European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Feb 2012
Myocardial metabolism and diastolic function after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: influence of patient-prosthesis mismatch.
This study evaluated the impact of patient-prosthesis mismatch on myocardial function and high-energy phosphate metabolism after aortic valve replacement for pure aortic stenosis. Patients with and without patient-prosthesis mismatch were compared using magnetic resonance techniques. ⋯ Aortic valve replacement leads to early improvement of left ventricle function and myocardial metabolism in all patients regardless of the occurrence of patient-prosthesis mismatch.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2012
Tissue-engineered vascular graft remodeling in a growing lamb model: expression of matrix metalloproteinases.
We have previously demonstrated the functionality and growth of autologous, living, tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) in long-term animal studies. These grafts showed substantial in vivo tissue remodeling and approximation to native arterial wall characteristics. Based on this, in vitro and in vivo matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity of TEVGs is investigated as a key marker of matrix remodeling. ⋯ MMPs are up-regulated in vitro by dynamic culture conditions and could contribute to increased matrix remodeling, native analogous tissue formation and functional growth of TEVGs in vivo. Monitoring of MMP activity, for example, by molecular imaging techniques, may enable the non-invasive assessment of functional tissue quality in future clinical tissue-engineering applications.
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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg · Jan 2012
Review Meta AnalysisEstimating the risk of complications related to re-exploration for bleeding after adult cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of re-exploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery on the immediate postoperative outcome. ⋯ This study suggests that re-exploration for bleeding after cardiac surgery carries a significantly increased risk of postoperative mortality and morbidity.