Shiyue Zhang¹, Xue Song^1,2, Jingying Wang^1,*, Wen Huang^3,*, Yue Zhou⁴, Mingrui Li¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.20, No.2, pp. 81-94, 2023, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2023.044445

Abstract Pulmonary embolism (PE), caused by deep venous thrombosis (DVT), is a disease with high morbidity and mortality. Implantation of inferior vena cava filters is an important method for the clinical prevention of PE. The hemodynamic characteristics of filters implanted in the inferior vena cava (IVC) have a significant impact on their performance. However, IVC diameters vary among patients. This may have a direct impact on the hemodynamic properties of the filter. At present, there is no research on this kind of problem to be investigated. In this paper, the hemodynamic properties of the VenaTech convertible filter were simulated in three… More > Graphic Abstract

Eleni P. Asimacopoulos^*, Steven J. Staffa, Peter C. Laussen, Kirsten C. Odegard

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.5, pp. 579-590, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.020334

Abstract Background: Thromboembolic events are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the Fontan population. We previously reported on coagulation profile changes in a cohort of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) from Stage I through Fontan completion. In this report, we examine their clinical status, anticoagulation and incidence of thromboembolic events up to 20 years post Fontan. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for twenty (20) surviving patients, from 1998 through December 2020. Patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation (OTx) were followed until their transplant. Patients who were found in the original study to have a factor… More >

Pornrawee Plearntummakun¹, Chodchanok Vijarnsorn^1,*, Kritvikrom Durongpisitkul¹, Prakul Chanthong¹, Paweena Chungsomprasong¹, Supaluck Kanjanauthai¹, Thita Pacharapakornpong¹, Jarupim Soongswang¹, Thaworn Subtaweesin²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.4, pp. 463-478, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.021545

Abstract Background: Congenital coronary artery fistula (CCAF) is a rare anomaly. Treatment strategies tend to close the defect with a symptomatic and significant shunt, primarily based on expert consensus and case series. Results for long-term follow-up in children are limited Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to assess clinical and imaging outcomes of children with CCAF at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand during 2000–2020. Patients with single ventricle were excluded. Treatment strategies [surgical closure (SC), and percutaneous closure (PC)] were classified and the clinical outcomes at the follow-up in 2021, including coronary thrombosis, myocardial ischemia, and the results of cardiovascular imaging were reviewed.… More > Graphic Abstract

Yunduo Charles Zhao^1,2,#, Parham Vatankhah^1,#, Tiffany Goh^1,2,3, Jiaqiu Wang⁴, Xuanyi Valeria Chen¹, Moein Navvab Kashani^5,6, Keke Zheng⁷, Zhiyong Li⁴, Lining Arnold Ju^1,2,3,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 1-10, 2021, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2021.012598

Abstract Platelet aggregation plays a central role in pathological thrombosis, preventing healthy physiological blood flow within the circulatory system. For decades, it was believed that platelet aggregation was primarily driven by soluble agonists such as thrombin, adenosine diphosphate and thromboxane A2. However, recent experimental findings have unveiled an intriguing but complementary biomechanical mechanism—the shear rate gradients generated from flow disturbance occurring at sites of blood vessel narrowing, otherwise known as stenosis, may rapidly trigger platelet recruitment and subsequent aggregation. In our Nature Materials 2019 paper [1], we employed microfluidic devices which incorporated micro-scale stenoses to elucidate the molecular insights underlying the… More >

Zhenxin Zhao^1,#, Tong Chen^2,#, Xudong Liu³, Shengzhang Wang^2,4,*, Haiyan Lu^5,*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.125, No.3, pp. 1173-1184, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2020.013702

Abstract In order to improve the surgical treatment of the congenital heart disease patient with single ventricle defect, two axial flow blood pumps, one with diffuser and the other without diffuser, were designed and virtually implanted into an idealized total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) model to form two types of Pump-TCPC physiological structure. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to analyze the variations of the hemodynamic characteristics, such as flow field, wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), between the two Pump-TCPC models. Numerical results indicate that the Pump-TCPC with diffuser has better flow field stability,… More >

