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Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences... Dec 2004The purpose of this article is to review the characteristics of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pericardium and pericardial... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this article is to review the characteristics of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pericardium and pericardial diseases. Because patients with pericardial diseases usually present with nonspecific symptoms, these diseases may not be detected until they have reached an advanced stage. It is therefore important to distinguish between normal pericardial structure and disease. Multiplanar reconstruction images of CT and MRI are useful for evaluating faint changes of the pericardium. The specific pericardial diseases described in this article include pericardial cyst, constrictive pericarditis, pericarditis with radiation pericarditis, postoperative pericardial hematoma, and cardiac tamponade due to a paracardiac mass (lymphoma).
Topics: Heart Diseases; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pericardium; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 16093632
DOI: 10.2463/mrms.3.145 -
Pneumologie (Stuttgart, Germany) Oct 2019
Topics: Drainage; Humans; Pericardiocentesis; Pericardium; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Punctures
PubMed: 31622998
DOI: 10.1055/a-0863-8903 -
PloS One 2013The pericardial tissue is commonly used to produce bio-prosthetic cardiac valves and patches in cardiac surgery. The procedures adopted to prepare this tissue consist in...
BACKGROUND
The pericardial tissue is commonly used to produce bio-prosthetic cardiac valves and patches in cardiac surgery. The procedures adopted to prepare this tissue consist in treatment with aldehydes, which do not prevent post-graft tissue calcification due to incomplete xeno-antigens removal. The adoption of fixative-free decellularization protocols has been therefore suggested to overcome this limitation. Although promising, the decellularized pericardium has not yet used in clinics, due to the absence of proofs indicating that the decellularization and cryopreservation procedures can effectively preserve the mechanical properties and the immunologic compatibility of the tissue.
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
The aim of the present work was to validate a procedure to prepare decellularized/cryopreserved human pericardium which may be implemented into cardiovascular homograft tissue Banks. The method employed to decellularize the tissue completely removed the cells without affecting ECM structure; furthermore, uniaxial tensile loading tests revealed an equivalent resistance of the decellularized tissue to strain, before and after the cryopreservation, in comparison with the fresh tissue. Finally, immunological compatibility, showed a minimized host immune cells invasion and low levels of systemic inflammation, as assessed by tissue transplantation into immune-competent mice.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate, for the first time, that fixative-free decellularized pericardium from cadaveric tissue donors can be banked according to Tissue Repository-approved procedures without compromising its mechanical properties and immunological tolerance. This tissue can be therefore treated as a safe homograft for cardiac surgery.
Topics: Animals; Compliance; Cryopreservation; Fixatives; Humans; Immunocompetence; Implants, Experimental; Materials Testing; Mice; Pericardium; Stress, Mechanical; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 23705010
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064769 -
Proceedings. Biological Sciences Dec 2015The hearts of lower vertebrates such as fish and salamanders display scarless regeneration following injury, although this feature is lost in adult mammals. The... (Review)
Review
The hearts of lower vertebrates such as fish and salamanders display scarless regeneration following injury, although this feature is lost in adult mammals. The remarkable capacity of the neonatal mammalian heart to regenerate suggests that the underlying machinery required for the regenerative process is evolutionarily retained. Recent studies highlight the epicardial covering of the heart as an important source of the signalling factors required for the repair process. The developing epicardium is also a major source of cardiac fibroblasts, smooth muscle, endothelial cells and stem cells. Here, we examine animal models that are capable of scarless regeneration, the role of the epicardium as a source of cells, signalling mechanisms implicated in the regenerative process and how these mechanisms influence cardiomyocyte proliferation. We also discuss recent advances in cardiac stem cell research and potential therapeutic targets arising from these studies.
Topics: Animals; Cell Proliferation; Models, Biological; Myocytes, Cardiac; Pericardium; Regeneration; Signal Transduction; Stem Cell Transplantation; Stem Cells
PubMed: 26702046
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2147 -
Circulation Research Jan 2020The heart is lined by a single layer of mesothelial cells called the epicardium that provides important cellular contributions for embryonic heart formation. The... (Review)
Review
The heart is lined by a single layer of mesothelial cells called the epicardium that provides important cellular contributions for embryonic heart formation. The epicardium harbors a population of progenitor cells that undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition displaying characteristic conversion of planar epithelial cells into multipolar and invasive mesenchymal cells before differentiating into nonmyocyte cardiac lineages, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts. The epicardium is also a source of paracrine cues that are essential for fetal cardiac growth, coronary vessel patterning, and regenerative heart repair. Although the epicardium becomes dormant after birth, cardiac injury reactivates developmental gene programs that stimulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; however, it is not clear how the epicardium contributes to disease progression or repair in the adult. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanisms that control epicardium-derived progenitor cell migration, and the functional contributions of the epicardium to heart formation and cardiomyopathy. Future perspectives will be presented to highlight emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at harnessing the regenerative potential of the fetal epicardium for cardiac repair.
