Effectiveness and Safety of a Prolonged Hemodynamic Support by the IVAC2L System in Healthy and Cardiogenic Shock Pigs.

Background: Mechanical circulatory supports are used in case of cardiogenic shock (CS) refractory to conventional therapy. Several devices can be employed, but are limited by their availability, benefit risk-ratio, and/or cost.

Aims: To investigate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a long-term support by a new available device (IVAC2L) in pigs.

Reproducibility of the 2016 American Society of Echocardiography-European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging Algorithm for Estimation of Left Ventricular Filling Pattern: Not Perfect but Good Enough.

The 2016 American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) guidelines for the evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function reported a new algorithm to assess diastolic function and to estimate left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP). At least five to six different parameters were necessary to conclude, each of them with their own inter-observer variability. This article examines the reproducibility of each parameter of the algorithm and its influence on the final decision of the clinician.

Cyclic AMP-binding protein Epac1 acts as a metabolic sensor to promote cardiomyocyte lipotoxicity.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a master regulator of mitochondrial metabolism but its precise mechanism of action yet remains unclear. Here, we found that a dietary saturated fatty acid (FA), palmitate increased intracellular cAMP synthesis through the palmitoylation of soluble adenylyl cyclase in cardiomyocytes. cAMP further induced exchange protein directly activated by cyclic AMP 1 (Epac1) activation, which was upregulated in the myocardium of obese patients.

Comparison of Neuropsychological Assessment by Videoconference and Face to Face.

Objective: To compare the administration of neuropsychological tests by teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) and face to face (F-F) in order to determine the feasibility and reliability of TeleNP.

Method: At the inclusion visit, all participants underwent a traditional F-F neuropsychological assessment as part of their standard care. Four months after inclusion, they were randomized to undergo an additional neuropsychological assessment either by F-F administration or by TeleNP.

Tip of the iceberg: a tertiary care centre retrospective study of left ventricular hypertrophy aetiologies.

Aims: To phenotype patients referred to a tertiary centre for the exploration of a left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) starting from 12 mm of left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT).

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients referred for aetiological workup of LVH, beginning at 12 mm of LVWT were retrospectively included in this tertiary single-centred observational study. Patients presenting with severe aortic stenosis were excluded.

Quantification of myocardial Tc-labeled bisphosphonate uptake with cadmium zinc telluride camera in patients with transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis.

Purpose: We aimed to compare different methods for semi-quantitative analysis of cardiac retention of bone tracers in patients with cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR).

Methods: Data from 67 patients with ATTR who underwent both conventional whole-body scan and a CZT myocardial SPECT (DSPECT, Spectrum Dynamics) 3 h after injection of Tc-labeled bone tracer were analyzed. Visual scoring of cardiac retention was performed on whole-body scan according to Perugini 4-point grading system from 0 (no uptake) to 3 (strong cardiac uptake with mild/absent bone uptake).

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement in acute myocarditis: Towards differentiation between immune-mediated and viral-related aetiologies.

Background: Diagnosing immune-mediated myocarditis is challenging because of non-specific clinical signs and symptoms. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) provides subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the setting of acute myocarditis, but the diagnostic value of LGE pattern for differentiating between immune-mediated and viral-related aetiologies remains unknown.

Aims: To determine the value of LGE pattern for differentiating between immune-mediated and viral-related aetiologies in patients with acute myocarditis.

Cartography of the mechanical properties of the human amniotic membrane.

Because of its low immunogenicity, biological properties, and high availability, the Human Amniotic Membrane (HAM) is widely used in the clinic and in tissue engineering research. However, while its biological characteristics are well described, its mechanical properties remain understudied especially in terms of inter- and intra-HAM variability. To guide bioengineers in the use of this natural biomaterial, a detailed cartography of the HAM's mechanical properties was performed.

Diagnostic score of cardiac involvement in AL amyloidosis.

Aims: Early diagnosis of cardiac involvement is a key issue in the management of AL amyloidosis. Our objective was to establish a diagnostic score of cardiac involvement in AL amyloidosis and to compare it with the current consensus criteria [i.e.

Value of natriuretic peptides and tissue Doppler imaging in the estimation of left ventricular filling pressure in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Estimation of left ventricular filling pressures (LVFP) is a determining factor in the follow-up of patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Natriuretic peptides (NPs) and tissue Doppler imaging may be used to monitor LVFP in patients with CA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of NPs and Doppler parameters in estimating LVFP in patients with CA.

