Safety and efficacy of reperfusion therapies in acute ischemic stroke related to left ventricular thrombus: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a source of cardiogenic embolic stroke. Conflicting data exist in the literature regarding the utilization of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) at the acute phase of stroke in presence of LVT. We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of reperfusion therapies (IVT and/or thrombectomy) in patients with LVT.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients with acute ischemic stroke and proven LVT and divided them in two groups: an intervention group with patients treated by reperfusion therapies and a control group with untreated patients.

RESULTS

Between 2009 and 2021, 3890 patients were treated by reperfusion therapies in the Lyon stroke center, 33 of whom (0.9%) had LVT. We identified 27 control patients. There were more embolic recurrences at six months in the intervention group than in the control group (nine recurrences versus three, P=0.03, OR=13.56, 95% CI [1.5;195]). Only two early embolic recurrences (< 24h) occurred, both in the IVT group. There was a 4.8-fold decrease in the median NIHSS score between baseline and 24h follow-up in the intervention group (P<0.0001), and the two groups exhibited similar six-month mortality. At stroke onset, cardiopathy was known in 70% of patients, while LVT was known in 30%.

CONCLUSION

Acute reperfusion therapies seem to be effective in the context of stroke in patients with LVT. However, further studies are needed to support the hypothesis that stroke recurrence might be related to the use of IVT.

What underlies sex differences in heart failure onset within the first year after a first myocardial infarction?

Background

Women are more likely to develop heart failure (HF) after myocardial infarction. However, diagnosis and reperfusion are often delayed.

Objectives

To compare the prevalence of HF after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI)-treated ST segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) between sexes and to study its associations with comorbidities, infarct size, and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunctions (DD).

Methods

The patients with PPCI-treated anterior STEMI, from the CIRCUS study cohort, were followed up for 1 year and HF events were recorded. Evaluation of ejection fraction (LVEF) and DD were performed at baseline and at 1 year. The elevated LV filling pressure (LVFP) included Grades 2 and 3 DD.

Results

Of the 791 patients from the CIRCUS study, 135 were women. At 1 year, the proportion of patients who developed HF was 21% among men and 34% among women (p = 0.001). In the subset of 407 patients with available diastolic parameters, the rate of HF was also higher in women. HF during the initial hospitalization was comparable between the sexes. However, women had a higher incidence of rehospitalization for HF within the first year after STEMI (14.1% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.005). Women were older with a higher prevalence of hypertension. The infarct size and LVEF were similar between the sexes. Elevated LVFP was observed more frequently in women than in men during the initial hospitalization and at 1 year (26% vs. 12%, p = 0.04, and 22% vs. 12%, p = 0.006, respectively). Interestingly, only initial elevated LVFP (HR 5.9, 95% CI: 2.4-14.5, p < 0.001), age, and hypertension were independently associated with rehospitalization for HF.

Conclusions

After PPCI-treated anterior STEMI, despite comparable infarct size and LVEF, women presented a higher proportion of rehospitalization for HF than men. That was likely due to a greater DD associated with older age and hypertension.

Specific inflammatory profile of acute ischemic stroke patients with left atrial enlargement

Background

The inflammatory process underlying atrial myopathy may affect the inflammatory response activated in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Objectives

We aimed to assess whether left atrial enlargement (LAE) as a marker of atrial myopathy is associated with a different profile of circulating inflammatory markers in AIS patients.

Methods

HIBISCUS-STROKE is a cohort study including anterior circulation AIS patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy following MRI. Ten circulating inflammatory markers were measured at admission and 6, 24, and 48 h after admission. LAE was defined as a left atrial volume index (LAVi) ≥34 ml/m2. A multiple logistic regression model was performed to detect an independent association between the area under the curve (AUC) of these markers and LAE.

Results

We included 143 patients. Of them, 85 (59.4%) had LAE. On univariable analysis, we found that patients with LAE had higher soluble form suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I (sTNFR1), and vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) AUC, were older, mostly female, had a higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and blood glucose level at admission, had more often hypertension, and a cardioembolic source of AIS, such as atrial fibrillation, while they were less frequently current smokers and had a lower rate of tandem occlusion than patients without LAE. On multivariable analysis, we found that among circulating inflammatory markers, only high VCAM-1 (OR: 9.13, 95% CI: 3.21-25.9) and sST2 (OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.68-6.86) AUC remained associated with LAE.

