Aortic valve reconstruction surgery using autologous pericardium: The experience in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the indications and describe the aortic valve reconstruction techniques by Ozaki's procedure in Vietnam and report mid-term outcomes of this technique in Vietnam. METHODS: Between June 2017 and December 2019, 72 patients diagnosed with isolated aortic valve disease, with a mean age of 52.9 (19-79 years old), and a male:female ratio of 3:1 underwent aortic valve reconstruction surgery by Ozaki's technique at Cardiovascular Center, E Hospital, Vietnam. RESULTS: The aortic valve diseases consisted of aortic stenosis (42%), aortic regurgitation (28%), and a combination of both (30%). In addition, the proportion of aortic valves with bicuspid morphology and small annulus (≤21 mm) was 28% and 38.9%, respectively. The mean aortic cross-clamp time was 106 ± 13.8 min, mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 136.7 ± 18.5 min, and 2.8% of all patients required conversion to prosthetic valve replacement surgery. The mean follow-up time was 26.4 months (12-42 months), the survival rate was 95.8%, the reoperation rate was 2.8%, and rate of postoperative moderate or higher aortic valve regurgitation was 4.2%. Postoperative valvular hemodynamics was favorable, with a peak pressure gradient of 16.1 mmHg and an effective orifice area index of 2.3 cm2 . CONCLUSIONS: This procedure was safe and effective, with favorable valvular hemodynamics and a low rate of valvular degeneration. However, more long-term follow-up data are needed.

Development of multitarget inhibitors for the treatment of pain: Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling studies.

Multitarget-directed ligands are a promising class of drugs for discovering innovative new therapies for difficult to treat diseases. In this study, we designed dual inhibitors targeting the human fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme and human soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme. Targeting both of these enzymes concurrently with single target inhibitors synergistically reduces inflammatory and neuropathic pain; thus, dual FAAH/sEH inhibitors are likely to be powerful analgesics. Here, we identified the piperidinyl-sulfonamide moiety as a common pharmacophore and optimized several inhibitors to have excellent inhibition profiles on both targeted enzymes simultaneously. In addition, several inhibitors show good predicted pharmacokinetic properties. These results suggest that this series of inhibitors has the potential to be further developed as new lead candidates and therapeutics in pain management.

Analysis of class I and II aberrations in Iraqi childhood acute myeloid leukemia using filter paper cards.

The lack of molecular diagnosis in the field of cancer in Iraq has motivated us to perform a genetic analysis of pediatric acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), including class I and II aberrations. Peripheral blood or bone marrow cells were collected from 134 AML children aged ≤15 years. Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) filter paper cards were used to transfer dried blood samples from five Iraqi hospitals to Japan. DNA sequencing was performed to identify class I mutations. Nested RT-PCR was used to detect class II aberrations, except that MLL rearrangement was detected according to long distance inverse-PCR. NPM1 and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) mutations were analyzed by GeneScan using DNA template. Among 134 Iraqi pediatric AML samples, the most prevalent FAB subtype was M2 (33.6 %) followed by M3 (17.9 %). Class I mutations: 20 (14.9 %), 8 (6.0 %), and 8 (6.0 %) patients had FLT3-ITD, FLT3-TKD, and KIT mutations, respectively. Class II mutations: 24 (17.9 %), 19 (14.2 %), and 9 (6.7 %) children had PML-RARA, RUNX1-RUNX1T1, and CBFB-MYH11 transcripts, respectively. MLL rearrangements were detected in 25 (18.7 %) patients. NPM1 mutation was detected in seven (5.2 %) cases. Collectively, approximately 30 % of AML children were proved to carry favorable prognostic genetic abnormalities, whereas approximately 10 % had high FLT3-ITD allelic burden and needed a special treatment plan including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was frequent among Iraqi pediatric AML. It is likely that molecular diagnosis using FTA cards in underdeveloped countries could guide doctors towards an appropriate treatment strategy.

Totally Endoscopic Atrial Septal Defect Repair on Beating Heart: Clinical Outcome and Single-Surgeon Learning Curve Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Hanoi ASD procedure, which is totally endoscopic surgery for atrial septal defect (ASD) repair on beating heart. In addition, the present study also aimed to analyze the learning curve for this procedure. METHODS: From May 2016 to February 2023, 198 consecutive ASD patients weighing ≥20 kg were enrolled in the retrospective study. The Hanoi ASD procedure includes (1) unilateral or bilateral femoral arterial cannulation; (2) two or three 5 mm trocars and a 15 mm port; (3) ASD repair on beating heart, preventing air embolism with CO2 insufflation and keeping the left atrium full of blood; and (4) not snaring the inferior vena cava. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was used to evaluate the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and operation time learning curves. Variables among the learning curve phases were compared. RESULTS: The CPB and operation times were 90 (72 to 115) min and 180 (150 to 220) min, respectively. Total drainage volume was 190 (120 to 290) mL. No endoscopic failure or major complications were complications were excluding factors causing bias, the CUSUMCPBtime analysis for the remaining 131 patients included 3 phases. Phase 1 was the initial learning period (cases 1 to 34), phase 2 represented the technical competence period (cases 35 to 54), and phase 3 was the challenging period (cases 55 to 131). CONCLUSIONS: The Hanoi ASD procedure is safe and feasible for repairing ASD in patients weighing ≥20 kg. According to the learning curve analysis, 34 cases were required to achieve technical efficiency, and 54 cases were required to address highly challenging cases.

