Spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of refractory angina pectoris: a multicenter randomized single-blind study (the SCS-ITA trial).

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is believed to be effective in treating refractory angina. The need for SCS-related chest paresthesia, however, has hitherto made impossible placebo-controlled trials. Subliminal (non paresthesic) SCS, however, might be also effective on anginal pain.

'Sinus node' dysfunction associated with left atrial isomerism.

Introduction: The eterotaxic syndromes encompass two main anatomic pictures: left and right atrial isomerism. They cause a distortion of the atria anatomy that may involve the conduction tissue. The prognosis is related to the severity of the intracardiac-associated defects.

Thrombopoietin contributes to enhanced platelet activation in patients with unstable angina.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the potential role of elevated levels of thrombopoietin (TPO) in platelet activation during unstable angina (UA).

Background: Thrombopoietin is a humoral growth factor that does not induce platelet aggregation per se, but primes platelet activation in response to several agonists. No data concerning its contribution to platelet function abnormalities described in patients with UA are available.

[Hospital admissions for congestive heart failure in Piedmont, Italy: 1996-2001 trend].

Background: Since epidemiological studies on congestive heart failure (CHF) have shown somewhat contradictory results, detailed analyses of local trends may be useful in order to plan health strategies.

Methods: All patients discharged from public hospitals between 1996 and 2001 with a DRG 127 were evaluated. For patients living in the city of Turin, 1- and 12-month survival analysis was performed.

Drug-eluting stent implantation in primary angioplasty of an anomalous left main coronary artery: diagnostic and technical considerations.

The presence of an anomalous origin and/or distribution of a coronary artery as the infarct-related vessel during primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction might represent a clinical and technical challenge. We report on a case of a patient with an acute anterior myocardial infarction who was referred to our hospital for primary angioplasty and whose culprit lesion was located on an aberrant left main coronary artery. The purpose of this case report was to review the incidence and angiographic evaluation of an anomalous coronary vessel and to discuss the technical approach to an anomalous left main intervention and its impact on clinical outcome.