No abstract

Objective: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) improves exercise capacity and endothelial function in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This study evaluates the impact of FES on quality of life and emotional stress in patients with moderate to severe CHF. Methods: Thirty patients with stable CHF (24 men; NYHA class II-III; left ventricular ejection fraction b35%) were randomly assigned (2:1) to a 6-week FES training program (n = 20) or placebo (n = 10). Questionnaires addressing quality of life [Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), functional and overall], and emotional stress [Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)], as well as plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and 6-min walking distance test (6MWT) were assessed at baseline and after completion of training protocol. Results: A significant improvement in KCCQ functional (F = 76.666, p b 0.001), KCCQ overall (F = 41.508, p b 0.001), BDI (F = 17.768, p b 0.001) and Zung SDS (F = 27.098, p b 0.001) was observed in the FES group compared to placebo. Patients in the FES group had also a significant increase in 6MWT (F = 19.413, p b 0.001) and a trend towards reduction in plasma BNP (F = 4.252, p = 0.053) compared to placebo. Conclusion: FES seems to have a beneficial effect on quality of life, exercise capacity and emotional stress in patients with moderate to severe CHF.

Objectives: We assessed the role of the immunogenetic background in the development and recurrence of acute idiopathic pericarditis (AIP). Methods: Fifty-five patients with a first episode of AIP were followed for 23.8 ± 6.3 months and recurrences were recorded. The control group consisted of 246 healthy individuals. In all subjects, genomic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing was performed. Moreover, circulating lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in 44 randomly selected patients and in 20 controls. Results: An increased frequency of HLA-A*02, -Cw*07 and -DQB1*0202 alleles, and a decreased frequency of the -DQB1*0302 allele was detected in patients with AIP. The recurrence rate was 40% and time to recurrence was 202.8 ± 164.1 days. In patients with idiopathic recurrent pericarditis (RP), increased frequencies of HLA-A*02, -Cw*07 and -DQB1*0202 alleles were found. Notably, no patient with RP exhibited HLA-DRB1*04 and -DQB1*0302 alleles. Patients with RP exhibited lower CD4+/CD45RA+ naïve T cells (p = 0.03) than controls, and higher CD8+DR+ activated T cells (p = 0.01) than patients without recurrence and controls. Conclusions: HLA alleles may confer either susceptibility or resistance to AIP and RP. Circulating T-cell subpopulations may also predict RP. A combination of the above parameters might help to better define patients prone to recurrence.

No abstract

In conclusion, physical activity is associated with a reduced severity of ACS, reduced in-hospital mortality rates, and improved short-term prognosis.

HIV infection itself is accompanied by subclinical systolic dysfunction, not apparent to standard echocardiography that can be unmasked though using sensitive echocardiographic techniques.

Physical training is an important component of therapy for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and is considered complementary to their pharmacological treatment. The majority of conventional rehabilitation programs include aerobic training, which has been demonstrated to induce significant beneficial effects on the neurohumoral, immunoreactive and functional status of patients with moderate CHF. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of skeletal muscles constitutes an alternative training mode with beneficial effects comparable to classical aerobic exercise, suitable for patients with CHF who cannot participate in traditional training programs due to either advanced grades of CHF or the presence of comorbidities. We present a review of the numerous studies evaluating the effects of FES in CHF, focusing on its main effects on skeletal myopathy reversal, exercise tolerance improvement and quality of life modification.

No abstract