Correspondence Address:
Ravi R Kasliwal
Chairman, Clinical and Preventive Cardiology, Medanta - The Medicity, Sector 38, Gurgaon, Haryana - 122 001, India

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The month of October is a month of festivals and festivity, celebrations and brotherhood, the defeat of good over evil and above all, a time to meet family and friends and bonhomie follows. In our country, where there is unity in diversity, the spontaneity with which people of all hues meet and exchange niceties and gifts is an experience that you wait for eleven months. Greetings to the readers of JCPC.

But the journal itself retains its seriousness of purpose and brings to you clinical science from India and overseas.

The review article on cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an important contribution by Dr ST Yavagal. Correct application of the steps detailed there-in and practice can help save lives literally. I endorse the views of the authors that “there is a need for high quality training for everyone”.

As a patient of acute coronary syndrome is wheeled into the emergency department (ER) and the first electrocardiogram, showing changes of STEMI, is performed, the first thing that races through the mind of the ER physician is which is the culprit vessel? This is well defined by an original article from Maharashtra and the data is in relation to coronary angiography; thus, the cardiologist performing the primary angioplasty is already tuned in.

A retrospective review of almost 20,000 patients undergoing coronary angiography to determine the prevalence and characteristics of spontaneous coronary artery dissection is another interesting read. The study numbers are large and the bottom line that most of them only require good medical therapy is satisfying. This retrospective analysis fills a large gap in our understanding of this entity.

Another interesting study looks at the incidence and determinants of frozen shoulder in our post-operative coronary artery bypass patients, an entity that we all encounter routinely in clinical practice. This study clearly demonstrates the predictors of this entity. Studies of this nature help to equip the caregivers in anticipating such frustrating, even though benign, complications and minimizing their negative impact on the patients' recovery.

Strain imaging has evolved as a very useful modality for assessment of myocardial contractile function in a variety of clinical settings. An original study published in this issue employs this modality to detect subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in children with beta thalassemia major. It is distressing to note that the study found high prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction even in children as young as 7 years of age. This study brings in to focus the need for a careful vigil to look for early evidence of cardiac dysfunction in children being treated for these hemoglobinopathies so that timely corrective action can be taken.

Along with central venous line associated infection and land mark trials of interest this issue makes for whole some reading.

Wishing the esteemed readers a Happy Durga Pooja/Navratra, Dusshera and the festival of lights-Deepawali.