Inflammation versus mechanical stretch biomarkers over time in acutely decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Unlabelled: Heart failure can be associated with inflammation but it is unclear if inflammation is directly related to hemodynamic worsening or is an independent pathway. Our aim was to investigate inflammation and mechanical stress using serial measurements of biomarkers in acute and chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (AHF and CHF).

Method: The following biomarkers were measured on admission, at discharge and one month after discharge: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), high-sensitivity C-Reactive protein (hsCRP), Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2), mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), galectin 3 (Gal3), Growth differentiating factor 15 (GDF15) and procalcitonin (PCT).

[Characteristics of the population hospitalized for advanced and terminal heart failure and experiences in palliative caring in the Intensive Care Unit of cardiology].

Purpose: Advanced heart failure incidence is in progression. Palliative care access remains difficult due to its unpredictable course. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients admitted in Cardiology Intensive Care Unit for advanced heart failure who received palliative care and compare them to the whole population of acute heart failure hospitalized in the same period.

[Complications of urinary incontinence surgery: 800 procedures].

Objective: To present the complications of urinary incontinence surgery through our experience over 13 years with 800 procedures in continuous practice. These complications were compared to those of the literature for the same type of procedure.

Study Design: From January 1988 to September 2001, 800 procedures were performed in the same hospital in the gynecology unit.

[Development of better tolerated prosthetic materials: applications in gynecological surgery].

Unlabelled: Meshes have come to be widely used for surgical repair of the dysfunctional pelvic floor. The problem to date has been mesh intolerance. History.

Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in the treatment of urinary stress incontinence: 3 years experience involving 256 operations.

Objectives: To report the outcome and complications of a series of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) operations and compare the results with the literature.

Materials And Methods: A total of 256 cases with a minimum follow-up time of 3 months (May 1998-September 2001) were included (193 isolated TVT, 23 combined with vaginal hysterectomy and 63 combined with prolapse surgery). These cases included 21% of the patients presenting with mixed incontinence, 14% with sphincter deficiency and 9.