Local carotid atherosclerotic plaque proteins for the identification of circulating biomarkers in coronary patients.

Objective: To identify circulating biomarkers that originate from atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques and that could predict future cardiovascular events.

Methods: After a protein enrichment step (combinatorial peptide ligand library approach), we performed a two-dimensional electrophoresis comparative analysis on human carotid plaque protein extracts (fibrotic and hemorrhagic atherosclerotic plaques). In silico analysis of the biological processes was applied on proteomic data.

Carotid atherosclerotic plaques: proteomics study after a low-abundance protein enrichment step.

Atherosclerosis is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Although phenotypic differentiation between stable and unstable plaques is currently possible, proteomic analysis of the atherosclerotic plaque could offer a global view of the atherosclerosis pathology. With the objective to highlight the detection of low-abundance proteins, we reduced the dynamic range of proteins by combinatorial peptide ligand library treatment of human carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques.

Assay for measurement of intact B-type natriuretic peptide prohormone in blood.

Background: B-Type natriuretic peptide (BNP1-32) as well as the N-terminal fragment of the prohormone containing residues 1-76 (NT-proBNP1-76), both cleavage products of the precursor proBNP1-108, are reported to be powerful markers for prognosis and risk stratification of heart failure. However, the intact precursor also circulates in the bloodstream. Assays for the detection of these cleavage products have been developed, but most of these assays may overestimate the concentrations of the cleavage products because they also measure the precursor form.

Torsade de pointes during sevoflurane anesthesia in a child with congenital long QT syndrome.

We present a case of congenital long QT syndrome which developed torsade de pointes during sevoflurane anesthesia for implantation of an internal cardioverter-defibrillator. The diagnosis, implications and treatment are discussed.

Monitoring weaning from BIVAD Thoratec with peak oxygen consumption.

A biventricular assistance device has been implanted in a young woman for a peripartum cardiac failure. An intended weaning consisted of gradual reloading and exercise training monitored with peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and radionuclide-left ventricle ejection fraction. Progressive increase in peak VO(2) during partial assistance occurred more than 2 months, from 10.