Prevalence and correlates of non-optimal secondary medical prevention in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), non-optimal use of evidence-based medications is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome.

Aims: To assess the prevalence and correlates of non-optimal secondary medical prevention in patients with stable CAD.

Methods: We included 4184 consecutive outpatients with stable CAD.

Left ventricular remodeling after anterior wall acute myocardial infarction in modern clinical practice (from the REmodelage VEntriculaire [REVE] study group).

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been well described in previous studies. However, there is a paucity of data on the incidence of and risk factors for LV remodeling in modern clinical practice that incorporates widespread use of acute reperfusion strategies and almost systematic use of "antiremodeling" medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers. We enrolled 266 patients with anterior wall Q-wave AMI who had >or=3 segments of the infarct zone that were akinetic on echocardiography before discharge.

Tissue Doppler echocardiography in patients with long QT syndrome.

Background: Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a well-defined clinical entity associated with a high mortality among untreated patients. Tissue Doppler (TD) echocardiography that has been recently introduced, facilitates wall motion analysis. Therefore, to further characterize myocardial velocity abnormalities associated with LQTS, using TD and conventional echocardiography, we compared control subjects and LQTS patients.

Ten-year echocardiographic and clinical follow-up of aortic Carpentier-Edwards pericardial and supraannular prosthesis: a case-match study.

Background: There are little comparative data on Carpentier-Edwards supraannular and pericardial second-generation bioprostheses. The aim of this work was to compare their hemodynamic and clinical outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including 150 patients operated on for aortic stenosis between 1989 and 1993.

A reverse transcription-PCR assay to detect viable Mycoplasma synoviae in poultry environmental samples.

In order to study horizontal transmission of Mycoplasma synoviae an avian pathogen, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed to detect viable Mycoplasma in environment. The test was based on the RT-PCR of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of Mycoplasma genus. Results showed that Mycoplasma 16S rRNA was stable up to 23 h after cell death.

Role of anxiety and depression in the onset of spontaneous preterm labor.

The aim of this cohort study conducted in France in 1997-1998 was to investigate the effects of antenatal anxiety and depression on spontaneous preterm labor. A consecutive series of 634 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies was included. Anxiety and depression were assessed using self-administered questionnaires: Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Edinburgh depression scale.

Ross operation for active culture-positive aortic valve endocarditis with extensive paravalvular involvement.

Background: We evaluated the midterm results of the Ross operation in active advanced endocarditis.

Methods: Between June 1994 and June 2000 a pulmonary autograft aortic root replacement was performed in 11 consecutive patients who had urgent or emergent procedures for active endocarditis with extensive involvement of the aortic root (10 native, 1 prosthetic). Patients ranged in age from 26 to 45 years (median, 33 years).

Radioprotection of DNA by spermine: a molecular modelling approach.

Purpose: To observe and explain the sequence-dependence of DNA radioprotection by spermine.

Materials And Methods: Sequencing gel electrophoresis was used to analyse the probability of frank strand break (FSB) induction at each nucleotide site. Molecular modelling of complexes of DNA with spermine molecules and of a curved electrically null DNA has been performed.

Effect of mitral valve surgery on exercise capacity, ventricular ejection fraction and neurohormonal activation in patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the effects of surgical correction of mitral regurgitation (MR) on exercise performance, cardiac function and neurohormonal activation.

Background: Little is known about the effect of surgical correction of MR on functional status or on neurohormonal activation.

Methods: Cardiopulmonary exercise test, radionuclide angiography and blood samples for assessment of neurohormonal status were obtained in 40 patients with nonischemic MR before and within one year (216+/-80 days) after surgery.

A PCR assay used to study aerosol transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae from samples of live pigs under experimental conditions.

The study describes a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. The test is based on the amplification of the omlA gene coding for an outer membrane protein of A. pleuropneumoniae.

Echocardiographic follow-up after Ross procedure in 100 patients.

The Ross procedure could provide an ideal aortic valve replacement method in children and young adults. We evaluated midterm echocardiographic results to assess pulmonary homograft function as well as pulmonary autograft dimensions and function. In all, 105 patients (26 women and 79 men) underwent the Ross procedure; median age at implant was 29 years.

Experimental aerosol transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to pigs.

In order to demonstrate the possible role of aerosol in the transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, an experiment including 18 specific pathogen-free (SPF), 10-week-old piglets, randomly distributed into 2 adjacent units, was carried out. In these facilities, air was forced through absolute filters to prevent any contact with infectious agents. During the first 6 d post inoculation, the 2 units were connected by a rectangular opening and the air circulation was forced by the ventilation system from unit A (inoculated pigs) to unit B (non-inoculated pigs).

