Amoxicillin Blood Concentration in High-Dose Intravenous Discontinuous Amoxicillin: Look Beyond Numbers. Max-Amox Study.

Purpose: High doses of amoxicillin are recommended to treat severe infections such as endocarditis. Amoxicillin causes dose-dependent toxicities, in particular crystal nephropathy. Toxicity could be avoided by monitoring of amoxicillin trough plasma concentrations (ATPC).

Safety and Efficacy of Mini-Invasive Left Atrial Appendage Closure: A Propensity-Score Analysis.

Background: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) for prevention of stroke is validated in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) contraindicated to oral anticoagulation. General anaesthesia (GA) is often used for procedural guidance by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE); however, its use may be challenging in some patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and the midterm efficacy of a mini-invasive LAAC strategy using micro-TEE under procedural sedation.

Post-Dilatation of New-Generation Self-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valves Does Not Increase Atrioventricular Conduction Abnormalities.

The impact that post-dilatation has on the risk of experiencing conduction disorders after post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement with self-expanding valves (SE-TAVR) is unclear. We compared the rate of developing an atrioventricular (AV) high-grade conduction disorder and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) in post-TAVR patients undergoing post-dilatation. We enrolled patients with severe symptomatic calcified aortic stenosis (CAS) who were undergoing SE-TAVR between 1 January 2016, and 19 April 2019 at a single French center.

Incidence and management of atrioventricular conduction disorders in new-onset left bundle branch block after TAVI: A prospective multicenter study.

Background: New-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) is one of the most frequent complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and is associated with delayed high degree atrioventricular (AV) block.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of AV block in such a population and to assess the performance and safety of a risk stratification algorithm on the basis of electrophysiology study (EPS) followed by implantation of a pacemaker or implantable loop recorder (ILR).

Methods: This was a prospective open-label study with 12-month follow-up.

Emergency bailout surgery saves lives in high-risk patients with complications after TAVR.

Introduction: With the expansion of the indication for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVR), the value of access to on-site emergency heart surgery at performing centers needs to be assessed.

Aims: To evaluate postoperative mortality after surgical rescue post-TAVR, in a population at high surgical risk.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients included in the France-TAVI registry who had undergone TAVR with the latest generation valves between January 2017 and February 2020.

Handgrip strength to screen early-onset sarcopenia in heart failure.

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia in heart failure (HF) is associated with severe outcomes, increased mortality, and high healthcare cost burden. Systematic muscle screening in patients with chronic HF would improve quality and appropriateness of care. Here we tested handgrip strength (HGS) as a screening tool for sarcopenia in patients with chronic HF, using the EWGSOP 2010 and 2019 reference-standard definitions of sarcopenia.

How to use the aortic valve calcium score to improve the results of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a self-expanding prosthesis.

Background: In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) without predilation (direct TAVI) has become the preferred method for implanting TAVI prostheses. Appropriate patient selection is important to avoid suboptimal outcomes and associated complications.

Aim: To evaluate whether aortic valve calcification measured with computed tomography predicts suboptimal results from direct TAVI with a self-expanding prosthesis.

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".

Impact of obesity in kidney transplantation: a prospective cohort study from French registries between 2008 and 2014.

Background: The access of obese patients to kidney transplantation is limited despite several studies showing that obese transplant recipients had a better survival rate than those undergoing dialysis. The aim of this study was to compare patient and graft survival rates and post-renal transplant complications in obese patients and non-obese patients and to assess the effect of pre-transplant weight loss in obese patients on transplant outcomes.

Methods: We carried out a prospective cohort study using two French registries, the Renal Epidemiology and Information Network and CRISTAL, on 7270 kidney transplant patients between 2008 and 2014 in France.

Sudden cardiac death risk in contact sports increased by myocarditis: a case series.

Background: Myocarditis is a known cause of sudden cardiac death of the athlete. The impact of direct chest trauma in at-risk sports or activities in patients with a history of myocarditis has never been demonstrated or studied. We report herein two cases of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia secondary to non-penetrating blunt chest trauma while playing contact sports.

Sarcopenia in patients after an episode of acute decompensated heart failure: An underdiagnosed problem with serious impact.

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia is a multifactorial syndrome resulting in a decrease in both muscle mass and function. Little is known about the prevalence and prognostic impact of sarcopenia in patients with acutely decompensated chronic heart failure (ADHF). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence (main endpoint) and impact of sarcopenia on ADHF patients.

Inherited Metabolic Diseases and Cardiac Pathology in Adults: Diagnosis and Prevalence in a CardioMetabo Study.

Many inherited metabolic diseases (IMD) have cardiac manifestations. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of IMD in adult patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and cardiac rhythm abnormalities that require cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). The study included a review of the medical files of patients aged 18 to 65 years who were followed in our cardiology department during the period 2010-2017.

