Tissue-, sex-, and age-specific DNA methylation of rat glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter and insulin-like growth factor 2 imprinting control region.

Tissue-, sex-, and age-specific epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation are largely unknown. Changes in DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene () and imprinting control region (ICR) of and genes during the lifespan are particularly interesting since these genes are susceptible to epigenetic modifications by prenatal stress or malnutrition. They are important regulators of development and aging.

Transfer of maternal psychosocial stress to the fetus.

Psychosocial maternal stress experienced during different vulnerable periods throughout gestation is thought to increase the individual's risk to develop neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular and metabolic disease in later life. Cortisol has generally been identified as the major mediator of maternal stress transfer to the fetus. Its lipophilic nature allows a trans-placental passage and thus excessive maternal cortisol could persistently impair the development of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA).

Cerebral involvement in a patient with Goodpasture's disease due to shortened induction therapy: a case report.

Introduction: Goodpasture's disease is a rare immunological disease with formation of pathognomonic antibodies against renal and pulmonary basement membranes. Cerebral involvement has been reported in several cases in the literature, yet the pathogenetic mechanism is not entirely clear.

Case Presentation: A 21-year-old Caucasian man with Goodpasture's disease and end-stage renal disease presented with two generalized seizures after a period of mild cognitive disturbance.

Distribution spectrum of paraoxonase activity in HDL fractions.

Background: Paraoxonase (PON1) associated with HDL can be regarded as a cardio- and vasoprotective enzyme. However, because HDL is not a homogeneous fraction, it is important to investigate in which subgroups of HDL active PON1 is located. It would also be useful to determine density profiles of the HDL apolipoproteins (Apo) E and J.

Embolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and effective anticoagulation: value of transesophageal echocardiography to guide direct-current cardioversion. Final results of the Ludwigshafen Observational Cardioversion Study.

Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided cardioversion to prevent thromboembolic complications in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and effective anticoagulation (International Normalized Ratio of 2 or 3) at least three weeks before cardioversion.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography has been proposed as a method of screening patients for left atrial thrombi before direct-current cardioversion of AF. The usefulness of TEE as a screening tool has always been evaluated in patients without long-term anticoagulation before cardioversion.

Clinical profile and management of heart failure: rural community hospital vs. metropolitan heart center.

Background: Knowledge on clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with heart failure originates from studies of selected populations in clinical trials or from epidemiological observations. Reports on the large numbers of patients with heart failure treated in community hospitals are sparse.

Objective: Are there differences in patient characteristics and heart failure management between a metropolitan heart center (HC) and a rural community hospital (RCH)?

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical charts from all patients admitted for heart failure (ICD 428.

[1998 prognosis of left ventricular dysfunction in a maximum care non-university hospital. Analysis of the Ludwigshafen LVD Registry].

Background: Prognostic data on heart failure rely on epidemiological studies or large clinical trials. These data are not to transfer easily on everyday practice.

Objective: To assess the prognosis of left ventricular dysfunction under the therapeutic conditions of the 1990s.

[Current use and outcomes of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation in routine cardiology].

Background: Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) is an established technique for temporary support of the left ventricular function. However, less is known about the current use and outcome of IABC in daily clinical practice.

Patients And Method: From July 1995 to May 1999 all patients receiving an IABC in the Department of Cardiology of the Heart Center Ludwigshafen were included in a consecutive registry and follow-up data were obtained.

Primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction: differences between referred patients and those treated in hospitals with on-site facilities?

Background: Primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can only be performed in a limited number of centers. Therefore, some patients will be referred for this procedure.

Design: We analyzed the data of the prospective observational MITRA trial, which took place at 54 hospitals in southwest Germany, to describe current practices and outcomes in referred patients compared to patients treated on-site.

Primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction in patients not included in randomized studies. Maximal Individual Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction (MITRA) Study Group.

Patients with acute myocardial infarction included in randomized trials comparing primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (pPTCA) with thrombolysis represent a special subgroup of patients with a low event rate. Patients excluded from these trials represent a variety of different subgroups, with different patient characteristics and possibly different clinical event rates. Primary PTCA was performed in 491 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction in the prospective multicenter observational Maximal Individual Therapy in Acute Myocardial Infarction trial.

[Pseudoaneurysm in the vicinity of the ascending aorta caused by contained disruption at the insertion site of a coronary artery bypass graft. A case report].

In this case report a 65-year-old patient came into the emergency ward with acute chest pain after coronary artery bypass graft operation in 1985. On routine chest X-ray in 1995 a mediastinal widening was diagnosed. The chest X-ray in 1997 (Figure 1) showed an increase of the diameter of the known mediastinal widening.

The 60 Minutes Myocardial Infarction Project. Characteristics on admission and clinical outcome in patients with reinfarction compared to patients with a first infarction.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate parameters that characterize patients with myocardial reinfarction as compared to patients with a first infarction in clinical practice, and possibly to determine their clinical outcome.

Methods: The 60 minutes Myocardial Project is a German multicentre prospective observational study in which 136 hospitals are participating. Fourteen thousand, nine hundred and eighty consecutive patients with acute Q wave myocardial infarction were included from July 1992 to September 1994.

[Feasibility and safety of dobutamine stress echocardiography: experiences with 1,000 studies].

The use of dobutamine stress echocardiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease is rapidly expanding. Despite its widespread use, the feasibility and safety of dobutamine stress echocardiography has not been sufficiently documented. Between November 1992 and June 1995, we performed 1000 dobutamine stress echocardiographies.