Comparison between abnormalities in segmental endocardial motion and abnormalities in segmental wall thickening after anterior myocardial infarction. A cine-magnetic resonance study.

In this study, two patterns of regional contract on of the left ventricle have been studied: endocardial motion and wall thickening, in order to check which of these was the most affected after myocardial infarction. The clinical relevance of this comparison was to assess which parameter of the regional contraction abnormality would best depict the severity of the infarction. Long axis cine-magnetic resonance slices were used to assess segmental systolic left ventricular endocardial motion and segmental systolic wall thickening in 39 normal subjects and in 30 patients at the chronic stage of an anterior myocardial infarction.

[Natural estrogens and the cardiovascular system].

The significant relationship between hormone substitution therapy during menopause and reduced cardiovascular risk has been demonstrated in many studies. The beneficial effect of natural estrogens on plasma lipids has been questioned, accounting for no more than 25% of the vascular effect. Natural estrogens act on the vascular wall by favoring the penetration of potassium into the cell and stimulating synthesis of prostacycline synthetase and prostaglandin cyclooxygenase.

Prognostic factors of chronic heart failure in NYHA class II or III: value of invasive exercise haemodynamic data.

Unlabelled: Various parameters have been found useful for establishing the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure, in particular haemodynamic parameters measured at rest. However, few studies deal with the prognostic value of invasive exercise haemodynamic parameters in such patients. Our aim was to test the value of such parameters to assess the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure in functional class II or III of the New York Heart Association.