Authorship: from credit to accountability. Reflections from the Editors' Network.

The Editors' Network of the European Society of Cardiology provides a dynamic forum for editorial discussions and endorses the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) to improve the scientific quality of biomedical journals. Authorship confers credit and important academic rewards. Recently, however, the ICMJE emphasized that authorship also requires responsibility and accountability. These issues are now covered by the new (fourth) criterion for authorship. Authors should agree to be accountable and ensure that questions regarding the accuracy and integrity of the entire work will be appropriately addressed. This review discusses the implications of this paradigm shift on authorship requirements with the aim of increasing awareness on good scientific and editorial practices.

Microvascular Function in Aging Among Women Living with HIV.

Combined antiretroviral therapy (CART) has turned HIV-infection to a treatable chronic disease during which many patients survive to middle and older age. However, they prematurely develop non-AIDS comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Microcirculatory changes and endothelial dysfunction occur early both in HIV-infected and in aging patients, in whom they usually precede cardiovascular and neurocognitive impairments. Also, mild cognitive involvement has been reported in women during the menopausal transition. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier, as well as microvascular and cerebral blood flow changes, has been reported in HIV patients with HAND, including postmenopausal women. However, most studies addressing this issue included women aged less than 50 years. Whether HIV-infected women growing older with CART would be subsequently exposed to an increased progression of cognitive impairment overtime remains unknown.

Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in Persons Living with HIV Infection.

Persons living with HIV infection (PLWH) have been recognized to have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Prevention of this risk should theoretically be included in their long-term management. However, only a few approaches have been proposed to optimize such interventions. Targeting detection of the commonly associated conditions such as coronary artery disease, left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias is the first step of this prevention. However, although detection of the risk of SCD is a suitable challenge in PLWH, it remains uncertain whether optimized treatment of the identified risks would unequivocally translate into a decrease in SCD rates.

Impact of Diabetes on Cardiac Function in Patients with High Blood Pressure.

Background: Although the combination of high blood pressure (HBP) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) increases the risk of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, the impact of T2DM on LV geometry and subclinical dysfunction in hypertensive patients and normal ejection fraction (EF) has been infrequently evaluated. Methods: Hypertensive patients with or without T2DM underwent cardiac echocardiography coupled with LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessment. Results: Among 200 patients with HBP (mean age 61.7 ± 9.7 years) and EF > 55%, 93 had associated T2DM. Patients with T2DM had a higher body mass index (29.9 ± 5.1 kg/m2 vs. 29.3 ± 4.7 kg/m2, p = 0.025), higher BP levels (158 ± 23/95 ± 13 vs. 142 ± 33/87 ± 12 mmHg, p = 0.003), a higher LV mass index (115.8 ± 32.4 vs. 112.0 ± 24.7 g/m2, p = 0.004), and higher relative wall thickness (0.51 ± 0.16 vs. 0.46 ± 0.12, p = 0.0001). They had more frequently concentric remodeling (20.4% vs. 16.8%, p < 0.001), concentric hypertrophy (53.7% vs. 48.6%, p < 0.001), elevated filling pressures (25.8 vs. 12.1%, p = 0.0001), indexed left atrial volumes greater than 28 mL/m2 (17.2 vs. 11.2%, p = 0.001), and a reduced GLS less than -18% (74.2 vs. 47.7%, p < 0.0001). After adjustment for BP and BMI, T2DM remains an independent determinant factor for GLS decline (OR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.11-4.61, p = 0.023). Conclusions: Left ventricular geometry and subclinical LV function as assessed with GLS are more impaired in hypertensive patients with than without T2DM. Preventive approaches to control BMI and risk of T2DM in hypertensive patients should be emphasized.

