Effects of ankle foot orthosis in stiff knee gait in adults with hemiplegia.

Stroke survivors present a less efficient gait compared to healthy subjects due to abnormal knee flexion during the swing phase of gait, associated with spasticity of the rectus femoris muscle and overactivity of the ankle plantarflexors. It is relevant to understand the effect of the ankle foot orthosis (AFO) on gait in individuals with plantarflexor spasticity. The aim of this study was to compare the knee kinematics with an AFO/footwear combination and barefoot in post-stroke subjects with plantarflexor spasticity.

[Contrast induced nephropathy in acute coronary syndrome].

Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) is one of the most frequent causes of acute renal failure in hospitalized patients. It is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Risk factors and prevention strategies are not well defined.

[Safety standards for the use of magnetic resonance in patients with cardiovascular devices].

We conducted a meeting of experts to establish rules for the management of patients with cardiovascular devices when they require a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study in the most common clinical scenarios, defining whether the study is safe, unsafe or conditional.

Impaired anti-platelet effect of aspirin, inflammation and platelet turnover in cardiac surgery.

A reduced platelet inhibitory response to acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) has been associated with an increased risk of graft thrombotic occlusion after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We performed a prospective, observational study of 18 patients on 100 mg/day ASA before and after CABG. We assessed antiplatelet response to ASA and its relationship with platelet turnover, inflammatory markers, and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) levels.

Burnout, perceived stress, and depression among cardiology residents in Argentina.

Objective: Because medical residency is a stressful time for training physicians, placing residents at increased risk for psychological distress, the authors studied the prevalence of burnout, perceived stress, and depression in cardiology residents in Argentina and examined the association between sociodemographic characteristics and these syndromes.

Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional observational study of 106 cardiology residents in Argentina and a comparison group of 104 age- and gender-matched nonmedical professionals. The main outcome measures included the prevalence of burnout with the Maslach Burnout Inventory, distress with the Perceived Stress Scale, and depression with the Beck Depression Inventory.

Ethnic differences in the treatment of depression in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine ethnic differences in depressive symptoms and antidepressant treatment in a cohort of patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, with an excess of mortality in African Americans. Traditional risk factors occur more frequently among African Americans but do not fully account for this increased risk.