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Background Whether cyclosporine A (CsA) has beneficial effects in reperfused myocardial infarction (MI) is debated. Objectives This study investigated whether CsA improved ST-segment resolution in a randomized, multicenter phase II study. Methods The authors randomly assigned 410 patients from 31 cardiac care units, age 63 ± 12 years, with large ST-segment elevation MI within 6 h of symptom onset, Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 to 1 in the infarct-related artery, and committed to primary percutaneous coronary intervention, to 2.5 mg/kg intravenous CsA (n = 207) or control (n = 203) groups. The primary endpoint was incidence of ≥70% ST-segment resolution 60 min after TIMI flow grade 3. Secondary endpoints included high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) on day 4, left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and clinical events at 6-month follow-up. Results Time from symptom onset to first antegrade flow was 180 ± 67 min; a median of 5 electrocardiography leads showed ST-segment deviation (quartile [Q]1 to Q3: 4 to 6); 49.8% of MIs were anterior. ST-segment resolution ≥70% was found in 52.0% of CsA patients and 49.0% of controls (p = 0.55). Median hs-cTnT on day 4 was 2,160 (Q1 to Q3: 1,087 to 3,274) ng/l in CsA and 2,068 (1,117 to 3,690) ng/l in controls (p = 0.85). The 2 groups did not differ in LV ejection fraction on day 4 and at 6 months. Infarct site did not influence CsA efficacy. There were no acute allergic reactions or nonsignificant excesses of 6-month mortality (5.7% CsA vs. 3.2% controls, p = 0.17) or cardiogenic shock (2.4% CsA vs. 1.5% controls, p = 0.33). Conclusions In the CYCLE (CYCLosporinE A in Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial, a single intravenous CsA bolus just before primary percutaneous coronary intervention had no effect on ST-segment resolution or hs-cTnT, and did not improve clinical outcomes or LV remodeling up to 6 months. (CYCLosporinE A in Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction [CYCLE]; NCT01650662; EudraCT number 2011-002876-18)

Whether cyclosporine A (CsA) has beneficial effects in reperfused myocardial infarction (MI) is debated.This study investigated whether CsA improved ST-segment resolution in a randomized, multicenter phase II study.The authors randomly assigned 410 patients from 31 cardiac care units, age 63 ± 12 years, with large ST-segment elevation MI within 6 h of symptom onset, Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 to 1 in the infarct-related artery, and committed to primary percutaneous coronary intervention, to 2.5 mg/kg intravenous CsA (n = 207) or control (n = 203) groups. The primary endpoint was incidence of ≥70% ST-segment resolution 60 min after TIMI flow grade 3. Secondary endpoints included high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) on day 4, left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and clinical events at 6-month follow-up.Time from symptom onset to first antegrade flow was 180 ± 67 min; a median of 5 electrocardiography leads showed ST-segment deviation (quartile [Q]1 to Q3: 4 to 6); 49.8% of MIs were anterior. ST-segment resolution ≥70% was found in 52.0% of CsA patients and 49.0% of controls (p = 0.55). Median hs-cTnT on day 4 was 2,160 (Q1 to Q3: 1,087 to 3,274) ng/l in CsA and 2,068 (1,117 to 3,690) ng/l in controls (p = 0.85). The 2 groups did not differ in LV ejection fraction on day 4 and at 6 months. Infarct site did not influence CsA efficacy. There were no acute allergic reactions or nonsignificant excesses of 6-month mortality (5.7% CsA vs. 3.2% controls, p = 0.17) or cardiogenic shock (2.4% CsA vs. 1.5% controls, p = 0.33).In the CYCLE (CYCLosporinE A in Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial, a single intravenous CsA bolus just before primary percutaneous coronary intervention had no effect on ST-segment resolution or hs-cTnT, and did not improve clinical outcomes or LV remodeling up to 6 months. (CYCLosporinE A in Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction [CYCLE]; NCT01650662; EudraCT number 2011-002876-18).