Children hypertension in Northern Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To assess factors associated with prehypertension and hypertension among children in North Africa. METHODS: An epidemiological observational, school- and college-based study among 3562 healthy children and adolescents to assess factors associated with blood pressure categories (normal, prehypertensive, hypertensive), including perinatal (gestational age, birth weight, breastfeeding) and current lifestyle characteristics (body mass index, time spent watching a screen and time spent exercising). RESULTS: Prevalence of hypertension increased with age from 8.7% between 6-10 years to 14.7% between 11-15 years, and 15.6% above 15 years. Prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension increased with body mass index from 9.9% and 11.5% among children not overweight to 15.6% (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.24-2.02, P<0.001) and 17.2% (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.22-1.85, P<0.001) among those overweight and to 26.8% (RR 2.72, 95% CI 2.04-3.64, P<0.01) and 32.3% (RR 2.82, 95% CI 2.27-3.50, P<0.01) among obese children. There was a trend of association of prehypertension with the time spent watching Television, internet and electronic games. Children whose mother or father had a history of hypertension had a trend to be prehypertensive or hypertensive. A parental hypertension was found in 33.6% of normotensive, 38.2% of prehypertensive, and 42.6% of hypertensive children (P=0.05). Children with prehypertension or hypertension were more likely to have a diabetic father or mother (22.8% and 22.6% vs 15.8%, respectively, P=0.01). Also, prehypertension and hypertension were associated with shorter gestational age, early birth, reduced birth weight, and shorter breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: Prehypertension and hypertension have a high prevalence among children in North Africa. They are associated with overweight, obesity, diabetes, a shorter gestational age, a lower birth weight and a shorter breastfeeding.

Oxidative stress implication after prolonged storage donor heart with blood versus crystalloid cardioplegia and reperfusion versus static storage.

Several factors are known to limit cardiac transplantation, such as number of donors, quality of cardiac graft preservation, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Some mechanisms of reperfusion injury are now recognized; they include oxygen free radical (OFR), white blood cells activation, changes in calcium influx, alteration of microvascular blood flow, and sympathetic activation. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of two types of cardioplegia with long-term storage, either static or continuous perfusion, in 30 isolated sheep hearts as a model for heart transplantation. We examined myocardial function, histology, ischemic damage, and markers of oxidative stress. Two types of cardioplegia and storage conditions using a Langendorff reperfusion were studied in a combined approach: crystalloid (CP) [groups I and III] or cold oxygenated autologous blood (BC) [groups II and IV], immediate storage during 8h in profound hypothermia (groups I and II), or reperfused with crystalloid (group III), or blood cardioplegia (group IV). All perfusate samples were drawn from the coronary sinus. Lactate levels increased progressively in groups I, II, and IV, but not in group III, as no significant elevation was shown [90 min: 13.6+/-1.7 versus 5.2+/-1.0 mmol/L (P<0.01)]. Arrhythmias were more frequent when using BC (n=5) than CP (n=0). For plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels a significant difference was found between group III and the other groups since 15 to 90 min (P<0.05). Vitamin E concentration decreased significantly from 5 min for groups II and IV, 15 min for group I, and 30 min for group III, with a significant difference between groups II and IV (P<0.05) but not between groups I and III. CP followed by a reperfusion with the same solution showed a significantly lower ischemic injury and OFR production, less frequent ventricular arrhythmias while stable hemodynamic parameters carried on. However, this protocol did not act on the early postoperative contractile function.

Cardiogenic shock associated with reversible dilated cardiomyopathy during therapy with regular doses of venlafaxine.

We report a cardiac complication in a patient treated with regular doses of venlafaxine. A 49-year-old man with prior normal cardiac function and stable chronic hepatitis C was treated for a major depressive disorder with usual doses of venlafaxine during an 8-month period until the occurrence of a cardiogenic shock in a context of dilated cardiomyopathy. Three months after withdrawal of the drug, the left ventricular ejection fraction returned to normal values. Cardiomyopathy is a rare complication with high doses of venlafaxine that was not previously reported in patients free of prior cardiac disease and cardiomyopathy and treated with usual doses (initially 150 mg daily; after 3 months, 75 mg daily). An objective assessment revealed that venlafaxine was probably implied in the subsequent development of cardiomyopathy when considering the Naranjo Probability Scale. Physicians who usually prescribe venlafaxine have to be briefed on such potential cardiac adverse effects even with usual doses.

