Preventing acute decrease in renal function induced by coronary angiography (PRECORD): a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Infusion of saline attenuates the decrease in renal function induced by radiographic contrast agents among patients with chronic renal insufficiency.

Aim: The Preventing Renal alteration in Coronary Disease (PRECORD) trial was a randomized trial to assess the effect on renal function of saline infusion during and after coronary angiography in 201 patients without severe chronic renal insufficiency (serum creatinine<140micromol/L).

Methods: All patients received standard oral hydration: 2000mL of tap water within the 24 hours after coronary angiography.

Heart rate distribution and predictors of increased heart rate among French hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease. Data from the LHYCORNE cohort.

Background: Heart rate is a key determinant of both myocardial ischaemia and prognosis in patients with coronary disease. Reducing heart rate is known to relieve ischaemia and improve cardiovascular prognosis. Currently there is no information about heart rate distribution and predictors of high heart rate in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

[Propionibacterium acnes infective endocarditis. Study of 11 cases and review of literature].

Background: Propionibacterium acnes, a gram positive, anaerobic, skin commensal bacillus, is too often considered a biologic fluid contaminant, of blood cultures in particular. Its implication has been shown in various infections, including brain abscess, ocular infections, osteitis, and acne. It is also the cause of infective endocarditis (IE).

[Blood pressure control in hypertensive patients with stable coronary heart disease].

Objective: To evaluate systolic blood pressure (SBP) control in hypertensive patients with a stable coronary heart disease (CHD) in general practice in France.

Methods: A survey was conducted in a sample of 206 general practitionners (GP) representative of the French medical population, in 2003 [LHYCORNE survey]. Each GP had to include 3 hypertensive patients, >18 years old, BP > or = 140/90 mmHg and/or treated for hypertension, and with evidence of CHD documented by myocardial infarction (MI) or angina pectoris (AP) [diagnosis previously established by a cardiologist].

Do minitransplants have minicosts? A cost comparison between myeloablative and nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplant in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a widely used, cost-intensive procedure. Although pretransplant nonmyeloablative (NMA) or reduced-intensity conditioning regimens appear very promising, prospective studies comparing this approach with the conventional myeloablative (MA) approach in specific hematologic diseases are necessary, especially in patients in whom the conventional approach is not contraindicated. Cost may be an important factor in the decision-making process.