• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2014

Thymosin beta4 (TB4) has multiple functions in cellular response in processes as diverse as embryonic organ development and the pathogeneses of disease, especially those associated with cardiac coronary vessels. However, the specific roles played by TB4 during heart valve development in vertebrates are largely unknown. Here, we identified a novel function of TB4 in endothelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in cardiac valve endocardial cushions in zebrafish. The expressions of thymosin family members in developing zebrafish embryos were determined by whole mount in situ hybridization. Of the thymosin family members only zTB4 was expressed in the developing heart region. Cardiac valve development at 48 h post fertilization was defected in zebrafish TB4 (zTB4) morpholino-injected embryos (morphants). In zTB4 morphants, abnormal linear heart tube development was observed. The expressions of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4, notch1b, and hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS) 2 genes were also markedly reduced in atrio-ventricular canal (AVC). Endocardial cells in the AVC region were stained with anti-Zn5 antibody reactive against Dm-grasp (an EMT marker) to observe EMT in developing cardiac valves in zTB4 morphants. EMT marker expression in valve endothelial cells was confirmed after transfection with TB4 siRNA in the presence of transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ ($TGF{\beta}$) by RT-PCR and immunofluorescent assay. Zn5-positive endocardial AVC cells were not observed in zTB4 morphants, and knockdown of TB4 suppressed TGF-${\beta}$-induced EMT in ovine valve endothelial cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TB4 plays a pivotal role in cardiac valve formation by increasing EMT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.229-232
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• 1980

Approximately 5 percent of infective endocarditis are limited to the right side of the heart, the tricuspid valve being the usual site of involvement. Usually there is no underlying cardiac disease, and the vegetations occur on previously normal tricuspid leaflets. This paper reports a case of bacterial endocarditis involving the bio-tricuspid valve in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot, and who required prosthetic valve replacement in addition to surgical therapy for the congenital lesions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2023

Aortic valve stenosis is a heart valve disease caused by the accumulation of calcium in the valve, which can divide into tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) stenosis and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis depending on the shape of natural valve. In this study, pig heart-based TAV and BAV ex vivo models were fabricated, and the flow characteristics behind a valve were analyzed using 4D flow MRI. Flow behind normal TAV was uniformly distributed, while BAV asymmetrically opened with an eccentric strong jet. Especially, BAV ex vivo model exhibited a secondary flow in the region where the valve closed. In addition, BAV had a 26% higher peak velocity while maintaining similar stroke volume compared with normal TAV. This study would be helpful for understanding the flow characteristics for BAV AS patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 1979

A 23-year-old male patient complained dyspnea on exertion and orthopnea since December 1977. On examination, he was tall and slender. There was grade IV/VI to-and-fro murmur on the left sternal border especially on Erb`s point. The liver was descended 2 fingers breadth below right costal margin. There were no signs of Marfan`s syndrome. Echocardiography demonstrated partial closure of aortic valve and dilated aortic root with enlargement of ascending aorta. Left heart cardiac catheterization revealed moderately elevated pulmonary wedge pressure and right ventricular pressure. The left ventricular end diastolic pressure was markedly elevated to 26 mmHg. On aortography, the aortic regurgitation was severe and it was belonged to angiographically Grade IV. The aortic valve was replaced with Carpentier-Edwards valve without excision and replacement of ascending aorta, under the impression of rheumatic valvular heart disease. After closure of aortotomy, blood pressure was transiently elevated and bleeding from the site of inserting air vent needle of ascending aorta was developed. The bleeding was not controlled by any means. On postmortem microscopic study, the histologic changes were strikingly limited to the ascending aorta from the region of the aortic valve ring.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.370-376
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• 1990

From April, 1981, through March, 1989, 30 patients had received valve replacements and 1 patient had received foreign body removal for infective endocarditis at Seoul National University Hospital. There were 22 male and 9 female patients, ranged in age from 22 to 59 [mean 34.9] years. Twenty-three had native valve endocarditis, 7 had prosthetic valve endocarditis and 1 had infected transvenous permanent pacemaker electrode in right heart. Twenty-four required operation during active phase of disease and 7 during inactive phase. The infecting organism was Streptococcus in 10 patients, Staphylococcus in 5 patients, both Staphylococcus and Streptococcus in 1 patient, E. coli in 2 patients, and Candida in 1 patient. Indications for Surgery were congestive heart failure in 20, systemic emboli in 5, combination of both in 3, congestive heart failure with uncontrolled sepsis in 2, and complete heart block in 1 patient. Hospital mortality was 9.7% [3/31], and all were the patients who received emergency operation. There were 2 late mortality [7.7 %] due to acute myocardial infarction and recurrent endocarditis. This report suggests that the surgical treatment can be achieved with acceptable low mortality and morbidity in medically intractable congestive heart failure, emboli and sepsis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.403-407
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• 1981

