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Staphylococcus aureus (SA) bacteriuria may accompany SA bacteremia, but primary SA urinary tract infection (UTI) may also occur. Our clinical observation of SA UTIs following intravenous catheter-related phlebitis lead us to review hematogenous and ascending route-related risk factors in patients with primary SA UTIs. The charts from all patients with SA UTIs over a 1.5-year period were reviewed for concurrent or recent hospitalization, intravenous catheterization, and for known UTI risk factors. Patients with concurrent SA bacteremia were excluded. Patients with Escherichia coli UTIs during the same period were included as controls. Twenty cases of primary SA UTI were compared with 43 E. coli UTI cases and they did not differ in age, diabetes mellitus, prostatic hypertrophy, previous UTI, or other urinary tract (UT) abnormality. However, cases were more likely than controls to have had recent or concurrent hospitalization, UT catheterization, and history of recent phlebitis. In multivariate analysis, UT catheterization and recent hospitalization retained significant association with SA UTI. Similar results were shown for the methicillin-resistant SA UTI subgroup. Even though UT catheterization is the main predisposing factor for primary SA UTI, some cases may be mediated through unrecognized preceding bacteremia related to intravascular device exposure or other healthcare-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Marked decrease in myocardial capillary density of patients with congestive heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and depressed coronary flow reserve," by E. Tsagalou and colleagues is presented.

The article focuses on the case of 72-year-old man with cardiac adenocarcinoma, who developed malignant esophageal stricture following metal stent and radiation therapy to treat pulmonary metastases. It states that the patient have normal vital signs, however flumazenil treatment did not make him recover. It adds that a computed tomography (CT) of the brain revealed bilateral multifocal cerebral air embolism. The patient developed pneumocephalus due to gas entry through the venous system.

An abstract of the article "End-stage congestive heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is accompanied by severe reduction of myocardial capillary density," by E. Tsagalou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Significant Brain Natriuretic Peptide Reduction Predicts Survival in End-Stage Heart Failure Patients Treated With Intermittent Inotropic Infusions," by G. Batziou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Superior Survival Benefit With Intermittent Dobutamine Infusions for End Stage Heart Failure Patients With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Comparison to Ischemic Cardiomyopathy," by E. Tsagalou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Effect of Administration of Positive Inotropic Agents on BNP Levels in Patients With End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure," by E. Tsagalou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Arrhythmogenicity of Chronic Dobutamine Infusions in End Stage Congestive Heart Failure Patients Receiving Oral Amiodaron," by E. Tsagalou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Efficacy and Safety of Long Term Intermittent Dobutamine Plus Levosimendan Infusions and Oral Amiodarone in Dobutamine Alone Resistant Severe Low-Output Chronic Heart Failure," by P. Papazoglou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Treatment With Intermittent Dobutamine Infusions and Oral Amiodarone in End-Stage Heart Failure Due to Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Causes Reverse Left Ventricular Remodeling," by E. Tsagalou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Hemodynamic effect of sildenafil in patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension due to congestive heart failure," by P. Papazolglou and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Etiology of anemia in congestive heart failure," by C. Matsouka and colleagues is presented.

Background: Oxygen (O2) uptake at peak exercise (VO2 peak) is an objective measurement of functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The significance of recovery O2 kinetics parameters in predicting exercise capacity, and the parameters of submaximal exercise testing have not been thoroughly examined.Methods and Results: Thirty-six patients (mean age = 48+/-14 years) with CHF and New York Heart Association functional class I, II, or III, and eight healthy volunteers (mean age = 39+/-13 years) were studied with maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The first degree slope of O2 uptake decay during early recovery from maximal (VO2/t-slope), and submaximal exercise (VO2/t-slope)(sub), were calculated, along with VO2 half-time (T(1/2)VO2). Patients with CHF had a longer recovery of O2 uptake after exercise than healthy volunteers, expressed by a lower VO2/t-slope (0.616+/-0.317 vs. 0.956+/-0.347 l min(-1) min(-1), P=0.029) and greater T(1/2)VO2 (1.28+/-0.30 vs. 1.05+/-0.15 min, P = 0.005). VO2/t-slope correlated with the VO2 peak (r = 0.84, P<0.001), anaerobic threshold (r = 0.79, P<0.001), and T(1/2)VO2, a previously established estimate of recovery O2 kinetics (r = -0.59, P<0.001). (VO2/t-slope)(sub) was highly correlated with VO2/t-slope after maximal exercise (r=0.87, P<0.001), with the VO2 peak (r=0.87, P<0.001) and with T(1/2)VO2 after maximal exercise (r=-0.62, P<0.001). VO2/t-slope after maximal and submaximal exercise was reduced in patients with severe exercise intolerance (F=9.3, P<0.001 and F=12.8, P<0.001, respectively).Conclusions: Early recovery O2 kinetics parameters after maximal and submaximal exercise correlate closely with established indices of exercise capacity in patients with CHF and in healthy volunteers. These findings support the use of early recovery O2 kinetics after submaximal exercise testing as an index of functional capacity in patients with CHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the usefulness of 01 and QRS dispersion in the prognosis of patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF). One hundred four patients in New York Heart Association functional classes II to IV, with a left ventricular ejection fraction of <35%, and untreated with antiarrhythmic drugs, were followed prospectively. QRS and QT dispersion were defined as the maximum difference in QRS and QT interval duration, respectively, measured on all leads of standard 12-lead electrocardiograms. The end points of the study were non-sudden and sudden cardiac mortality. During an average follow-up of 20 months, there were 13 non-sudden and 10 sudden deaths. The average QRS duration was significantly longer in nonsurvivors than in survivors (125 ¿ 34 vs 113 ¿ 34 ms, respectively, p <0.04). Similar results were obtained with 01 dispersion (95 ¿ 48 ms vs 78 ¿ 31 ms, respectively, p <0.03) and QRS dispersion (54 ¿ 17 ms vs 46 16 ms, respectively, p <0.02). Furthermore, patients who died suddenly had significantly greater QRS dispersion than patients who survived (56 ¿ 13 vs 46 ¿ 16 ms, respectively, p <0.02). In a multivariate analysis, QT and QRS dispersion were both independent predictors of non-sudden cardiac death (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively), and QRS dispersion was also an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death (p = 0.04). Death rate in patients with 01 dispersion >90 ms was 2.8-fold higher than those with 01 dispersion 90 ms (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.2 to 6.4). Similarly, the death rate in patients with QRS dispersion >46 ms was 3.9-fold higher than in those with QRS dispersion 46 ms (95% Cl 1.6 to 9.5). These findings suggest that QT and QRS dispersion are useful predictors of mortality in patients with advanced CHF. ¿2000 by Excerpta Medica, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "In advanced heart failure intravenous iron is the preferred treatment of iron deficient anemia," by S. Drakos and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the study "Intra-Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation for the Treatment of Post Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock: A Single Center Long-Term Study," by S. Drakos and colleagues, is presented.