Jane W. Newburger

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 641-643, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12502

Abstract Medical therapies in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are administered to reduce the prevalence of coronary aneurysms, reduce systemic inflammation, and prevent coronary thrombosis. All patients with acute KD should be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 2 g/kg, generally administered over 10–12 hours. Aspirin has never been shown to prevent aneurysms, but is given for its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects until the patient has been afebrile for 2 days, then lowered to an antiplatelet dose. Adjunctive therapy with a longer course of corticosteroids, together with IVIG and aspirin, may be considered for primary treatment in patients at high risk for… More >

Delaram Molkara, Jose A. Silva Sepulveda, Thomas Do, Christopher Davis, Gregory P. Goldstein, John W. Moore, Howaida G El-Said

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.3, pp. 270-274, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12432

Abstract Objective: Neonatal coronary thrombosis is a rarely reported disorder, with variable outcomes described. This study assessed the feasibility and safety of an institutional protocol using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration for the treatment of neonatal coronary artery thrombi.
Methods: They reviewed the outcome of three neonates with clinical evidence of myocardial infarction secondary to coronary thrombosis. All three underwent the tPA treatment protocol.
Results: The three described cases presented at 5 hours, 15 hours, and 10 days of life. The patients identified underwent the tPA protocol at least once. There was clinical evidence of improvement in coronary flow, as well… More >

Juan Lizandro Rodríguez‐Hernández¹, Fayna Rodríguez‐González², Marta Riaño‐Ruiz³, Efrén Martínez‐Quintana^1,4

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 655-662, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12620

Abstract Introduction: Hyperuricemia has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors but it remains controversial if uric acid is an independent predictor of cardiac mortality.
Methods: A total of 503 CHD patients (457 nonhypoxemic and 46 hypoxemic) and 772 control patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. Demographic, clinical, and analytical data [serum uric acid and 24h urine uric acid levels, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐pro‐BNP), and C‐reactive‐protein (CRP) concentrations] were studied. Survivals curves to determine cardiac death and arterial thrombosis in CHD patients were also examined.
Results: Noncyanotic and cyanotic CHD patients had significant higher serum uric acid concentration (5.2 ± 1.5 vs 4.9 ± 1.3mg/dL, P = .007 and… More >

Justin Georgekutty¹, Amir Kazerouninia², YunFei Wang³, Peter R. Ermis⁴, Dhaval R. Parekh⁴, Wayne J. Franklin⁴, Wilson W. Lam⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 541-547, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12603

Abstract Objective: Adult Fontan patients are at increased risk for thrombosis and thromboembolic complications leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Most are prescribed antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy for thromboprophylaxis; novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are uncommonly used given lack of data on their use in this population and generalized concerns regarding Fontan patients’ abnormal coagulation. We report the largest single-center experience with the use of NOACs for treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis and thromboembolism in adult Fontan patients.
Results: A retrospective chart review identified 21 patients (11 female, 10 male), median age 33 years (18-50) at first initiation, who were prescribed a… More >

Lining Arnold Ju^{1,2,3,4,6,†,*}, James McFadyen^4,†, Saheb Al-Daher^4,†, Imala Alwis^1,2,3,4, Yunfeng Chen^6,7,8, Mark E. Cooper⁹, Cheng Zhu^1,2,3,5,6,7, Shaun P. Jackson^1,2,3,4,8

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 96-96, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.06979

Abstract Thrombotic diseases where platelets form clots and obstruct blood vessels remains the leading cause of death and disability in the world. Despite intense investigation over the last 40 years into the discovery and development of more effective drugs, less than 1 in 6 patients taking anti-thrombotic therapies avoid a fatal event. This situation is likely to worsen in younger generations due to the rapidly growing incidence of diabetes, which makes people more prone to thrombosis and resistant to existing anti-thrombotics with unknown reasons.
To investigate this, I have developed the ‘Biomembrane Force Probe’ as the first-of-its-kind. This nanotool represents… More >