Research

Publications

Below you can find a list of our published research.

42 results

European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, 23 4 2023, Pages ezad291 Aortic valve visualization and pressurization device: A novel device for intraoperative evaluation of aortic valve repair procedures. Arabkhani B, Sandker SC, Braun J, Hjortnaes J, Van Brakel TJ, Koolbergen DR, Klautz RJM, Hazekamp MG

Objectives: Aortic valve repair procedures are technically challenging, and current intraoperative evaluation methods often fail to predict the final echocardiographic result. We have developed a novel intraoperative Aortic valve Visualization and Pressurization (AVP)device, enabling valve inspection under physiological conditions, and measuring aortic valve-insufficiency(AI) during cardioplegic arrest. Methods: The AVP device is attached to the (neo)aorta, after any type of aortic valve repair,... Abstract

Stem cell reports, Volume 18, Issue 7, 29 5 2023, Pages 1421-1435 Single-cell analysis of human fetal epicardium reveals its cellular composition and identifies CRIP1 as a modulator of EMT. Streef TJ, Groeneveld EJ, van Herwaarden T, Hjortnaes J, Goumans MJ, Smits AM

The epicardium plays an essential role in cardiogenesis by providing cardiac cell types and paracrine cues to the developing myocardium. The human adult epicardium is quiescent, but recapitulation of developmental features may contribute to adult cardiac repair. The cell fate of epicardial cells is proposed to be determined by the developmental persistence of specific subpopulations. Reports on this epicardial heterogeneity have been inconsistent, and data regarding the human developing epicardi... Abstract

Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials, Volume 144, 28 4 2023, Pages 105980 Cyclic strain has antifibrotic effects on the human cardiac fibroblast transcriptome in a human cardiac fibrosis-on-a-chip platform. Bracco Gartner TCL, Wang Y, Leiteris L, van Adrichem I, Marsman J, Goumans MJ, Bouten CVC, Sluijter JPG, den Toonder JMJ, Suyker WJL, Hjortnaes J

In cardiac fibrosis, in response to stress or injury, cardiac fibroblasts deposit excessive amounts of collagens which contribute to the development of heart failure. The biochemical stimuli in this process have been extensively studied, but the influence of cyclic deformation on the fibrogenic behavior of cardiac fibroblasts in the ever-beating heart is not fully understood. In fact, most investigated mechanotransduction pathways in cardiac fibroblasts seem to ultimately have profibrotic effect... Abstract

Journal of internal medicine, Volume 294, Issue 3, 21 3 2023, Pages 347-357 Light transmittance in human atrial tissue and transthoracic illumination in rats support translatability of optogenetic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Nyns ECA, Portero V, Deng S, Jin T, Harlaar N, Bart CI, van Brakel TJ, Palmen M, Hjortnaes J, Ramkisoensing AA, Zhang GQ, Poelma RH, Ördög B, de Vries AAF, Pijnappels DA

Background: Optogenetics could offer a solution to the current lack of an ambulatory method for the rapid automated cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF), but key translational aspects remain to be studied. Objective: To investigate whether optogenetic cardioversion of AF is effective in the aged heart and whether sufficient light penetrates the human atrial wall. Methods: Atria of adult and aged rats were optogenetically modified to express light-gated ion channels (i.e., red-activatable ch... Abstract

European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Volume 63, Issue 6, 1 1 2023, Pages ezad114 Extensive aortic root endocarditis with extension into the intervalvular fibrous body: an updated report of a mitral valve sparing approach. Tomšič A, Palmen M, de Jong ML, Hjortnaes J, Driessen AGH, Braun J, Marsan NA, Klautz RJM

Objectives: Aortic root abscess can spread to include adjacent cardiac structures, including the central or intervalvular fibrous body and mitral valve. After radical debridement, complex surgical correction is needed. We describe the results of our mitral valve sparing approach. Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2020, 60 patients underwent operation for infective endocarditis of the aortic root with extension towards the mitral valve at 2 centres in the Netherlands. Early and late clin... Abstract

