OBJECTIVES Immune reaction against the α-Gal(Galα1,3-Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R) epitope is known to be one of the important factors for calcification of bioprostheses. The genetically manipulated α-Gal knock-out (KO) mice lacking the α-Gal epitope and containing anti-α-Gal antibodies may simulate an immune response against xenoantigens in primates including humans. The aims of this study were (i) to comp...

We evaluated the effect of altered loading conditions on left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure-volume relations during acute coronary artery occlusion that was produced by inflation of an intracoronary balloon. Open-chest anesthetized dogs (n = 18) were instrumented so that LV pressure (micromanometer) and LV volume (conductance) could be measured without disturbing the pericardium. The effe...

Diffuse haemangioma and intra-abdominal lymphangioma are rare in adults. In this case report, we present a 33-year-old female with coexisting multiple cutaneous and visceral cavernous haemangiomas and two huge intra-abdominal lymphangiomas of 25 and 35 cm in diameter. The organs involved were the liver, pericardium, renal hilus and bladder. She died due to disseminated intravascular coagulation...

Because of uncertainty existing in respect to the etiologic factors in certain cases of constrictive pericarditis, an analysis of 25 proven cases and of additional series from the literature was conducted. It was evident that a fairly consistent clinical syndrome developed, but the factor of myocardial insufficiency deserves as much consideration as actual constriction by the pericardium. The s...

Post-cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is an inflammatory process involving pleura and pericardium secondary to cardiac injury. Even though this clinical entity has been recognised for decades, diagnosis is difficult because of lack of a diagnostic test. Antimyocardial antibody titre in pleural fluid and serum has been proposed to have diagnostic value. However there are inherent difficulties in m...

Introduction: In this paper, our objective was to compare the decellularized and conventional pericardium mechanical resistance and also its capability of inducing inflammatory response in an animal experimental model. Methods: In order to study these properties, we divided the pericardia into two groups: Group I pericardium conventionally treated with GTA and Group II – pericardium previously ...

A two-year-old girl with fever, diarrhea and vomiting was presented to the Emergency Department (ED). maculopapular rash on face, cervical lymphadenopathy 1st degree dehydration were being noted. Laboratory results showed leukocytosis, neutrophilia a high level of C-reactive protein (CRP). Amoxicillin prescribed, but patient’s state did not improve. She returned ED all over her body 2nd dehydra...

Glutaraldehyde fixed patch grafts of bovine pericardium were implanted in myocardial windows in young (3-4 months old) sheep. The samples were retrieved after one to three weeks for study with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDX). A layer of porous material (pseudoneointima, PNI), consisting mostly of a dense mesh of fibers interspersed with blood c...

Normal pericardium consists of an outer sac called fibrous pericardium and an inner one called serous pericardium. The two layers of serous pericardium: visceral and parietal are separated by the pericardial cavity, which contains 20 to 60 mL of the plasma ultrafiltrate. The pericardium acts as mechanical protection for the heart and big vessels, and a lubrication to reduce friction between the...

BACKGROUND Right ventricular (RV) dilatation that occurs as a consequence of RV infarction is thought to produce hemodynamic instability by reducing left ventricular (LV) preload and compliance. We hypothesized that these geometric changes may also adversely affect LV systolic performance. METHODS AND RESULTS Twelve 40-kg pigs were studied. Integrated conductance catheters and micromanometers...