[Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement in intermediate-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis].

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is the most commonly operated valvular heart disease in developed countries. Aortic valve replacement is the sole effective treatment of symptomatic patients. PARTNER-1 (Placement of AoRtic TraNscathetER Valves) has recently proved the efficacy of percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVI : Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) in patients at high surgical risk, or inoperable.

[Fibrillation, an epidemic in the elderly?].

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. In its non valvular form, it appears as a disorder of the aged. Surprisingly, its incidence and prevalence have constantly been on the rise over the last decades to the extent that some authors nowadays call this phenomenon an "emerging epidemic".

[My pet, a safeguard for my health].

For some of us, to possess a pet, and particularly a dog, can be the source of great satisfaction. Recently, the opinion has prevailed that pet ownership provides significant beneficial effects in terms of prevention of cardiovascular diseases and could even improve survival after a coronary event. The American Heart Association has recently summoned some experts to express their view on this matter and their group has issued an official statement.

[Atherosclerosis: a complex disease].

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease resulting from an interaction between environmental risk factors (diet, smoking habit, lack of exercise, stress) and a favourable genetic profile. In the recent past, the analysis of the genetic factors involved has considerably progressed. A significant number of genetic variants associated with the various phenotypes of atherosclerosis or its risk factors have been identified.

[Cardiovascular prevention: could the polypill reduce the risk of clinical inertia and poor compliance?].

The concept of "polypill" for cardiovascular prevention was introduced in 2003 in a landmark paper of the British Medical Journal. A model based on results provided by evidence-based medicine suggested that a "polypill", that contains a statin, three blood pressure lowering drugs (each at half standard dose), aspirin and folic acid, would result in an 80% reduction in the incidence of coronary and cerebrovascular events, while being associated with a good tolerance profile and offering a favourable cost-effectiveness ratio. The present paper aims at presenting the new advances dealing with this new paradigm in cardiovascular prevention.