Conclusions

High VCAM-1 and sST2 levels within the first 48 h are associated with LAE in AIS patients.

[Screening for the risk of childhood overweight and obesity]

Childhood overweight and obesity have become a public health issue due to the many associated complications that cause morbidity and a major cost to society. About half of obese children will remain obese as adults, and this risk increases sharply if obesity persists into adolescence. The "first 1000 days" period from conception to two years of age is a pivotal period for long-term metabolic risk. During this period of vulnerability, several maternal and obstetric risk factors have been identified to be associated with overweight and childhood obesity. The identification of children at risk of developing obesity should allow preventive actions, based on the support of families in the establishment of healthy behaviours from an early age.

Comparative proteomic analysis of cardiac mitochondria-associated reticulum membranes in type 2 diabetes

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): INSERM U1060

Introduction

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing worldwide with cardiovascular complications being a leading cause of T2D-related morbi-mortality, notably diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). The involvement of the mitochondria-associated reticular membranes (MAM) in diabetic cardiomyopathy starts to be demonstrated, notably for Ca²+ regulation of cellular processes. However, while the MAM protein composition was studied in several organs, none was conducted on cardiac MAM.

Objective

We aim to characterize the cardiac MAM proteome by an exhaustive mass spectrometry-based proteomics together with the effect of early T2D using two well-established obesogenic diabetic mouse models (high-fat high-sucrose diet, HFHSD, and leptin-deficient ob/ob).

Methods

12 weeks old ob/ob mice versus 16 weeks HFHSD-fed mice were characterized at the subcellular level. MAM were enriched by subcellular fractionation, then protein compostion was assessed by mass spectrometry. Uniprot and Panther softwares were used to study the MAM proteomes. At the cellular level, mitochondrial calcium transfer was assessed using a mitochondrial Ca²+ sensor, while contractile function was evaluated by studying cardiomyocyte Ca²+ transients and echocardiography.

Results

Compartmental analysis of MAMs showed an enrichment of proteins from mitochondria, reticulum, cytoskeleton and plasma membrane. On the functional level, molecular and biological annotations revealed that cardiac MAM presents mainly enzymes and transporters, associated to 4 main biological processes: cellular and metabolic processes, localization and cellular component organization. Both the cellular response to stress and the lipid metabolism processes were found upregulated in both diabetic cardiac MAM. While Ca²+ transport was downregulated in the HFHSD MAM, this process was upregulated in the ob/ob MAM. However, no change in the histamine-induced reticulum-mitochondria Ca²+ transfer was observed in the ob/ob cardiomyocytes. Contrary to the HFHSD mice, the ob/ob mice did not exhibit any cardiac hypertrophy, by echocardiography or electrophysiology. Echocardiography further revealed no diastolic dysfunction in the ob/ob mice but a mild strain rate reduction with preserved ejection fraction.

Conclusion

Our data investigate the protein composition of the cardiac MAM and unravel the main alterations of the MAM proteome in ob/ob model versus our HFHSD results. Importantly, while being two models of early diabetic cardiomyopathy, the MAM proteome is altered differently, emphasizing on the complexity of diabetic animal models. Indeed, these ob/ob mice, recognized as a T2D and obese mouse model, do not recapitulate the main hallmarks of DCM, i.e. diastolic dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy, contrary to the heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) observed in the HFHSD mice, yet the lipotoxicity in the ob/ob cardiomyocytes may contribute to the early systolic dysfunction.

Predictive value of early cardiac magnetic resonance imaging functional and geometric indexes for adverse left ventricular remodelling in patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A report from the CIRCUS study

BACKGROUND

Postinfarction adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling is strongly associated with heart failure events. Conicity index, sphericity index and LV global functional index (LVGFI) are new LV remodelling indexes assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

AIM

To assess the predictive value of the new indexes for 1-year adverse LV remodelling in patients with anterior ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

CMR studies were performed in 129 patients with anterior STEMI (58±12 years; 78% men) from the randomized CIRCUS trial (CMR substudy) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and followed for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (death or hospitalization for heart failure). Conicity index, sphericity index, LVGFI, infarct size and microvascular obstruction (MVO) were assessed by CMR performed 5±4 days after coronary reperfusion. Adverse LV remodelling was defined as an increase in LV end-diastolic volume of ≥15% by transthoracic echocardiography at 1 year.

