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Life Sciences Sep 2023Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has morphological and physiological contiguity with the myocardium and coronary arteries, making it a visceral fat deposit with some... (Review)
Review
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has morphological and physiological contiguity with the myocardium and coronary arteries, making it a visceral fat deposit with some unique properties. Under normal circumstances, EAT exhibits biochemical, mechanical, and thermogenic cardioprotective characteristics. Under clinical processes, epicardial fat can directly impact the heart and coronary arteries by secreting proinflammatory cytokines via vasocrine or paracrine mechanisms. It is still not apparent what factors affect this equilibrium. Returning epicardial fat to its physiological purpose may be possible by enhanced local vascularization, weight loss, and focused pharmacological therapies. This review centers on EAT's developing physiological and pathophysiological dimensions and its various and pioneering clinical utilities.
Topics: Pericardium; Adipose Tissue; Myocardium; Cytokines; Coronary Vessels
PubMed: 37414140
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121913 -
Journal of the American College of... Jul 2023
Topics: Humans; Obesity; Adiposity; Adipose Tissue; Pericardium; Atrial Fibrillation; Coronary Artery Disease
PubMed: 37468188
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.05.030 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023
PubMed: 37635960
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1266825 -
Seminars in Ultrasound, CT, and MR Feb 2024Acute pericardial conditions, such as tamponade, are often rapidly progressive and can become life-threatening without timely diagnosis and intervention. In this review,... (Review)
Review
Acute pericardial conditions, such as tamponade, are often rapidly progressive and can become life-threatening without timely diagnosis and intervention. In this review, we aim to describe bedside ultrasonographic evaluation of the pericardium and diagnostic criteria for tamponade, identify confounders in the diagnosis of pericardial tamponade, and delineate procedural details of ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis.
Topics: Humans; Pericardial Effusion; Point-of-Care Systems; Pericardium; Cardiac Tamponade; Echocardiography
PubMed: 38056788
DOI: 10.1053/j.sult.2023.12.009 -
Maedica Dec 2023Myocardial bridges (MB) are congenital anomalies of hearts observed as muscle fibers covering epicardial branches of the coronary artery. The left anterior descending...
Myocardial bridges (MB) are congenital anomalies of hearts observed as muscle fibers covering epicardial branches of the coronary artery. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) was found to be commonly showing myocardial bridges (MBs). Clinically, MBs were claimed to cause varied symptomatology. The data on the morphology and prevalence of MBs in fetuses was limited, despite the commonly accepted congenital origin. Fetal hearts obtained from 37 fetuses from the donation program were used. The hearts were dissected out from the thorax by standard dissection procedure. The pericardium and epicardium were dissected. The coronary arteries were delineated, and MBs were observed and noted. The coronary artery segment having MBs, its distance from the ostium as well as the direction and length of the MBs were studied. The MBs were observed in 20 out of 37 fetal hearts studied over the left anterior descending, right coronary, posterior interventricular and circumflex arteries. The mid or distal part of the coronary arteries frequently exhibited MBs. The mean length of the MB was 4.2 mm, with MBs being situated about 1.5 cm away from the coronary ostium. The oblique pattern of MB was more frequently noted. The morphology and prevalence of fetal MBs showed common occurrence in the LAD artery, with a predominant oblique morphological pattern.
PubMed: 38348086
DOI: 10.26574/maedica.2023.18.4.571 -
Current Problems in Cardiology Oct 2023Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is increasingly being recognized as a determinant of myocardial biology. The EAT-heart crosstalk suggests causal links between... (Review)
Review
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is increasingly being recognized as a determinant of myocardial biology. The EAT-heart crosstalk suggests causal links between dysfunctional EAT and cardiomyocyte impairment. Obesity promotes EAT dysfunction and shifts in secreted adipokines which adversely affect cardiac metabolism, induce cardiomyocyte inflammation, redox imbalance and myocardial fibrosis. Thus, EAT determines cardiac phenotype via effects on cardiac energetics, contractility, diastolic function, and atrial conduction. Vice-versa the EAT is altered in heart failure (HF), and such phenotypic changes can be detected by noninvasive imaging or incorporated in Artificial Intelligence-enhanced tools to aid the diagnosis, subtyping or risk prognostication of HF. In the present article, we summarize the links between EAT and the heart, explaining how the study of epicardial adiposity can improve the understanding of cardiac disease, serve as a source of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and as a potential therapeutic target in HF to improve clinical outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Pericardium; Adipose Tissue; Cardiomyopathies; Heart Failure; Obesity; Phenotype
PubMed: 37244513
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101841 -
Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals May 2024Valvular heart diseases (VHDs) have become prevalent in populations due to aging. Application of different biomaterials for cardiac valve regeneration and repair holds a... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Valvular heart diseases (VHDs) have become prevalent in populations due to aging. Application of different biomaterials for cardiac valve regeneration and repair holds a great promise for treatment of VHD. Aortic valve replacement using tissue-engineered xenografts is a considered approach, and the pericardium of different species such as porcine and bovine has been studied over the last few years. It has been suggested that the animal origin can affect the outcomes of replacement.
METHODS
So, herein, we at first decellularized and characterized the camel pericardium (dCP), then characterized dCP with H&E staining, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility and mechanical tests and compared it with decellularized bovine pericardium (dBP), to describe the potency of dCP as a new xenograft and bio scaffold.
RESULTS
The histological assays indicated less decluttering and extracellular matrix damage in dCP after decellularization compared to the dBP also dCP had higher Young Modulus (105.11), and yield stress (1.57 ± 0.45). We observed more blood vessels and also less inflammatory cells in the dCP sections after implantation.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the dCP has good capabilities not only for use in VHD treatment but also for other applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Topics: Animals; Pericardium; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds; Regenerative Medicine; Camelus; Bioprosthesis; Cattle; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Materials Testing; Aortic Valve; Prosthesis Design; Decellularized Extracellular Matrix; Heterografts; Heart Valve Diseases; Regeneration
PubMed: 38767039
DOI: 10.1177/02184923241255720