Search

Multi-annual time series of remote sensing data acquired over Europe from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) and Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) instruments were analysed to assess the state of health of vegetation in Spring 2004, compared to previous years. These data show (1) the dramatic impact of the 2003 drought on a variety of land cover types in Europe and (2) the recovery of most ecosystems to a normal situation in early 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and prolonged QRS interval, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces symptoms and risk of death. The added benefit of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) remains questionable in some patients., Methods and Results: In 332 HF patients treated with CRT-D (CRT with ICD) [65 +/- 10 years, 86% men, 23% New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II, 65% class III, and 11% class IV, 70% primary prevention, 55% ischaemic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular ejection fraction 25 +/- 7.5%, and QRS width 167 +/- 32 ms], we evaluated the relationship between functional status change, death at 6-month follow-up (FU), and the occurrence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF). A total of 68 patients (20.5%) experienced 1266 spontaneous episodes of VT/VF during FU. There was no difference in baseline characteristics between patients with or without VT/VF, except for ICD indication (primary or secondary prevention). Improvement in NYHA class was significantly associated with a decreased occurrence of VT/VF (P = 0.004). Sixteen patients who died had significantly more often VT/VF than the survivors (50 vs. 19%, P = 0.007)., Conclusion: Within the initial 6-month post-CRT therapy, 20% of patients received an appropriate ICD therapy. Patients improving on NYHA class (responders to CRT) have less VT/VF episodes than non-responders. Discriminant criteria for CRT response are awaited to optimize the choice of the device (CRT alone, defibrillator alone, or CRT-D).

Background: The purpose of this investigation is to compare the efficacy of antitachycardia pacing (ATP) delivered via the right ventricular (RV) lead versus ATP delivered simultaneously via the right and left ventricular leads (biventricular [BiV]) in the termination of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with ICD capabilities., Methods and Results: The ADVANCE CRT is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel trial evaluating RV versus BiV ATP in the termination of VT in CRT patients. The study will test the hypothesis that BiV ATP is superior to RV ATP in the termination of VT and fast VT. All patients with class I and IIa indications for an ICD implantation and CRT are included. The sample size has been estimated to 400 participants followed for 12 months to show a 10% benefit of BiV versus RV ATP. The efficacy of BiV ATP to terminate all VT presents the primary endpoint. The investigation is expected to be completed in 2007., Conclusions: The ADVANCE CRT trial is the first large randomized clinical investigation evaluating the efficacy of BiV ATP in patients under CRT and ICD therapy.