Neurohumoral response and clinical effectiveness of continuous aortic flow augmentation in patients with decompensated heart failure.

The increasing number of patients with progressive or exacerbated heart failure that is refractory to medical treatment necessitates the development of innovative cardiac assist devices. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a new percutaneously inserted system, which allows continuous aortic flow augmentation (CAFA), could be shown to be clinically effective with neurohormonal benefit in patients admitted with decompensated heart failure. Patients with exacerbations of chronic heart failure were recruited for the study.

Prevalence and risk factors of prolonged QTc interval in HIV-infected patients: results of the HIV-HEART study.

Background: Corrected QT (QTc) prolongation is predictive of cardiovascular mortality in both the general and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) populations.

Objective: As part of the HIV-HEART study, we assessed the prevalence and risk factors of a prolonged QTc interval in patients with HIV infection.

Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study, 802 unselected HIV-infected patients were included.

Bacterial DNA induces myocardial inflammation and reduces cardiomyocyte contractility: role of toll-like receptor 9.

Aims: Myocardial function is severely compromised during sepsis. Several underlying mechanisms have been proposed. The innate immune system, i.