Topics: Animals; Heart Diseases; Humans; Myocardium; Paracrine Communication; Pericardium; Regeneration
PubMed: 31999538
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.315857 -
JACC. Heart Failure Jul 2019The elastic pericardium exerts a compressive contact force on the surface of the myocardium that becomes more substantial when heart volume increases, as in patients... (Review)
Review
The elastic pericardium exerts a compressive contact force on the surface of the myocardium that becomes more substantial when heart volume increases, as in patients with various forms of heart failure (HF). Pericardial restraint plays an important role in determining hemodynamics and ventricular function in both health and disease. This review discusses the physiology of pericardial restraint in HF and explores the question of whether it can be targeted indirectly through medical interventions or directly through a number of existing and future therapies.
Topics: Atrial Pressure; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; Diuretics; Heart Failure; Hemodynamics; Humans; Pericardiectomy; Pericardium; Stroke Volume; Vasodilator Agents; Ventricular Pressure; Ventricular Remodeling
PubMed: 31248569
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchf.2019.03.021 -
Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal Apr 2013
Topics: Adult; Drug Administration Schedule; Echocardiography, Doppler; Female; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multimodal Imaging; Pericarditis, Constrictive; Pericardium; Prednisone; Remission Induction; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 23805352
DOI: 10.14797/mdcj-9-2-118 -
Circulation Research Sep 2014
Topics: Animals; Cell Lineage; Cell Proliferation; Fibroblasts; Pericardium
PubMed: 25214570
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.304854 -
Acta Cardiologica Jun 2023Pericardial agenesis is a rarely seen congenital defect characterised by the partial or, more rarely complete, absence of the pericardium. Most often asymptomatic, it is...
Pericardial agenesis is a rarely seen congenital defect characterised by the partial or, more rarely complete, absence of the pericardium. Most often asymptomatic, it is usually incidentally discovered following the demonstration of heart's laevorotation on imaging, in the operating room or at autopsy. In this article, we report the case of an 80-year-old patient with asymptomatic complete pericardial agenesis fortuitous discovered. Pericardial agenesis observations are extremely uncommon reported in the literature, which substantiate its original epidemiological character. In addition, this observation brings some clinical, electrical as well as iconographic elements to better understand the pathology and raises clinical suspicions. Finally, this case report confirms the exceptionally symptomatic nature of the pathology, illustrating the irrelevance of treatment or specific follow-up.
Topics: Humans; Aged, 80 and over; Pericardium; Freedom
PubMed: 34670482
DOI: 10.1080/00015385.2021.1991666 -
Canadian Association of Radiologists... Feb 2009Constrictive pericarditis is caused by adhesions between the visceral and parietal layers of the pericardium and progressive pericardial fibrosis that restricts... (Review)
Review
Constrictive pericarditis is caused by adhesions between the visceral and parietal layers of the pericardium and progressive pericardial fibrosis that restricts diastolic filling of the heart. Later on, the thickened pericardium may calcify. Despite a better understanding of the pathophysiologic basis of the imaging findings in constrictive pericarditis and the recent advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, which has dramatically improved the visualization of the pericardium, the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis remains a challenge in many cases. In patients with clinical suspicion of underlying constrictive pericarditis, the most important radiologic diagnostic feature is abnormal pericardial thickening, which can be shown readily by computed tomography (CT) and especially by MRI, and is highly suggestive of constrictive pericarditis. Nevertheless, a thickened pericardium does not always indicate constrictive pericarditis. Furthermore, constrictive pericarditis can occur without pericardial thickening.
Topics: Cardiac Catheterization; Diagnosis, Differential; Echocardiography, Doppler; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pericarditis, Constrictive; Pericardium; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 19433028
DOI: 10.1016/j.carj.2009.02.034