The Annals of thoracic surgery, Volume 115, Issue 6, 21 3 2022, Pages 1396-1402 The Aortic Root in Acute Type A Dissection: Repair or Replace? Arabkhani B, Verhoef J, Tomšič A, van Brakel TJ, Hjortnaes J, Klautz RJM

Background: The effect of an "aggressive" approach on the aortic root in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) remains insufficiently explored. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted between 1992 and 2020 of a single-center, prospective cohort of consecutive patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with ATAAD. Patients were divided into 2 groups: aortic root replacement (ARR; prosthetic or valve-sparing root replacement, n = 141) and conservative root approach (CRA; root sparing of pa... Abstract

American heart journal, Volume 249, 15 3 2022, Pages 66-75 Computed tomography follow-up after elective proximal aortic surgery: Less is more? de Oliveira Marreiros DJ, Tomšič A, van Brakel TJ, Hamming JF, Scholte AJHA, Hjortnaes J, Klautz RJM

Study objective: The added value of computed tomography (CT) follow-up after elective proximal aortic surgery is unclear. We evaluated the benefit of CT follow-up by assessing the incidence of aorta-related complications and reinterventions detected during routine CT follow-up. Methods: Data on 314 patients undergoing first time elective proximal aortic surgery between 2000 and 2015 were collected. The primary study end points were aorta-related complications and reinterventions, detected during... Abstract

Cited 3 times since 2022 (1.9 per year) source: EuropePMC

Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, Volume 9, 11 2 2022, Pages 854314 Pirfenidone Has Anti-fibrotic Effects in a Tissue-Engineered Model of Human Cardiac Fibrosis. Bracco Gartner TCL, Crnko S, Leiteris L, van Adrichem I, van Laake LW, Bouten CVC, Goumans MJ, Suyker WJL, Sluijter JPG, Hjortnaes J

A fundamental process in the development and progression of heart failure is fibrotic remodeling, characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins in response to injury. Currently, therapies that effectively target and reverse cardiac fibrosis are lacking, warranting novel therapeutic strategies and reliable methods to study their effect. Using a gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) and human fetal cardiac fibr... Abstract

Cited 1 times since 2022 (0.6 per year) source: EuropePMC

Journal of cardiovascular development and disease, Volume 9, Issue 2, 27 4 2022, Pages 43 Sarcomere Disassembly and Transfection Efficiency in Proliferating Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Yuan Q, Maas RGC, Brouwer ECJ, Pei J, Blok CS, Popovic MA, Paauw NJ, Bovenschen N, Hjortnaes J, Harakalova M, Doevendans PA, Sluijter JPG, van der Velden J, Buikema JW

Contractility of the adult heart relates to the architectural degree of sarcomeres in individual cardiomyocytes (CMs) and appears to be inversely correlated with the ability to regenerate. In this study we utilized multiple imaging techniques to follow the sequence of sarcomere disassembly during mitosis resulting in cellular or nuclear division in a source of proliferating human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). We observed that both mono- and binuclear hiPSC-CMs give ri... Abstract

Cited 2 times since 2021 (1.1 per year) source: EuropePMC

Nanoscale, Volume 13, Issue 48, 16 3 2021, Pages 20451-20461 Controlled delivery of gold nanoparticle-coupled miRNA therapeutics via an injectable self-healing hydrogel. van der Ven CFT, Tibbitt MW, Conde J, van Mil A, Hjortnaes J, Doevendans PA, Sluijter JPG, Aikawa E, Langer RS

Differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a role in many diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Potentially, miRNAs could be targeted with miRNA-therapeutics. Sustained delivery of these therapeutics remains challenging. This study couples miR-mimics to PEG-peptide gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and loads these AuNP-miRNAs in an injectable, shear thinning, self-assembling polymer nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogel drug delivery platform to improve delivery. Spherical AuNPs coated... Abstract

