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Wound healing process after surgical procedure plays a crucial role to prevent blood loss and infections. Hypertrophic scars might occur after surgery and are generally associated with an inflammatory burden. Cardiac surgery is intrinsically related to a strong systemic inflammatory state that might favor hypertrophic scarring. Besides lipid‐lowering effects, statins are known for their pleiotropic and anti‐inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of statins in the healing process after median sternotomy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. All patients undergoing major cardiac surgery with median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass, and subsequently evaluated in the outpatient clinic after discharge, were included in this study. A total of 930 Caucasian patients were retrospectively reviewed. At outpatient visit, 276 patients (29.7%) showed the formation of hypertrophic scars. Patients with hypertrophic scars tended to be younger (P =.001) and nonstatin users (P =.001). Logistic regression analysis confirmed the protective role of statins (odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.29‐0.53, P =.001), after adjustment for age. A dose‐dependent effect was confirmed, showing a more intensive protective effect for higher doses of statins. Statin use might be correlated with reduced hypertrophic scars after cardiac surgery through median sternotomy. A dose‐dependent effect has been shown, and statin effect seems to be independent of age in a selected population undergoing surgery with an elevated inflammatory burden. Although further studies are warranted to elucidate the biologic mechanisms, the concept of using statins as anti‐scarring agents is novel and should be investigated with tailored studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common complication after cardiac surgery, with almost one third of patients suffering from PUs during hospitalisation. Because of the burden that PUs exert on both the patients and the health care system, prevention is of utmost importance. The first step in successful prevention, however, includes the identification of the main features that render patients prone to PU development. Cardiac surgery population is not adequately addressed in current clinical trials and studies. Few studies focused specifically on cardiac surgery patients, but the majority included cardiac surgery patients within a heterogeneous population of acute or critical care patients. Therefore, additional research is warranted to understand the unique risk profile of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Intraoperative risk factors that affect tissue tolerance have not been thoroughly investigated but are likely to play an important role, which might explain the epidemiology of a PU. Further research is also needed to better comprehend the risk of PUs among cardiac surgery patients and to design effective and tailored preventative measures with the help of newer tools for risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction and its consequences represent one of the most demanding challenges in cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Transfer of skeletal myoblasts into decompensated hearts has been performed through intramyocardial injection. However, the achievements of both cardiomyocyte differentiation and precise integration of the injected cells into the myocardial wall, in order to augment synchronized contractility and avoid potentially life-threatening alterations in the electrical conduction of the heart, still remain a major target to be pursued. Recently, granulocytes colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) fuelled the interest of researchers for its direct effect on cardiomyocytes, inhibiting both apoptosis and remodelling in the failing heart and protecting from ventricular arrhythmias through the up-regulation of connexin 43 (Cx43). We propose a tissue engineering approach concerning the fabrication of an electrospun cardiac graft functionalized with G-CSF, in order to provide the correct signalling sequence to orientate myoblast differentiation and exert important systemic and local effects, positively modulating the infarction microenvironment. Poly-(-lactide) electrospun scaffolds were seeded with C2C12 murine skeletal myoblast for 48 hrs. Biological assays demonstrated the induction of Cx43 expression along with morphostructural changes resulting in cell elongation and appearance of cellular junctions resembling the usual cardiomyocyte arrangement at the ultrastructural level. The possibility of fabricating extracellular matrix-mimicking scaffolds able to promote myoblast pre-commitment towards myocardiocyte lineage and mitigate the hazardous environment of the damaged myocardium represents an interesting strategy in cardiac tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Diabetic patients exhibit an increased risk of saphenous graft occlusion after coronary bypass. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are ubiquitous signalling proteins that are associated with vascular and neurological complication of diabetes. The aim of this study is to verify whether AGE levels may promote endothelial cell alterations responsible for vein graft failure. Methods Segments of saphenous vein were obtained from both normal people and diabetic patients (HbA1c < 6.0%) at the time of coronary surgery. Cultured endothelial cells were incubated in the absence/presence of AGEs (2 and 20 µM), and mRNA and protein for both receptor of AGEs (RAGE) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-γ (PPAR-γ) were analysed by real-time polymerised chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis. In the same fashion, the cell release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was estimated in the absence/presence of AGEs by spectrofluorimetric analysis. Finally, neutrophil-endothelial adhesion was evaluated in saphenous vein segments with and without the addition of AGEs. Results AGEs activated in a dose-dependent manner the expression of RAGE and inhibited PPAR-γ expression in endothelial cells as testified by both reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Stimulation of cultured endothelial cells with AGEs significantly enhanced intracellular ROS formation in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, neutrophil-endothelial adhesion was significantly increased after incubation of control veins with AGEs. Conclusions These findings indicate that even in diabetic patients with HbA1c < 6.0%, elevated serum levels of AGE determine a sort of a pro-thrombotic state, providing a common mechanism that could explain the increased rate of vein graft occlusion in this population. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflammatory burden intrinsically related to cardiac surgery, therefore, might be an acute disturbing factor in the chronic equilibrium of a patient with psoriasis and might have profound clinical consequences. Considering the pathophysiologic similarity between the psoriasis-mediated inflammation and the irritative responses triggered by cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, surgical outcomes might be affected by psoriasis. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: This study examines the outcomes of the cryopreserved mitral homograft in 110 patients prospectively followed with clinical, echocardiographic and structural valve deterioration (SVD) assessments., Methods: The etiology of mitral disease was: rheumatic disease (n = 70), endocarditis (n = 33), and others (n = 7). There were 31 partial homografts and 79 total homografts. Mitro-aortic homograft valve replacement was performed in 29 cases., Results: Mean follow-up was 9.8 ± 6.3 years (up to 19.2 years). There were seven early (<3 months) and 13 late deaths. There have been nine early (<3 months) and 24 late reoperations. Postoperatively, nine patients had endocarditis and six had an ischemic event. As compared to baseline, follow-up echocardiography showed progression of MR grade (from 0.4 to 1.3 p < 0.001) with stenosis (elevated gradient: from 3.9 to 7.0 mmHg p < 0.001 and decreased valve area: from 2.3 to 1.7 cm(2) p < 0.001). The proportion of freedom from SVD was 90%, 76%, and 65% at five years, 10 years, and 15 years, respectively. SVD was more frequent in pregnant patients (p = 0.016 vs. no pregnancy) and in patients with a ring smaller than 30 mm. Stenosis related to SVD was more pronounced for age <40 years and ring size 30 mm. Mitral-aortic homograft valve replacement was the preferred choice in complex infective endocarditis. Pathological analysis of the explanted homografts almost invariably showed dense fibrosis with calcification and no cellularity., Conclusion: Mitral homografts have early echocardiographic results similar to those of valve repair. SVD produced mixed stenosis with insufficiency and its incidence was comparable to that of bioprosthetic SVD. An improvement in the preservation mode of valvular homografts is warranted., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Nickel hypersensitivity is reported in about 10-15% of the general population and manifests mainly with dermatological signs. Chest discomfort, palpitations, signs and symptoms of pericarditis, and migraine are symptoms reported in rare cases of nickel hypersensitivity after implantation of a cardiac device made of nickel. We present the case of a patient with a nickel allergy from an Amplatzer device in which the removal of the device produced resolution of the symptoms., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Nickel allergy can raise clinical problems in patients undergoing cardiac surgery who require sternal closure with stainless steel wire. We describe the case of a 51-year-old woman with severe nickel allergy who underwent aortic valve replacement with a nickel-free ON-X prosthesis and sternal closure by Fiberwire # 2 suture without complications. Considering its biocompatibility and its mechanical characteristics including optimal strength and knot resistance, this suture might be a viable alternative in patients in which the use of stainless steel wire is contraindicated., (© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

We report a case of a 69-year-old female with a previous Bentall procedure who developed a right coronary ostial aneurysm. The aneurysm was excluded with a Dacron patch and the right internal mammary artery was used to restore flow to the coronary artery., (© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)