IGF-1 increases the graft volume and enhances the efficacy of Tx in the chronic myocardial infarction model due to its multiple effects of preventing apoptosis, inducing angiogenesis, and promoting myoblast growth.

Background The usefulness of sustained-release erythropoietin for improving left ventricular (LV) function without polycythemia was evaluated in a rat chronic myocardial infarction model. Methods and Results Four weeks after left coronary artery ligation, 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 5 groups (n=10, each). Control group had a gelatin sheet (20×20 mm) containing saline applied to the infarct area, whereas the 4 treatment groups had gelatin sheets incorporating erythropoietin 0.1 U, 1 U, 10 U and 100 U, respectively. Endpoint measurements performed at 8 weeks after the coronary ligation revealed that the fractional area change was larger for erythropoietin 1 U and 10 U than in the other 3 groups. The LV end-systolic elastance and the time constant of isovolumic relaxation were better for erythropoietin 1 U and 10 U than in the other 3 groups. The density of vessels larger than 50 m in diameter was the highest in the erythropoietin 1 U group. The number of red blood cells was significantly increased in groups receiving erythropoietin 10 U and 100 U. Conclusions Gelatin hydrogel sheets incorporating 1 U erythropoietin improved LV function without inducing polycythemia in a rat chronic myocardial infarction model. (Circ J 2007; 71: 132 -137)

No abstract

No abstract

Objective: To investigate the influence of choice of prosthesis (bioprosthetic valves or mechanical valves) on intermediate-term outcomes in patients on hemodialysis undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR).Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was conducted in 18 Japanese centers. All adult patients on chronic hemodialysis who underwent AVR from 2008 and 2015 were included (n ¼ 491). The early and late results were compared between groups. The hazard ratios were calculated using Cox regression and Fine-Gray models with adjustment for propensity score based on 41 confounders. The mean follow-up period was 2.5 AE 2.1 years (up to 8.3 years) with 98% completeness.Results: There were 323 patients who received a bioprosthetic valve (group B), and 168 patients who received a mechanical valve (group M). There was no significant difference for in-hospital death rate between groups (group B: 12.1%; group M: 8.9%; P ¼ .29). The overall survival rate at 5 years after surgery was 39.3% in group B and 50.4% in group M (P ¼ .42). Freedom from reoperation at 5 years was 97.1% in group B and 97.8% in group M (P ¼ .88). On propensity-score adjusted analyses, there were no significant differences in overall survival between groups.Conclusions: There were no significant differences in overall survival between bioprosthetic valves and mechanical valves in patients on hemodialysis undergoing AVR.

No abstract

The presence of clinically significant TR concomitant with severe AS is associated with a poor long-term outcome, regardless of the initial treatment strategy.

Although it may be multifactorial, congenital maldevelopment of the media tends to result in dissection of the centre of the media, and acquired aortic wall weakness is concentrated in the outer third of the media. Degeneration of the vasa vasorum may be an important emerging substrate for developing aortic dissection.