Transgenerational effects of chromium stress at the phenotypic and molecular level in Arabidopsis thaliana.

In this study, we describe the results obtained in a study of the transgenerational phenotypic effects of chromium (Cr) stress on the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. The F1 generation derived from parents grown under chronic and medium chronic stress showed significantly higher levels of the maximal effective concentration (EC) compared with F1 plants generated from unstressed parents. Moreover, F1 plants from Cr-stressed parents showed a higher germination rate when grown in the presence of Cr.

Usefulness of Left Atrial Remodeling in Predicting CardiacToxicity During Trastuzumab Therapy for Breast Cancer.

Trastuzumab is a key therapy for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer (BC). However, it may cause left ventricular dysfunction, resulting in withdrawal of therapy. Left atrium (LA) enlargement has proven to cue subclinical ventricular dysfunction in various clinical setting.

Left atrial volume in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer: One step further to predict trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity.

Background: Trastuzumab (TZ) therapy requires careful monitoring of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) because it can be potentially cardiotoxic. However, LVEF is an imperfect parameter and there is a need to find other variables to predict cardiac dysfunction early. Left atrium (LA) enlargement has proven to be a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes in several disease entities.

Left ventricular end-diastolic volume as early indicator of trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity in HER2+ breast cancer patients: results from a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Adjuvant trastuzumab therapy increases survival rates in patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer, although it can be potentially cardiotoxic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction; and the relationship between the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, cardiac therapy and/or echocardiographic parameters of systolic function at baseline and the development of cardiotoxicity in such patients.

Methods: A total of 227 patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Supramolecular self-assembly of graphene oxide and metal nanoparticles into stacked multilayers by means of a multitasking protein ring.

Graphene oxide (GO) is rapidly emerging worldwide as a breakthrough precursor material for next-generation devices. However, this requires the transition of its two-dimensional layered structure into more accessible three-dimensional (3D) arrays. Peroxiredoxins (Prx) are a family of multitasking redox enzymes, self-assembling into ring-like architectures.

The Sorin freedom stentless pericardial valve: clinical and echocardiographic performance at 10 years.

Objective: The Sorin Pericarbon Freedom (SPF) is a stentless valve made of pericardium clinically available in 1990. We report the clinical and hemodynamic performance of the SPF at 10 years.

Methods: From April 2000 to December 2005, 85 patients with a mean age of 75 ± 6 years (range 57-86), underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with an SPF.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is independently associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive Type 2 diabetic individuals.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are highly prevalent in Type 2 diabetes and both conditions are associated with an increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there is an association between NAFLD and echocardiographically detected LVH in Type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We studied 116 consecutive patients with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes after excluding those with pre-existing history of cardiovascular disease, advanced kidney disease, excessive alcohol consumption and other known causes of chronic liver disease (e.

A model of multi-disciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of young patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale.

Background: Treatment of patent foramen ovale in young patients with stroke is not supported by robust scientific evidence. In clinical practice, a pragmatic approach is needed to guide such therapeutic decisions. This study aims at standardising the diagnostic pathway for stroke patients younger than 55 years of age with a patent foramen ovale; elaborating a therapeutic algorithm; discussing every case in regular interdisciplinary counselling meeting; and setting up a follow-up schedule to assess clinical outcomes.

Prognostic value of myocardial fibrosis in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis.

Objective: To evaluate whether myocardial fibrosis influences left ventricular performance in severe aortic stenosis and to assess its effect on long-term survival after aortic valve replacement.

Methods: Myocardial fibrosis was evaluated in biopsy specimens taken from the interventricular septum in 99 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement because of severe or prevalent aortic stenosis. Clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed at a mean follow-up of 6.

Influence of myocardial fibrosis on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

Aim: It was the aim of our study to determine whether myocardial fibrosis influences physiologic or non-physiologic left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in severe aortic stenosis.

Methods: Myocardial fibrosis was evaluated using specimens taken from the ventricular septum in 79 patients submitted to aortic valve replacement because of symptomatic aortic stenosis. Patients were considered to have physiologic LV hypertrophy if end-systolic wall stress, evaluated by echocardiography, was <90 kdyn/cm(2), while those with end-systolic wall stress >90 kdyn/cm(2) were considered to have non-physiologic hypertrophy.

Physiopathologic correlates of intrathoracic impedance in chronic heart failure patients.

