Endothelial cells, which form the inner cellular lining of blood vessels and lymphatics,
display remarkable heterogeneity in structure and function. This is the second of a 2-part …

The ideal aortic valve substitute for young and middle-aged adults remains elusive. The
Ross procedure (pulmonary autograft replacement) is the only operation that allows …

Background—Arterial calcification is associated with cardiovascular events; however,
mechanisms of calcification in atherosclerosis remain obscure. Methods and Results—We …

Traditional imaging modalities such as computed tomography, although perfectly adept at
identifying and quantifying advanced calcification, cannot detect the early stages of this …

Considerable progress has been made in recent years toward elucidating a conceptual
framework that integrates the dynamic functional structure, mechanical properties, and …

Background The ideal substitute for aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic valve
disease is not known. Our hypothesis was that the regulatory and adaptive properties of a …

This article summarizes the views expressed at the third session of the workshop" Tissue
Engineering—The Next Generation," which was devoted to the engineering of complex …

Heart valves (HVs) are fluidic control components of the heart that ensure unidirectional
blood flow during the cardiac cycle. However, this description does not adequately describe …

Background—The evolution of cell phenotypes and matrix architecture in cardiac valves
during fetal maturation and postnatal adaptation through senescence remains unexplored …

Background—Visualizing early changes in valvular cell functions in vivo may predict the
future risk and identify therapeutic targets for prevention of aortic valve stenosis. Methods …