RESULTS

Adverse LV remodelling occurred in 27% of patients at 1 year. Infarct size and MVO were significantly predictive of adverse LV remodelling: odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05 (P<0.001) and OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.22 (P<0.001), respectively. Among the newly tested indexes, only LVGFI was significantly predictive of adverse LV remodelling (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.16; P=0.001). In multivariable analysis, infarct size remained an independent predictor of adverse LV remodelling at 1 year (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08; P<0.001). LVGFI and infarct size were associated with occurrence of MACE: OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.08-1.37 (P<0.001) and OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04 (P=0.018), respectively. Conicity and sphericity indexes were not associated with MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

LVGFI was associated with adverse LV remodelling and MACE 1 year after anterior STEMI.

Impact of Mitral Regurgitation Severity and Left Ventricular Remodeling on Outcome After MitraClip Implantation: Results From the Mitra-FR Trial

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify a subset of patients based on echocardiographic parameters who might have benefited from transcatheter correction using the MitraClip system in the MITRA-FR (Percutaneous Repair with the MitraClip Device for Severe Functional/Secondary Mitral Regurgitation) trial.

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that differences in the degree of mitral regurgitation (MR) and left ventricular (LV) remodeling may explain the conflicting results between the MITRA-FR and the COAPT (Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients with Functional Mitral Regurgitation) trials.

METHODS

In a post hoc analysis, we evaluated the interaction between the intervention and subsets of patients defined based on MR severity (effective regurgitant orifice [ERO], regurgitant volume [RVOL] and regurgitant fraction [RF]), LV remodeling (end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters and volumes) and combination of these parameters with respect to the composite of death from any cause or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure at 24 months.

RESULTS

We observed a neutral impact of the intervention in subsets with the highest MR degree (ERO ≥30 mm², RVOL ≥45 ml or RF ≥50%) as in patients with milder MR degree. The same was seen in subsets with the milder LV remodeling using either diastolic or systolic diameters or volumes. When parameters of MR severity and LV remodeling were combined, there was still no benefit of the intervention including in the subset of patients with an ERO/end-diastolic volume ratio ≥ 0.15 despite similar ERO and LV end-diastolic volume compared with COAPT patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In the MITRA-FR trial, we could not identify a subset of patients defined based on the degree of the regurgitation, LV remodeling or on their combination, including those deemed as having disproportionate MR, that might have benefited from transcatheter correction using the MitraClip system. (Multicentre Study of Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair MitraClip Device in Patients With Severe Secondary Mitral Regurgitation [MITRA-FR]; NCT01920698).

Importance of infarct size versus other variables for clinical outcomes after PPCI in STEMI patients

Despite promising experimental studies and encouraging proof-of-concept clinical trials, interventions aimed at limiting infarct size have failed to improve clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Our objective was to examine whether variables (cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, post-procedural variables, cotreatments) might be associated with clinical outcomes in STEMI patients independently from infarct size reduction. The present study was based on a post hoc analysis of the CIRCUS trial database (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01502774) that assessed the clinical benefit of a single intravenous bolus of cyclosporine in 969 patients with anterior STEMI. Since cyclosporine had no detectable effect on clinical outcomes as well as on any measured variable, we here considered the whole study population as one group. Multivariate analysis was performed to address the respective weight of infarct size and variables in clinical outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that several variables (including gender, hypertension, renal dysfunction, TIMI flow grade post-PCI < 3, and treatment administered after PCI with betablockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) had per se a significant influence on the occurrence of [death or hospitalization for heart failure] at 1 year. The relative weight of infarct size and variables on the composite endpoint of [death or hospitalization for heart failure] at 1 year was 18% and 82%, respectively. Several variables contribute strongly to the clinical outcomes of STEMI patients suggesting that cardioprotective strategy might not only focus on infarct size reduction.

