The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Aug 2016
Safety and feasibility of near-infrared image-guided lymphatic mapping of regional lymph nodes in esophageal cancer.
To assess safety and feasibility of an intraoperative, minimally invasive near-infrared (NIR) image-guided approach to lymphatic mapping in patients with esophageal cancer. ⋯ NIR lymphatic mapping is safe and feasible in patients with esophageal cancer and can identify regional LNs when ICG:HSA is used. Although more work is needed to improve background signals and local LN identification, intraoperative detection of regional NIR(+) LNs allows an in-depth histological analysis of LN basins not commonly scrutinized as part of the specimen and may improve the detection of occult nodal disease.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Aug 2016
Time series analysis of physiologic left ventricular reconstruction in ischemic cardiomyopathy.
The history of left ventricular reconstruction has demonstrated that the full spectrum of recoverable physiologic parameters is essential for a good functional result. We report the long-term outcome of a new surgical technique that arranges myocardial fibers in a near-normal disposition, also recovering left ventricular twisting. ⋯ Surgical conduction of ventricular reconstruction should be standardized to achieve the full spectrum of recoverable physiologic parameters. The renewal of ventricular torsion should be pursued as an adjunctive element of ventricular efficiency, mainly in ventricles that work at a critical level in the Frank-Starling relationship and pressure-volume loop.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Aug 2016
EditorialThe future of stem cells: Should we keep the "stem" and skip the "cells"?
There is accumulating evidence that the cardioprotective effects of stem cells are predominantly mediated by the release of a blend of factors, possibly clustered into extracellular vesicles, which harness endogenous repair pathways. The clinical translation of this concept requires the identification of the cell-secreted signaling biomolecules and an appropriate transfer method. The study by Wei and colleagues has addressed these 2 requirements by showing that the epicardial delivery of a collagen patch loaded with the cardiokine follistatin-like 1 improved left ventricular function in animal models of myocardial infarction. Beyond the choice of the factor and its vehicle, these data may open a new therapeutic path whereby the functionalization of biomaterials by bioactive compounds could successfully substitute for the current cell transplantation-based strategy.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Aug 2016
Edaravone promotes activation of resident cardiac stem cells by transplanted mesenchymal stem cells in a rat myocardial infarction model.
To explore the effect of edaravone on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplanted to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the underlying mechanism. ⋯ Edaravone can protect the BMSCs against hypoxia and activate their potential to activate CSCs via the Akt pathway. The combined treatment can promote angiogenesis, resident CSC-mediated myocardial regeneration, and cardiac function after AMI, providing a new strategy for cell therapy.