Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Association between skin flora and infective endocarditis?

Background: Infective endocarditis is a rare but severe complication that may arise following transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Recent advances in microbiological epidemiology have highlighted staphylococci and enterococci as the primary pathogens involved.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of these bacteria in patients' cutaneous flora before and after transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures, and to assess the implications for antibiotic prophylaxis recommendations.

Cerebrovascular events after cardiovascular surgery: diagnosis, management and prevention strategies.

Introduction: Cerebrovascular events after cardiac surgery are among the most serious complications, related to a greater risk of patient mortality. This problem can occur following the formation of gas emboli during open heart surgery.

Aim: To address all the mechanisms that can lead to embolic events after cardiovascular surgery, how to manage them and how to possibly prevent them.

Temporal Trends in Pacemaker Implantations Over the Past Decade in France: Impact of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantations.

In this study, we assessed the temporal trends of permanent pacemaker implantations in France from 2008 to 2018 using data from the Échantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires (EGB) administrative database, a representative sample of the French population. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantations on the overall pacemaker implantation rate. Our data suggest that the incidence of permanent pacemaker implantations in France increased significantly only in patients ≥80 years old, with post-transcatheter aortic valve implantations accounting for at least 2/3 of this increase.

Late results after mitral valve replacement with Mosaic bioprosthesis in patients aged 65 years or younger.

Objectives: Although in younger patients indications for biological prosthesis implantation in mitral valve replacement remain controversial, recently bioprostheses use increased considerably. We present late results obtained with the Medtronic Mosaic bioprosthesis in patients aged 65 years or younger.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2017, 67 mitral Mosaic bioprostheses were implanted in patients aged 65 years or younger (58.

Direct evidence of sympathetic hyperactivity in patients with vasospastic angina.

Background: The autonomic nervous system is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of vasospastic angina (VSA). Studies based on heart rate variability analysis have shown conflicting results with both a reduction and an enhancement of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in patients with Prinzmetal's variant angina, but direct assessment has never been performed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the SNS activity using microneurography in patients with VSA.

ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) deficiency decreases platelet reactivity and reduces thromboxane A2 production independently of hematopoietic ABCA1.

Unlabelled: ESSENTIALS: The role of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) in platelet functions is poorly characterized. We studied the impact of ABCA1 deficiency on platelet responses in a mouse model and two Tangier patients. ABCA1-deficient platelets exhibit reduced positive feedback loop mechanisms.

In-hospital and long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion in elderly patients: A consecutive, prospective, single-centre study.

Background: Elderly patients are increasingly referred for complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), including recanalization of chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Aims: To assess the feasibility, safety and clinical benefits associated with CTO-PCI in elderly patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n=356) who underwent CTO-PCI in our institution between January 2008 and December 2011 were prospectively included.

Targeted drug therapy: the platelet side.

Targeted therapy is certainly considered the future of cancer treatment. Several new molecules targeting critical intracellular signaling actors, particularly kinases, are arriving in clinics and many other are under development. However, proteins targeted by these drugs are common to many cell types and are particularly implicated in the highly dynamic processes of platelet activation.