Percutaneous repair or medical treatment for secondary mitral regurgitation: outcomes at 2 years

AIMS

The MITRA-FR trial showed that among symptomatic patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation, percutaneous repair did not reduce the risk of death or hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months compared with guideline-directed medical treatment alone. We report the 24-month outcome from this trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

At 37 centres, we randomly assigned 304 symptomatic heart failure patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation (effective regurgitant orifice area >20 mm² or regurgitant volume >30 mL), and left ventricular ejection fraction between 15% and 40% to undergo percutaneous valve repair plus medical treatment (intervention group, n = 152) or medical treatment alone (control group, n = 152). The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of all-cause death and unplanned hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months. At 24 months, all-cause death and unplanned hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 63.8% of patients (97/152) in the intervention group and 67.1% (102/152) in the control group [hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77-1.34]. All-cause mortality occurred in 34.9% of patients (53/152) in the intervention group and 34.2% (52/152) in the control group (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.70-1.50). Unplanned hospitalization for heart failure occurred in 55.9% of patients (85/152) in the intervention group and 61.8% (94/152) in the control group (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.72-1.30).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation, percutaneous repair added to medical treatment did not significantly reduce the risk of death or hospitalization for heart failure at 2 years compared with medical treatment alone.

1-Deoxydihydroceramide causes anoxic death by impairing chaperonin-mediated protein folding

Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of death worldwide. Anoxia, defined as the lack of oxygen, is commonly seen in both these pathologies and triggers profound metabolic and cellular changes. Sphingolipids have been implicated in anoxia injury, but the pathomechanism is unknown. Here we show that anoxia-associated injury causes accumulation of the non-canonical sphingolipid 1-deoxydihydroceramide (DoxDHCer). Anoxia causes an imbalance between serine and alanine resulting in a switch from normal serine-derived sphinganine biosynthesis to non-canonical alanine-derived 1-deoxysphinganine. 1-Deoxysphinganine is incorporated into DoxDHCer, which impairs actin folding via the cytosolic chaperonin TRiC, leading to growth arrest in yeast, increased cell death upon anoxia-reoxygenation in worms and ischaemia-reperfusion injury in mouse hearts. Prevention of DoxDHCer accumulation in worms and in mouse hearts resulted in decreased anoxia-induced injury. These findings unravel key metabolic changes during oxygen deprivation and point to novel strategies to avoid tissue damage and death.

Short-term and long-term positive outcomes of the multidisciplinary care implemented by the French health networks for the prevention and care of paediatric overweight and obesity

BACKGROUND

The nine French regional health networks for the prevention and care of paediatric obesity offer a 2-year program of multidisciplinary primary care (medical, dietetical, psychological, adapted physical activity) based on multicomponent lifestyle interventions.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the short-term and long-term impact of care management.

METHODS

The impact of the multidisciplinary care was assessed by changes in the body mass index (BMI) Z score during the period of the care, and at least 2 years after the end. Anthropometric data were collected at baseline and at the end of the care either through a digital medical file or through direct phone contacts with the referring. Long-term outcomes were assessed through studies relative to post follow-up evaluation.

RESULTS

At the end of the period of the care in a network, 72.9% of 6947 children had decreased their BMI Z score from 3.6 ± 1.0 DS at baseline to 3.3 ± 1.1 DS at the end. The four studies relative to long-term evaluation showed a pursuit of the decrease of BMI Z score during the 5.1 years after the beginning of the care.

CONCLUSIONS

The care provided by regional French networks for prevention and care of paediatric obesity induce a reduction of BMI that continues afterwards.

Sleep disorders in obese children are not limited to obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

AIM

This study was to characterise respiratory and nonrespiratory sleep disorders in obese children and evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic impact of a specific sleep consultation.

METHODS

A descriptive study was conducted in obese French children who received multidisciplinary care management from the hospital centre for paediatric obesity in Bordeaux. This followed a specific sleep consultation between 2007 and 2015, because their paediatrician had identified symptoms suggestive of sleep disorders.

