International Heart Valve Bank Survey: A Review of Processing Practices and Activity Outcomes

A survey of 24 international heart valve banks was conducted to acquire information on heart valve processing techniques used and outcomes achieved. The objective was to provide an overview of heart valve banking activities for tissue bankers, tissue banking associations, and regulatory bodies worldwide. Despite similarities found for basic manufacturing processes, distinct differences in procedural details were also identified. The similarities included (1) use of sterile culture media for procedures, (2) antibiotic decontamination, (3) use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a cryoprotectant, (4) controlled rate freezing for cryopreservation, and (5) storage at ultralow temperatures of below −135°C. Differences in procedures included (1) type of sterile media used, (2) antibiotics combination, (3) temperature and duration used for bioburden reduction, (4) concentration of DMSO used for cryopreservation, and (5) storage duration for released allografts. For most banks, the primary reasons why allografts failed to meet release criteria were positive microbiological culture and abnormal morphology. On average, 85% of allografts meeting release criteria were implanted, with valve size and type being the main reasons why released allografts were not used clinically. The wide variation in percentage of allografts meeting release requirements, despite undergoing validated manufacturing procedures, justifies the need for regular review of important outcomes as cited in this paper, in order to encourage comparison and improvements in the HVBs’ processes

Two‐year outcome of ventricular assist device via a modified left atrium to aorta approach in cardiac amyloidosis

Abstract Cardiac amyloidosis is a debilitating disease associated with poor long‐term survival. Medical or palliative treatment is the usual course of therapy, but patients are often intolerant of conventional heart failure treatment. The current standard of care of sequential heart and bone marrow transplant is usually not feasible for ill or frail patients or in countries with limited organ donors or without transplant programmes. Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are not usually offered to these patients due to high peri‐operative risks and risks of suction events with the LVAD in a small left ventricle. We report the 2 year outcome and discuss the challenges faced in the management of our patient with end‐stage heart failure due to cardiac amyloidosis, who was successfully supported with an LVAD using a modified left atrium to aorta implantation technique

Marine Algae Collected during the Scientific Expedition to Bachok, Kelantan and the Islands of Terengganu with One New Record, Pterocladiella for Malaysia

In 2008, a scientific expedition to Bachok (the new Marine Station), Kelantan and the vicinity of Terengganu, was organised by the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya. The objective of the expedition was to collect and document the natural resources of Bachok and its vicinity. Our team collected and identified the marine algae resources of the area. A total of 133 taxa of marine algae and four taxa of seagrasses were compiled from the results as well as previous records for Kelantan and Terengganu. The marine algae comprise 3 families of Cyanophyta with 4 genera and 4 taxa; 10 families of Chlorophyta with 13 genera and 35 taxa; 16 families of Rhodophyta with 38 genera and 63 taxa; 4 families of Phaeophyta with 8 genera and 31 taxa. Only 35 taxa were collected during this present survey, the most from the Rhodophyta (14 taxa) followed by the Phaeophyta (12 taxa), the Chlorophyta (8 taxa) and the Cyanophyta (4 taxa). Of these, the Cyanophyta Lyngbya, Oscillatoria, Microcoleus and Brachytrichia; the Chlorophyta Ulva compressa, Ulva flexuosa, Ulva intestinalis, Caulerpa serrulata var. boryana; the Rhodophyta Gelidiella acerosa, Gelidiu pusillum, Actinotrichia fragilis, Acanthophora spicifera; and the Phaeophyta Dictyota ciliolata, Lobophora variegata, Padina antillarum, Hormophysa cuneiformis and Turbinaria conoides are new records for Kelantan and Terengganu. The Rhodophyta,Pterocladiella is a new record for Malaysia. Two families of seagrasses with 3 genera and 4 taxa were collected and included in this checklist. A new species of Halophila will be studied further

Potencies of antibiotics after subjecting them to different incubation time and temperatures.

<p>Potencies of antibiotics after subjecting them to different incubation time and temperatures.</p

Antibiotic susceptibility results of bacteria isolated in 2008 and 2009 during penicillin-streptomycin regimen.

<p>Abbreviations: PS: <i>Pseudomonas</i> species; CNS: <i>Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus</i>; EC: <i>Escherichia coli</i>; AC: <i>Acinetobacter</i> species; MC: <i>Micrococcus</i> species; RC: <i>Rhodococcus</i> species; SA: <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>; S: Sensitive; R: Resistant.</p

Methodologies of routine microbiological and fungal cultures.

<p>Methodologies of routine microbiological and fungal cultures.</p