Mid-term comparative follow-up after aortic valve replacement with Carpentier-Edwards and Pericarbon pericardial prostheses.

Background: The first generation of pericardial valves had a high rate of premature deterioration. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome after aortic valve replacement with second generation pericardial prostheses (Pericarbon and Carpentier-Edwards).

Methods And Results: Between 1987 and 1994, 162 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with either a Pericarbon (n=81, 69+/-11 years) or a Carpentier-Edwards (n=81, 70+/-11 years) pericardial prosthesis.

[Effect of resection of the anterior chordae on cardiac function after surgical correction of mitral valve insufficiency].

The preservation of cardiac function in surgical correction of mitral regurgitation implies partially or totally preserving the subvalvular apparatus. However, the conservation of the whole subvalvular apparatus during mitral valve replacement is technically difficult as the anatomical conditions are not always favourable. In order to determine the consequences of isolated resection of the anterior chordae, the authors studied global and segmental cardiac function by isotopic angiocardiography after mitral valve repair (n = 23) or replacement with conservation of the posterior chordae (n = 16) in 39 patients with isolated, non-ischaemic mitral regurgitation.

Aortic root replacement with a pulmonary autograft in young adults: medium-term results in 70 patients.

Background: Pulmonary autograft aortic valve replacement has been introduced in our institution in selected adult patients in light of the known disadvantages and limitations of conventional prosthetic valves.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the use of the pulmonary autograft in a series of 70 young adults (31.2+/-8.

No association between dopamine D1, D2, and D3 receptor genes and manic-depressive illness.

Background: The dopaminergic receptor genes are candidate genes for manic-depressive illness (MDI). To test this putative involvement we used a case-control study on samples from the native population of the northwest part of France.

Methods: Fifty patients for D1 and D2, 61 patients for D3, and 86-223 controls were tested.

Sequence-dependent variations of DNA structure modulate radiation-induced strand breakage.

Using a 80 base pair DNA fragment, the sequence-dependence was compared for: (i) the probability of fast neutrons induced strand breakage, (ii) the accessibility of the H4'- and H5'-atoms to OH. attack, (iii) the width of the minor groove, and (iv) the probability of OH. reactions with H4'- or H5'-atoms.

Systemic infection related to endocarditis on pacemaker leads: clinical presentation and management.

Background: Endocarditis related to pacemaker (PM)-lead infection is a rare but serious complication of permanent transvenous pacing. To determine in which situations the diagnosis should be evoked and to determine optimal management, we reviewed our experience with endocarditis related to PM-lead infection.

Methods And Results: Fifty-two patients were admitted for endocarditis related to PM-lead infection.

Thiol WR-1065 and disulphide WR-33278, two metabolites of the drug ethyol (WR-2721), protect DNA against fast neutron-induced strand breakage.

The main metabolites of the cytoprotective drug Ethyol (Amifostine, WR-2721) are the thiol WR-1065 and the disulphide WR-33278 (formed by the oxidation of WR-1065). Both metabolites are well-known protectors against DNA damage induced by gamma-rays. Using supercoiled plasmid DNA and restriction fragments we show that they protect efficiently also in the case of fast neutrons.

Transcranial high-intensity Doppler signals in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses: their relationship with abnormal intracavitary echoes.

Background And Aims Of The Study: In preceding studies, we reported that abnormal Doppler signals of high intensity (HITS) were frequently found in the cerebral arteries of patients with prosthetic mechanical heart valves. These signals should be attributed either to air microbubbles, possibly due to cavitations or to solid emboli elements. On the other hand, the presence of abnormal intracardiac echoes has been reported in patients with mechanical valves.

Sequence-modulated radiosensitization of DNA by copper ions.

Plasmid DNA and restriction fragments of 80 and 120 base pairs were irradiated with fast neutrons in the presence of CuCl2. The number of single and double strand breaks is higher in the presence than in the absence of Cu2+ ions. The radiosensitizing effect was lower for solutions of high compared with low ionic strength, and also lower for deoxygenated than for aerated solutions.

Comparative study of DNA radiolysis by fast neutrons and gamma-rays.

The effect of fast neutrons on cells is different from that of gamma-rays: the relative (to gamma) biological effect (RBE) is higher than one and the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) is lower than that of gamma-rays. We searched for differences between the effects of the two radiations on DNA, the critical target of radiations. Using a model plasmid DNA we observed that for the same absorbed dose, fast neutrons induce twice fewer single strand breaks (SSB) and 1.

Determination of left ventricular mass in systemic hypertension: comparison of standard and signal averaged electrocardiography.

Objective: To investigate the quantitative relationship, if any, between signal averaged electrocardiographic variables and echocardiographically determined left ventricular mass in hypertensive subjects.

Design: Cohort analytic prospective study.

Setting: University hospital.