Comprehensive exploration of unexplained dyspnoea in subjects with normal ejection fraction and low natriuretic peptides.

Background: Unexplained exertional dyspnoea without significant elevation of natriuretic peptides is common. One of the causes might be early heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Aims: This study aimed to characterize patients with exertional dyspnoea and normal/near-to-normal N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels with regard to early stages of HFpEF and non-cardiac causes.

Clinical outcomes for 2788 patients with transthyretin amyloidosis: Tafamidis meglumine early access program in France.

Background: Early access experience in France with tafamidis meglumine, a selective transthyretin stabilizer for transthyretin-related amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), following transthyretin-related amyloidosis (ATTR) polyneuropathy approval and positive ATTR-ACT study results.

Aim: To describe the characteristics and clinical outcomes for patients in the French ATTR-CM tafamidis meglumine early access programme (28 Nov 2018 to 01 Jun 2021).

Methods: Patients with confirmed ATTR-CM received tafamidis meglumine 20mg/day or 80mg/day.

Randomised study for the Optimal Treatment of symptomatic patients with low-gradient severe Aortic valve Stenosis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (ROTAS trial).

Background: The best management of symptomatic patients with low-gradient (LG) severe aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has not been established. The Randomised study for the Optimal Treatment of symptomatic patients with low-gradient severe Aortic valve Stenosis (ROTAS) trial aimed to assess the superiority of aortic valve replacement (AVR) versus medical treatment (MT) in this specific group of AS patients.

Methods: Patients with symptomatic LG severe AS and preserved LVEF (>50%) underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography and/or CT-aortic calcium score to confirm AS severity and were then randomised 1:1 to AVR or MT.

Post-capillary pulmonary hypertension in heart failure: impact of current definition in the PH-HF multicentre study.

Background And Aims: Based on retrospective studies, the 2022 European guidelines changed the definition of post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (pcPH) in heart failure (HF) by lowering the level of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). However, the impact of this definition and its prognostic value has never been evaluated prospectively.

Methods: Stable left HF patients with the need for right heart catheterization were enrolled from 2010 to 2018 and prospectively followed up in this multicentre study.

Transthyretin amyloid polyneuropathy in France: A cross-sectional study with 413 patients and real-world tafamidis meglumine use (2009-2019).

Objective: We aimed to describe characteristics of patients with ATTR variant polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) and ATTRv-mixed and assess the real-world use and safety profile of tafamidis meglumine 20mg.

Methods: Thirty-eight French hospitals were invited. Patient files were reviewed to identify clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment compliance.

Effectiveness and Implementation of an EnhanceFitness Physical Activity Intervention Specifically in Adults With Arthritis: A RE-AIM Evaluation.

Background And Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the evidence-based, EnhanceFitness (EF) physical activity (PA) intervention in improving arthritis symptoms, physical and mental function, and PA in adults with arthritis.

Research Design And Methods: This was a community-based, randomized, controlled effectiveness trial that switched to a nonrandomized controlled trial. Participants were sedentary/low-active adults, aged ≥18 years, with self-reported physician-diagnosed arthritis, who were assigned to an immediate or delayed group (12-week, wait-list control group).

Obesity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Insights from the REDUCE LAP-HF II trial.

Aims: Obesity is causally related to the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) but complicates the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. We aimed to determine the relationship between severity of obesity and clinical, echocardiographic and haemodynamic parameters in a large cohort of patients with documented HFpEF.

Methods And Results: The REDUCE LAP-HF II trial randomized 626 patients with ejection fraction ≥40% and exercise pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) ≥25 mmHg to atrial shunt or sham procedure.

Trifluoroethanol and the behavior of a tardigrade desiccation-tolerance protein.

The cosolvent 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) is often used to mimic protein desiccation. We assessed the effects of TFE on cytosolic abundant heat soluble protein D (CAHS D) from tardigrades. CAHS D is a member of a unique protein class that is necessary and sufficient for tardigrades to survive desiccation.

