Incidence, Risk Factors, Prognosis, and Electrophysiological Mechanisms of Atrial Arrhythmias after Lung Transplantation.

Objective: To investigate incidence and timing, risk factors, prognostic significance, and electrophysiological mechanisms of atrial arrhythmia (AA) after lung transplantation.

Background: Although new-onset AA is common after thoracic surgery and is associated with poorer outcomes, prognostic and mechanistic data is sparse in lung transplant populations.

Method: A total of 293 consecutive isolated lung transplant recipients without known AA were retrospectively reviewed.

Identification of microRNAs and microRNA targets in Xenopus gastrulae: The role of miR-26 in the regulation of Smad1.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play diverse roles in the regulation of vertebrate development. To investigate miRNA-target mRNA relationships in embryonic development, we have carried out small-RNA sequencing to identify miRNAs expressed in the early gastrula of Xenopus laevis. We identify a total of 180 miRNAs, and we have identified the locations of the miRNA precursor sequences in the X.

cis-Regulatory control of Mesp1 expression by YY1 and SP1 during mouse embryogenesis.

Background: Mesp1 is critical for early cardiomyocyte differentiation and heart development. We previously observed down-regulation of Mesp1 expression in YY1-ablated mouse embryonic hearts. However, how Mesp1 expression is mediated by YY1 is not well understood.

New continuous-flow total artificial heart and vascular permeability.

Background: We tested the short-term effects of completely nonpulsatile versus pulsatile circulation after ventricular excision and replacement with total implantable pumps in an animal model on peripheral vascular permeability.

Methods: Ten calves underwent cardiac replacement with two HeartMate III continuous-flow rotary pumps. In five calves, the pump speed was rapidly modulated to impart a low-frequency pulse pressure in the physiologic range (10-25 mm Hg) at a rate of 40 pulses per minute (PP).

Differences in complication rates between large bore needle and a long micropuncture needle during epicardial access: time to change clinical practice?

Background: A dry epicardial access (EA) is increasingly used for advanced cardiovascular procedures. Conventionally used large bore needles (Tuohy or Pajunk needle; LBN) have been associated with low but definite incidence of major complications with EA. Use of micropuncture needle (MPN) may decrease the risk of complications.

Characterization of flavonoid glycosides from rapeseed bee pollen using a combination of chromatography, spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance with a step-wise separation strategy.

To identify the structures of flavonoid glycosides in bee pollen collected from rapeseed plants (Brassica napus L.), we utilised an approach that combined liquid chromatography-diode array detector-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology with a step-wise separation strategy. We identified four constituents of high purity in rape bee pollen samples: (1) quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucosyl-(2→l)-β-glucoside, (2) kaempferol-3, 4'-di-O-β-D-glucoside, (3) 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone-3-O-β-D-sophoroside and (4) kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucosyl-(2→l)-β-D-glucoside.

Cardioprotection by gene therapy: A review paper on behalf of the Working Group on Drug Cardiotoxicity and Cardioprotection of the Italian Society of Cardiology.

Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Ischemic pre-, post-, and remote conditionings trigger endogenous cardioprotection that renders the heart resistant to ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI). Mimicking endogenous cardioprotection by modulating genes involved in cardioprotective signal transduction provides an opportunity to reproduce endogenous cardioprotection with better possibilities of translation into the clinical setting.

Castleman's disease and sarcoidosis, a rare association resulting in a "mixed" response: a case report.

Introduction: Multicentric Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder whose hallmark is atypical lymph node hyperplasia. Symptoms can include fever, splenomegaly, and abnormal blood cell counts. High levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) are observed frequently in this disorder and are believed to drive the disease.

Involvement of activated SUMO-2 conjugation in cardiomyopathy.

Sumoylation is a posttranslational modification that regulates a wide spectrum of cellular activities. Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of heart failure. Whether sumoylation, particularly SUMO-2/3 conjugation, is involved in cardiomyopathy has not been investigated.

Simultaneous morphological and biochemical endogenous optical imaging of atherosclerosis.

Aims: The aim of this study was to validate novel imaging technology for simultaneous morphological and biochemical endogenous optical imaging of coronary atherosclerotic plaque.

Methods And Results: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) generates high-resolution 3D images of plaque morphology and endogenous fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) characterizes biochemical composition. Both imaging modalities rely on plaque's intrinsic optical characteristics, making contrast agents unnecessary.

Critical role of YY1 in cardiac morphogenesis.

Background: Yin Yang 1 (YY1), the only DNA binding polycomb group protein, was reported to regulate cardiomyocyte differentiation during early cardiac mesoderm development. However, whether it contributes to cardiac morphogenesis at later developmental stage(s) during embryogenesis is unknown.

Results: We excised YY1 in murine hearts during embryogenesis using two temporal-spatially controlled cre activation approaches, and revealed critical roles of YY1 in cardiac structural formation.

[Preoperative patient education: can we improve satisfaction and reduce anxiety?].

Background And Objectives: Patients' knowledge deficits concerning anesthesia and the anesthesiologist's role in their care may contribute to anxiety. The objective of this study was to develop anesthesia patient education materials that would help improve patient's satisfaction regarding their knowledge of the perioperative process and decrease anxiety in a community hospital with a large Spanish-speaking population.

Methods: A survey (Survey A) in English and Spanish was administered to all adult anesthesiology preoperative clinic patients during a 4-week period.

Induction of SENP1 in myocardium contributes to abnormities of mitochondria and cardiomyopathy.

Defect in mitochondrial biogenesis and cardiac energy metabolism is a critical contributing factor to cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Sentrin/SUMO specific protease 1 (SENP1) mediated regulation of PGC-1α transcriptional activity plays an essential role in mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial function. However, whether SENP1 plays a role in cardiac hypertrophy and failure is unknown.

