pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) have not been proved.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy on the clinical benefit of simultaneous percutaneous correction of these two pathologies under local anesthesia and without transesophageal echocardiography guidance.

Methods: Transpulmonary gradient, functional status, pulmonary regurgitation (PR), and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) were studied in 35 patients undergoing percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty and ASD closure from March 2004 to July 2012.

Elevated microRNA-155 promotes foam cell formation by targeting HBP1 in atherogenesis.

Aim: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in inflammatory responses of macrophages. However, the function of miRNAs in macrophage-derived foam cell formation is unclear. Here, we investigated the role of miRNAs in macrophage-derived foam cell formation and atherosclerotic development.

Percutaneous closure of postinfarct muscular ventricular septal defects: a multicenter study in China.

Background: Surgical repair is an effective method to treat ventricular septal defect (VSD) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the mortality rate remains high. This study was designed to assess the immediate and mid-term results of transcatheter closure of postinfarct muscular VSDs.

Percutaneous valved stent implantation in the ascending aorta for the treatment of very high-risk aortic regurgitation: an animal study.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of percutaneous valved stent implantation in the ascending aorta as an alternative treatment for aortic regurgitation in a canine model.

Materials And Methods: A total of 16 healthy dogs weighing an average of 18.3 ± 2.