Systolic function is often evaluated by measuring ejection fraction and its preservation is often assimilated with the lack of impairment of systolic left ventricular (LV) function. Considering the left ventricle as a muscular pump, we explored LV function during chronic hypertension independently of increased afterload conditions. Fourteen conscious and chronically instrumented pigs received continuous infusion of either angiotensin II (n = 8) or saline (n = 6) during 28 days. Hemodynamic recordings were regularly performed in the presence and 1 h after stopping angiotensin II infusion to evaluate intrinsic LV function. Throughout the protocol, the mean arterial pressure steadily increased by 55 ± 4 mmHg in angiotensin II-treated animals. There were no significant changes in stroke volume, LV fractional shortening or LV wall thickening, indicating the lack of alterations in LV ejection. In contrast, we observed maladaptive changes with (1) the lack of reduction in isovolumic contraction and relaxation durations with heart rate increases, (2) abnormally blunted isovolumic contraction and relaxation responses to dobutamine and (3) a linear correlation between isovolumic contraction and relaxation durations. None of these changes were observed in saline-infused animals. In conclusion, we provide evidence of impaired LV function with concomitant isovolumic contraction and relaxation abnormalities during chronic hypertension while ejection remains preserved and no sign of heart failure is present. The evaluation under unloaded conditions shows intrinsic LV abnormalities.

In STEMI patients without cardiogenic shock and without a priori indication for TFI, PCI can be performed via the radial artery in more than 90% of cases with high procedural success rate. Operator's judgement of eligibility for TRI based on radial pulse quality is predictive of successful TRI in 95% of cases. TR failure is significantly more common in the elderly and in patients with low body weight.

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Most patients presenting with acute chest pain (ACP) at the emergency unit do not have any marked electrocardiogram abnormalities or known history of heart disease. Identifying the few patients who have, or will actually develop acute coronary syndrome in this group that is considered to be at low risk, is an actual clinical challenge for emergency department physicians. In these patients, the goal of complementary non-invasive morphological or functional imaging tests is to exclude heart disease. The diagnostic values of coronary CT angiography include a sensitivity of 96% and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.09, which are highly contributory to the diagnosis, and the integration of this imaging test into a decision tree algorithm appears to be the least expensive strategy with the best cost/effective ratio. Coronary CT angiography is indicated in the presence of ACP associated with an inconclusive electrocardiogram, in the absence of any other obvious diagnoses, when the ultrasensitive troponin assay is negative or the dynamic changes are modest, slow and/or inconclusive. Ideally, coronary CT angiography should be performed within 3 to 48hours after the initial consultation.

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