Background: Increased plasma levels of amino-terminal fraction of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and alterations of diastolic filling as described by Doppler transmitral flow pattern are well-known markers of decompensated heart failure (HF). Recently, some implantable defibrillators have allowed monitoring of intrathoracic impedance, which is related to lung water content, potentially indicating HF deterioration. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between intrathoracic impedance and NT-proBNP and echo-Doppler transmitral flow indexes.

Surgical treatment of postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture.

Background: Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is still one of the often fatal complications of acute myocardial infarction. Surgical repair is mandatory even with high operative mortality. The optimal surgical technique is controversial since the results depend on type of rupture.

Ischemia induced by transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography predicts long-term mortality.

Objectives: It was the aim of this study to investigate the long-term value of transesophageal atrial pacing in predicting death in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: Exercise, dobutamine and dipyridamole stress echocardiography are all effective in predicting cardiac death. Transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography (TAPSE) is a safe alternative to pharmacologic tests, but no information is available on prognosis with TAPSE.

Aortic valve sclerosis: a marker of significant obstructive coronary artery disease in patients with chest pain?

Background: Previous reports suggested a relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic valve sclerosis (AVS). However, whether AVS can be used as a marker of obstructive CAD (obCAD) in patients with chest pain is unknown. We hypothesized that AVS is a predictive marker for obCAD in patients hospitalized for chest pain.

Left atrial volume provides independent and incremental information compared with exercise tolerance parameters in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Objective: Left atrial volume (LAV) is a powerful predictor of outcome in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) independently of symptomatic status, age and left ventricular (LV) function. It is unknown whether LAV provides independent and incremental information compared with exercise tolerance parameters.

Methods: 273 patients with CHF (mean (SD) 62 (9) years; 13% female) prospectively underwent echocardiography and exercise testing with maximal oxygen consumption (Vo(2)).

Aortic stiffness correlates with an increased extracellular matrix turnover in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: An increased extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover has been associated with poor survival in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the influence of the accelerated collagen turnover on the progressive large artery stiffening process characterizing CHF has not been clarified. This is relevant because aortic stiffening imposes an additional systolic load and impairs exercise tolerance in CHF patients.

Comparison of the long-term survival benefits associated with revascularization or medical therapy in patients with known coronary artery disease undergoing transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography.

Although the utility of stress echocardiography for the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) has been widely reported, few studies have evaluated the role of revascularization in relation to the presence of inducible ischemia during stress in patients with known CAD. The study population consisted of 295 consecutive patients who underwent transesophageal atrial pacing stress echocardiography (TAPSE) in the echocardiographic laboratory of our division between January 1988 and September 1997, in whom coronary angiography was performed within 10 days of the test. Patients were then assigned to revascularization or medical treatment according to the treatment given within 60 days of TAPSE.

Carotid atherosclerotic plaque instability in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Unlabelled: The instability of atherosclerotic plaque is partly determined by local factors, but systemic factors such as infection, inflammation, autoimmunity or genes might also be important. We aimed to analyze whether patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) might have a higher proportion of unstable plaques in the carotid arteries compared with patients who had had no acute coronary events.

Methods: Sixty-nine consecutive patients with AMI (Group 1) and 95 patients without acute coronary events (Group 2) had carotid artery duplex ultrasounds.

Chronic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: diagnostic and prognostic value of left atrial size.

Background: Almost 40% of patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and prognosis similar to those with reduced EF. Data on prognostic markers in such patients are limited. We analyzed the prevalence and prognostic value of left atrial (LA) size in this condition.

Ischemic etiology of heart failure identifies patients with more severely impaired exercise capacity.

Background: Peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and the regression slope of ventilation against CO2 production during exercise (VE/VCO2 slope) are powerful prognostic indicators in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Our purpose was to evaluate the influence of CHF etiology on peak VO2 and VE/VCO2 slope, independently of demographic, clinical, Doppler-echocardiographic and neurohormonal factors.

Methods: Data were collected from 239 CHF patients referred for a cardiopulmonary exercise test as part of their clinical evaluation.

Independent and additional prognostic value of aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen circulating levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: In chronic heart failure (CHF), changes in the extracellular space contribute to cardiac dysfunction. We aimed to determine whether aminoterminal-propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP), a marker of extracellular matrix turnover, might provide prognostic information in CHF patients.

Methods And Results: A total of 101 consecutive CHF patients (mean age 61.

Amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen is associated with restrictive mitral filling pattern in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: a possible link between diastolic dysfunction and prognosis.

Objective: To analyse the relation between restrictive mitral pattern, amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP), and prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Design: Prospective cohort study of 106 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Setting: Tertiary care centre.