reaction prosthesis prosthetic heart immunohistochemistry

AIMS: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are now a mainstay in the management of patients with end-stage heart failure. An important consideration in the long-term durability of these devices is the structural integrity of the prosthetic valves. Herein, we report the morphological findings in inflow and outflow explanted bioprostheses from seven such devices. METHODS: The porcine bioprostheses (n = 7; HeartMate, Novacor) were examined from inflow and outflow valve conduits...

INTRODUCTION: A new flexible annuloplasty ring (Sovering, Sorin Biomedica Cardio), both closed and open, has been designed and consists of radiopaque silicone core impregnated with barium sulfate and covered by a knitted polyester fabric coated with Carbofilm. The aim of the study was to test the biological compatibility of the new device in large animals in orthotopic position. METHODS: Ten Sovering rings were implanted in 10 female adult sheep, 7 mitral (3 open, 4 closed) and 3 tricuspid (all open)...

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is a multifunctional protein which plays a role in smooth muscle cell growth, wound healing, tissue repair and angiogenesis. FGF-2 is also released by mechanically wounded cells. Herein, the importance of FGF-2 release from periannular tissue in the mechanism of pannus formation in obstructed mechanical prostheses was investigated. METHODS: Between January 1993 and December 2002, 35 patients with an obstructed bileaflet prosthetic mitral valve were classified according to the nature of obstruction as either thrombus or pannus...

The present study investigated a novel approach for gene therapy of heart valve disease and vascular disorders. We formulated and characterized implantable polyurethane films that could also function as gene delivery systems through the surface attachment of replication defective adenoviruses using an anti-adenovirus antibody tethering mechanism. Our hypothesis was that we could achieve site-specific gene delivery to cells interacting with these polyurethane implants, and thereby demonstrate the potential for intravascular devices that could also function as gene delivery platforms for therapeutic vectors...