An ERP investigation of item-scene incongruity at encoding on subsequent recognition.

The aim of the present study was to investigate how item-scene incongruity at encoding influences subsequent item recognition and the associated event-related potential (ERP) old/new effects. Participants (N = 26) studied pictures showing an item in a scene, either in a congruent condition (e.g.

Drug-Induced- or Rheumatic- Valvular Heart Disease in Patients Exposed to Benfluorex?

There is a risk of misdiagnosis between benfluorex-induced VHD and acute rheumatic fever (ARF)-related VHD due to common characteristics of both etiologies. We aimed at estimating the probability for a patient exposed to benfluorex presenting with VHD to have, at the same time, a history of ARF-related VHD. Such epidemiological approach could help at reducing the risk of misdiagnosis.

Target-context unitization effect on the familiarity-related FN400: a face recognition exclusion task.

Using two exclusion tasks, the present study examined how the ERP correlates of face recognition are affected by the nature of the information to be retrieved. Intrinsic (facial expression) and extrinsic (background scene) visual information were paired with face identity and constituted the exclusion criterion at test time. Although perceptual information had to be taken into account in both situations, the FN400 old-new effect was observed only for old target faces on the expression-exclusion task, whereas it was found for both old target and old non-target faces in the background-exclusion situation.

Mitral and aortic valvular disease associated with benfluorex use.

Fenfluramine has been associated with an increased risk of pulmonary hypertension and valvular disease. Benfluorex is a fenfluramine derivative approved for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. To date, only three isolated clinical cases of valvular disease and two recent case-control studies have been reported in patients exposed to benfluorex.

The use of epicardial electrogram as a simple guide to select the optimal site of left ventricular pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been demonstrated to improve symptoms and survival in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and dyssynchrony. To achieve this goal, the LV lead should be positioned in a region of delayed contraction. We hypothesized that pacing at the site of late electrical activation was also associated with long-term response to CRT.

Clinical spectrum, treatment, and outcome of patients with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia without evidence of hepatitis C infection.

Objective: The clinical spectrum, etiologies, and best therapeutic approaches of type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) not associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been poorly described to date. We studied the clinical presentation and outcome of patients with type II MC with no evidence of HCV.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study on the clinical presentation and outcome of patients with type II MC without evidence of HCV infection.

Valvular heart disease associated with benfluorex therapy: results from the French multicentre registry.

Aims: The aim of this paper is to report clinical characteristics, consequences, echocardiographic features, and pathological findings encountered in patients suffering from valvular disease associated with benfluorex exposure in a multicentre French registry.

Methods And Results: Forty patients suffering from unexplained restrictive valvular disease with a previous exposition to benfluorex, a fenfluramine derivative, were identified from eight French university hospitals. Patients were mostly women (87.

Behavioral performances in participants with phonological dyslexia and different patterns on the N170 component.

Adults with phonological dyslexia and controls performed a lexical decision task while ERPs were recorded in the occipitotemporal pathway. Based on N170 durations, two subgroups were formed: dysl1 showing longer N170 durations and dysl2 showing normal N170 durations. While the dysl1 subgroup had poorer accuracy for infrequent words and pseudo-words, the dysl2 group responded more slowly than controls to pseudo-words.

Cryoglobulin detection from blood and peritoneal fluid smears.

Laboratory identification of cytoplasmic inclusions in leucocytes as unusual manifestation of cryoglobulinemia has been previously reported (Maitra et al., 2000 American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 113, 107-112; Fohlen-Walter et al., 2002 American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 117, 606-614.

Is "hyper response" to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy a recovery, a remission, or a control?

Background And Objectives: Some patients treated by cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recover "normal" left ventricular (LV) function and functional status. However, whether this "normalization" persists or reverts over time remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of LV function in patients hyper responder to CRT.

Cardiac multislice spiral computed tomography as an alternative to coronary angiography in the preoperative assessment of coronary artery disease before aortic valve surgery: a management outcome study.

Background: Conventional coronary angiography (CA) is still recommended before valvular surgery. Preliminary studies suggest that multislice spiral computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) can be used to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD).

Aim: To assess prospectively the safety of ruling out CAD before surgery solely on the basis of normal MSCT-CA in patients with severe aortic valve disease.

Benfluorex and unexplained valvular heart disease: a case-control study.

Background: Recent case reports suggest that benfluorex, a fenfluramine derivative used in the management of overweight diabetic patients and dyslipidemia, is associated with cardiac valve regurgitation.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study. Eligible patients were those admitted in the cardiology or the cardiac surgery units of our hospital between January, 1(st) 2003 and June 30(th) 2009, with mitral insufficiency diagnostic codes (ICD-10 I340 and I051).

