High sensitivity C reactive protein, fibrinogen levels and the onset of major depressive disorder in post-acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Major depression disorder (MDD) is a common condition in patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and depression is a risk factor for mortality following an ACS. Growing evidence suggests that there is an intricate interplay between atherosclerosis, inflammation and depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of atherosclerosis-induced inflammation in the mediation of MDD.

Negative impact of physician prescribed drug dosing schedule requirements on patient adherence to cardiovascular drugs.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether dosing schedule requirements impair overall cardiovascular drug adherence.

Methods: A cohort study was performed with hospitalized patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease between April and September 2011. Patients were asked whether the prescribed time for taking their statin and antiplatelet drugs created any inconvenience in their daily routine and, if so, were asked to describe the reasons.

Education and home based training for intermittent claudication: functional effects and quality of life.

Background: Supervised exercise programs increase physical performance in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, there are a limited number of programs, and to date they have failed to provide evidence of long-term adherence to exercise or any meaningful effect on Quality of Life (QoL). We created a program of therapeutic education and a personalized program of reconditioning exercise for patients with PAD.

Very low levels of HDL cholesterol and atherosclerosis, a variable relationship--a review of LCAT deficiency.

A number of epidemiological and clinical studies have demonstrated that plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level is a strong inverse predictor of cardiovascular events. HDL is believed to retard the formation of atherosclerotic lesions by removing excess cholesterol from cells and preventing endothelial dysfunction. Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) plays a central role in the formation and maturation of HDL, and in the intravascular stage of reverse cholesterol transport: a major mechanism by which HDL modulates the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Dual antiplatelet therapy after myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention: analysis of patient adherence using a French health insurance reimbursement database.

Aims: Current guidelines recommend the use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) (aspirin+clopidogrel) for patients after acute myocardial infarction (MI). In relation to this, we sought to examine the adherence to this recommended treatment regimen in a population of patients admitted with MI and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: A cohort study was conducted using data from the main health insurance reimbursement database of South West France.

Predictors of cardiovascular prognosis in patients receiving optimized secondary prevention measures after acute coronary syndrome.

Background: After an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), optimal medical therapy (OMT) has been shown to be effective in reducing subsequent cardiovascular (CV) events. However, even in populations that reach recommended secondary prevention goals, there is a subset of patients that experience subsequent CV events.

Aim: To identify biological or clinical predictors of residual risk of CV events in post-ACS patients receiving OMT.

Fast track echo of abdominal aortic aneurysm using a real pocket-ultrasound device at bedside.

Background: Ultraminiaturization of echographic systems extraordinarily provides the image "within" the clinical examination. Abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) diagnosis based on conventional evaluation with a dedicated operator and ultrasound machine is still controversial due to the lack of evidence of the proposed management and guidelines' cost-effectiveness. We hypothesized that less expensive ultraportable devices could identify AAA with the same level of accuracy as conventional approaches.

Prognostic value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a population of post-acute coronary syndrome patients receiving optimal medical treatment.

Background: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) has been reported to have a prognostic value immediately after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to be associated with the onset of cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with stable and unstable angina pectoris.

Aim: To evaluate whether or not hsCRP levels can be used to predict future CV events in a prospective study of post-ACS patients receiving an optimized medical treatment (OMT) secondary-prevention regimen.

Methods: OMT along with therapeutic and dietary education programmes were started during the acute phase, then monitored and adjusted as needed at 3 months post ACS.

Validation of the smallest pocket echoscopic device's diagnostic capabilities in heart investigation.

We hypothesized that, based on greyscale imaging and color Doppler capabilities, a new pocket ultrasound device (PUD) could accurately record cardiologic diagnostic findings. One hundred patients referred for conventional clinical indications underwent a standard echocardiography. Subsequently, a second physician blinded to the results performed an evaluation using the PUD on the same patients.

Screening abdominal aorta aneurysm during echocardiography: literature review and proposal for a French nationwide study.

Several international guidelines, including those in France, recommend the screening of abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) by ultrasound in high-risk populations. However, this preventive screening strategy is poorly implemented. Many patients who undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) are at risk of AAA as defined by the guidelines, and the cardiac ultrasound machines and probes fit perfectly for AAA screening.

After acute coronary syndrome, diabetic patients with peripheral vascular disease remain at high risk of cardiovascular events despite secondary prevention measures.

Background: Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The impact of suboptimal risk-factor control and drug prescription on morbidity and mortality rates in patients with PVD following an ACS remains to be established.

Aims: To assess whether a global atherosclerosis management programme and optimal secondary prevention could benefit high-risk PVD patients after an ACS.

Efficacy over time of a short overall atherosclerosis management programme on the reduction of cardiovascular risk in patients after an acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: The prognostic significance of monitoring risk factors and adjusting treatments in patients after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is well documented. However, studies over the last few years show that secondary prevention objectives are rarely met. Prevention programmes are effective but their benefit is only partially maintained in long-term follow-up.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in very high-risk patients: adjustment and preliminary results.

Left ventricle dysfunction and comorbidities are responsible for a large number of complications after CABG. OPCAB could be an interesting alternative for very high-risk patients. Patients were included if EuroSCORE >9, or with at least two of the following criteria, severe LV dysfunction, recent myocardial infarction (MI), terminal renal failure, lung dysfunction, PVD, BMI>30.

An ultrasound speckle tracking (two-dimensional strain) analysis of myocardial deformation in professional soccer players compared with healthy subjects and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Deformation analysis using 2-dimensional strain echocardiography can detect early systolic function abnormalities in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. This study was designed to characterize global and regional myocardial deformation using 2-dimensional strain in professional soccer players (PSPs) compared with control subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). Twenty nine PSPs, 26 patients with HC, and 17 controls were investigated at rest using transthoracic echocardiography with 2-dimensional strain analysis.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome after acute coronary syndrome and its prognostic significance.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) consists of a cluster of metabolic and hemodynamic disorders that promote the development of atherosclerosis and increase cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of MS after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the effect of intensive risk factor management on the morbidity/mortality associated with MS in a therapeutic cohort; 480 consecutive patients were summoned 3 months after an ACS for cardiovascular evaluation and management. Follow-up was carried out 16 months later.

Dynamic ventricular dyssynchrony: an exercise-echocardiography study.

Objectives: We sought to assess the effects of exercise on ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with normal and depressed left ventricular (LV) function.

Background: Asynchronous myocardial contraction adversely influences ventricular function and is associated with a poor prognosis in heart failure. Exercise-induced changes in ventricular dyssynchrony may be an important determinant of dynamic changes in cardiac output and mitral regurgitation.

Global and regional myocardial function quantification by two-dimensional strain: application in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: Recently, a novel method to measure strain from standard two-dimensional images has been developed. Our goal was to characterize global and regional systolic function abnormalities using this technique in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Background: Strain has been proposed as a sensitive tool to detect early systolic function abnormalities in HCM.