Cited 4 times since 2021 (1.9 per year) source: EuropePMC

Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, Volume 8, 30 5 2021, Pages 687885 Radiation Induces Valvular Interstitial Cell Calcific Response in an in vitro Model of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Meerman M, Driessen R, van Engeland NCA, Bergsma I, Steenhuijsen JLG, Kozono D, Aikawa E, Hjortnaes J, Bouten CVC

Background: Mediastinal ionizing radiotherapy is associated with an increased risk of valvular disease, which demonstrates pathological hallmarks similar to calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Despite advances in radiotherapy techniques, the prevalence of comorbidities such as radiation-associated valvular disease is still increasing due to improved survival of patients receiving radiotherapy. However, the mechanisms of radiation-associated valvular disease are largely unknown. CAVD is conside... Abstract

Cited 2 times since 2021 (0.9 per year) source: EuropePMC

Journal of cardiovascular development and disease, Volume 8, Issue 7, 8 2 2021, Pages 79 Superimposed Tissue Formation in Human Aortic Valve Disease: Differences between Regurgitant and Stenotic Valves. Kruithof BPT, van Wijngaarden AL, Mousavi Gourabi B, Hjortnaes J, Palmen M, Ajmone Marsan N

The formation of superimposed tissue (SIT), a layer on top of the original valve leaflet, has been described in patients with mitral regurgitation as a major contributor to valve thickening and possibly as a result of increased mechanical stresses. However, little is known whether SIT formation also occurs in aortic valve disease. We therefore performed histological analyses to assess SIT formation in aortic valve leaflets (n = 31) from patients with aortic stenosis (n = 17) or aortic regurgitat... Abstract

Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, Volume 8, 13 2 2021, Pages 658719 Editorial: Heart Valve Tissue Engineering: Are We Ready for Clinical Translation? Hjortnaes J, Mokhles MM, Takkenberg JJM, Bouten CVC

Abstract

Cited 10 times since 2021 (3.8 per year) source: EuropePMC

Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, Volume 8, 12 2 2021, Pages 631985 Myocardial Disease and Long-Distance Space Travel: Solving the Radiation Problem. Meerman M, Bracco Gartner TCL, Buikema JW, Wu SM, Siddiqi S, Bouten CVC, Grande-Allen KJ, Suyker WJL, Hjortnaes J

Radiation-induced cardiovascular disease is a well-known complication of radiation exposure. Over the last few years, planning for deep space missions has increased interest in the effects of space radiation on the cardiovascular system, as an increasing number of astronauts will be exposed to space radiation for longer periods of time. Research has shown that exposure to different types of particles found in space radiation can lead to the development of diverse cardiovascular disease via fibro... Abstract

Cited 7 times since 2021 (2.6 per year) source: EuropePMC

STAR protocols, Volume 2, Issue 1, 9 2 2021, Pages 100334 Massive expansion and cryopreservation of functional human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Maas RGC, Lee S, Harakalova M, Snijders Blok CJB, Goodyer WR, Hjortnaes J, Doevendans PAFM, Van Laake LW, van der Velden J, Asselbergs FW, Wu JC, Sluijter JPG, Wu SM, Buikema JW

Since the discovery of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), numerous strategies have been established to efficiently derive cardiomyocytes from hiPSCs (hiPSC-CMs). Here, we describe a cost-effective strategy for the subsequent massive expansion (>250-fold) of high-purity hiPSC-CMs relying on two aspects: removal of cell-cell contacts and small-molecule inhibition with CHIR99021. The protocol maintains CM functionality, allows cryopreservation, and the cells can be used in downstream... Abstract

Cited 3 times since 2021 (1.1 per year) source: EuropePMC

Tissue engineering. Part C, Methods, Volume 27, Issue 2, 1 1 2021, Pages 100-114 Advanced In Vitro Modeling to Study the Paradox of Mechanically Induced Cardiac Fibrosis. Bracco Gartner TCL, Stein JM, Muylaert DEP, Bouten CVC, Doevendans PA, Khademhosseini A, Suyker WJL, Sluijter JPG, Hjortnaes J