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is associated with improved neurologic outcomes in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). There are currently limited data on the outcomes of patients presenting with resuscitated OHCA in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of comatose survivors of OHCA complicating acute myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and TH.A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on all consecutive patients referred for primary PCI and TH between August 2008 and December 2013 in a single center. The primary endpoint was survival to hospital discharge with sufficient neurologic recovery (defined as Cerebral Performance Category score2).Among 886 consecutive patients referred for primary PCI, 24 were comatose survivors of OHCA complicating acute myocardial infarction. All these patients underwent primary PCI followed by TH. Median patient age was 59 (IQR 35-87) years and 11 (45.8%) patients had anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Median OHCA-to-balloon time was 120 min (IQR 75-340) while median OHCA-to-TH initiation time was 250 min (IQR 180-310). Survival with sufficient neurologic recovery to enable discharge home was reached in 16 (66.7%) patients. Time between initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)20 min was associated with a lower occurrence of death and poor neurologic outcome compared to CPR-to-ROSC time ≥20 min (15.4 vs 54.5%, p=0.05). The occurrence of major bleeding was 8.3%, while no stent thrombosis was reported.TH in conjunction with primary PCI is feasible and associated with acceptable outcome in the majority of comatose survivors of OHCA complicating acute myocardial infarction, especially if CPR-to-ROSC time was20 min. Randomized studies are needed to better assess the superiority of TH and primary PCI vs primary PCI alone in this complex subset of OHCA patients.

INTRODUCTION Unprotected left main (ULM) related ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a severe event, often leading to circulatory failure and/or sudden cardiac death. Although high-risk ULM thrombosis populations treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) have been previously described, very little is known regarding the outcomes following PPCI for ULM-related STEMI in a hospital without on-site surgical back-up. METHODS A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on all consecutive patients who underwent PPCI for ULM-related STEMI in a single center. The primary end-point was to assess in-hospital mortality in the overall population and according to the presence/absence of cardiogenic shock at admission. RESULTS Between October 2006 and December 2012, 1094 patients underwent PPCI for STEMI. PPCI for ULM-related STEMI was performed in 34 (3.1%) patients. Among these, 22 (64.7%) were in cardiogenic shock at admission. Baseline mean ejection fraction was lower (P = 0.008), whereas the prevalence of patients with pre-procedural cardiac arrest and Killip Class III-IV was significantly higher in the cardiogenic shock (P = 0.05 and P

End-stage heart failure refractory to medical therapy is a clinical challenge. Heart transplantation is considered the best strategy, but it remains burdened with substantial limitations due to the scanty availability of facilities with a transplant programme, donor shortage, and unpredictable waiting lists. Alternatively, assist devices may allow an improvement of the haemodynamic conditions, modifying the history of end-stage heart failure and introducing new management strategies. The goal of a minimally invasive short-term circulatory support device in the treatment of end-stage heart failure patients awaiting heart transplant is to restore the haemodynamic conditions and to improve end-organ dysfunction, with a low incidence of major adverse cardiac events. This report describes the first implantation in Italy of a new percutaneous circulatory support device, the Cancion cardiac recovery system, in a patient with severe end-stage heart failure listed for transplantation.

Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most frequent foodborne illnesses worldwide and it is caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with enterotoxins produced by some strains of Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Southern Brazil, S. aureus has been identified as the second most frequent agent of foodborne illnesses in the last two decades. The aim of the present study was to assess and analyse the epidemiological data of S. aureus food poisoning occurred in the State of RS during the years of 2000 to 2002. The official records of epidemiological investigations carried out by the Sanitary Surveillance Services of the State of RS were analysed. Among foodborne outbreaks for which aetiology was determined, S. aureus was identified as the responsible agent of 57 foodborne outbreaks, being 42 (74%) confirmed by microbiological analyses and 15 (26%) confirmed by clinical symptoms and/or epidemiological data. Staphylococcal outbreaks were responsible for the exposition of 5,991 persons, of which 1,940 (32%) were interviewed by the Sanitary Surveillance officers. The most affected age group corresponded to people with 20 to 49 years old (48%), where men (48%) and women (52%) were affected similarly. The main involved food vehicles were meats servings (35%), followed by pastries (25%), cheese (23%), pasta (11%) and potato salad with homemade mayonnaise (11%). The majority of the outbreaks occurred inside private homes (33%) followed by commercial food establishments (28%). Inadequate control of temperature and failures in general hygiene practices were identified as the main factors responsible for the outbreaks. In conclusion, S. aureus was an important food poisoning etiological agent in the State of RS during 2000 to 2002 and its prevention depends on control measures involving different parts of the food chain.

We follow-up on the experience started 3 years ago with the introduction in a pediatric neurorehabilitation hospital of an ICF-CY based form for rehabilitation projecting/programming, by probing the impact that this process had on stakeholders to establish its long term cost/benefit ratio.Two hundred and two rehabilitation projects/programs forms for children with various health conditions admitted for intensive rehabilitation were completed in 36 months. Assessment was carried out by (i) evaluating the compliance with the new process design, (ii) assessing the resource consumption and (iii) appraising the perceived change in terms of added quality. A structured questionnaire built by clustering statements about added quality determinants in rehabilitation expressed by team members and families, explored the perceived change in the rehabilitation process associated with the introduced form with a 0-5 Likert-type scaling.(i) Most projects/programs forms were filled appropriately, allowing the link of functional problems, objectives, rehabilitation activities, and outcome indicators. (ii) No additional resources were needed to implement the process. (iii) Questionnaire scores were 3.25 SD 0.2 for team members and 4.05 SD 0.2 for families, showing moderate to relevant appreciation in particular by families.The results confirmed the feasibility of ICF implementation in the clinical setting. ICF based project/program was appreciated by both team members and caregivers as adding quality to the rehabilitation process. These results further encourage the implementation of ICF based tools in the clinical sector.

We present a case of double aortic arch corrected by surgical interruption and full mobilization of the trachea and the esophagus. The vascular malformations of the supraaortic trunks, which form more or less complete vascular rings encircling the esophagus and the trachea, are reviewed. The different presentations of double aortic arch, aberrant subclavian arteries, and abnormal development of the pulmonary arteries are discussed.

Evaluation of the results obtained in the management of congenital heart diseases in Liège.We evaluated the results, the mortality and the morbidity of diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization, and of the cardiac surgery in the 123 cardiac children who were referred to us during the three first years of operation of our medico-surgical team.89 children underwent a catheterization, including 12 therapeutic interventions, whereas 68 were operated. In the two domains, the results are completely comparable with those of the established centers.The widening of the activity of paediatric cardiology and the creation of an activity of pediatric cardiac surgery in Liège appeared important to us for the quality of management of the cardiac children. This goal could be reached only if our results were comparable with those of the literature. The bet seems to be held. The ultimate objective is to contribute by an adequate policy of management to the quality of life and the health of the cardiac children.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) was evaluated by color Doppler echocardiography during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 28 patients with one-vessel artery disease (left anterior descending artery in 11, right coronary artery in 8, and circumflex artery in 9) and normal left ventricular function. In all three groups, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion score index (WMSI) decreased significantly during artery occlusion in comparison with baseline values (no differences among various groups). Anterior and inferior akinesia/dyskinesia was observed in all patients during left anterior descending and right coronary artery occlusion, respectively. Lateral akinesia/dyskinesia was induced by occlusion of the circumflex artery in six patients (all with proximal lesions [p0.05 vs the other two groups]) and the right coronary artery in one. Only the six patients with circumflex artery occlusion showed PTCA-related MR (2+ in two). LVEF and WMSI were similar during artery occlusion in patients with and without MR. Neither mitral leaflet prolapse nor anulus dilation occurred during PTCA in any of the patients. Our data show that during brief occlusion of the proximal circumflex artery, functional MR (usually mild) frequently occurs in relation to specific lateral akinesia/dyskinesia.

