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OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a polyphenols-based treatment on the extrinsic mechanisms responsible for early bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) degeneration. Structural degeneration can be driven by both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms. While intrinsic mechanisms have been associated with inherent biocompatibility characteristics of the BHV, the extrinsic ones have been reported to involve external causes, such as chemical, mechanical and hydrodynamic, responsible to facilitate graft damage. METHODS: The chemical interaction and the stability degree between polyphenols and pericardial tissue were carefully evaluated. The detoxification of glutaraldehyde in commercial BHVs models and the protective effect from in vivo calcification were taken into relevant consideration. Finally, the hydrodynamic and biomechanical features of the polyphenols-treated pericardial tissue were deeply investigated by pulse duplicator and stress-strain analysis. RESULTS: The study demonstrated the durability of the polyphenols-based treatment on pericardial tissue and the stability of the bound polyphenols. The treatment improves glutaraldehyde stabilization’s current degree, demonstrating a surprising in vivo anti-calcific effect. It is able to make the pericardial tissue more pliable while maintaining the correct hydrodynamic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The polyphenols treatment has proved to be a promising approach capable of acting simultaneously on several factors related to the premature degeneration of cardiac valve substitutes by extrinsic mechanisms.

Early recognition of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and appropriate management with benzathine penicillin using local clinical prediction rules together with validated rapi-strep testing when available should be incorporated in primary health care. A directed approach to the differential diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever now includes the concept of low-risk versus medium-to-high risk populations. Initiation of secondary prophylaxis and the establishment of early medium to long-term care plans is a key aspect of the management of ARF. It is a requirement to identify high-risk individuals with RHD such as those with heart failure, pregnant women, and those with severe disease and multiple valve involvement. As penicillin is the mainstay of primary and secondary prevention, further research into penicillin supply chains, alternate preparations and modes of delivery is required.

BACKGROUND: There are only a few trials for the very elderly population (>79 years). No consensus, which blood pressure (BP) goals and substances should be applied, has been found yet. This survey was undertaken to investigate how octogenarians are treated and attain BP targets in the Swiss primary care. METHODS: Data from 4594 hypertensive patients were collected within 7 days. Eight hundred and seventy-seven patients met the requirement to be >79 years. We assessed substances/combinations and investigated pulse pressure and target blood pressure attainment (TBPA) using three different recommendations [Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP), Swiss Society of Hypertension (SSH), European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology (ESH-ESC)]. Secondarily, we compared TBPA attained by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/diuretic (D), angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)/D and calcium channel blocker (CCB)/D with any other dual therapy and investigated whether Ds/beta-blockers (BBs) or Ds/renin angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (RAAS-Is) lead to higher TBPA. Finally, we assessed the impact of drug administration, practical work experience, location and specialization of GPs on TBPA. RESULTS: Octogenarians attained target blood pressure (TBP) between 44% (ESH-ESC) and 74% (SSH). Optimal/normal BP was reached in 22.8% of patients. Pulse pressure <65 mmHg was shown in 66.4% of patients. Monotherapy was most commonly applied followed by dual single-pill combination with ARB/D (46.5%) or ACEI/D (36.0%). No benefit in TBPA was found comparing a RAASI/D and CCB/D treatment with any other dual combination. There was also no difference between BB/D and RAAS-I/D combination therapy and between single-pill combination and dual free combinations. CONCLUSIONS: GPs adhere to the use of substances proven in outcome trials and attain high TBP. No difference in meeting BP goals could be found using different drug classes. There is an unmet need to ha

The recommendations of international scientific societies for the treatment of hypertension in the geriatric population are different. Lack of outcome trials, non-standardised terminology as well as differing levels of evidence contribute to the inconsistencies in the guidelines. This review article compares six international guidelines (ESH-ESC 2007/2009, SHG 2009, DHL 2008, CHEP 2010, NICE 2011 and JNC7 2003) as well as the consensus document of the ACCF/AHA 2011 in terms of their recommendations of drug classes, target blood pressure values and the use of combination therapy. Generally, antihypertensive therapy appears to be clinically beneficial in geriatric patients. Target blood pressure values of <140-150/90 mm Hg and <140/90 mm Hg can be used as a general guideline for octogenarians (80-89 yrs) and septuagenarians (70-79 yrs) respectively. While angiotensin-II converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics appear to be advantageous in treating combined systolic-diastolic hypertension, calcium-channel blockers and diuretics are to be recommended in the management of isolated systolic hypertension. Combination therapy often increases the efficacy of the treatment as well as patient medication adherence. Furthermore, by making the most of drug combination synergy, lower doses may be used resulting in fewer side-effects.

Aims A living heart valve with regeneration capacity based on autologous cells and minimally invasive implantation technology would represent a substantial improvement upon contemporary heart valve prostheses. This study investigates the feasibility of injectable, marrow stromal cell-based, autologous, living tissue engineered heart valves (TEHV) generated and implanted in a one-step intervention in non-human primates. Methods and results Trileaflet heart valves were fabricated from non-woven biodegradable synthetic composite scaffolds and integrated into self-expanding nitinol stents. During the same intervention autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells were harvested, seeded onto the scaffold matrix, and implanted transapically as pulmonary valve replacements into non-human primates (n = 6). The transapical implantations were successful in all animals and the overall procedure time from cell harvest to TEHV implantation was 118 ± 17 min. In vivo functionality assessed by echocardiography revealed preserved valvular structures and adequate functionality up to 4 weeks post implantation. Substantial cellular remodelling and in-growth into the scaffold materials resulted in layered, endothelialized tissues as visualized by histology and immunohistochemistry. Biomechanical analysis showed non-linear stress-strain curves of the leaflets, indicating replacement of the initial biodegradable matrix by living tissue. Conclusion Here, we provide a novel concept demonstrating that heart valve tissue engineering based on a minimally invasive technique for both cell harvest and valve delivery as a one-step intervention is feasible in non-human primates. This innovative approach may overcome the limitations of contemporary surgical and interventional bioprosthetic heart valve prostheses.