BACKGROUND Exercise-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (EIPH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has already been observed but its determinants remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and the determinants of EIPH in SSc. METHODS AND RESULTS We prospectively enrolled 63 patients with SSc (age 54±3years, 76% female) followed in CHU Sart-Tilman in Liège. All patients u...

The present study utilised an in vitro cell model of the cAMP signalling pathway to investigate the actions of desipramine (DMI) and other psychoactive agents on cAMP-driven gene transcription. The model comprised CHObeta2 SPAP cells; Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human beta2 adrenoceptors and a secreted placental alkaline phosphatase (SPAP) reporter gene with multiple cAMP response el...

OBJECTIVES Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is frequently associated with the development of conduction abnormalities. We assessed the effect of conduction abnormalities on diastolic function following TAVI. METHODS In total, 101 consecutive post-TAVI patients were included, each with echocardiographic follow-up at 1 and 6 months. Diastolic properties were correlated with the oc...

TO THE EDITOR: We have read with interest the article “Decreased time constant of the pulmonary circulation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension,” by MacKenzie Ross et al. (6). Using fluid-filled catheters, the authors have documented that the pulmonary arterial time constant is decreased in patients with proximal chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) compared with i...

We read with interest the recent article by Pyxaras et al. proposing corrected regression equations for improving the echocardiographic estimation of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The authors propose to slightly modify both the sPAP Bernouilli equation and the empirical mPAP equation (mPAP 1⁄4 0....

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background and Purpose Potential benefits optimal timing pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients with repaired tetralogy Fallot (rTOF) are still questionable because high morbidity due to the need for reinterventions. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a valuable tool detection irreversible right ventricular (RV) remodellin...

In this study, three chemically sulfated polysaccharides (SPAPs) were derived from one water-soluble polysaccharide (PAP) of Polyporus albicans mycelia by chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method. The effects of polysaccharides on the immune function were examined after the mice were intragastrical administrated with polysaccharides at three doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight for 7 days. T...

BACKGROUND To estimate, from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system, the economic outcomes of five different first-line strategies among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). METHODS AND FINDINGS A decision-analytic model was developed to simulate the lifetime disease course associated with renal cell carcinoma. The health and economic outcomes of five first-line str...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is present in a significant proportion of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and is of prognostic importance. Data on the effect of renal transplant on PH is very limited. In this study, the aim was to examine the effect of renal transplant on systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) determined by Doppler echocardiography. METHODS Analysis was...

AIM Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are the main pathogens associated with the development of dental caries in humans. Recently, the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR-TR) has been used for fast and exact quantification of these bacteria species. This molecular biology method has made the detection of these bacteria in saliva and dental plaque possible; additionally, i...