In heart failure, cardiac fibrosis is the result of an adverse remodeling process. Collagen is continuously synthesized in the myocardium in an ongoing attempt of the heart to repair itself. The resulting collagen depositions act counterproductively, causing diastolic dysfunction and disturbing electrical conduction. Efforts to treat cardiac fibrosis specifically have not been successful and the molecular etiology is only partially understood. The differentiation of quiescent cardiac fibroblasts... Abstract

Cited 10 times since 2020 (3.3 per year) source: EuropePMC

Cells, Volume 9, Issue 10, 24 4 2020, Pages E2164 Integrative Multi-Omics Analysis in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease Reveals a Link to the Formation of Amyloid-Like Deposits. Heuschkel MA, Skenteris NT, Hutcheson JD, van der Valk DD, Bremer J, Goody P, Hjortnaes J, Jansen F, Bouten CVC, van den Bogaerdt A, Matic L, Marx N, Goettsch C

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease in the developed world, yet no pharmacological therapy exists. Here, we hypothesize that the integration of multiple omic data represents an approach towards unveiling novel molecular networks in CAVD. Databases were searched for CAVD omic studies. Differentially expressed molecules from calcified and control samples were retrieved, identifying 32 micro RNAs (miRNA), 596 mRNAs and 80 proteins. Over-representation p... Abstract

Cited 13 times since 2020 (3.7 per year) source: EuropePMC

Atherosclerosis, Volume 301, 6 1 2020, Pages 37-43 The relation between healthy lifestyle changes and decrease in systemic inflammation in patients with stable cardiovascular disease. van 't Klooster CC, van der Graaf Y, Ridker PM, Westerink J, Hjortnaes J, Sluijs I, Asselbergs FW, Bots ML, Kappelle LJ, Visseren FLJ, UCC-SMART study group

Background and aims: Pharmacological lowering of inflammation has proven effective in reducing recurrent cardiovascular event rates. Aim of the current study is to evaluate lifestyle changes (smoking cessation, weight loss, physical activity level increase, alcohol moderation, and a summary lifestyle improvement score) in relation to change in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in patients with established cardiovascular disease. Methods: In total, 1794 patients from the UCC-SMART coh... Abstract

Cited 2 times since 2020 (0.6 per year) source: EuropePMC

International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature, Volume 27, 17 3 2020, Pages 100499 Multifocal cardiovascular calcification in patients with established cardiovascular disease; prevalence, risk factors, and relation with recurrent cardiovascular disease. van 't Klooster CC, Nathoe HM, Hjortnaes J, Bots ML, Isgum I, Lessmann N, van der Graaf Y, Leiner T, Visseren FLJ, UCC-SMART-study group

Aims: The aim is to investigate (multifocal) cardiovascular calcification in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD), regarding prevalence, risk factors, and relation with recurrent CVD or vascular interventions. Coronary artery calcification (CAC), thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) (including ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta), mitral annular calcification (MAC), and aortic valve calcification (AVC) are studied. Methods: The study concerned 568 patients with establ... Abstract

Cited 27 times since 2019 (7 per year) source: EuropePMC

European heart journal, Volume 40, Issue 48, 1 1 2019, Pages 3901-3909 The relation between systemic inflammation and incident cancer in patients with stable cardiovascular disease: a cohort study. Van't Klooster CC, Ridker PM, Hjortnaes J, van der Graaf Y, Asselbergs FW, Westerink J, Aerts JGJV, Visseren FLJ

Aims: Low-grade inflammation, measured by elevated plasma concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is evidence that low-grade inflammation is also related to a higher risk of cancer. The present prospective cohort study evaluates the relation between low-grade systemic inflammation and risk of cancer in patients with stable CVD. Methods and results: In total, 7178 patients with stable CVD and plasma CRP levels ≤10 mg/L we... Abstract