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.

No abstract

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.

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