General

Calcific degeneration is the most frequent type of heart valve failure, with rising incidence due to the ageing population. The gold standard treatment to date is valve replacement. Unfortunately, calcification oftentimes re-occurs in bioprosthetic substitutes, with the governing processes remaining poorly understood. Here, we present a multiscale, multimodal analysis of disturbances and extensive mineralisation of the collagen network in failed bioprosthetic bovine pericardium valve explants...

Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocyte cell apoptosis is critical in developing myocardial infarction. Stachydrine (STA), an active constituent of Leonurus heterophyllus sweet, could have a protecti...

Aberrant origin of coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly associated with increased risk of myocardial ischemia and sudden death, with the highest risk lesions being those arising from the opposite sinus...

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a widespread illness in developing countries. RHD causes 99% of mitral stenoses in adults and 25% of aortic regurgitation. However, it only causes 10% of stenoses of the tricuspid valve, and is almost always associated with left-side valvular lesions. Isolated right-side valves are rarely affected, but may result in severe rheumatic pulmonary regurgitation. Herein, we present a case of rheumatic right-sided valve disease with severe pulmonary valve contracture...

Prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays consume medical resources and increase medical costs. This study identified risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay in chil...

Prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays consume medical resources and increase medical costs. This study identified risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay in chil...