
Alice S FerngUniversity of Arizona | UA · Department of Surgery
Alice S Ferng
PhD
About
23
Publications
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Publications
Publications (23)
Background
Since constrictive pericarditis is most often idiopathic and the pathophysiology remains largely unknown, both the diagnosis and the treatment can be challenging. However, by definition, inflammatory processes are central to this disease process. Amniotic membrane patches have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties and are be...
Background
Heart transplantation remains the gold standard for end-stage heart failure, with current ex vivo organ storage times limited to 4 to 6 h before critical tissue damage occurs. Many preservation solutions exist in an attempt to limit both ischemic and reperfusion damage. In order to compare the effects of various storage solutions, mitoch...
We describe the intraoperative non-invasive use of an infrared (IR) camera to monitor Del Nido cardioplegia delivery in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Thermal pictures were taken pre- and post-cardioplegia and at timed points after arrest, and compared to readings from a transseptal temperature probe. There was good concordance between the tr...
As the market for health-tracking wearable devices continues to expand, there is an emerging niche for healthcare applications, and data acquisition and usage. Within this area exists a wealth of clinically relevant data already collected from wearers, including physiological and lifestyle data. This information allows us to not only optimize curre...
CorMatrix is an organic extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from porcine small intestine submucosa and is used for pericardial closure and cardiac tissue repair. During explantation of a HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) because of infection, CorMatrix was used to repair the left ventricular apex and...
Objectives:
3D printed mitral valve (MV) models that capture the suture response of real tissue may be utilized as surgical training tools. Leveraging clinical imaging modalities, 3D computerized modelling and 3D printing technology to produce affordable models complements currently available virtual simulators and paves the way for patient- and p...
Introduction:
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, progressive cystic lung disease that predominantly affects women of childbearing age. Exogenous rapamycin (sirolimus) has been shown to improve clinical outcomes and was recently approved to treat LAM, whereas estrogen (E2) is implicated in disease progression. No consistent metabolic model c...
Regenerative medicine, particularly decellularization-recellularization methods via whole-organ tissue engineering, has been increasingly studied due to the growing donor organ shortage. Though numerous decellularization protocols exist, the ideal decellularization protocol for optimal recellularization is unclear. This study was performed to optim...
Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) has emerged as an additional therapeutic option for patients suffering from diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD), providing immediate angina relief. Recent studies indicate that the volume of surgical cases being performed with TMR have been steadily rising, utilizing TMR as an adjunctive therapy. Therefore...
Background
Adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) isolated from the stromal vascular fraction are a source of mesenchymal stem cells that have been shown to be beneficial in many regenerative medicine applications. ASCs are an attractive source of stem cells in particular, due to their lack of immunogenicity. This study examines differences betw...
Since the creation of SynCardia's 50 cc Total Artificial Hearts (TAHs), patients with irreversible biventricular failure now have two sizing options. Herein, a case series of three patients who have undergone successful 50 and 70 cc TAH implantation with complete closure of the chest cavity utilizing preoperative “virtual implantation” of different...
The traditional philosophy of ex vivo organ preservation has been to limit metabolic activity by storing organs in hypothermic, static conditions. This methodology cannot provide longevity of hearts for more than 4-6 h and is thereby insufficient to expand the number of available organs. Albeit at lower rate, the breakdown of ATP still occurs durin...
The 70cc Total Artificial Heart (TAH) has been utilized as bridge to transplant (BTT) for biventricular failure. However the utilization of 70cc TAH has been limited to large patients for the low output from the pulmonary as well as systemic vein compression after chest closure. Therefore the 50cc TAH was developed by SynCardia (Tucson, AZ, USA) to...
Hospital inquired post-operative infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving left ventricular assist devices. We present the case of a patient who acquired Can-dida albicans and Staphylococci infections following left ventricular assist device implantation. Use of standard antibiotics caused the infection to wors...
Sternal nonunion is associated with high morbidity and treated using rigid plate and screw fixation. This is the first reported example of successful sternal reconstruction using adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) stem cells in addition to traditional techniques.Sternal nonunion, which is most commonly treated by using rigid plate and...
To regenerate discarded lungs that would not normally be used for transplant, ex vivo reseeding following decellularization may produce organs suitable for clinical transplantation and therefore close the donor gap. Organ Regenerative Control Acquisition (ORCA, Harvard Biosciences), a novel bioreactor system that simulates physiological conditions,...
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Current research involving growth and characterization of adipose derived stromal cells (ADSC) in vitro offers a potential solution for the treatment of cartilage de-fects that will allow patients to return to the physical activities they were involved i...
In the United States, cancer is the second most common cause of death and it is expected that about 562,340 Americans will have died of cancer in 2009. Bone cancer pain is common in patients with advanced breast, prostate, and lung cancer as these tumors have a remarkable affinity to metastasize to bone. Once tumors metastasize to bone, they are a...
Although musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common causes of chronic pain and physical disability in both developing and developed countries, relatively little is known about the nerve fibers and mechanisms that drive skeletal pain. Small diameter sensory nerve fibers, most of which are C-fiber nociceptors, can be separated into two broad popu...