https://e-kcj.org A 40-year-old male was admitted to the cardiac care unit (CCU) due to severe pneumonia associated with unstable hemodynamics. Meanwhile, a grade 3–4 systolic murmur was heard at the left lower sternal border. Tracing his history back, he had undergone mitral valve replacement with a Björk-Shiley convexoconcave prosthetic valve (single tilting disc mechanical valve) 25 years be...

Abstract In this chapter, we investigate hydro-mechanical effects in the Opalinus Clay, especially those leading to cracking. We present a methodology comprising laboratory and field scale experiments, as well development application of numerical approaches.

BACKGROUND Several centers favor replacing a diseased native heart valve with a tissue rather than a mechanical prosthesis, even in younger adult patients. However, long-term data supporting this approach are lacking. We examined the survival implications of selecting a tissue versus a mechanical prosthesis at initial left-heart valve replacement in a cohort of adults <60 years of age who were ...

The mechanism responsible for unusual mechanical properties of tension wood gelatinous fiber (Gfiber) was investigated. We discussed origins of high tensile growth stress, high drying shrinkage, and rapid increase of Young’s modulus due to drying, in association with microscopic structure of gelatinous layer (G-layer). Anatomical, crystallographic, and micromechanical approaches were employed. ...

BACKGROUND Surgical treatment methods are still controversial in children with congenital or acquired aortic valve dysfunction. AIM To evaluate treatment results in children after mechanical or biological valve implantation. METHODS We analysed a group of 55 children after mechanical valve implantation (group A) and a group of 8 children after Freestyle biological valve implantation (group ...

BACKGROUND The choice of the best conduit for root/ascending disease and its impact on longevity remain controversial in quinquagenarians. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 205 patients (men=155) between 50 and 60 years (mean, 55.7 ± 2.9 years) received either a stentless porcine xenoroot (n=78) or a mechanically valved composite prosthesis (n=127) between February 1998 and July 2011. Of these, ...

The classic case of aortic stenosis is a healthy middle-aged patient with/without symptoms, but in practical life, patients with severe calcific aortic valve come with several and severe comorbidities such as advanced age, coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic aorta, significant left ventricular dysfunction. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the only options in these patients, and it require...