Despite normal EF and FS, children exposed to anthracycline therapy may have late-onset subtle changes of LV strain values measured by STE. Whether these changes of strain can predict future risk of developing heart failure needs to be explored in further studies.

LV torsion was altered in OSA patients with varying degrees according to the disease severity. Furthermore, there was no significant change of torsion after 24 weeks of CPAP therapy.

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Paclitaxel is a new cancer chemotherapeutic agent that has been approved for clinical use in patients with a variety of different cancers. Paclitaxel inhibits cell proliferation by an action on microtubules. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of locally delivered paclitaxel after coronary stent implantation. A novel double-balloon perfusion catheter was used to deliver the drug locally in the pig coronary artery. Twenty-seven domestic pigs underwent stent implantation of the left anterior descending artery. In the treatment group (n = 11), paclitaxel (10 ml; 10 micromol/l) was delivered using the double-balloon perfusion catheter prior to stent implantation. The control group received stent implantation only (n = 16). The animals were sacrificed 4 weeks later. Vessels were perfusion-fixed and morphometric analysis was performed using conventional techniques. In addition, the extent of injury was determined at each stent-strut area. Correlation of local injury and neointimal thickness was evaluated by linear regression. Neointimal thickness (paclitaxel 1.0 +/- 0.4 vs. control 0.7 +/- 0.3 mm), neointimal area (paclitaxel 4.1 +/- 2.2 vs. control 2.4 +/- 1.1 mm(2)), and the lumen area (paclitaxel 2.1 +/- 1.9 vs. control 2.5 +/- 0.9 mm(2)) did not show significant differences between both groups. Medial area (3.3 +/- 2.3 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.4 mm(2)) was larger in the vessels treated with paclitaxel (P < 0.05). Linear regression failed to show any difference in the response to injury between the two groups. Local delivery of paclitaxel with the double-balloon-perfusion catheter did not reduce neointima formation following stent implantation in native pig coronary arteries.

SummaryBackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In the current prospective study, we addressed the impact of RA on left atrial (LA) function and electrical remodelling. Further, we tried to demonstrate the effects of infliximab, an anti-TNFalpha agent, on echocardiographical LA abnormality in RA patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction.MethodsWe compared 38 female RA patients without clinical evidence of heart disease and 30 female controls without RA and clinical evidence of heart disease. Further, we compared RA patients receiving infliximab and increasing doses of prednisolone over a three-month period. At baseline and post treatment, this study assessed (1) LA and LV parameters using conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), and (2) electrocardiographic P-wave changes.ResultsThe values of C-reactive protein (CRP), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), A wave, and deceleration time (DT) were significantly higher in RA patients compared to the control group (p < 0.05), whereas E/E′ and E/A values were found to be lower (p < 0.05) in RA patients. E/E′ values were lower in prednisolone- compared to infliximab-treated patients (p < 0.05). After three months of infliximab and prednisolone treatment, CRP and disease activity score (DAS 28) values decreased in both groups (p < 0.05), and Duke activity status index (DASI) increased (p < 0.05). Maximal left atrial volume index (LAVImax), pre-contraction left atrial volume index (LAVIpreA) and maximum P wave (Pmax) of the RA patients were higher compared to the control group (p < 0.05), whereas LA global strain was found to be lower (p < 0.05). There was no difference in Pmax values between groups before and after the treatment period. E/E′, LAVImax and LAVIpreA values of infliximab-treated patients decreased and LA global strain increased after three months of therapy compared to baseline (p < 0.05). At baseline in both treatment groups, E/E′ and LA global late diastolic strain rate were lower in prednisolone-compared to infliximab-treated patients (p < 0.05).ConclusionThere was echocardiographic LA abnormality in these RA patients. In this patient group there was also a meaningful increase in maximum P wave assessed by electrocardiography. Infliximab therapy for a period of three months improved LA abnormality.