The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2013
Metformin alters the insulin signaling pathway in ischemic cardiac tissue in a swine model of metabolic syndrome.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of metformin on insulin signaling in ischemic cardiac tissue in a swine model of metabolic syndrome. ⋯ Metformin treatment in the context of metabolic syndrome and myocardial ischemia dramatically upregulates the insulin signaling pathway in chronically ischemic myocardium, which is at the crossroads of known metabolic and survival benefits of metformin.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Jan 2013
Assessment of a mitral valve replacement skills trainer: a simplified, low-cost approach.
Simulated mitral valve replacement may aid in the assessment of technical skills required for adequate performance in the operating room. We sought to design and assess a mitral valve replacement training station that is low-cost, nonperishable, portable, and reproducible as a first step in developing a mitral valve surgical skills curriculum. ⋯ Simulated mitral valve replacement can be performed using this simple, affordable, portable setup. Performance scores correlate with level of training and experience, but residents who performed 10 to 50 mitral valve replacements still failed to reach attending-level proficiency. This training simulator may facilitate skills practice and evaluation of competency in cardiac surgery trainees.