PGC-1α induction in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Idiopathic Pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is characterized by the obstructive remodelling of pulmonary arteries, and a progressive elevation in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) with subsequent right-sided heart failure and dead. Hypoxia induces the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) which regulates oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. We have analysed the expression of PGC-1α, cytochrome C (CYTC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), the total antioxidant status (TAS) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in blood samples of IPAH patients. Expression of PGC-1α was detected in IPAH patients but not in healthy volunteers. The mRNA levels of SOD were lower in IPAH patients compared to controls (3.93 ± 0.89 fold change). TAS and GPX activity were lower too in patients compared to healthy donors, (0.13 ± 0.027 versus 0.484 ± 0.048 mM and 56.034 ± 10.37 versus 165.46 ± 11.38 nmol/min/mL, resp.). We found a negative correlation between expression levels of PGC-1α and age, PAP and PVR, as well as a positive correlation with CI, PaO(2), mRNA levels of CYTC and SOD, TAS and GPX activity. These results taken together are indicative of the possible role of PGC-1α as a potential biomarker of the progression of IPAH.

Assessment of quality of life in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriogram (syndrome X) using a specific questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Prognosis in patients with syndrome X (chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms) is good; however, persistent chest pain and functional disability are common in these patients. Accurate assessment of quality of life may be useful for patient management. AIM: The quality of life status in patients with syndrome X was assessed using a specific questionnaire. This questionnaire was developed and validated for the assessment of quality of life in patients with typical chest pain despite normal coronary arteriograms. METHODS: Ninety consecutive patients were invited to complete both the questionnaire (on two occasions within 2 weeks) and a standardized angina dairy. Fully completed questionnaires were received from 66 (73%) patients (mean age 58 +/- 8 years, 55 women). RESULTS: Answers were scored according to a grading system where higher scores indicate worse quality of life. We observed that total scores increased with severity of angina (Canadian Class I, 38 +/- 16, II: 93 +/- 29, III-IV, 119 +/- 23; p < 0.001) and correlated with both the number and the severity of chest pain episodes (r = 0.50-0.66: p < 0.001). In patients who remained clinically stable (n = 37) during the 2-week assessment, test-retest analysis showed no score differences (87 +/- 30 vs. 81 +/- 30; p = 0.1), while total score increased in patients (n = 24) whose symptoms worsened (108 +/- 31 vs. 116 +/- 31; p < 0.02) and was reduced in those (n = 5) whose symptoms improved (55 +/- 37 vs. 39 +/- 28; p < 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that quality of life is significantly impaired in patients with syndrome X and that the specific questionnaire used for assessment is a reliable and sensitive tool for the evaluation of quality of life in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteriograms.

[The femoral vein route: an exceptional alternative for the implantation of permanent pacemakers]. / La vía venosa femoral: una alternativa de excepción para el implante de marcapasos definitivos.

A case of thrombosis in the superior vena cava after two permanent pacemaker implantations is described. Ten years ago the patient had a permanent pacemaker implanted because of disturbances in his cardiac rhythm. Five months later he was readmitted with pacemaker malfunction due to failure of the electrode and a new lead was introduced. In 1989 the generator presented "end of life" and the depleted battery was changed. In February, 1993 he presented a new pacemaker malfunction and thrombosis in the superior vena cava. We suggest that in similar cases the iliac vein approach should be performed and short-term anticoagulant therapy should be considered.

[Validation of a new questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life in patients after myocardial infarction]. / Validación de un nuevo cuestionario para evaluar la calidad de vida en pacientes postinfarto.

Quality of life is an important measurement in chronic diseases and especially in patients after myocardial infarction. We designed and structured a new Questionnaire of Quality of Life for Spanish speaking patients from the existing English questionnaires. The new Questionnaire of Velasco-Del Barrio has a total of 44 items, grouped in 9 subscales: health, sleep and rest, emotional behaviour, concerns to the future, mobility, social relations alertness behaviour, communication, and work and leisure time. The questionnaire has been validated taking as a gold standard, the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Myocardial Infarction (QLMI-Q) of Oldridge. The reliability and the reproducibility have also been studied. The validity of the Velasco-Del Barrio Questionnaire was high (r = 0.81), as its reproducibility (0.75) and reliability (0.90). We assume that the usefulness of the new Questionnaire is at least, similar to that of the Oldridge's one, and that it can be recommended in postinfarction patients, even though it can be more advantageous in patients of Spanish speaking cultures.

Effects of a 1-year exercise training program on myocardial ischemia in patients after myocardial infarction.

