[Management of patients treated for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Tunisia: Preliminary results of FAST-MI Tunisia Registry from Tunisian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery]. / Prise en charge de l'infarctus du myocarde en Tunisie : résultats préliminaires du registre FAST-MI Tunisie de la Société tunisienne de cardiologie et de chirurgie cardiovasculaire.

UNLABELLED: FAST-MI Tunisian registry was initiated by the Tunisian Society of Cardiology and Cardio-vascular Surgery to assess characteristics, management, and hospital outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: We prospectively collected data from 203 consecutive patients (mean age 60.3 years, 79.8 % male) with STEMI who were treated in 15 public hospitals (representing 68.2 % of Tunisian public centres treating STEMI patients) during a 3-month period at the end of 2014. The most common risk factor was tobacco (64.9 %), hypertension (38.6 %), diabetes (36.9 %) and dyslipidemia (24.6 %). RESULTS: Among these patients, 66 % received reperfusion therapy, 35 % with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PAMI), 31 % with thrombolysis (28.6 % of them by pre-hospital thrombolysis). The median time from symptom onset to thrombolysis was 185 and 358 min for PAMI, respectively. The in-hospital mortality was 7.0 %. Patients enrolled in interventional centers (n=156) were more likely to receive any reperfusion therapy (19.8 % vs 44.6 %; p<0.001) than at the regional system of care with less thrombolysis (26.9 % vs 44.6 %; p=0.008) and more PAMI (52.8 % vs 8.5 %; p<0.0001). Also the in-hospital mortality was lower (6.4 % vs 9.3 %) but not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results from FAST-MI in Tunisia show that the pharmaco- invasive strategy should be promoted in non-interventional centers.

Distal femoral varus osteotomy outcome: Is associated femoropatellar osteoarthritis consequential?

INTRODUCTION: Distal femoral varus osteotomy (FVO) can be indicated for young active patients who have lateral unicompartmental osteoarthritis in a valgus knee originating in the femur. However, its indication remains controversial when associated patellofemoral osteoarthrosis is present. HYPOTHESIS: Associated patellofemoral osteoarthrosis influences the results of osteotomy in cases of lateral tibiofemoral osteoarthrosis. METHODS: Twenty patients (22 knees) underwent opening wedge FVO for lateral tibiofemoral osteoarthrosis of a valgus knee. The osteoarthrosis was lateral and unicompartmental in 11 cases, associated with patellofemoral osteoarthrosis in nine cases, and global in two cases. The osteotomy site was fixed with a 95° blade plate in all cases. At a mean follow-up of 54 months, all the patients were evaluated using the International Knee Society (IKS) score. RESULTS: Eighteen knees had good or excellent results (80%), two had fair results (9.5%), and two had poor results (9.5%). One female patient underwent total knee replacement revision at 8 years and three others are awaiting total knee replacement. The mean preoperative IKS score increased from 49.28 (range, 14-70) to 74.23 (range, 41-92) at the last follow-up. The mean preoperative functional score increased from 50.68 (range, 30-80) to 72.85 (range, 40-90) at the last follow-up (p=0.001). The 8-year survival rate was 91% (confidence interval, 69-100%). We noted improvement in patellofemoral syndrome and recentering of the patella in seven cases out of nine with severe patellofemoral osteoarthrosis. CONCLUSION: Distal femoral varus osteotomy, with lateral opening wedge and fixation can be a good alternative to treatment of lateral tibiofemoral osteoarthritis associated with a valgus knee originating in the femur. The association of patellofemoral osteoarthritis does not affect the functional results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Retrospective study.

[Soft tissue metastasis revealing an asymptomatic bronchial adenocarcinoma]. / Métastase musculaire squelettique révélatrice d'un adénocarcinome bronchique.

Skeletal muscle metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer are uncommon. We report a case of lung adenocarcinoma disclosed by metastatic dissemination to a forearm muscle. A 46-year-old man consulted for a painful mass of the right forearm. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous collection in the forearm invading the cortex of the humerus. An excisional biopsy of the right forearm showed an infiltration of the muscle with metastatic adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical patterns suggested the pulmonary origin. Chest x-ray was normal. Bronchoscopy revealed an endobronchial mass that was confirmed by biopsy to be an adenocarcinoma. The lung tumor was staged T2N0M1. The patient has received local radiation therapy and chemotherapy. After eighteen months, the disease progressed but without local muscular recurrence. Skeletal muscle metastases from lung cancer are rare and although their prognosis is poor, local treatment may be worthwhile.