Thirty-five cases of heart disease were operated on with cardiopulmonary bypass between November, 1980 and September, 1981. 1. There were 8 cases of congenital anomaly and 17 cases of acquired heart diseases. 2. There were 7 male and ] 8 female patients, with a mean age of 21 .9 years [range 7 to 42 years]. 3. There were 2 cases of valve replacement cases with operative mortality of 8.3%. 4. Operative mortality for congenital anomaly was ~ 6.7% and 5.9% for acquired heart diseases. 5. Over all operative mortality was 11.4%.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.346-354
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• 1995

Records of 71 consecutive patients who had received multiple valve replacement were reviewed[34male,37female,mean age 40.5$\pm$11.2 <14-63> . The early death rate was 2.8%[2/71 . A completed follow-up rate of 95.7% was accomplished in these 69 patients who left hospital[mean 42.5 $\pm$29.5 patients-years . Five of these patients died. The late death rate was 7.2%. Four patients experienced anticoagulant-related hemorrhage[all were minor . One patient had a thromboembolic episode[permanent ,and 2 had late prosthetic valve endocarditis. There was no clinical evidence of hemolysis and structural failure of valves used. Of those patients who survived,NYHA functional class improved significantly[from 87.2% class III & IV before to 95.8% class I & II after . Linearized rates for thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage,and for prosthetic valve endocarditis were 0.67%/100 patient-years,2.95%/100 patient-years,1.34%/100 patient-years, respectively. The actuarial estimates of incidence free of all complications and valve-related deaths were 92.2%/patient-years.Despites the advanced heart disease involving two or more native valves, the patients who had multiple valve replacement had very good results, over a 9-year period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.624-627
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• 1994

Congenital coronary arteriovenous fistula is a rare cardiac defect that causes coronary arterial flow to drain into the right cardiac chambers, the pulmonary artery, the coronary sinus, or the left cardiac chambers. The most frequently involved vessel is the right coronary artery. We experienced a case that had a coronary arteriovenous fistula associated with valvular heart disease. With the cardiopulmonary bypass done under hypothermia, mitral valve replacement was accomplished and the fistulas of both proximal and distal portions of the right coronary artery were closed with 3-0 prolene. Postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.680-685
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• 2001

Background: Tricuspid valve replacement is very rarely performed procedure and its long-term result is not yet satisfactory. Moreover, it is not well known whether bioprosthesis or mechanical prosthesis is the best selection for artificial valve. We reviewed 72 cases of tricuspid valve replacements in 71 patients between January 1989 and December 1998, trying to analyze the overall results and risk factors for mortality and morbidity. Material and Method: Average age of the patients at the time of operation was 42$\pm$13 years(range 16 to 65 years) and the sex ratio of male versus female was 32/39. Primary diagnosis consisted of 50 cases of aquired valvular heart disease and 18 cases of congenital heart disease, such as Ebstein’s anomaly. 4 cases had isolated tricuspid valve regurgitation. Implanted valves were 69 mechanical prosthesis and 3 bioprosthesis. Concomitant mitral or aortic valve replacements were performed in 50 cases. One patient received concomittant pulmonary valve replacement. Result: There were 7(9.72%) operative deaths and 7(13.0%) late deaths. Actuarial survival at 10 years was 59.2$\pm$7.2%. Prosthetic tricuspid valve thrombosis occurred 11 times in 5 patients. Reoperation for prosthetic tricuspid valve failure was performed in 1 patient. In this case, examination of the explanted prostheses showed that the tricuspid stenosis was the result of valve thrombosis. Among the 47 survivors, 46 patients(98%) were in functional class I or II. Conclusion: In our ten-year experience of tricuspid valve replacement, mortality and morbidity were satisfactory. Mechanical prosthesis in tricuspid position showed comparable clinical results as bioprosthesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.158-161
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• 1990

A congenital coronary artery fistula is an uncommon anomaly which has a direct communication between a coronary artery and the lumen of any one of the four cardiac chambers, or the coronary sinus, or its tributary veins or the superior vena cava. The right coronary artery is involved most frequently, and the abnormal communication in most often is to the right ventricle followed in incidence by drainage into the right atrium and the pulmonary artery. Recently. we experienced a case of congenital coronary artery fistula associated with valvular heart disease. The fistulous communication was noted between the left circumflex artery and the left atrial appendage. Under the cardiopulmonary bypass, the internal obliteration of the left atrial appendage, mitral valve replacement, and aortic valve exploration were accomplished. Postoperative hospital course was uneventful and the patient was discharged without any problems.