Effectiveness of combined eccentric and concentric exercise over traditional cardiac exercise rehabilitation programme in patients with chronic heart failure: protocol for a randomised controlled study.

Introduction: Exercise-based rehabilitation is a standard feature of chronic heart failure management. The effectiveness of eccentric exercise could offer new opportunities for better tailoring rehabilitation programme to patients' limitations. The goal of the study is to contrast the impact of a mixed eccentric and concentric cycling training programme, to that of conventional concentric cycling rehabilitation in patients with chronic heart failure (peak oxygen consumption (VO) < 15 mL⋅kg⋅min, ejection fraction <40%).

New-Onset Left Bundle Branch Block After TAVI has a Deleterious Impact on Left Ventricular Systolic Function.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has revolutionized the management of severe aortic stenosis. The development of a new-onset complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) is, however, a frequent complication. The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of a new-onset LBBB after TAVI on the evolution of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Predictors of segmental myocardial functional recovery in patients after an acute ST-Elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: We hypothesized that Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes (DENSE) and feature-tracking derived circumferential strain would provide incremental prognostic value over the extent of infarction for recovery of segmental myocardial function.

Methods: Two hundred and sixty-one patients (mean age 59 years, 73% male) underwent MRI 2 days post-ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 241 (92%) underwent repeat imaging 6 months later. The MRI protocol included cine, 2D-cine DENSE, T2 mapping and late enhancement.

Evolution of chronic kidney disease after surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Immediate improvement in kidney function has been reported after surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Long-term data, however, are not available.

Aim: To assess the evolution of kidney function in chronic kidney disease stage 3b-5, 1 year after surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Assessment of four different cardiac softwares for evaluation of LVEF with CZT-SPECT vs CMR in 48 patients with recent STEMI.

Purpose: To compare, vs CMR, four softwares: quantitative gated SPECT (QGS), myometrix (MX), corridor 4DM (4DM), and Emory toolbox (ECTb) to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-systolic (ESV), and end-diastolic volumes (EDVs) by gated MPI CZT-SPECT.

Methods: 48 patients underwent MPI CZT-SPECT and CMR 6 weeks after STEMI, LV parameters were measured with four softwares at MPI CZT-SPECT vs CMR. We evaluated (i) concordance and correlation between MPI CZT-SPECT and CMR, (ii) concordance MPI CZT-SPECT/CMR for the categorical evaluation of the left ventricular dysfunction, and (iii) impacts of perfusion defects > 3 segments on concordance.

Innovative invasive management without stent implantation guided by optical coherence tomography in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: A two-step strategy of invasive management without stenting, guided by optical coherence tomography (OCT), in selected patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), might avoid systematic stent implantation and allow medical therapy alone.

Aims: To assess the feasibility and safety of such a procedure, and to define coronary imaging characteristics in a specific population.

Methods: This single-centre proof-of-concept study included all patients with ACS who benefited from a two-step revascularization procedure with optimal reperfusion during primary percutaneous coronary intervention followed by delayed angiography and OCT.

Bioimpedance analysis is safe in patients with implanted cardiac electronic devices.

Background & Aims: There is an increase in the number of patients worldwide with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Current medical practice guidelines warn against performing bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in this group of patients in order to avoid any electromagnetic interference. These recommendations restrict using the BIA in patients undergoing heart failure or with nutrition disorders in whom BIA could be of major interest in detecting peripheral congestion and to help guide treatment.

Effect of Optimization of Medical Treatment on Long-Term Survival of Patients With Heart Failure After Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator and Cardiac Resynchronization Device Implantation (from the French National EGB Database).

Prognosis of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is improved by drug optimization according to guidelines; however, little is known regarding such optimization in HFrEF patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This study aimed to describe implementation of this optimized strategy and its impact in patients implanted with an ICD/CRT. Using a 1/97th representative sample of the French national health-care insurance system claims database, a retrospective cohort study was conducted including HFrEF patients implanted with ICD or CRT between January 2009 and December 2014.

A Novel Method for Estimating Myocardial Strain: Assessment of Deformation Tracking Against Reference Magnetic Resonance Methods in Healthy Volunteers.

We developed a novel method for tracking myocardial deformation using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) cine imaging. We hypothesised that circumferential strain using deformation-tracking has comparable diagnostic performance to a validated method (Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes- DENSE) and potentially diagnostically superior to an established cine-strain method (feature-tracking). 81 healthy adults (44.

Optimized management of heart failure patients aged 80 years or more improves outcomes versus usual care: The HF80 randomized trial.

Background: The prevalence and incidence of heart failure (HF) in elderly patients are increasing worldwide. Management of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) in patients aged 80 years or more follows international guidelines, despite the lack of a dedicated study in this frail population.

Aims: To determine whether optimized management of HF-REF in patients aged 80 years or more can improve quality of life at 6 months.