35 research outputs found
4D Flow Cardiac MR in Primary Mitral Regurgitation
Background
Four-dimensional-flow cardiac MR (4DF-MR) offers advantages in primary mitral regurgitation. The relationship between 4DF-MR-derived mitral regurgitant volume (MR-Rvol) and the post-operative left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling has not yet been established.
Purpose
To ascertain if the 4DF-MR-derived MR-Rvol correlates with the LV reverse remodeling in primary mitral regurgitation.
Study Type
Prospective, single-center, two arm, interventional vs. nonintervention observational study.
Population
Forty-four patients (male Nâ=â30; median age 68 [59â75]) with at least moderate primary mitral regurgitation; either awaiting mitral valve surgery (repair [MVr], replacement [MVR]) or undergoing âwatchful waitingâ (WW).
Field Strength/Sequence
5âT/Balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) sequence/Phase contrast imaging/Multishot echo-planar imaging pulse sequence (five shots).
Assessment
Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), phase-contrast MR (PMRI), 4DF-MR and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) at baseline, and a follow-up PMRI and 6MWT at 6âmonths. MR-Rvol was quantified by PMRI, 4DF-MR, and TTE by one observer. The pre-operative MR-Rvol was correlated with the post-operative decrease in the LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi).
Statistical Tests
Included Student t-test/MannâWhitney test/Fisher's exact test, BlandâAltman plots, linear regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves. Statistical significance was defined as Pâ<â0.05.
Results
While BlandâAltman plots demonstrated similar bias between all the modalities, the limits of agreement were narrower between 4DF-MR and PMRI (bias 15; limits of agreement â36âmL to 65âmL), than between 4DF-MR and TTE (bias â8; limits of agreement â106âmL to 90âmL) and PMRI and TTE (bias â23; limits of agreement â105âmL to 59âmL). Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between the MR-Rvol and the post-operative decrease in the LVEDVi, when the MR-Rvol was quantified by PMRI and 4DF-MR, but not by TTE (Pâ=â0.73). 4DF-MR demonstrated the best diagnostic performance for reduction in the post-operative LVEDVi with the largest area under the curve (4DF-MR 0.83; vs. PMRI 0.78; and TTE 0.51; Pâ=â0.89).
Data Conclusion
This study demonstrates the potential clinical utility of 4DF-MR in the assessment of primary mitral regurgitation
International consensus statement on nomenclature and classification of the congenital bicuspid aortic valve and its aortopathy, for clinical, surgical, interventional and research purposes
This International Consensus Classification and Nomenclature for the congenital bicuspid aortic valve condition recognizes 3 types of bicuspid valves: 1. The fused type (right-left cusp fusion, right-non-coronary cusp fusion and left-non-coronary cusp fusion phenotypes); 2. The 2-sinus type (latero-lateral and antero-posterior phenotypes); and 3. The partial-fusion (forme fruste) type. The presence of raphe and the symmetry of the fused type phenotypes are critical aspects to describe. The International Consensus also recognizes 3 types of bicuspid valve-associated aortopathy: 1. The ascending phenotype; 2. The root phenotype; and 3. Extended phenotypes.Cardiolog
Evidence for a role of the alternatively spliced ED-I sequence of fibronectin during ovarian follicular development
This study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that different forms of fibronectin (FN), produced as a consequence of the alternative splicing of the precursor messenger RNA, play specific roles during development of the ovarian follicle. In particular, we were interested in determining the effect of the ED-I (also termed ED-A) type III repeat, which is absent in the plasma form. Analysis of FN levels in follicular fluids corresponding to different stages of development of bovine follicles revealed marked changes in the concentrations of ED-I + FN, whereas total FN levels remained relatively constant. ED-I + FN levels were higher in small follicles, corresponding to the phase of granulosa cell proliferation. The hypothesis of a physiological role for ED-I + FN was further supported by the finding of a regulation of the alternative splicing of FN in primary cultures of bovine granulosa cells by factors known to control ovarian follicular development. cAMP produced a 10-fold decrease in the relative proportion of the ED-I region. In contrast, transforming growth factor-ÎČ elicited a 2-fold stimulation of overall FN synthesis and a 4-fold increase in the synthesis of ED-I containing FN. This effect was evident at the protein (Western blots) and messenger RNA (Northern blots) levels. Although a negative correlation (P < 0.001) was detected between ED-I + FN and estradiol levels in follicular fluid, this steroid was unable to modulate in vitro the alternative splicing of FN. A possible mitogenic effect of ED-I + FN was suggested by the observation that a recombinant peptide corresponding to the ED-I domain stimulated DNA synthesis in a bovine granulosa cell line (BGC-1), whereas a peptide corresponding to the flanking type III sequences had no effect. The hypothesis of ED-I + FN as a growth regulatory factor was further strengthened by the fact that depletion of FN from BGC-1-conditioned medium, which contained ED-I + FN, abrogated its mitogenic activity, whereas plasma FN was without effect. We propose that changes in the primary structure of FN may mediate some of the effects of gonadotropin and intraovarian factors during follicular development.Fil:Colman-Lerner, A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Lanuza, G.M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Kornblihtt, A.R. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Barañao, J.L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina
Improved hepatocyte excretory function by immediate presentation of polarity cues
10.1089/ten.2006.12.2181Tissue Engineering1282181-219