T cells subtypes in a patient with interferon-alpha induced sarcoidosis.

A 47-year-old woman with a history of blood transfusion-acquired hepatitis C was treated with interferon-alpha when she developed fever, arthralgia, erythema nodosum, dyspnea, and diffuse alveolitis. The diagnosis of IFN-alpha-induced sarcoidosis was retained. The patient's clinical status rapidly improved after IFN-alpha discontinuation, with complete resolution of signs and symptoms. Admission and follow-up assessment of peripheral blood CD4 T cells showed a transient activation process that peaked at 1 to 3 months after onset of symptoms and discontinuation of IFN-alpha. It was marked by a mild increase in activated cells (expressing R-IL2 and HLADR), and a markedly reduced percentage of CD4 T cells expressing the costimulation molecule CD28, ie, an expansion of the CD4CD28 negative subset that is associated with proinflammatory and tissue damaging properties. This activation process also improved over time, but more slowly than clinical symptoms.

Museum Moving to Inpatients: Le Louvre à l'Hôpital.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms are common in hospitalized patients. Arts and cultural programs were reported to enhance their quality of life. The Le Louvre à l'hôpital study presents a new approach in which the museum moves to the hospital by displaying and discussing artworks with patients interactively. Over one year, four large statues were disposed in the hospital gardens, 30 reprints of large painting were exhibited in the hospital hall, dining rooms, and circulations areas. A total of 83 small-group guided art discussions (90 min) were organized, which 451 patients attended. The 200 small-size reproductions of paintings placed in the patients' rooms were chosen based on their individual preferences. Decreased anxiety after the art sessions was reported by 160 of 201 patients (79.6%). Out of 451 patients, 406 (90%) said the art program had met their expectations, and 372 (82.4%) wished to continue the experience with caregivers (162 paramedics trained for art activity during 66 workshops). In conclusion, moving the museum to the hospital constitutes a valuable way to provide art activities for inpatients in large numbers, which may reduce hospital-related anxiety in many instances.

Intracoronary or intravenous abciximab after aspiration thrombectomy in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether aspiration thrombectomy with intracoronary (IC) instead of intravenous (IV) administration of abciximab could reduce the no-reflow phenomenon in patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: Despite recanalisation with PCI, failure to restore microvascular flow may affect the prognosis of patients with STEMI. A combination of aspiration thrombectomy with IC abciximab may improve distal perfusion. METHODS: After aspiration thrombectomy during primary PCI for STEMI, 160 patients were randomly assigned to either an IV or IC abciximab bolus delivered through the aspiration catheter, both followed by a 12-hour IV abciximab infusion. RESULTS: ST-segment resolution ≥ 70% was achieved in 36 of 78 patients with IC versus 30 of 82 patients with IV abciximab (46.1 vs 36.6%, p = 0.368), and partial resolution in 28 of 78 versus 31 of 82 patients (35.9 vs 37.8%, p = 0.368). Postprocedural myocardial blush grade (MBG) 3 was obtained in 62.8 vs 63.4% (p = 0.235) and MBG ≥ 2 in 89.7 vs 81.7% (p = 0.148) of patients given IC and IV abciximab, respectively. There were three deaths in each group (3.8%). Major adverse cardiac events occurred in six of 78 patients given the IC and seven of 82 patients given the IV abciximab bolus (7.6 vs 8.5%, p = 0.410). One stroke occurred in each group, and two patients in the IC and nine in the IV group developed renal failure (2.5 vs 10.9%, p = 0.414). CONCLUSIONS: IC versus IV abciximab did not enhance myocardial reperfusion in non-selected patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI after aspiration thrombectomy had successfully been performed.