Several animal models are currently used for the surgical implantation of either biologic or biopolymeric scaffolds in order to provide in vivo assessment of tissue-engineered heart valves. The Vietnamese pig (VP) is herein proposed as a suitable recipient to test the function of novel bioengineered valve substitutes, in the reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). This review aims to provide a complete and exhaustive panel of physiological parameters and methodological information for preclinical studies of tissue-engineered heart valves in the VP animal model.
The heart and the immune system are highly integrated systems cross-talking through cytokines, hormones and neurotransmitters. Their balance can be altered by numerous physical or psychological stressors leading to the onset of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and tissue damage. Here, we review the main players and mechanisms involved in the field. A new research paradigm, which considers also novel contributors, like endothelial cells, is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of immune-mediated cardiovascular disorders and beyond.
L’approccio integrato al trattamento dell’ipertensione arteriosa prevede il riconoscimento dei fattori ostacolanti il processo di guarigione del paziente, la definizione di un percorso di cura che incontri le esigenze del paziente determinando l’effettiva esigenza e la corretta tempistica di un intervento farmacologico. Occorre quindi raggiungere un corretto peso ideale agendo sull’alimentazione (dieta mediterranea) e sull’attivita fisica aerobica (30 minuti di camminata al giorno per almeno 4 giorni a settimana); evitare fumo, alcol, sale e caffe; utilizzare tecniche mente-corpo per una adeguata gestione dello stress e modifica dei fattori psico-emotivi disfunzionali per il paziente. Nel caso di presenza di un’ipertensione moderata o severa e opportuno iniziare una terapia farmacologica che accompagni gli interventi incentrati sullo stile di vita del paziente.
In this view point paper, we briefly summarize some of the clinical, biochemical and biophysical results obtained in our research on Relaxation Response. We also qualitatively describe the theoretical biophysical model that could link them. Our work points to a unified view of the human biological system activity, joining the dynamics ruling the interactions and correlations of the microscopic components to the knowledge of their specific individual properties in the effort of going beyond a purely atomistic approach.
In questo scritto gli Autori sintetizzano alcuni risultati clinici, biochimici e bio?sici ottenuti nelle nostre ricerche sulla Reazione da Rilassamento. Viene descritto brevemente e qualitativamente il modello teorico bio?sico che potrebbe collegarli. Viene proposta una visione unitaria e sistemica del corpo umano come rete di componenti biochimiche e bio?siche in relazione e correlazione cercando di superare il consueto approccio riduzionistico.
In this paper, within the so called “neuro-visceral integration model”, it is reviewed the ability of the heart to secrete numerous endocrine mediators, neurotransmitters and substances that regulate the immune function with repercussions on the central nervous system. The heart would also seem to be able to process various information independently, influencing the brain work through the “intrinsic cardiac nervous system” and baroreceptor pathways. In reviewing this matter, further physical mechanisms are also described, including mechanical contractions and deformations, that are involved in the “heart-brain symphony” based on intra-cardiac formation and propagation of blood vortices coupled to electrical signals. The relevance of the role of vorticity of the blood flow in the molecular dynamics and physiological activity is stressed. By resorting to some conceptual and formal aspects of the dissipative quantum model of brain, mechanisms such as the spontaneous breakdown of symmetry in many-body physics, the dynamical formation of long range correlations and their associated Nambu-Goldstone quanta, coherent states and fractal self-similarity are discussed with reference to the heart-brain dialog. Our discussion supports the view that the heart role is more than the one of a muscle responsible of the blood flow. Further related topics such as the formation of aneurysms and vein varices which in our modeling seem to be related to the weakening or loss of vorticity of the blood flow, the role of the recently discovered fluid-filled interstitial structure and the complex network of thick collagen bundles are finally briefly mentioned in the concluding remarks.
L’approccio integrato nella cura della malattia aterosclerotica coronarica prevede il riconoscimento dei fattori ostacolanti il processo di guarigione del paziente e la definizione di un percorso di cura che incontri le esigenze del paziente stesso. Accanto alla terapia convenzionale, occorre fornire al malato delle adeguate indicazioni sul suo stile di vita: cessazione del fumo e dell’uso di alcool; corretta alimentazione (dieta mediterranea) con basso consumo di grassi saturi, fritti e carboidrati raffinati; attivita fisica aerobica (30 minuti di camminata al giorno); utilizzare tecniche mente-corpo per una adeguata gestione dello stress. Nel caso di presenza di un’angina refrattaria o di instabilita del quadro clinico, non bisogna ritardare l’ospedalizzazione del paziente ed interrompere l’assunzione di fitoterapici (come aglio o ginkgo biloba) che potrebbero aumentare il rischio emorragico del paziente.
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