Time-dependent Mitochondrial Remodeling in Experimental Atrial Fibrillation and Potential Therapeutic Relevance.

Background: Changes in mitochondria have been implicated in atrial fibrillation (AF), but their manifestations and significance are poorly understood. Here, we studied changes in mitochondrial morphology and function during AF and assessed the effect of a mitochondrial-targeted intervention in a large animal model.

Methods And Results: Atrial cardiomyocytes (ACMs) were isolated from dogs in electrically-driven AF for periods of 24 hours to 3 weeks and from humans with/without longstanding persistent AF.

Daily exposure to chlordecone, an organochlorine pesticide, increases cardiac fibrosis and atrial fibrillation vulnerability.

Context: Chlordecone (CLD) is a carcinogenic organochlorine pesticide. CLD was shown to disturb the activity of cardiac Na-K-ATPase and Ca-Mg-ATPase. Conditions affecting these transmembrane pumps are often associated with cardiac arrhythmias (CA).

Atrial cardiomyocytes contribute to the inflammatory status associated with atrial fibrillation in right heart disease.

Aims: Right heart disease (RHD), characterized by right ventricular (RV) and atrial (RA) hypertrophy, and cardiomyocytes' (CM) dysfunctions have been described to be associated with the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Right heart disease and AF have in common, an inflammatory status, but the mechanisms relating RHD, inflammation, and AF remain unclear. We hypothesized that right heart disease generates electrophysiological and morphological remodelling affecting the CM, leading to atrial inflammation and increased AF susceptibility.

Inhibition of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) ameliorates ventricular fibrosis in isoproterenol-induced heart failure in rats.

Aims: Transglutaminase (TG) inhibitors represent promising therapeutic interventions in cardiac fibrosis and related dysfunctions. However, it remains unknown how TG inhibition, TG2 in particular, affects the signaling systems that drive pathological fibrosis. This study aimed to examine the effect TG inhibition by cystamine on the progression of isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction in rats.

Comparison of Doty and McGoon techniques for surgical reconstruction of congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis.

Background: We aimed to compare the results of two surgical methods for the treatment of congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis.

Methods: From May 2004 to January 2020, 29 patients underwent surgical repair for supravalvular aportic stenosis in a single centre. The perioperative evaluation of the patients was retrospectively reviewed.

High incidence of fever in patients after biointegral pulmonic valved conduit implantation.

Objective: To describe our short- and medium-term outcomes using the BioIntegral pulmonic conduit.

Methods: Between August 2018 and September 2019, the BioIntegral pulmonic valved conduit was used for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in 48 patients. The data were retrospectively retrieved from the patient charts.

The choice of palliative arterial switch operation as an alternative for selected cases in a single center: Experience and mid term results.

Introduction And Objective: There are various management options for newborns with single ventricle physiology, ventriculoarterial discordance and subaortic stenosis, classically involving the early pulmonary banding and aortic arch repair, the restricted bulboventriculer foramen enlargement or the Norwood and the Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedures. The aim of this study is to evaluate our preferred technique and comment on the midterm results of our clinical experience with palliative arterial switch operation (pASO) for a certain subset of patients.

Method: We hereby retrospectively evaluate the charts of patients who went through pASO, as initial palliation through Fontan pathway, starting from 2014 till today.

Single-Stage Fontan Operation in a Patient With Coronary Sinus Ostium Atresia.

An eight-year-old boy with tricuspid atresia was found to have atretic coronary sinus ostium during cardiac catheterization. Single-stage extracardiac fenestrated Fontan operation was performed with surgical unroofing of the coronary sinus into the left atrium to avoid the risk of cardiac congestion.