Properties of a tardigrade desiccation-tolerance protein aerogel.

Lyophilization is promising for tackling degradation during the drying and storage of protein-based drugs. Tardigrade cytosolically abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins are necessary and sufficient for desiccation-tolerance in vivo and protein protection in vitro. Hydrated CAHS proteins form coiled-coil-based fine-stranded, cold-setting hydrogels, but the dried protein remains largely uncharacterized.

Exercise-Induced Left Atrial Hypertension in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Many patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction have no overt volume overload and normal resting left atrial (LA) pressure.

Objectives: This study sought to characterize patients with normal resting LA pressure (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure [PCWP] <15 mm Hg) but exercise-induced left atrial hypertension (EILAH).

Methods: The REDUCE LAP-HF II (A Study to Evaluate the Corvia Medical, Inc.

Secondary structure and stability of a gel-forming tardigrade desiccation-tolerance protein.

Protein-based pharmaceuticals are increasingly important, but their inherent instability necessitates a "cold chain" requiring costly refrigeration during production, shipment, and storage. Drying can overcome this problem, but most proteins need the addition of stabilizers, and some cannot be successfully formulated. Thus, there is a need for new, more effective protective molecules.

Implementation of an Evidence-Based, Tai Ji Quan Fall Prevention Program in Rural West Virginia Churches: A RE-AIM Evaluation.

This study implemented a 16-week Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® intervention for older adults in churches in hard-to-reach, medically underserved, rural communities, and evaluated the process using the RE-AIM Framework. Community-dwelling adults, aged 55 years, or older, were eligible. Data (N = 237) were collected at baseline, 16 weeks, and 32 weeks on falls efficacy, depression, physical/mental health-related quality of life, aerobic activity, gait speed, mobility, balance, and leg strength.

Prognosis of Adults With Isolated Left Ventricular Non-Compaction: Results of a Prospective Multicentric Study.

Background: Whether left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) bears a different prognosis than dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is still a matter of debate.

Methods: From a multicenter French prospective registry, we compared the outcomes of 98 patients with LVNC and 65 with DCM. The primary endpoint combined cardiovascular death, heart transplantation, and hospitalization for cardiovascular events.

Smoking in Patients With Chronic Cardiovascular Disease During COVID-19 Lockdown.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aims to investigate health-related behaviors including tobacco consumption among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), during the first COVID-19-related lockdown.

Methods: After 5 weeks of COVID-19 lockdown, 220 patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) and 124 with congestive heart failure (CHF) answered a phone questionnaire.

Results: Among these 344 patients, 43 (12.

Scapular renal cell carcinoma metastasis as a cause of high-output heart failure: a case report.

Background: High-output heart failure is a rare condition that occurs when the heart is unable to respond to a sustained increase in blood demand. On echocardiography, a cardiac index of > 4 L/min/m (or 6 L/min) is a clear indicator of this disorder. The causes of high-output heart failure vary, but they all involve peripheral vasodilation or arteriovenous shunting.

Latent Pulmonary Vascular Disease May Alter the Response to Therapeutic Atrial Shunt Device in Heart Failure.

Background: In REDUCE LAP-HF II (A Study to Evaluate the Corvia Medical, Inc IASD System II to Reduce Elevated Left Atrial Pressure in Patients With Heart Failure), implantation of an atrial shunt device did not provide overall clinical benefit for patients with heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction. However, prespecified analyses identified differences in response in subgroups defined by pulmonary artery systolic pressure during submaximal exercise, right atrial volume, and sex. Shunt implantation reduces left atrial pressures but increases pulmonary blood flow, which may be poorly tolerated in patients with pulmonary vascular disease (PVD).

Impact of nutritional status on heart failure mortality: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common causes of mortality in industrialized countries despite regular therapeutic advances. Numerous factors influence mortality in CHF patients, including nutritional status. It is known that malnutrition is a risk factor for mortality, whereas obesity may play a protective role, a phenomenon dubbed the "obesity paradox".