Cardiac calcified amorphous tumors (CATs) represent rare, nonneoplastic intraluminal heart masses, with limited case reports in existing literature. Asymptomatic cases localized in the right atrium are particu… Read More
Category: General
The impact of systemic inflammation index on prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery: a retrospective study
Despite advancements in surgical techniques and intensive care management, the incidence of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) following cardiac surgery remains a significant concern.
Thoracic outlet syndrome induced by extrathoracic giant lipoma: first case in the literature due to the atypical location
Lipoma is one of the most common mesenchymal tumours. It is mostly benign in character. Those whose size is > 10 centimetres are called giant lipomas. Although its incidence is low in the extrathoracic axillar… Read More
Factors contributing to transient and persistent worsening renal function in elderly patients with acute decompensated heart failure
The aim of this study is to analyze the distinct characteristics and risk factors contributing to the development of worsening renal function (WRF) in elderly patients with acute decompensated heart failure (A… Read More
Left Main Coronary Artery Fistula Presenting as Heart Failure: A Case Report
Am J Case Rep. 2025 Apr 16;26:e947122. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.947122.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Coronary artery fistulas are rare and typically congenital but can result from various acquired conditions. They involve abnormal connections between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or vessel, often creating a left-to-right shunt. Most coronary artery fistulas are asymptomatic and found incidentally, though larger fistulas can cause symptoms like ischemia or heart failure, requiring intervention. Management depends on the fistula size and clinical findings. Many small fistulas close spontaneously. CASE REPORT A 44-year-old woman with massive left atrial dilation and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation due to an undiagnosed left-main-coronary-artery-to-left-atrium fistula after cardiothoracic surgeries (mechanical mitral valve replacement, childhood left main coronary aneurysm repair), presented with new-onset heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. Multimodal imaging detected a large (6.0 cm) left main coronary aneurysm with a connecting fistula to the left atrium resulting in a significant jet of turbulent flow on the atrial aspect of the mitral valve. The left atrium had become massive in size and the gradient across the prosthetic mitral valve was high at 10 mmHg. Hemodynamic parameters revealed pulmonary hypertension and a slightly low cardiac output. She underwent redo sternotomy, resection of the left main coronary artery aneurysm, and replacement with an 8 mm ringed Gore-Tex graft, closure of the left-main-coronary-artery-to-left-atrium fistula, and bovine pericardial patch exclusion of the left atrial appendage. Symptoms resolved after surgical repair. CONCLUSIONS Unexplained cardiac chamber enlargement and heart failure should prompt consideration of the presence of a coronary artery fistula, an important yet frequently overlooked treatable cause of heart failure.
PMID:40238726 | PMC:PMC12013956 | DOI:10.12659/AJCR.947122
A rare case of coronary artery bypass grafting in pediatric cardiac surgery: emphasizing the importance of internal thoracic artery usage
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an exceedingly rare procedure in pediatric cardiac surgery, primarily due to the low incidence of coronary artery disease in this population. However, when indicated, … Read More
Identification of lipid metabolism-related genes in myocardial infarction: implications for diagnosis and therapy
Myocardial infarction(MI), a severe and often fatal cardiovascular condition, strongly contributes to global mortality and morbidity. Lipids are critical underlying factors in cardiovascular disease. They infl… Read More
A two-sample Mendelian randomization study of atrial fibrillation screening, risk factor analysis, and serum uric acid levels
It aimed to explore the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) screening, risk factor analysis, and serum uric acid (UA) levels. By analyzing the results of AF screening and risk factors, the potential … Read More
Catechol crosslinked bioprosthetic valves derived from caffeic acid and dopamine-conjugated porcine pericardia exhibit enhanced antithrombotic, immunomodulatory and anticalcification performance
Acta Biomater. 2025 Jun 1;199:90-107. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2025.04.054. Epub 2025 Apr 30.
ABSTRACT
The global aging population has led to an increasing prevalence of valvular heart disease (VHD), and the clinical application of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) are growing with the advancement of transcatheter heart valve replacement surgery. However, BHVs, as xenogeneic pericardial tissue crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, have been affected by suboptimal cytocompatibility, thrombosis, immune response, and calcification, leading to premature degeneration and failure. Herein, a catechol-crosslinking strategy for BHVs was developed by conjugating porcine pericardia (PP) with catechols and subsequently coupling the grafted catechols to achieve the crosslinking and stabilization of BHVs. Caffeic acid and dopamine were exploited to conjugate the bioactive catechols on PP through amide condensation, and the catechols were further coupled under oxidation to impart the PP with enhanced stability and cytocompatibility as well as comparable mechanical properties to those of glutaraldehyde crosslinked PP (GLUT-PP). With the enrichment of catechols, the crosslinked PP not only demonstrated improved hydrophilicity to resist the blood components adhesion and thrombosis, but also enhanced the performance of endothelialization and antioxidation. Furthermore, the introduced catechols exhibits favorable anti-inflammatory properties, which significantly ameliorated the foreign body response and regulated the local immune responses of crosslinked PP. In conclusion, the catechol crosslinked PP is expected to be explored as a potential substitute for GLUT-PP to extend the lifespan of BHVs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) are mainly prepared from glutaraldehyde crosslinked porcine or bovine pericardia (GLUT-PP). Currently, BHVs are affected by cytotoxicity, thrombosis, calcification, and immunoinflammatory responses, which would accelerate degeneration and failure of BHVs. In this study, we developed a catechol crosslinking strategy for BHVs and engineered caffeic acid and dopamine-conjugated porcine pericardia (PP). In summary, catechol crosslinked porcine pericardia demonstrated enhanced collagen stability, antithrombosis, endothelialization, anticalcification and immunomodulation which reduced the risk of structural degeneration, suggesting that the catechol crosslinked porcine pericardia could serve as a potential alternative to GLUT-PP.
PMID:40316124 | DOI:10.1016/j.actbio.2025.04.054
Intermittent mitral prosthetic dysfunction. what interferes the valve closure?
Prosthetic valve dysfunction due to entrapment of the subvalvular apparatus is a rare condition, particularly when occurring as a delayed postoperative complication. Spontaneous papillary muscle rupture in the… Read More