Portal and hepatic vein flow-velocity profiles were examined by pulsed Doppler in 66 patients with tricuspid regurgitation (color Doppler grading: severe: 37, moderate: 18; mild: 11) and 20 normal subjects to determine if portal vein flow analysis is useful in the evaluation of tricuspid regurgitation. Portal vein flow was defined as one of the following categories: subcontinuous (dependent on respiration), pulsatile systolic (not inverted), inverted after systole, and continuous (not dependent on respiration). An index of portal vein flow pulsatility was also calculated. Standard classification of hepatic vein flow pattern was performed. Portal vein flow was pulsatile in 20% of normals subjects, and in 27.3% 44.5% and 51.3% of patients with respectively mild, moderate and severe tricuspid regurgitation; portal vein flow was inverted after systole in further 32.4% of patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. Portal vein pulsatility index correlated with color Doppler grading of tricuspid regurgitation (r:0.63; p0.001) and right ventricle-atrium pressure gradient (r:0.39; p0.01). However, when compared with hepatic vein flow, both sensitivity and specificity of quantitative portal vein flow analysis was less reliable in diagnosing and grading tricuspid regurgitation. In particular, in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, the portal vein flow pattern was quite variable (pulsatile in 19 patients, inverted after systole in 12, and continuous in six). Liver biopsy was performed in nine patients, four of them with severe tricuspid regurgitation and continuous portal vein flow. Histology showed severe liver fibrosis in all four.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To evaluate the existence and reproducibility of a circadian rhythm of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs), 38 patients (mean age 57 +/- 17 years) with greater than or equal to VPCs/hour were studied with 24-hour electrocardiogram Holter monitoring. Nineteen patients had coronary artery disease and 19 had structurally normal hearts. A second Holter electrocardiogram was recorded in all patients from 2 to 47 days (mean 11) after the first. Chronobiologic analysis was made by single and mean cosinor methods. A significant and similar circadian rhythm of VPCs was found in the total sample both on the first (mesor 399, acrophase at 15:08, p less than 0.01) and the second day (mesor 306, acrophase at 14:47, p less than 0.05), with 2 main peaks, the first in the late morning and the second in the afternoon. However, only 18 patients (47%, group A) had a significant individual circadian rhythm of VPCs on both days, whereas 20 (53%, group B) did not have a significant rhythm in greater than or equal to 1 day. A high reproducibility of the circadian rhythm of VPCs was found in group A patients, with a difference of 2.1 +/- 1.8 hours between the acrophases of the 2 days, whereas the difference was 4.4 +/- 3.3 hours in group B patients (p less than 0.01). Among group A patients, 14 (78%) had a VPC rhythm with acrophase occurring during waking hours, whereas the acrophase of 4 (22%) occurred during the night. The reproducibility of the circadian rhythm of VPCs was not influenced by gender, presence of coronary disease, medical therapy, basal VPC number, or day-to-day variability of VPCs, although group A patients were older than group B patients (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fifty-four patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with thrombolytic therapy (27 with rTPA and 27 with streptokinase). In all the subjects CK was monitored (every 3 hours) and ergometric test, echocardiogram, and 24 hours holter ecg were performed in the pre-discharge period. In 22 of the patients, coronary angiography was also performed. No differences were shown between the two groups of patients as regards CK values and ejection fraction. Repetitive ventricular premature beats were registered without difference between the two groups (23% in patients treated with SK and 18% in the patients treated with rTPA). No bleeding events were shown in the patients treated with rTPA without calciparin. On the other hand no difference there was between patients treated with rTPA + calciparin and patients treated with SK with or without calciparin.