Association between up-titration of medical therapy and total hospitalizations and mortality in patients with recent worsening heart failure across the ejection fraction spectrum.

Background: The role of neurohormonal inhibition in chronic heart failure (HF) is well established. There are limited data on the effect of up-titration of renin-angiotensin inhibitors (RASi) and beta-blockers (BBs) on clinical outcomes of patients with worsening HF across the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) spectrum.

Methods And Results: We analysed data from 2345 patients from BIOSTAT-CHF (80.

Perceived risk profile and treatment optimization in heart failure: an analysis from BIOlogy Study to TAilored Treatment in chronic heart failure.

Background: Achieving target doses of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin-receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB) and beta-blockers in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is often underperformed. In BIOlogy Study to TAilored Treatment in chronic heart failure (BIOSTAT-CHF) study, many patients were not up-titrated for which no clear reason was reported. Therefore, we hypothesized that perceived-risk profile might influence treatment optimization.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for nephroprotection and cardioprotection in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) develops in ∼40% of patients with diabetes and is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. Patients with CKD, especially those with diabetes mellitus, are at high risk of both developing kidney failure and cardiovascular (CV) death. The use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers to reduce the incidence of kidney failure in patients with DKD dates back to studies that are now ≥20 years old.

Incidence and Outcomes of Pneumonia in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: The incidence of pneumonia and subsequent outcomes has not been compared in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the rate and impact of pneumonia in the PARADIGM-HF (Prospective Comparison of Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor With Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure) and PARAGON-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ARB Global Outcomes in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction) trials.

Methods: The authors analyzed the incidence of investigator-reported pneumonia and the rates of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death before and after the occurrence of pneumonia, and estimated risk after the first occurrence of pneumonia in unadjusted and adjusted analyses (the latter including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide).

Urinary peptides in heart failure: a link to molecular pathophysiology.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health concern worldwide. The diversity of HF makes it challenging to decipher the underlying complex pathological processes using single biomarkers. We examined the association between urinary peptides and HF with reduced (HFrEF), mid-range (HFmrEF) and preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction, defined based on the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, and the links between these peptide biomarkers and molecular pathophysiology.

Adipocyte-Mineralocorticoid Receptor Alters Mitochondrial Quality Control Leading to Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Senescence of Visceral Adipose Tissue.

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression is increased in the adipose tissue (AT) of obese patients and animals. We previously demonstrated that adipocyte-MR overexpression in mice (Adipo-MROE mice) is associated with metabolic alterations. Moreover, we showed that MR regulates mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence in the visceral AT of obese db/db mice.

The value of spot urinary creatinine as a marker of muscle wasting in patients with new-onset or worsening heart failure.

Background: Muscle wasting and unintentional weight loss (cachexia) have been associated with worse outcomes in heart failure (HF), but timely identification of these adverse phenomena is difficult. Spot urinary creatinine may be an easily accessible marker to assess muscle loss and cachexia. This study investigated the association of urinary creatinine with body composition changes and outcomes in patients with new-onset or worsening HF (WHF).

Quality of life in men and women with heart failure: association with outcome, and comparison between the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire and the EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire.

Aims: We sought to analyse quality of life (QoL) measures derived from two questionnaires widely used in clinical trials, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and the EuroQoL 5 dimensions (EQ-5D), and to compare their prognostic value in men and women with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods And Results: From the BIOlogy Study to TAilored Treatment in Chronic Heart Failure (BIOSTAT-CHF) we compared KCCQ and EQ-5D at baseline and after 9 months in 1276 men and 373 women with new-onset or worsening symptoms of HFrEF, who were sub-optimally treated and in whom there was an anticipated up-titration of guideline-derived medical therapies. Women had significantly worse baseline QoL (median) as compared with men, both when assessed with KCCQ overall score (KCCQ-OS, 44 vs.

Serum microRNAs and antifibrotic response to eplerenone in acute myocardial infarction complicated by systolic dysfunction.

Background: After myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by heart failure (HF), eplerenone reduced serum concentrations of amino-terminal propeptide of type III collagen (PIIINP) and carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP). Determining a subgroup who are more prone to decrease their collagen content and to respond better to the antifibrotic effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) may be relevant for a personalized treatment approach. Whether circulating microRNAs may identify a subgroup that have experienced a more pronounced antifibrotic effect of eplerenone as measured by a PICP and PIIINP decrease is unclear.

