Aberrant right subclavian artery and calcified aneurysm of Kommerell's diverticulum: an alternative approach.

We report a 72 year-old man with dysphagia and dizziness. Aortography and Computed tomographic scans revealed the aberrant right subclavian artery arising from a calcified aneurysm of the Kommerell's diverticulum and bilateral carotid artery disease with atherosclerotic narrowing. Surgical relief was accomplished by excluding the aneurysm from circulation through the aortic arch and a 10 mm graft was interposed between the aberrant artery and the ascending aorta.

Epicardial adipose tissue expression of adiponectin is lower in patients with hypertension.

Low plasma adiponectin levels are related to a higher risk of development of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension (HT). To date, there have been no studies supporting the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) expression of adiponectin and HT. We collected samples of EAT from 116 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, mostly for coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 54), valve surgery (n = 49) or both (n = 12). Samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were harvested from 85 patients. After RNA isolation, the expression of adiponectin was analysed by real-time retrotranscriptase (RT)-PCR. Baseline clinical data were obtained from medical records. The diagnosis of HT was established mostly by the patients' general physicians following current guidelines. We included 84 hypertensive and 32 non-hypertensive patients. Mean (+/-s.d.) age was 70.3+/-7.9 years. EAT expression levels of adiponectin were lower in hypertensives (14.0+/-3.6 vs 15.3+/-3.6 arbitrary units (a.u.), P = 0.06). This difference was statistically significant (odds ratio (OR) 0.828 per a.u., P = 0.020) after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, coronary artery disease (CAD), total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, SAT adiponectin mRNA levels were similar in hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients (15.3+/-4.2 vs 15.3+/-5.0 a.u., P > 0.99). Adjustment for potential confounding factors hardly altered this result. Our findings indicate that EAT expression of adiponectin may be associated with HT status independently of CAD or other comorbidities, whereas SAT expression does not. These results support the hypothesis that EAT is actively implicated in global cardiovascular risk, describing its association with HT.

Técnica de cultivo de mioblastos autólogos humanos para transplante clínico / Technique of culture of human autologous mioblasts for clinic transplant

Introducción: El trasplante celular para reparar o regenerar el miocardio dañado es un nuevo objetivo en la enfermedad cardiovascular. Los mioblastos esqueléticos autólogos son las células más estudiadas y constituyen la primera elección para la reparación cardíaca. Objetivos: Puesta a punto de la técnica de cardiomioplastia celular en muestras obtenidas de donantes multiorgánicos y llevar a cabo esta técnica junto con la revascularización en dos pacientes. Material y métodos: Se han obtenido 15 biopsias de músculo vasto lateral de donantes multiorgánicos y de dos pacientes con infarto de miocardio no reciente. Después de tres semanas de cultivo, se evaluó en todas las muestras el porcentaje de mioblastos con los anticuerpos CD56, desmin y miogenin. Los dos pacientes fueron sometidos a cirugía de revascularización e inyección intramiocárdica de mioblastos esqueléticos autólogos obtenidos tras cultivo con suero autólogo. Resultados: Se demostró la presencia de un gran número de células positivas con los marcadores desmina y miogenin. El implante de mioblastos esqueléticos autólogos no se asoció con el desarrollo de efectos adversos. Conclusiones: En pacientes con un infarto de miocardio no reciente, el tratamiento con mioblastos en conjunción con bypass arteria coronaria es seguro y fácil y es relativamente fácil obtener mioblastos de tejido muscular para trasplantar (AU)

Introduction: Cellular transplant to repair or regenerate damaged myocardium is a new objective in cardiovascular disease. The autologous skeletal myoblasts are the most studied cells and constitute the first election for cardiac repair. Objectives: fine adjustment of the cellular cardiomyoplasty technique with revascularization in two patients. Material and methods: 15 biopsies were obtained from multiorganic donors and from two patients with no recent infarct. After three weeks of culture, the percentage of myoblasts were evaluated using monoclonal antibodies CD56, desmin and myogenin. The two patients were subjected to revascularization surgery and intramyocardic injection of autologous skeletic myoblasts obtained after culture with autologous serum. Results: The presence of a great number of positive cells with desmin and myogenin markers was shown. The implantation of autologous skeletal myoblasts was not associated with the development of adverse effects. Conclusions: In patients without a recent myocardium infarct, the treatment with myoblasts together with coronary artery bypass is sure and easy and it is straightforward to obtain myoblasts from muscle tissue for transplant (AU)