SENP5, a SUMO isopeptidase, induces apoptosis and cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy presents a major health issue and is a leading cause of heart failure. Although a subset of familial cardiomyopathy is associated with genetic mutations, over 50% of cardiomyopathy is defined as idiopathic, the mechanisms underlying which are under intensive investigation. SUMO conjugation is a dynamic posttranslational modification that can be readily reversed by the activity of sentrin-specific proteases (SENPs).

High glucose-induced hyperosmolarity impacts proliferation, cytoskeleton remodeling and migration of human induced pluripotent stem cells via aquaporin-1.

Background And Objective: Hyperglycemia leads to adaptive cell responses in part due to hyperosmolarity. In endothelial and epithelial cells, hyperosmolarity induces aquaporin-1 (AQP1) which plays a role in cytoskeletal remodeling, cell proliferation and migration. Whether such impairments also occur in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) is not known.

Perioperative use of TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device in surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect.

Mortality for patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by ventricular septal defect (VSD) and cardiogenic shock is very high even with surgical repair. We report our experience regarding utilization of TandemHeart, a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) as an adjunct to the treatment of these patients. Retrospective case series study design included a total of 11 patients with post-AMI VSD and severe refractory cardiogenic shock who received pVAD support at our institution.

Multimodality imaging for pre-clinical assessment of Fabry's cardiomyopathy.

Anderson Fabry's disease (AFD) is a rare but underdiagnosed intracellular lipid disorder which can cause left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Pre-clinical diagnosis of Fabry's disease is important as it permits early stratification for enzyme replacement therapy, improving the patient's long-term prognosis, avoiding progression to irreversible fibrosis, and preventing cardiovascular complications. Combinations of imaging modalities that integrate the strengths of each modality and at the same time eliminate weaknesses of an individual modality can offer improved diagnostics, therapeutic monitoring, and pre-clinical assessment of Fabry's disease.

Steroid receptor coactivator-2 is a dual regulator of cardiac transcription factor function.

We have previously demonstrated the potential role of steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2) as a co-regulator in the transcription of critical molecules modulating cardiac function and metabolism in normal and stressed hearts. The present study seeks to extend the previous information by demonstrating SRC-2 fulfills this role by serving as a critical coactivator for the transcription and activity of critical transcription factors known to control cardiac growth and metabolism as well as in their downstream signaling. This knowledge broadens our understanding of the mechanism by which SRC-2 acts in normal and stressed hearts and allows further investigation of the transcriptional modifications mediating different types and degrees of cardiac stress.

GNAS gene variants affect β-blocker-related survival after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Cardiac overexpression of the β-adrenoreceptor (βAR)-coupled stimulatory G-protein subunit Gαs enhances inotropic responses to adrenergic stimulation and improves survival in mice under βAR blockade. The authors recently identified three common haplotypes in the GNAS gene encoding Gαs, with the greatest Gαs protein expression and signal transduction in haplotype *3 carriers and less in haplotype *2 and *1 carriers. The authors tested the hypothesis that these GNAS variants result in altered mortality in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, particularly in those receiving βAR blockade.

Use of sealed grafts in the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device inflow and outflow conduits.

Gelatin-impregnated nonporous sealed grafts were introduced in the inflow and outflow conduits for use with the HeartMate II (HMII) to eliminate preclotting procedures and to reduce operative bleeding. We compared results of 67 patients who received first-time left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) with sealed inflow and outflow grafts (S-graft group) with a preceding 65 patients who received an LVAD with nonsealed grafts (NS-graft group). Overall, the amount of blood product transfusions was less in the S-graft group than that in the NS-graft group (red blood cells, 4.

Challenges in deactivating a total artificial heart for a patient with capacity.

The use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices has increased sixfold since 2006. Although there is an established legal and ethical consensus that patients have the right to withdraw and withhold life-sustaining interventions when burdens exceed benefits, this consensus arose prior to the widespread use of MCS technology and is not uniformly accepted in these cases. There are unique ethical and clinical considerations regarding MCS deactivation.

Potentiation of Tbx5-mediated transactivation by SUMO conjugation and protein inhibitor of activated STAT 1 (PIAS1).

The role of the T-box transcription factor Tbx5 in heart and limb development has been well documented; however, how posttranslational modification is involved in mediating its activity is unknown. Here we report that Tbx5 is a novel target by SUMO conjugation, a posttranslational modification that is involved in a variety of cellular events. Sumoylation potentiated the transcriptional activity of Tbx5, and PIAS family members, a group of SUMO E3 ligase, differentially mediated sumoylation and function of Tbx5.

Short and long-term safety and efficacy of polymer-free vs. durable polymer drug-eluting stents. A comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized trials including 6178 patients.

Background: The efficacy and safety of polymer-free drug-eluting stents (DESs) in clinical practice is currently subject of debate; randomized trials (RCTs) conducted so far provided conflicting results or were underpowered to definitively address this question; we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety profile of polymer-free vs. durable polymer DES by a comprehensive meta-analysis of RCTs.

Methods: MEDLINE, Google Scholar, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for RCTs comparing polymer-free to durable polymer DES.

A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of totally percutaneous access versus open femoral exposure for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (the PEVAR trial).

Objective: The first multicenter randomized controlled trial was designed and conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of totally percutaneous endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (PEVAR) with use of a 21F endovascular stent graft system and either an 8 F or 10 F suture-mediated closure system (the PEVAR trial, NCT01070069). A noninferiority trial design was chosen to compare percutaneous access with standard open femoral exposure.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2012, 20 U.