[Homocysteinemia and coronary artery disease: a case-control study in a Tunisian population]. / Homocystéinémie et maladie coronaire: etude cas-témoins dans une population tunisienne.

We have determined the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and tested its relationship with coronary heart disease in Tunisian patients. The study included 70 angiogrphically proven coronary patients and 140 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Plasma homocysteine folate and vitamin B12 were analyzed by immunoenzymatic methods. Hyperhomocysteinemia was considered for plasma homocysteine concentration >17 micromol/L. Mean plasma homocysteine concentration and hyperhomocysteinemia prevalence were significantly (p<0.001) higher in patients (16.3 +/- 7.9 micromol/L and 29%) than controls (12.6 +/- 4.0 micromol/L and 10%). The association between hyperhomocysteinemia and coronary heart disease persisted after adjusting on main cardiovascular risk factors (multi adjusted odds ratio, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.18-7.59; p=0.02). No association was observed between hyperhomocysteinemia and coronary disease severity and extent. This study showed an independent association between hyperhomocysteinemia and coronary heart disease, suggesting a role of hyperhomocysteinemia in atherothrombogenesis. However, causal relationship is not yet established. Until results of homocysteine-lowering therapy trials become available, hyperhomocysteinemia should be researched and treated in coronary heart disease patients.

[Isolated synovial chondromatosis of the subacromial bursa: report of a new case and review of the literature]. / La chondromatose synoviale isolée de la bourse sous acromiodeltoïdienne: un nouveau cas et revue de la littérature.

Synovial chondromatosis is a rare metaplasia of the synovium of unknown etiology that may involve occasionally the subacromial bursa. We report a new case diagnosed by ultrasound in a 30-year-old man and we present pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic features of this disease with a literature review.

Comparison of direct coronary stenting with and without balloon predilatation in patients with stable angina pectoris. BET (Benefit Evaluation of Direct Coronary Stenting) Study Group.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of stent placement with and without balloon predilatation on duration of the procedure, reduction of procedure-related costs, and clinical outcomes. Although preliminary trials of direct coronary stenting have demonstrated promising results, the lack of randomized studies with long-term follow-up has limited the critical evaluation of the role of direct stenting in the treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease. Between January and September 1999, 338 patients were randomly assigned to either direct stent implantation (DS+; 173 patients) or standard stent implantation with balloon predilatation (DS-; 165 patients). Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Procedural success was achieved in 98.3% of patients assigned to DS+ and 97.5% of patients assigned to DS- (p = NS), with a crossover rate of 13.9%. Compared with DS-, DS+ conferred a dramatic reduction in procedure-related cost ($956.4 +/- $352.2 vs $1,164.6 +/- $383.9, p <0.0001) and duration of the procedure (424.2 +/- 412.1 vs 634.5 +/- 390.1 seconds, p < 0.0001). At 6-month follow-up, the incidence of major adverse cardiac events including death, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, repeat angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery was 5.3% in DS+ and 11.4% in DS- (p = NS). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that major adverse cardiac events rates were related to stent length of 10 mm (relative risk [RR] 3.25, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.36 to 7.78; p = 0.008), stent diameter of 3 mm (RR 2.69, 95% CI 1.03 to 7.06; p = 0.043), and complex lesion type C (RR 2.83, 95% CI 1.02 to 7.85; p = 0.045). Thus, in selected patients, this prospective randomized study shows the feasibility of DS+ with reduction in procedural cost and length, and without an increase in in-hospital clinical events and major adverse cardiac events at 6-month follow-up.

[Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy: how can it be made simpler and more efficacious?]. / La commissurotomie mitrale percutanée: comment faire plus simple et plus efficace?

The authors report the results of a simplified method of percutaneous mitral dilatation from 936 procedures. This method introduced in our service since 1997 consists in progressively increasing diameters inflation of Inoué balloon, using echographic control and without any arterial procedure. Our population consists on 683 women (73%) and 253 men with a mean age 34 +/- 15 years (extremely 9 and 80 years) with subgroups composed of 26 pregnant women, 32 children less than 17 years, 59 restenosis after closed heart mitral commissurotomy, 14 restenosis after open heart mitral commissurotomy, 74 restenosis after percutaneous mitral commissurotomy, 5 tricuspid and mitral dilatation, 2 coronary and mitral dilatation (with stenting), 2 patients with a history of surgical mitral valvuloplasty for pure mitral regurgitation. The mitral area passed from 1 +/- 0.2 cm2 to 2.1 +/- 0.1 cm2. A surgical mitral regurgitation was observed in 3 cases. The time of fluoroscopy was 6.4 +/- 3.3 min. The hole time procedure was 19 +/- 9 min. The delay of hospitalisation was one day in 97% of patients. The decreased cost was about 20%. The patient comfort and the large diffusion of this method predicts a good future of this simplified technique.