Innovative techniques of left atrial exposure in minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

Various atrial retractors have been developed to achieve optimal exposure of mitral valve in minimally invasive surgery. We introduce our technique of only using retraction sutures to expose mitral valve. This method is simple, efficient, and provides good exposure of the left atrium without causing traumatic injury.

Intermediate-Term Outcomes of Totally Endoscopic Atrial Septal Defect Repair on Beating Heart in Small Children.

Objective: Manipulation in a narrow surgical field and risks of femoral arterial (FA) complications are difficulties when applying totally endoscopic surgery (TES) for congenital heart disease in small children. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of TES for atrial septal defect (ASD) repair in children weighing 13 to 20 kg. Methods: From July 2016 to July 2021, 14 patients with a mean age of 5.4 ± 2.2 years and mean weight of 15.57 ± 2.39 kg (range, 13 to 20 kg), underwent TES for ASD repair on the beating heart. FA cannulation was established through a Dacron graft. An additional FA cannula (2 to 4 Fr smaller than the expected size) was placed into the left FA in case of increasing arterial pressure. Three 5 or 5.5 mm trocars and one 12 mm port were used. The surgical field was filled with CO2. No aortic clamp, no aortic root needle, and no snaring of the inferior vena cava were used. The mean follow-up time was 37.9 ± 12.5 months. Results: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) installation time, CPB time, and operation time were 42.6 ± 16.5 min, 113.1 ± 33.1 min, and 209.6 ± 50.6 min, respectively. Total drainage volume was 125.4 ± 89.2 mL. Patients did not need analgesics on day 4 or 5 after surgery. No severe complications, including arterial complications, were recorded during follow-up. Conclusions: By optimizing the surgical field and setting the FA cannula correctly, TES for ASD closure is feasible in small children weighing between 13 and 20 kg.

Totally endoscopic mitral valve repair without robotic assistance: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Totally endoscopic mitral valve repair (TEMVR) is the highest level of minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). It brings many benefits to patients but the downside is that a robotic system is always required. The deployment of robotic surgery is very complicated and expensive. Therefore, we improvised, making it possible to perform TEMVR without the aid of a robotic system. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 66-year-old male patient presented with severe mitral valve regurgitation due to posterior leaflet prolapse. He was treated with TEMVR without robotic assistance. No chest incision was over 1.2 cm. The repair techniques included posterior leaflet resection and annuloplasty with ring implantation. DISCUSSION: A midline sternotomy is still the standard approach for mitral valve repair. In recent years, MICS has gradually replaced conventional surgery with the most advanced strategy being totally robotic mitral valve repair. However, complex surgical techniques and high cost make it less accessible for the majority of patients. Instead of using robot, we improved mitral valve exposure techniques, surgical port placement and therefore were able to perform TEMVR with MICS instruments. CONCLUSION: TEMVR without robotic assistance is a safe, effective and cost-efficient procedure, which can be adopted in most cardiac centers.

Design, microwave-assisted synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling studies of 4-phenylthiazoles as potent fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors.

Endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are endogenous lipids that activate cannabinoid receptors. Activation of these receptors produces anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a membrane enzyme that hydrolases endocannabinoids; thus, inhibition of FAAH represents an attractive approach to develop new therapeutics for treating inflammation and pain. Previously, potent rat FAAH inhibitors containing 2-naphthyl- and 4-phenylthiazole scaffolds were identified, but up to the present time, very little structure-activity relationship studies have been performed on these moieties. We designed and synthesized several analogs containing these structural motifs and evaluated their inhibition potencies against human FAAH enzyme. In addition, we built and validated a homology model of human FAAH enzyme and performed docking experiments. We identified several inhibitors in the low nanomolar range and calculated their ADME predicted values. These FAAH inhibitors represent promising drug candidates for future preclinical in vivo studies.

Right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy without inferior vena cava cannulation for atrial septal defect repair in small children: A feasible technique.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy without inferior vena cava (IVC) cannulation for closing atrial septal defect (ASD) in small children. METHODS: From February 2016 to August 2017, 10 patients (the mean age was 18.5 ±â€¯10.1 months and the mean weight was 8.3 ±â€¯2.1 kg) underwent ASD closure via right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy. The superior vena cava cannula was placed through the right internal jugular vein. A 3-4 cm incision was made on the right chest. The pleural and pericardial cavities were filled with CO2 and the heart was beating during the surgery. Blood returned from IVC was drained by a right heart sucker. All ASDs were closed using artificial patch, continuous suture. Mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 15-22 months). RESULTS: No post-operative complications or deaths occurred. Mean operation time and mean cardiopulmonary bypass time were 140.5 ±â€¯27.8 min and 50.3 ±â€¯16.5 min, respectively. These patients were extubated within the first 6 h. The intensive care unit stay time and the post-operative hospital stay time were 19.6 ±â€¯2.6 h and 7.1 ±â€¯1.2 days, respectively. Follow-up transthoracic echocardiography showed no residual shunts or lung atelectasis. CONCLUSIONS: The right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy without IVC cannulation is feasible for repairing ASD in small children. This technique is effective and safe and can be used as a therapeutic option for ASD.

Totally Endoscopic Surgical Repair of Partial Atrioventricular Septal Defect in Children: Two Cases.

There have been few reports on the application of totally endoscopic surgery for repairing partial atrioventricular septal defect. In this report, we present two children who were successfully repaired partial atrioventricular septal defect by using totally endoscopic surgery without robotic assistance.