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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Oct 27.
Published in final edited form as: Methods Mol Biol. 2015;1257:399–421. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2193-5_20

Table 2.

Pathology overview

Group Description Implant pathologya AI at 6 monthsb
1 Conventional freezing method Mild diffuse leaflet fibrosis. 3/4 exhibited focal nodular vegetation (organized thrombi) and 1/4 exhibited calcified foci. 1/4 exhibited a basal dehiscence and 1/4 a paravalvular aneurysm. 1/4 conduits mineralized 1–2+, 1–2+, 2+, 2–3+
2 VS83 stored at −80 °C Implants all exhibited mild diffuse fibrosis; 2 of 4 conduits were mineralized −2+, none,1+, trace-1+
3 VS83 stored in vapor-phase nitrogen Diffuse and focal fibrosis, 2 of 4 exhibited thrombi and 1 of 4 exhibited focal nodular vegetation on leaflets. 3 of 4 conduits were mineralized None, 2–3+, 2–3+, 2–3+
a

Leaflets in all groups were devoid of cells except for recipient overgrowth that appears to be a chronic low-grade inflammatory response with a marked tendency for all leaflets to exhibit some thinning with thicker fibrous overgrowth at the base of the cusps resulting in leaflet thickening and stiffening

b

Aortic Insufficiency(AI) was assessed by echocardiographic evaluation just prior to sacrifice