Initial and follow-up results of the Tenax coronary stent.

The Tenax coronary stent is laser sculpted from high precision 316 L stainless steel using advanced production procedures. An a-SiC: H (hydrogen-rich amorphous silicon carbide) coating reduces its thrombogenicity and improves its biocompatibility. From April to July 1998, 266 stents were implanted in 241 patients (aged 62.7 +/- 10.5 years) in five centers. The clinical indication for intervention was unstable angina (33.2%) and recent myocardial infarction (29.5%) in many cases. Most lesions (53.8%) had complex characteristics (Class B2 or C). The target vessel was the LAD in 42.5% and the right coronary artery in 36.8% of all cases. Four primary stent deployment failures occurred and implantation was successful in 259 (97.4%) of 266 stents. No death and no Q-wave myocardial infarction or emergency CABG occurred during hospital stay. Clinical success, defined as successful deployment without procedural or clinical event, was achieved in 230 (95.4%) of 241 patients. One-year clinical follow-up shows a low need for target lesion revascularization (17/237 [7.1%] patients) and a 15.8% rate of major adverse cardiac events (36/237 patients). The clinical and angiographic outcomes of our study suggest that the hybrid, amorphous hydrogenated silicon carbide coated design is promising and merits further evaluation in larger clinical trials.

[Implantation of long coronary stents. Immediate and long-term results]. / Implantation de stents coronaires longs. Résultats immédiats et à long terme.

There have been few clinical reports of the long term results of implantation of long coronary stents. The authors performed a retrospective study of the long term results of 213 implantations of long stents (20 mm long) in 202 patients. These results were compared with those obtained in patients implanted with short stents (< 20 mm long) during the same period (630 implantations in 530 patients). The angiographic and clinical success rates were respectively 96.5 and 95.4% in the "long stent" group compared with 97.2 and 94.9% in the "short stent" group. In the "long stent" group, at 6, 12 and 24 months (follow-up, the cumulative incidence of nex revascularisation procedures of the target lesion were 9.8, 14.3 and 20.6% respectively, whereas the cumulative incidences of major cardiac events (mortality, infarction, angina, coronary bypass surgery and angioplasty) for the same periods were 12.7, 21.1 and 40% respectively. There was no significant differences compared with the "short stent" group concerning all these events. However, after 6 months, there was a tendency for more major cardiac events and for more new revascularisation procedures of the target lesion in the "long stent" group. In multivariate analysis, the independent predictive factors for major cardiac events were: a Jeopardy score > 6 (p = 0.002), and the complex nature of the lesion (B2 or C) (p = 0.045), whereas the indépendant risk factors for a new revascularisation procedure of the target lesion were: minimal luminal diameter after the procedure, a Jeopardy score > 6, complex lesions, diabetes and the reference diameter of the stented arterial segment. The authors conclude that although the length of the stent as such is not a long term predictive factor, the complexity of the lesion and the severity of the coronary disease which are more common in the "long stent" group explain the non-significant tendency for a higher incidence of major cardiac events in this group.

[Spontaneous contrast of the left atrium in mitral valve stenosis]. / Le contraste spontané de l'oreillette gauche dans le retrecissement mitral.

The left atrial spontaneous contrast is uncommon finding during transthoracic échocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography provides superior imaging of the left atrium and left spontaneous contrast has been detected more frequently by this technique in rheumatic mitral stenosis. In order to analyze the significance of spontaneous contrast, we have studied 100 patients with mitral stenosis. Trans thoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed in all patients. Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast was detected in 60 patients (group A) and was absent in 40 patients (group B) The mean of mitral valvular area was 0.9 10.2 mm in group A and 48 9.5 mm in group B (p < 0.001). Ther was a high incidence of atrial fibrillation in group A; 63% VS 12% in group B (p < 0.001). A systemic embolization was noted in 20% of patients in group A; No one of group B has presented this complication (p < 0.001).