[Pulmonary arterial hypertension in the elderly subject].

Objective: To describe the features of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in elderly patients.

Methods: A single centre, descriptive study of PAH patients consecutively referred to a regional centre, from September 2002 to February, 1st, 2009. The group of patients aged 65 and above at the time of the diagnosis was compared to the younger patients.

Patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy and hyper-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy: characteristics and long-term evolution.

Aims: In some patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM), left bundle branch block (LBBB), and severe cardiac failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to reverse almost completely left ventricular (LV) function. These patients thus eligible to be qualified 'hyper-responders' are exclusively recruited in patients with NIDCM. Evaluate proportion of 'hyper-responders' among patients with NIDCM and try to determine their profile before implantation of CRT.

Primary failure of cardiac resynchronization therapy: what are the causes and is it worth considering a second attempt? A single-centre experience.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been validated as an effective treatment for patients with drug-refractory congestive heart failure and left bundle branch block. Failure of implantation of the left ventricular (LV) lead has been reported in 10-15% of patients. The goal of our study was to determine the causes of failure and the success rate following a repeat procedure by the same operators.

[Recurrent transient ischemic stroke in a young patient with papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve and hyperhomocysteinemia. A case report].

We describe a case of a young patient admitted for recurrent ischemic stroke caused by a papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve and a hyperhomocysteinemia. A papillary fibroelastoma is a benign cardiac tumor which can be associated with serious embolic complications. A moderate plasma level of hyperhomocysteinemia is considered as a risk factor of ischemic stroke.

[Floating thrombus in an aberrant right subclavian artery: a rare cause of peripheral arterial embolic events].

Introduction: Floating thrombus in an aberrant right subclavian artery is a rare cause of peripheral arterial embolic events.

Case Report: We report a 45-year-old woman who presented with an ischemia of the right superior limb from embolic event. The diagnosis of mobile thrombus in an aberrant right subclavian artery was obtained with transoesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy: "nonresponders" and "hyperresponders".

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a recognized treatment modality for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), left bundle branch block, and severe cardiac failure. However, 30% of patients are "nonresponders." Intriguingly, the opposite case has not been reported until recently: Do some patients treated with CRT have a "complete" recovery and thus can be considered "hyperresponders"?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate patients treated with CRT who have a "complete" functional recovery, with normalization of left ventricular function after therapy.

[Increase neuroanatomic definition of nervous central system structures by addition on slices of ferric chloride].

The authors have described a new method of coloration on anatomic slices of the central nervous system realised on formolated subjects. They have presented their first results on their experiences carried out on the different levels of the brain, and this simple method of proceeding shows how interesting it could be for all practicians of Neurosciences and for the teaching of Neuroanatomy.

Left ventricular pacing in patients with congestive heart failure.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) using biventricular (BIV) pacing has proved its effectiveness to correct myocardial asynchrony and improve clinical status of patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF) and widened QRS. Despite a different effect on left ventricular electrical dispersion, left univentricular (LV) pacing is able to achieve the same mechanical synchronisation as BIV pacing in experimental studies and in humans. This results in clinical benefits of LV pacing at mid-term follow-up, with significant improvement in functional class, quality of life and exercise tolerance at the same extent as those observed with BIV stimulation in non randomised studies.

Evaluation of left bundle branch block as a reversible cause of non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy with severe heart failure. A new concept of left ventricular dyssynchrony-induced cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: We sought to determine if amelioration of left bundle branch block (LBBB)-induced contraction disturbances achieved by left ventricular (LV)-based pacing could result in sustained reversal of severe LV dysfunction in certain patients with chronic heart failure due to non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: It has been shown that LBBB induces asynchronous contraction of LV. However, whether such a functional contraction disturbance, if present for an extended period of time, could account for a dilated cardiomyopathy remains unknown.

Assessment of upgrading to biventricular pacing in patients with right ventricular pacing and congestive heart failure after atrioventricular junctional ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with right ventricular pacing and congestive heart failure (CHF) have only been reported in limited series. CRT in patients with atrial fibrillation remains controversial. Patients with AV junctional ablation offer a unique opportunity to study the effects of CRT in patients with right ventricular pacing combined with atrial fibrillation.

Midterm benefits of left univentricular pacing in patients with congestive heart failure.

Background: Resynchronization therapy by simultaneous pacing of the right and left ventricles has gained wide acceptance as a useful treatment for patients with severe congestive heart failure. Several short-term hemodynamic studies in humans and animals failed to demonstrate any benefit of biventricular pacing over left univentricular pacing, but long-term studies on this pacing mode are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the outcome over a 1-year period of patients paced exclusively in the left ventricle.