RESULTS

The sleep specialist confirmed the presence of a sleep disorder in 98.4% of the 128 obese children, with a mean age of 12.1 ± 3.2 years. These included respiratory sleep disorders, hypersomnolence, insomnia and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders. Polysomnography revealed that 46.1% had respiratory sleep disorders and 24.2% had obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Just under half (47.6%) were referred to an otorhinolaryngologist for sleep care management, 30.5% were referred to an orthodontist, 17.9% had melatonin treatment and 13.3% received continuous positive airway pressure ventilation.

CONCLUSION

Sleep disorders in obese children were not limited to respiratory sleep disorders including OSAS. A systematic specific consultation with a sleep specialist is essential for the diagnosis and care of such children and would be beneficial when treating paediatric obesity.

Clinical Implications of Echocardiographic Phenotypes of Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may alter cardiac structure and function, but obesity, hypertension (HTN), or aging can induce similar abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to link cardiac phenotypes in T2DM patients with clinical profiles and outcomes using cluster analysis.

METHODS

Baseline echocardiography and a composite endpoint (cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization) were evaluated in 842 T2DM patients from 2 prospective cohorts. A cluster analysis was performed on echocardiographic variables, and the association between clusters and clinical profiles and outcomes was assessed.

RESULTS

Three clusters were identified. Cluster 1 patients had the lowest left ventricular (LV) mass index and ratio between early mitral inflow velocity and mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/e') ratio, had the highest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and were predominantly male with the lowest rate of obesity or HTN. Cluster 2 patients had the highest strain and highest E/e' ratio, were the oldest, were predominantly female, and had the lowest rate of isolated T2DM (without HTN or obesity). Cluster 3 patients had the highest LV mass index and volumes and the lowest LVEF and strain, were predominantly male, and shared similar age and rate of obesity and HTN as cluster 1 patients. After follow-up of 67 months (interquartile range: 40 to 87), the composite endpoint occurred in 56 of 521 patients (10.8%). Clusters 2 (hazard ratio: 2.37; 95% confidence interval: 1.15 to 4.88) and 3 (hazard ratio: 2.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.00 to 4.82) had a similar outcome, which was worse than cluster 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Cluster analysis of echocardiographic variables identified 3 different echocardiographic phenotypes of T2DM patients that were associated with distinct clinical profiles and highlighted the prognostic value of LV remodeling and subclinical dysfunction.

Multidisciplinary care management has a positive effect on paediatric obesity and social and individual factors are associated with better outcomes

AIM

The RePPOP Aquitaine network, which was established in south-west France to prevent and treat paediatric obesity, has developed a multidisciplinary approach based on multicomponent lifestyle interventions and family-based actions. This study assessed the impact of its care management programme and investigated the factors associated with better outcomes.

METHODS

The impact of the RePPOP care management programme was assessed by changes in the body mass index (BMI) Z score, between baseline and the end-of-care management. We focused on 982 overweight or obese children (59.9% girls) with a mean age of 10.64 years and a range of 2.4-17.9 years. A multivariate analysis examined the independent factors associated with better outcomes.

RESULTS

At the end-of-care management programme, 75.5% of children had decreased their BMI Z score. Initial characteristics significantly associated with better outcomes were as follows: the age at baseline between five years and 15 years of age, playing sport at a club, being followed up by RePPOP for longer than 10 months, no parental obesity and no academic difficulties.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that multidisciplinary treatment had a significant positive effect on paediatric obesity and that social and individual factors affected the efficiency of the care management.

Inhibition of myocardial reperfusion injury by ischemic postconditioning requires sirtuin 3-mediated deacetylation of cyclophilin D

