Secondary lymphatic valves are essential for minimizing backflow of lymph and are presumed to gate passively according to the instantaneous trans-valve pressure gradient. We hypothesized that valve gating is also modulated by vessel distention, which could alter leaflet stiffness and coaptation. To test this hypothesis, we devised protocols to measure the small pressure gradients required to op...

This paper presents the modeling and control of a prototype compact free liquid-piston engine compressor. The dynamic model includes 1) the injection dynamics of the air/fuel mixture, 2) the dynamics of heat release during combustion, 3) the inertial dynamics of the magnetically latched combustion valve, 4) the mass flow dynamics of the combustion and exhaust valves, 5) the inertial dynamics of...

Relief of right ventricular (RV) outflow tract obstruction in tetralogy of Fallot or similar physiology often results in pulmonary regurgitation (PR). The resultant chronic volume overload can lead to RV dilatation, biventricular dysfunction, heart failure symptoms, arrhythmias and sudden death. Although pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) can lead to improvement in the functional class and a sub...

Cardiac injury after blunt trauma is common but underreported. Common cardiac trauma after the blunt chest injury (BCI) is cardiac contusion; it is very rare to have cardiac valve injury. The mitral valve injury during chest trauma occurs when extreme pressure is applied at early systole during the isovolumic contraction between the closure of the mitral valve and the opening of the aortic valv...

One hundred patients who underwent heart valve replacement during the years 1977 to 1985 were reviewed an average of 57 months after surgery. The overall rate of reemployment after the operation was 78%. The most important factors influencing the return to work were the employment status before surgery, age at the time of surgery, the number and site of the diseased valve, the preoperative New ...

An echocardiographic study was carried out on 23 young diabetics, 19 of whom had retinopathy. Their diastolic function was analysed by comparing the timing and pattern of mitral valve opening with the pattern of left ventricular wall movement. Only six patients had all their values within the normal range. Fourteen patients had abnormalities similar to those seen in patients with cardiomyopathy...

The association of a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with abnormalities of the proximal thoracic aorta, including dilatation, aneurysm and dissection, has been previously described, leading to the hypothesis of a common underlying developmental defect involving the aortic valve and the aortic wall. Consequently, any patient with BAV should receive a careful assessment not only of the valve function...