In donor heart samples the bis-phosphorylated species of cTnI predominated and no more highly phosphorylated species were not detectable (0P was 10.3 +/- 1.9%, 1P, 17.5 +/- 3.5%, 2P, 72.2 +/- 4.7%, 11 samples). Total phosphorylation was 1.62 +/- 0.06 molsPi/mol TnI. In myofibrils from end-stage failing hearts, the unphosphorylated cTnI species predominated (0P was 78.5 +/- 1.8%, 1P, 17.5 +/- 1.9%, 2P, 4.0 +/- 0.7%, total phosphorylation 0.26 +/- 0.02 molsPi/mol TnI, five samples). Muscle from patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy was also largely unphosphorylated (0P was 76.6 +/- 3.1%, 1P, 17.5 +/- 2.7%, 2P, 5.9 +/- 0.8%, total
phosphorylation 0.29 +/- 0.04 molsPi/mol TnI, 19 samples). Using a range
of phospho-specific antibodies we demonstrated that 3/4 of the bis-phosphorylated band of donor heart cTnI PLX-4720 in vitro is phosphorylated at Ser22 and Ser23 in approximately equal amounts and that phosphorylation of Ser43 and Thr142 was not detected.”
“Objective: Creating an experimental model of a type B aortic dissection with a minimally invasive endovascular procedure in swine to help future evaluation of therapies for aortic dissection.
Methods: Aortic dissection was created in 14 swine using endovascular procedures only. Under fluoroscopy, a modified 10F outer catheter with a 14 G stiffening inner metallic cannula was forced via the femoral artery into the aortic vessel wall to create an initial dissection. A .035-inch guidewire and a 4F straight catheter were advanced into the dissected space, and the dissection was extended in a retrograde direction using a technique GDC 973 including loop formation no of the guidewire, which was placed carefully against the transmural penetration and extended as far as possible in the descending thoracic aorta up to the point where loop formation of the guidewire reached smoothly. An 8F introducer sheath was
advanced with a Brockenbrough needle into the dissected space, and a proximal fenestration was created by puncturing the intima. If required, balloon dilatation was performed to enlarge the proximal and distal tears. Aortography and contrast-enhanced cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed in addition to a detailed histologic evaluation of the dissected portion.
Results: Aortic dissection was successfully created in 11 of the 14 swine (78.6%). Among the 11 dissections, nine were located in the thoracoabdominal aorta and two in the abdominal aorta. The initial aortic diameter at the middle portion of the created dissection ranged from 7.4 to 16.8 mm (mean +/- standard deviation, 10.9 +/- 2.9), while after dissection, it ranged from 7.8 to 19.3 mm (12.9 +/- 3.8 mm). The dissected length ranged from 4.4 to 17.7 cm (10.7 +/- 4.6 cm). Aortography and CBCT revealed seven dissections (63.6%) with a smooth and patent false lumen. Histologic evaluation revealed that the outer one-third of the media was separated from the inner two-thirds.