RATIONALE

How ischemic postconditioning can inhibit opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) and subsequent cardiac myocytes death at reperfusion remains unknown. Recent studies have suggested that de-acetylation of cyclophilin D (CyPD) by sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) can modulate its binding to the PTP.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to examine whether ischemic postconditioning (PostC) might activate SIRT3 and consequently prevent lethal myocardial reperfusion injury through a deacetylation of CyPD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) in H9C2 cells, we showed that SIRT3 overexpression prevented CyPD acetylation, limited PTP opening and reduced cell death by 24%. In vitro modification of the CyPD acetylation status in MEFs by site-directed mutagenesis altered capacity of PTP opening by calcium. Calcium Retention Capacity (CRC) was significantly decreased with CyPD-KQ that mimics acetylated protein compared with CyPD WT (871 ± 266 vs 1193 ± 263 nmoles Ca(2+)/mg protein respectively). Cells expressing non-acetylable CyPD mutant (CyPD-KR) displayed 20% decrease in cell death compared to cells expressing CyPD WT after H/R. Correspondingly, in mice we showed that cardiac ischemic postconditioning could not reduce infarct size and CyPD acetylation in SIRT3 KO mice, and was unable to restore CRC in mitochondria as it is observed in WT mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that the increased acetylation of CyPD following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion facilitates PTP opening and subsequent cell death. Therefore ischemic postconditioning might prevent lethal reperfusion injury through an increased SIRT3 activity and subsequent attenuation of CyPD acetylation at reperfusion.

Should the WHO growth charts be used in France?

BACKGROUND

Growth charts are an essential clinical tool for evaluating a child's health and development. The current French reference curves, published in 1979, have recently been challenged by the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the growth of French children who were born between 1981 and 2007, with the WHO growth charts and the French reference curves currently used.

DESIGN

Anthropometric measurements from French children, who participated in 12 studies, were analyzed: 82,151 measurements were available for 27,257 children in different age groups, from birth to 18 years. We calculated and graphically compared mean z-scores based on the WHO and French curves, for height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) according to age and sex. The prevalence of overweight using the WHO, the French and International Obesity Task Force definitions were compared.

RESULTS

Our population of children was on average 0.5 standard deviations taller than the French reference population, from the first month of life until puberty age. Mean z-scores for height, weight and BMI were closer to zero based on the WHO growth charts than on the French references from infancy until late adolescence, except during the first six months. These differences not related to breastfeeding rates. As expected, the prevalence of overweight depended on the reference used, and differences varied according to age.

CONCLUSION

The WHO growth charts may be appropriate for monitoring growth of French children, as the growth patterns in our large population of French children were closer to the WHO growth charts than to the French reference curves, from 6 months onwards. However, there were some limitations in the use of these WHO growth charts, and further investigation is needed.

Ubiquitous protective effects of cyclosporine A in preventing cardiac arrest-induced multiple organ failure

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) appears to be a pivotal event in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Resuscitated cardiac arrest (CA) leads to the post-CA syndrome that encompasses, not only myocardial dysfunction, but also brain injury, failure of other organs (kidney, liver, or lung), and systemic response to I/R. We aimed to determine whether cyclosporine A (CsA) might prevent multiple organ failure following CA through a ubiquitous mPTP inhibition in each distant vital organ. Anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to 15 min of CA and 120 min of reperfusion. At the onset of resuscitation, the rabbits received CsA, its non-immunosuppressive derivative NIM811, or vehicle (controls). Survival, hemodynamics, brain damage, organ injuries, and systemic I/R response were analyzed. Fresh mitochondria were isolated from the brain, heart, kidney, liver, and lung to assess both oxidative phosphorylation and permeability transition. CsA analogs significantly improved short-term survival and prevented multiple organ failure, including brain damage and myocardial dysfunction (P < 0.05 vs. controls). Susceptibility of mPTP opening was significantly increased in heart, brain, kidney, and liver mitochondria isolated from controls, while mitochondrial respiration was impaired (P < 0.05 vs. sham). CsA analogs prevented these mitochondrial dysfunctions (P < 0.05 vs. controls). These results suggest that CsA and NIM811 can prevent the post-CA syndrome through a ubiquitous mitochondrial protective effect at the level of each major distant organ.

Myocardial conditioning: opportunities for clinical translation

Myocardial conditioning is an endogenous cardioprotective phenomenon that profoundly limits infarct size in experimental models. The current challenge is to translate this paradigm from the laboratory to the clinic. Accordingly, our goal in this review is to provide a critical summary of the progress toward, opportunities for, and caveats to, the successful clinical translation of postconditioning and remote conditioning, the 2 conditioning strategies considered to have the broadest applicability for real-world patient care. In the majority of phase II studies published to date, postconditioning evoked a ≈35% reduction of infarct size in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients. Essential criteria for the successful implementation of postconditioning include the appropriate choice of patients (ie, those with large risk regions and negligible collateral flow), timely application of the postconditioning stimulus (immediately on reperfusion), together with proper choice of end points (infarct size, with concomitant assessment of risk region). Remote conditioning has been applied in planned ischemic events (including cardiac surgery and elective percutaneous coronary intervention) and in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients during hospital transport. Controversies with regard to efficacy have emerged, particularly among surgical trials. These disparate outcomes in all likelihood reflect the remarkable heterogeneity within and among studies, together with a deficit in our understanding of the impact of these variations on the infarct-sparing effect of remote conditioning. Ongoing phase III trials will provide critical insight into the future role of postconditioning and remote conditioning as clinically relevant cardioprotective strategies.

