Atrial fibrillation and its determinants after radiofrequency ablation of chronic common atrial flutter

Aim. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a major clinical issue and its occurrence is the main problem after catheter ablation of atrial flutter. The long-term occurrence of AFib after common atrial flutter ablation is still matter of debate as it may influence the therapeutic approach. So, the aim of our study was to analyze the determinants and the time course of AFib after radiofrequency catheter ablation of chronic common atrial flutter. Methods and Results. 89 consecutive patients (67.5 ± 12.0 yrs) underwent RF ablation of chronic common atrial flutter. 38.2 % had previous history of paroxysmal AFib. 51% had no underlying structural heart disease. Over a mean follow-up of 38 ± 13 months, the occurrence rate of AFib progressively increased up to 32.9% at the end of follow-up. The median occurrence time for AFib was 8 months. AFib occurrence was significantly associated with previous AFib history (P=0.01) but not with the presence of underlying heart disease (P=n.s.). Of particular interest, in our study, AFib never occurred in patients without previous AFib history. Palpitations after chronic common atrial flutter ablation was mostly related to AFib. Conclusion. In conclusion, after chronic common atrial flutter ablation, AFib incidence progressively increased over the follow-up in all patients. Patients with prior AFib history appeared to be a very high risk group. In these patients, closer monitoring is mandatory and the persistent risk of AFib recurrences may justify prolonged anticoagulation policy

Left Ventricular Pacing In Patients With Congestive Heart Failure

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) using biventricular (BIV) pacing has proved its effectiveness to correct myocardial asynchrony and improve clinical status of patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF) and widened QRS. Despite a different effect on left ventricular electrical dispersion, left univentricular (LV) pacing is able to achieve the same mechanical synchronisation as BIV pacing in experimental studies and in humans. This results in clinical benefits of LV pacing at mid-term follow-up, with significant improvement in functional class, quality of life and exercise tolerance at the same extent as those observed with BIV stimulation in non randomised studies. Furthermore these benefits are obtained at lesser costs and with conventional dual-chamber devices. However, LV pacing has to be compared to BIV pacing in randomised trials before being definitely considered as a cost-effective alternative to BIV pacing

Hyménoptères Crabroniens du genre Crossocerus Lepeletier & Brullé 1835 de la Région afrotropicale

Clé pour l’identification, synonymie et données chorologiques inédites pour les espèces du genre Crossocerus Lepeletier & Brullé 1835 trouvées en Afrique subsaharienne. Description de six sp. nov. : Crossocerus angolae (Angola), bukavu (République Démocratique du Congo), capax (Kenya), gaboni (Gabon), lokojae (Nigeria) et upembae (République Démocratique du Congo). Aussi deux comb. nov. : Crossocerus brunniventris (Arnold 1932) var. bifidus Leclercq 1958 et Crossocerus brunniventris (Arnold 1932) var. wittei Leclercq 1958 = Crossocerus riparius (Arnold 1926).Key to the species of the genus Crossocerus Lepeletier & Brullé 1835 found in Africa south of the Sahara. Synonymy and new distribution data. Description of five sp. nov. : Crossocerus angolae (Angola), bukavu (République Démocratique du Congo), capax (Kenya), gaboni (Gabon), lokojae (Nigeria) and upembae (République Démocratique du Congo). Also two comb. nov. : Crossocerus brunniventris (Arnold 1932) var. bifidus Leclercq 1958 and Crossocerus brunniventris Arnold 1932) var. wittei Leclercq 1958 = Crossocerus riparius (Arnold 1926)

An ageing elasto-viscoplastic model for ceramics

This work has been achieved in the framework of the PLEIADES project, financially supported by CEA (Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives), EDF (Électricité de France) and AREVA.A model reproducing strain softening behavior in ceramic materials is proposed, base on a critical treatment of previous mechanical experimental results on uranium dioxide. The main hypothesis is that the strain softening phenomenon is related to an ageing process, where some point defects move towards the dislocations and modify their velocity. This is different from most of models used up to now, as they were based on the hypothesis that only the initial lack of dislocations was responsible of the strain softening behavior. A model is first developed in a simple 1D framework. Evolution of the mechanical behavior with strain rate and temperature is well reproduced by this model. Then, the 1D model is extended to a 3D mechanical model, and mechanical compressive tests on UO2 pellets are simulated. The 3D model well reproduces the observed asymmetrical shape of the compressed pellet if one considers that the material is not initially perfectly homogeneous, which highlights the importance of accounting for spatial heteregeneity of materials in models

Découverte d'une nouvelle Ammophile d'Espagne appartenant au groupe fallax Kohl (Hym. Sphecidae)

Peer reviewe

Décrire la société féodale à l'aide de Grégoire le Grand?

Gregory the Great's works and thoughts have strongly contribute to shaping the medieval West. The most roman of the Church Fathers has been used to think the feudal society as it can be shown in three characters : Abbon of Fleury at the end of the tenth century was consciously reading Gregory's letters. Thietmar of Mersebourg, like Gerard of Cambrai, used Gregory's exegesis in his Chronicle. Jean of Fecamp, disciple of William of Volpiano, was deeply inspired by spiritual lessons from the Regula Pastoralis.Les oeuvres et la pensée de Grégoire le Grand ont fortement contribué à la formation de l'Occident médiéval. Le plus romain des Pères de l'Eglise a été utilisé pour penser la société féodale comme on peut le montrer dans trois personnages: Abbon de Fleury à la fin du Xè siècle lisait consciencieusement les lettres de Grégoire. Thietmar de Mersebourg, comme Gérard de Cambrai, utilisait l'exégèse de Grégoire dans sa Chronique. Jean de Fécamp, disciples de Guillaume de Volpiano, était profondément inspiré par les leçons spirituelles de la Regula pastoralis