To determine the effects of exercise training on exercise-induced ischemia in patients following myocardial infarction, the experience of 13 patients with exercise-induced ST depression, who were moderate-to-high intensity trained for 1 year, has evaluated. After training, the maximum ST depression was significantly less (1.9 +/- 0.8 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.8 mm; p < 0.01), despite an increased maximal rate-pressure product (RPP; heart rate x blood pressure/100; 241.3 +/- 44 vs. 262.0 +/- 58; p < 0.01). For the onset of 0.1 mV of ST depression, we found a significant increase in RPP from 204.1 +/- 34.7 to 234.1 +/- 49.4 (p < 0.01) and also in heart rate (117.1 +/- 15.1 vs. 125.1 +/- 21.7 b.p.m.; p < 0.05), blood pressure (167.6 +/- 18 vs. 180.3 +/- 18 mm Hg; p < 0.01) and workload (93.8 +/- 17.4 vs. 121.1 +/- 23.2 W; p < 0.01). The relationship between ST depression and RPP (RPP/STmax) was favorably modified after training. The ratio RPP/STmax improved significantly from 143.6 +/- 49.4 to 209.1 +/- 69.5 (p < 0.0001). These findings support the hypothesis that a 1-year moderate-to-high training program in some patients following myocardial infarction can elicit adaptations that may well be attributed, at least in part, to an improvement in coronary blood flow.

[Experience with dual-chamber pacemakers at the Valencia General Hospital]. / Resultados de la estimulación de doble cámara en el Hospital General de Valencia.

We report our experience with dual chamber pacemakers in 70 patients (mean age 64.5), of whom 42 had AV block and 28 sick sinus syndrome, nine of them associated with AV block. Other cardiac disease coexistent with the conduction disturbance was present in 57% of the patients. Follow-up was conducted after implantation at first, 3rd, 6th month, and thereafter each 6 months. Mean follow-up was 20 +/- 14.3 months (2-72); of the 70 patients, 88% and 73% were followed at least for 6 and 12 months, respectively. Six patients (five had AV block) died 17 months on average after implantation. All patients but one had concomitant cardiac disease. Eleven patients (15.6%) presented complications, being all of them related to atrial channel: reprogramming to VVI in five (7%), mainly due to chronic atrial fibrillation (4 patients), whereas in the other one was secondary to loss of pacing and sensing functions; acute dislocation corrected with reoperation in 3 patients (4.3%); temporary loss of atrial sensing in 2 patients, and chronic in the last one, with change to DVI mode. Overall, considering deaths and changes to VVI mode, 15.6% of patients were not be able to maintain dual chamber pacing. In conclusion, our results show: 1) low rate of major complications; 2) good outcome of patients suffering from sick sinus syndrome; 3) the development of chronic atrial fibrillation was the main limitation of DDD pacing system.

Clinical and haemostatic parameters in the HELLP syndrome: relevance of plasminogen activator inhibitors.

Various parameters of the haemostatic and, more importantly, of the fibrinolytic systems were examined in 5 patients with severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. All 5 showed signs of haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP syndrome). A significant decrease in platelet count (46.4 X 10(9)/litre) and an increase in beta-thromboglobulin (137 ng/ml) were observed in the HELPP patients in comparison with normal pregnant women (267 X 10(9)/litre and 49.3 ng/ml, respectively). No significant differences in fibrinogen levels, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and fibrin(ogen) degradation products between the HELLP patient group and the normal pregnant group were observed. However, the antigenic levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor were significantly higher in the HELLP pre-eclamptic women than in gestational age-matched controls. In contrast, the antigen levels of type 2 plasminogen activator inhibitor were significantly lower in the patients. These results indicate that platelet activation and alterations in plasminogen activator inhibitors type 1 and type 2 may be involved in the pathophysiological pathway of this syndrome.

Factors predicting the result of physical training after acute myocardial infarction.

We have studied the predictive effect of physical training on physical working capacity (PWC) in a group of 48 male survivors of acute myocardial infarction. In regression analysis with single variables, the training heart rate correlated most strongly with the change of PWC after training (r = 0.54; p less than 0.01). The initial PWC and exercise-induced R wave amplitude change also correlated significantly with the change in PWC after training (r = -0.33; p less than 0.05 and r = 0.32 p less than 0.05, respectively). The initial maximum heart rate and the exercise-induced rise in systolic blood pressure failed to show such correlations. In multiple regression analysis all these variables, with the exception of the blood pressure, were found to make statistically significant, independent contributions to the prediction of the change of PWC after training. The training heart rate was the best criterion in the prediction of the success of physical training after myocardial infarction. Variables obtained from a pre-training exercise test can be used as additional criteria.

Early load-limiting versus symptom-limited exercise testing: prognostic value in 200 myocardial infarction patients.

The prognostic value of early load-limited and symptom-limited exercise testing has been compared in 200 men younger than 65 years of age, after myocardial infarction. 164 patients performed both tests and in 79 of the 200 cases who performed the early test the result was positive (40%); the percentage of positive tests was higher with the symptom-limited test (53.6%). The prognostic value of both tests was high. During the follow-up the mortality rate was higher in patients with positive results, but the early test enables the identification of patients in a higher risk group before hospital discharge.