It is recognized that diaphragm muscle plasticity occurs with mechanical overloads, yet less is known about synergistic parasternal intercostal muscle fiber remodeling. We conducted overload training with intrinsic transient tracheal occlusion (ITTO) exercises in conscious animals. We hypothesized that ITTO would yield significant fiber hypertrophy and myogenic activation that would parallel di...

INTRODUCTION It is well documented that older age, chronic concomitant diseases (such as diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive lung disease, etc.), and poor left ventricular function can increase the postoperative complication rate and worsen the general outcomes of coronary artery bypass (CABG) and concomitant repair of ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR). MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective ...

background: the process of wound healing involves integrated events including inflammation, granulation tissue formation, matrix deposition and remodeling. growth factors play a key role in the process. among them transforming growth factor-ß1 (tgf-ß1) is known to accelerate tissue repair by promoting the synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. however, persistence or overact...

To determine whether immunostimulatory sequences of DNA (ISS) can reverse established airway remodeling, mice that had developed airway remodeling following 3 mo of repetitive OVA challenges, were treated with ISS for 1-3 mo. Systemic administration of ISS to mice that had already developed established airway remodeling significantly reduced the degree of airway collagen deposition (assessed by...

Biocompatibility of two newly developed porcine skin scaffolds was assessed after 3, 14, 21 and 90 days of implantation in rats. Both scaffolds showed absence of cells, preservation of ECM and mechanical properties comparable to non-decellularised skin before implantation. Host cell infiltration was much prominent on both scaffolds when compared to Permacol (surgical control). At day 3, the gra...

Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Patterns and Implications of Intracranial Arterial Remodeling in Stroke Patients” We appreciate the opportunity to respond to comments by Gutierrez and Elkind about our recent article. We think that they misunderstood our imaging-based methodology and would like to offer reasons that might explain their discrepant results. The authors assert that plaque bu...

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are associated with increased morbidity mortality. OSA AF share multiple risk factors, including hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, congestive heart failure, metabolic syndrome. Although the two conditions likely to have a bidirectional association, recent studies suggested that contributes development of through direct mechanical ...

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine whether wall stress at rest and during stress could explain the influence of left ventricular (LV) morphology on the accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). BACKGROUND The sensitivity of DSE appears to be reduced in patients with concentric remodeling, but the cause of this finding is unclear. METHODS We studied 161 patients wi...

BACKGROUND The matrix-degrading activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), required for cell migration and general tissue reshaping, is thought essential for pathological arterial remodeling in atherosclerosis and restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS We triggered remodeling of the carotid artery in C57BL/6 mice by blood flow cessation to study the relationship with gelatinases MMP-9 and MMP-2. ...