Impact of maternal pulmonary insufficiency on fetal growth in pregnancy.

It is known that fetal growth is usually proportional to left-sided cardiac output (CO), which parallels the right-sided CO and that congenital right-sided lesions are usually associated with better perinatal outcomes than left-sided lesions. Our objective was to document whether newborns from mothers with severe residual pulmonary valve insufficiency (PI) after surgical tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) or pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) correction have lower birth weight (BW) than newborns from mothers with absent, mild, or moderate PI. This is a retrospective cohort study of women affected with repaired TOF and corrected PS with varied severity of residual PI.

Pattern of myocardial Tc-HMDP uptake and impact on myocardial function in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to describe the pattern of Tc-labeled phosphate agents myocardial uptake by scintigraphy and explore its impact on left ventricular (LV) functions in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTR-CA).

Methods: Fifty patients with TTR-CA underwent Tc- hydroxymethylene-diphosphonate (Tc-HMDP) scintigraphy and echocardiography with measure of LV thickness, longitudinal strain (LS), systolic and diastolic functions. Cardiac retention by scintigraphy was assessed by visual scoring and the heart/whole body (H/WB) ratio was calculated by dividing counts in the heart by counts in late whole-body images.

Human amniotic membrane for guided bone regeneration of calvarial defects in mice.

Due to its biological properties, human amniotic membrane (hAM) is widely studied in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. hAM is already very attractive for wound healing and it may be helpful as a support for bone regeneration. However, few studies assessed its potential for guided bone regeneration (GBR).

Targeted immunotherapy of high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia: Expectations from clinical trials.

Targeted immunotherapy of high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) has been developed as an alternative to conization, to preserve future reproductive outcomes and avoid human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence. The objectives of the review are to present drugs according to their process of development and to examine their potential future use. A search for key words associated with CIN and targeted immunotherapy was carried out in the Cochrane library, Pubmed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.

Risk factors for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder development one year after vaginal delivery: a prospective, observational study.

Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth one year after vaginal delivery and to identify characteristics of women and deliveries associated with it. Questionnaires were mailed a year after delivery to 1103 women with prospectively collected delivery and postpartum data, including a question on day 2 assessing their experience of childbirth. PTSD was assessed a year later by the Impact of Event and Traumatic Event Scales; 22 women (4.

Sexual function and postpartum depression 6 months after attempted operative vaginal delivery according to fetal head station: A prospective population-based cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the fetal head station at attempted operative vaginal delivery (aOVD), and specifically midpelvic or low aOVD, on female and male sexual function and symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) at 6 months.

Design: Prospective population-based cohort study.

Setting: 1,941 women with singleton term fetuses in vertex presentation with midpelvic or low aOVD between 2008 and 2013 in a tertiary care university hospital.

Prevention of spontaneous preterm birth: Guidelines for clinical practice from the French College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF).

In France, 60,000 neonates are born preterm every year (7.4%), half of them after the spontaneous onset of labor. Among preventable risk factors of spontaneous prematurity, only cessation of smoking is associated with decreased prematurity (level of evidence [LE]1).

Pelvic Floor Disorders 6 Months after Attempted Operative Vaginal Delivery According to the Fetal Head Station: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the fetal head station at attempted operative vaginal delivery (aOVD), and specifically midpelvic or low aOVD, on urinary incontinence (UI), anal incontinence (AI), and perineal pain at 6 months.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: 1941 women with singleton term fetuses in vertex presentation with midpelvic or low aOVD between 2008 and 2013 in a tertiary care university hospital.

Postpartum haemorrhage: prevention and treatment.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal death and severe maternal morbidity worldwide and strategies to prevent and treat PPH vary among international authorities. Areas covered: This review seeks to provide a global overview of PPH (incidence, causes, risk factors), prevention (active management of the third stage of labor and prohemostatic agents), treatment (first, second and third-line measures to control PPH), by also underlining recommendations elaborated by international authorities and using algorithms. Expert commentary: When available, oxytocin is considered the drug of first choice for both prevention and treatment of PPH, while peripartum hysterectomy remains the ultimate life-saving procedure if pharmacological and resuscitation measures fail.

Surgical management of postpartum haemorrhage: survey of French obstetricians.

The aim of our study was to assess the theoretical and practical knowledge of French obstetricians about the surgical management of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Our study is a national anonymous self-administered survey. A total of 363 obstetricians responded to this questionnaire between December 2013 and April 2014.