Assessment of left ventricular systolic function by deformation imaging derived from speckle tracking: a comparison between 2D and 3D echo modalities

AIMS

Deformation imaging is undergoing continuous development with the emergence of new technologies allowing the evaluation of the different components of strain simultaneously in three dimensions. Assessment of all global strain parameters in 2D and 3D modes and comparison with LVEF have been the focus of our study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Out of 166 patients, 147 were evaluated with the use of both 2D and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). Global strain parameters including longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), radial (GRS) and area strain (AS), as well as left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were examined. Analysis of strain with 3D STE was faster than with 2D STE (7 ± 2 vs. 24 ± 4 min, P < 0.05). GLS values were similar between 2D and 3D modes (-14 ± 4 vs. -13 ± 3, NS), while slight differences were observed for GCS (-24 ± 7 vs. -27 ± 7, P < 0.05) and GRS (27 ± 9 vs. 24 ± 9, P < 0.05). All 2D and 3D strain parameters showed good accuracy in the identification of 2D-LVEF <55% with AS demonstrating superiority over GCS and GRS but not GLS.

CONCLUSION

Three-dimensional STE allows accurate and faster analysis of deformation when compared with 2D STE and might represent a viable alternative in the evaluation of global LV function.

Evaluation sociologique d’un projet d’amélioration de l’offre alimentaire (hors restauration scolaire) dans des collèges et lycées d’Aquitaine : perception et analyse des élèves sur les actions d’éducation pour la santé

Le projet « Amélioration de l’offre alimentaire (hors restauration scolaire) et accompagnement pédagogique» a été mis en place en 2007–2008 et 2008–2009 dans 26 établissements du second degré d’Aquitaine. Il avait pour but de favoriser la consommation de fruits et pain chez les adolescents et de limiter la disponibilité des produits gras et sucrés au foyer des élèves. L’évaluation sociologique de ce projet a montré que l’adhésion des élèves dépendait fortement de la cohérence et des modalités de mise en place. Ainsi, l’adhésion des élèves, voire le changement de leurs habitudes alimentaires, est favorisé par la justification du changement d’offre via des actions d’éducation à la santé ludiques impliquant les élèves, l’intégration du projet dans une dynamique globale d’établissement (implication des équipes éducative, médicale et de restauration scolaire) et la prise en compte des préoccupations des adolescents (éloignées des aspects santé de l’alimentation).

Evolution of overweight prevalence among 5-6-year-old children according to socio-economic status

AIM

To assess time trends in overweight and obesity prevalence among 5-6-year-old children of Bordeaux city (France) over seven school years from 2004-2005 to 2010-2011.

METHODS

For each year, all 5-6-year-old children from 63 of the 69 schools of Bordeaux were included: 2005, 2100, 2010, 1952, 2040, 2017 and 2111 subjects, respectively. Weight and height were collected by school doctors, and weight status was defined according to the age- and sex-specific body mass index cut-off points of the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) for obesity and to the French age- and gender-specific child cut-off (close to the IOTF cut-off) for overweight including obesity.

RESULTS

From 2004-2005 to 2010-2011, an overall decrease was observed in overweight including obesity (from 8.9% to 5.2%, p < 0.001) and obesity prevalences (from 2.8% to 1.4%, p = 0.046). Similar results were observed in non-low socio-economic status (SES) areas (p < 0.001), whereas the prevalence did not vary significantly in low-SES areas (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Overweight prevalence has decreased between 2004 and 2011 in 5-6-year-old children from Bordeaux. However, the gap between low and non-low-SES areas has persisted during these years.