Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Short-Term Outcome in Patients with Heart Failure and Cancer.

(1) Our study aimed to look at the clinical characteristics, treatment and short-term outcomes of patients hospitalized due to heart failure with coexisting cancer. (2) Methods: Seventy one cancer (Ca) patients and a randomly selected 70 patients without Ca, hospitalized due to heart failure exacerbation in the same time period constituted the study group (Ca patient group) and controls (non-Ca group), respectively. Data on clinical characteristics were collected retrospectively for both groups.

A call to caution when hydroxychloroquine is given to elderly patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Use of hydroxychloroquine in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was widespread and uncontrolled until recently. Patients vulnerable to severe COVID-19 are at risk of hydroxychloroquine interactions with co-morbidities and co-medications contributing to detrimental, including fatal, adverse treatment effects.

Methods: A retrospective survey was undertaken of health conditions and co-medications of patients with COVID-19 who were pre-screened for enrolment in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled hydroxychloroquine multi-centre trial.

Describing nearly two decades of Chagas disease in Germany and the lessons learned: a retrospective study on screening, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection from 2000 - 2018.

Background: The highly complex and largely neglected Chagas disease (CD) has become a global health problem due to population movements between Latin America and non-endemic countries, as well as non-vectorial transmission routes. Data on CD testing and treatment from routine patient care in Germany of almost two decades was collected and analysed.

Methods: German laboratories offering diagnostics for chronic Trypanosoma cruzi (T.

Travel-associated chikungunya acquired in Myanmar in 2019.

Eighteen cases of chikungunya virus infection in travellers returning from Myanmar were reported to the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, its subnetwork EuroTravNet and TropNet in 2019, reflecting an ongoing local outbreak. This report reinforces the importance of travellers as sentinels of emerging arboviral outbreaks and highlights the importance of vigilance for imported cases, due to the potential for dissemination of the virus into areas with competent local vectors and conducive environmental conditions.

Ivermectin for causal malaria prophylaxis: a randomised controlled human infection trial.

Objective: Ivermectin is safe and widely used for treating helminth infections. It also kills arthropods feeding on treated subjects, including malaria vectors. Thus, ivermectin mass drug administration as an additional tool for malaria control is being evaluated by WHO.

Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy: Why Should Cardiologists Care about That?

Background: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a frequent but underdiagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus. It has a strong influence on various cardiac disorders including myocardial ischemia and infarction, hypertension, orthostatic hypotonia, heart failure, and arrhythmias. CAN can lead to severe morbidity and mortality and increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Platelet reactivity and mean platelet volume as risk markers of thrombogenesis in atrial fibrillation.

Unlabelled: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risk of thromboembolic complications. One of the markers of the increased risk of hypercoagulable state is platelet hyperreactivity. The aim of the study was to assess impact of arrhythmia on platelet reactivity.

Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in patients with atrial fibrillation and implanted pacemaker.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is the most common chronic arrhythmia. Due to diagnostic difficulties, the exact prevalence of silent atrial fibrillation is not precisely defined.

Aim: The main aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation and the relation between clinical status and presence of symptoms of atrial fibrillation.

The impact of various protective tools on the dose reduction in the eye lens in an interventional cardiology-clinical study.

The aim of the study was to check, in clinical practice, the potential for the dose reduction of lead eyewear and a ceiling-suspended shield used to protect the eye lens of physicians working in interventional cardiology. To this end, for the lead eyewear, the dose reduction factors were derived to correct the readings from a dosimeter used routinely outside the glasses. Four types of lead eyewear with attached loose thermoluminescent dosimeters and EYE-D dosimeters were worn by physicians in two clinical centres, for two-month periods, during coronary angiography (CA), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and pacemaker procedures.

Alternative Ultrasound Gel for a Sustainable Ultrasound Program: Application of Human Centered Design.

This paper describes design of a low cost, ultrasound gel from local products applying aspects of Human Centered Design methodology. A multidisciplinary team worked with clinicians who use ultrasound where commercial gel is cost prohibitive and scarce. The team followed the format outlined in the Ideo Took Kit.