Risk stratification with echocardiographic biomarkers in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the media echo score.

Aims: Echocardiographic predictors of outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have not been systematically or independently validated. We aimed at identifying echocardiographic predictors of cardiovascular events in a large cohort of patients with HFpEF and to validate these in an independent large cohort.

Methods And Results: We assessed the association between echocardiographic parameters and cardiovascular outcomes in 515 patients with heart failure with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (>50%) in the MEtabolic Road to DIAstolic Heart Failure (MEDIA) multicentre study.

Clinical profile and midterm prognosis of left ventricular thrombus in heart failure.

Aims: We documented the midterm prognosis of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in heart failure (HF) patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). We aimed to characterize patients with LVT in the context of HF with reduced (≤40%) left ventricular ejection fraction and evaluate their risk for death and/or embolic events, overall, and specifically in patients with ischaemic or non-ischaemic aetiology. We also intended to identify risk factors for LVT in patients with DCM.

Non-fatal cardiovascular events preceding sudden cardiac death in patients with an acute myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure: insights from the high-risk myocardial infarction database.

Aims: Among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by heart failure [HF; clinical HF or left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction], we explored the probability of subsequent non-fatal cardiovascular (CV) events and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Methods And Results: The high-risk myocardial infarction (HRMI) database contains 28 771 patients with signs of HF or reduced LV ejection fraction (<40%) after AMI. We evaluated the temporal association between SCD with preceding non-fatal CV event [HF hospitalization, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke].

Head-to-head comparison of clustering methods for heterogeneous data: a simulation-driven benchmark.

The choice of the most appropriate unsupervised machine-learning method for "heterogeneous" or "mixed" data, i.e. with both continuous and categorical variables, can be challenging.

Association between depressive symptoms and subsequent injuries in early adolescents: a population-based study.

Objectives: Depressive symptoms (DSs) may be frequent and highly increase the risk of injuries in early adolescents (10-16 years). This study assessed the association between DSs and subsequent school and out-of-school injuries in early adolescents.

Methods: The study population included 1219 middle-school adolescents from north-eastern France (mean age =12.

Antifibrotic effect of novel neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin inhibitors in cardiac and renal disease models.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is involved in cardiovascular and renal diseases. Gene inactivation of NGAL blunts the pathophysiological consequences of cardiovascular and renal damage. We aimed to design chemical NGAL inhibitors and investigate its effects in experimental models of myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic kidney disease induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (CKD) on respectively 8-12 weeks old C57Bl6/j and FVB/N male mice.

Adverse gastrointestinal events with sodium polystyrene sulphonate and calcium polystyrene sulphonate use in dialysis patients: a nationwide registry study.

Introduction: Sodium polystyrene sulphonate (SPS) and calcium polystyrene sulphonate (CPS) are commonly used cation-exchange resins for the treatment and control of hyperkalaemia. However, their use (particularly SPS) has been limited by reports of adverse gastrointestinal (GI) events. The safety of these compounds in patients undergoing dialysis requires larger investigation.

[Psychological effects of emergency calls management on medical dispatcher assistants in a SAMU-Center 15].

Introduction: In France, the emergency call center is called SAMU (service d'aide médicale d'urgence). The Medical Dispatcher Assistant (MDA) is the first responder and is exposed to first calls of distress and has a high risk of stress disorder.

Aim: Psychological impact of emergency calls on MDA.

Prevalence, risk factors and proteomic bioprofiles associated with heart failure in rheumatoid arthritis: The RA-HF study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have high risk of heart failure (HF).

Aims: Identifying the risk factors and mechanistic pathways associated with HF in patients with RA.

Methods: Cohort study enrolling 355 RA patients.

Cardiac and Kidney Benefits of Empagliflozin in Heart Failure Across the Spectrum of Kidney Function: Insights From EMPEROR-Reduced.

Background: In EMPEROR-Reduced (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction), empagliflozin reduced cardiovascular death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization and total HF hospitalizations, and slowed the progressive decline in kidney function in patients with HF and a reduced ejection fraction, with and without diabetes. We aim to study the effect of empagliflozin on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes across the spectrum of kidney function.

Methods: In this prespecified analysis, patients were categorized by the presence or absence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 ml/min/1.