Pediatric ranges of normality for 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography atrial strain: differences between p- and r-gating and among new (Atrial Designed) and conventional (Ventricular Specific) software's.

Background: 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) atrial strain (ε) analysis in children is gaining interest; however, pediatric nomograms remain limited. Comparison among conventional software's (designed for left ventricle and adapted to atria and using R-gating analysis) and new software's (designed for atria and allowing for both R- and P-gating) are lacking. The present study aims to establish pediatric nomograms for atrial ε using an atrial dedicated software and to compare values obtained by (a) R- and P-gating and, (b) R-gating with new and conventional software.

Neo-aortic posterior sinus of Valsalva reduction and closed coronary artery transfer as a method to approach aortopulmonary mismatch in transposition of great arteries.

Objective: In transposition of great arteries (TGA), aortopulmonary mismatch (APM) can determine postoperative neo-aortic insufficiency after arterial switch operation (ASO). The distortion of sinu-tubular junction may be the geometric mechanism responsible. We developed a strategy able to reduce the mismatch at the timing of ASO, and in this study, we aimed to describe our indications and results.

The impact of native Fallot anatomy on future therapeutic requirements and outcomes at follow-up.

Background: In patients with repaired Fallot, subsequent surgical or interventional procedures and adverse cardiac events are frequent. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a simple pre-operative anatomic classification based on the size of the pulmonary valve (PV) annulus and branches on future therapeutic requirements and outcomes.

Method: This is a single-center retrospective analysis of patients operated for Fallot before the age of 2 years, from January 1990.

Pitfalls in surgical repair of Fallot's tetralogy: The "ventricular subaortic pouch".

Fallot-type ventricular septal defect (VSD) is characterized by anterior malalignment of the outlet septum with variable degree of aortic dextroposition. Correct identification of the borders of the defect is crucial to achieve an optimal surgical repair. We describe a particular postsurgical lesion, identified by cardiac magnetic resonance and cardiac computed tomography, which results from an improper surgical closure technique of anterior malaligned VSD.

The different surgical impact of the superior cavoatrial incision in children and adults.

Introduction: The single- and double-patch repairs are undoubtedly the most commonly used techniques for the surgical management of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection associated with sinus venosus atrial septal defect. The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare early and long-term surgical outcomes in paediatric and adult patients, focusing in particular on the occurrence of ectopic atrial rhythm.

Material And Methods: Seventy patients (male: 38, 54.

Retrieval team-initiated early donor management increases the donor heart utilization rate for transplantation.

Objectives: Heart transplantation represents the most effective therapy that is currently available for end-stage heart failure. Despite the shortage of organ donors, many donor hearts are not accepted for transplantation due to poor function. Targeted donor management may increase the donor heart utilization rate.

Hybrid strategies for high-risk non-hypoplastic left heart syndrome patients.

Single-stage repair of complex cardiac abnormalities in high-risk neonates presents formidable challenges. The majority of hybrid strategies involving bilateral pulmonary artery banding (bPAB) with or without patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting is described in the setting of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. We present a series of cases describing two-stage repair with initial palliative hybrid procedures involving bPAB with or without PDA stenting.

Pulmonary endarterectomy is effective and safe in patients with haemoglobinopathies and abnormal red blood cells: the Papworth experience.

Objectives: Patients with haemoglobinopathies and congenital haemolytic anaemia constitute a unique population more predisposed to developing chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Although pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is accepted as the best treatment for CTEPH, PEA in these patients poses significant practical challenges. Apart from a few case reports, the results of PEA in this patient population have not been previously reported.

Interdisciplinary approach to cell-biomaterial interactions: biocompatibility and cell friendly characteristics of RKKP glass-ceramic coatings on titanium.

In this work, titanium (Ti) supports have been coated with glass-ceramic films for possible applications as biomedical implant materials in regenerative medicine. For the film preparation, a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique has been applied. The RKKP glass-ceramic material, used for coating deposition, was a sol-gel derived target of the following composition: Ca-19.

Sol-gel derived 45S5 bioglass: synthesis, microstructural evolution and thermal behaviour.

In this work, the 45S5 bioactive glass was synthesized through an aqueous sol-gel method. Characteristic functional groups were evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the thermal behaviour was investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, crystallization kinetics and phase evolution were followed by X-ray diffraction measurements. The sintering behaviour of the sol-gel derived 45S5 was then studied by dilatometry and the microstructural evolution was followed step-by-step, interrupting the thermal cycle at different temperatures.

Extracorporeal hydroxyapatite-chamber for bone and biomaterial studies.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) spherules and autologous bone (AB) with a central vascular pedicle were housed inside an HA-chamber to form the skeletal segment of specific shape. Experimental chambers were then inserted in a pocket between medial thigh muscles in 13 New Zealand male rabbits for 3 months. Three graft group were scheduled: (A) HA and AB without vascular pedicle, (B) HA with vascular pedicle, (C) HA and AB with vascular pedicle.

Biomaterials for orthopedics: a roughness analysis by atomic force microscopy.

We conducted an AFM analysis of roughness on 7 materials widely used in bone reconstruction. Roughness was evaluated by measuring Root Mean Square (RMS) values and RMS/average height (AH) ratio, in different dimensional ranges, varying from 100 microns square to a few hundreds of nanometers. The results showed that Titanium presented a lower roughness than the other materials analyzed, frequently reaching statistical significance.

The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on the osteointegration of hydroxyapatite implants in cancellous bone: a morphologic and microstructural in vivo study.

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs, 75 Hz. 1.6 mT) were investigated in 12 rabbits after placing hydroxyapatite (HA) implants in their femoral condyles.