Predictors of outcome in patients undergoing PCI. Results of the RIVIERA study.

Background: Limited information is available about clinical outcomes following routine percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the current era. This study aimed to identify predictors of adverse clinical or angiographic complications following PCI in patients from many different countries.

Methods: RIVIERA is a multinational, prospective, observational study in patients undergoing elective or primary PCI.

Sleep, morning alertness and quality of life in subjects treated with zopiclone and in good sleepers. Study comparing 167 patients and 381 good sleepers.

From 20,000 households regularly surveyed by a national survey institute (Sofres), two groups were selected and questioned (using a 23-item questionnaire) about sleep vigilance and quality of life. The first group was composed of insomniacs using zopiclone for the last 12 months and no other CNS treatments (167 subjects). The second group was composed of 381 "good sleepers" selected as having no or occasionally one sleep disturbance in the last 12 months.

[Evaluation of tolerance during intravenous administration of low dose of isosorbide dinitrate in the treatment of unstable angina].

The eventuality of tolerance was assessed in 19 patients with unstable angina treated by continuous intravenous infusion of 50 micrograms/min of isosorbide trinitrate (ISDN) in association with heparin and betablocker therapy. The tolerance phenomenon was evaluated by the hypotension produced by the ISDN infusion and by the amplitude of fall in blood pressure produced by an intravenous bolus of 1 mg of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) according to the principle of crossed tolerance to the two nitrate derivatives. Under these conditions of administration, the authors observed partial attenuation of the blood pressure response to continuous ISDN infusion and absence of cross tolerance between ISDN and intravenous GTN.

[Isotopic methods and primary congestive cardiomyopathies].

28 patients with primary congestive cardiomyopathy in heart failure identified by cineangiographic criteria (end-diastolic volume greater than 120 ml/m2; parietal thickness less than 11 mm; normal coronary angiography), underwent 131-Cesium and 201-Thallium myocardial scintigraphy in antero-posterior and LAO projections, and 17 also underwent angiocardiography with 99 Technetium labelled albumin. This condition usually gives an appearance of an enlarged heart with diffuse or localised (antero lateral wall) hypofixation, dilatation of the left ventricular, left atrial and right ventricular cavities and a very low ejection fraction with diffusely hypokinetic wall motion. Radio-Isotopic methods may help discriminate primary and ischaemic cardiomyopathy but are not diagnostic.