Epidemiology and Genotyping of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Genotype Shifting Observed in Patients from Central Europe.

Background: Knowledge on HBV prevalence and genotype distribution in Europe still is hampered by lack of coherent data sampling, small numbers of patients studied so far, and also modern times migration which influences both parameters in a quite dynamic manner. To find out whether HBV prevalence and genotype distribution has undergone any significant changes over the past decades, we have analyzed our cohort of HBV patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of virological data and correlation with the epidemiological backgrounds of 408 chronically HBV-infected patients, followed in the year 2009 at Tübingen Virus Hepatitis Center, Germany.

Heart rate turbulence in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus type 2.

Introduction: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) causes substantial morbidity and increased mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Besides heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate turbulence (HRT) is an important method of assessment of cardiac autonomic regulation. The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between HRT and diabetic control.

The impact of x-ray tube configuration on the eye lens and extremity doses received by cardiologists in electrophysiology room.

The aim of the study was to analyse the influence of the x-ray tube configuration on the radiation doses to eye lens and extremities of cardiologists performing pacemaker implantation procedures in electrophysiology laboratory. The measurements were performed on one, widely used, portable C-arm system, first with x-ray tube mounted above the patient table and image intensifier below it and then on a reinstalled (but essentially the same) system with under-table x-ray tube configuration. Thermoluminescent dosimeters, placed in various positions near the eye lens, on the hands and ankle, were used during every procedure.

Intrafamilial transmission of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV): long-term dynamics of epitope-specific antibody response in context of avidity maturation.

Background: The role of a special early family formation (PEKiP), which is popular in Germany, as a potential origin of HCMV-transmission to seronegative mothers is not documented.

Objectives: To describe the clinical courses, to identify the virological origin and to evaluate a new tool for diagnosis of a cascade of intrafamilial HCMV primary infections.

Study Design: This prospectively analyzed long-term course of HCMV primary infection leading to hospitalization of two family members, included the evaluation of different IgG/IgM/IgG avidity-assays with an epitope-specific recombinant immunoblot-assay.

The effect of diabetic autonomic neuropathy on P-wave duration, dispersion and atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus and has a negative impact on the cardiovascular system. There are no data about the occurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in the population with DAN.

Cardiac defibrillator implantation via persistent left superior vena cava - sometimes this approach is facile. A case report.

We report a case of persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) incidentally recognized during the implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator. PLSVC is the most common venous anomaly of the thorax and drains into the right atrium. There are a lot of publications reporting success of pacemaker or defibrillator lead implantations via PLSVC.

Barriers to implementation of evidence-based electrical therapies and the need for outcome research: role of European registries.

Although clinical trial results and the implementation of current guidelines appear to have encouraged progress in the treatment of arrhythmias, great discrepancies still exist between European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member countries. Guidelines are not adhered to for a variety of reasons. This cannot be explained only by economic factors, although these obviously play a substantial role.

Determinants of geographic variations in implantation of cardiac defibrillators in the European Society of Cardiology member countries--data from the European Heart Rhythm Association White Book.

Aims: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major health concern in developed countries. Many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy in the prevention of SCD and total mortality reduction. However, the high individual costs and the reimbursement policy may limit widespread ICD utilization.

Endothelial function and left ventricular remodeling in diabetic and non-diabetic patients after acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is an independent predictor of future cardiac events.

Material/methods: We evaluated the relationship between flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in brachial artery and coronary risk factors in 93 patients (70 males, mean age: 62 ± 8 years) with ACS treated with primary angioplasty (PCI). The patients were divided into 2 subgroups: 43 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) and 50 non-diabetics (non-DM).

Recurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy: evidence-based predictors.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmia (VA) is the most frequent cause of sudden death among patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Aim: To identify the important VA risk factors in patients with DCM.

Methods And Results: Eighty-five DCM patients (73 males, mean age 54 years) with DCM and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) were followed for 21+/-19 months after ICD implantation.