Sex-specific differences in genetic and nongenetic determinants of mean platelet volume: results from the Gutenberg Health Study.

Mean platelet volume (MPV), a measure of platelet size, is a potential biological marker of platelet function. To date, a comprehensive analysis including known genetic and nongenetic factors that determine MPV is still lacking. MPV has been evaluated in 15 010 individuals from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study.

Heme oxygenase-1 suppresses a pro-inflammatory phenotype in monocytes and determines endothelial function and arterial hypertension in mice and humans.

Aims: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) confers protection to the vasculature and suppresses inflammatory properties of monocytes and macrophages. It is unclear how HO-1 determines the extent of vascular dysfunction in mice and humans.

Methods And Results: Decreased HO-1 activity and expression was paralleled by increased aortic expression and activity of the nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate oxidase Nox2 in HO-1 deficient Hmox1⁻/⁻ and Hmox1(⁺/⁻) compared with Hmox1⁺/⁺ mice.

Extensive alterations of the whole-blood transcriptome are associated with body mass index: results of an mRNA profiling study involving two large population-based cohorts.

Background: Obesity, defined as pathologically increased body mass index (BMI), is strongly related to an increased risk for numerous common cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. It is particularly associated with insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and systemic oxidative stress and represents the most important risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these associations are still not completely understood.

High-sensitivity troponin and novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) and other novel biomarkers for diagnosing non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: In an acute chest pain cohort (N=1673), mean age 61.4±13.

Trends in Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in More Than 3,000 Consecutive Cases in the Era of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantations.

Objectives Biological prostheses for surgical aortic valve replacement (sAVR) are increasingly being considered in patients < 60 years of age. Likely, preserving the option of performing a transcatheter valve-in-valve (ViV) procedure in cases of structural valve deterioration has contributed to this development. We assessed the use pattern in sAVR over an 11-year period.

Challenging aspects of treatment strategies in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: "Why did recent clinical trials fail?".

Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults and the prevalence is growing with the aging populations in the Western countries. Epidemiologic reports suggest that approximately 50% of patients who have signs or symptoms of HF have preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. This HF type predominantly affects women and the elderly with other co-morbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and overt volume status.

Transcatheter valve-in-valve therapy using 6 different devices in 4 anatomic positions: Clinical outcomes and technical considerations.

Objectives: Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation (ViV) is emerging as a novel treatment option for patients with deteriorated bioprostheses. We report our cumulative experience using 6 types of transcatheter heart valves (THVs) in all anatomic positions.

Methods: Seventy-five consecutive patients (74.

First in human implantation of the mechanical expanding Lotus® valve in degenerated surgical valves in mitral position.

Introduction: Implantation of transcatheter heart valves (THV) into degenerated surgical valves is an emerging therapy for selected high-risk patients. Although, CE mark of most THV is limited for native aortic valvular stenosis, transcatheter valve implantation into degenerated bioprostheses, even in mitral position is very intriguing.

Methods And Results: After placement of a cerebral protection device (Claret Sentinel®), three consecutive patients (age, 79.

Molecular Characterization of the NLRC4 Expression in Relation to Interleukin-18 Levels.

Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pleiotropic cytokine centrally involved in the cytokine cascade with complex immunomodulatory functions in innate and acquired immunity. Circulating IL-18 concentrations are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular events, and diverse inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

Methods And Results: To identify causal variants affecting circulating IL-18 concentrations, we applied various omics and molecular biology approaches.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) locus 12: is glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1) the relevant gene?

Genome-wide association studies have identified and repeatedly confirmed the association of rs3197999 in MST1 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. rs3197999 is a non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism which modifies the function of macrophage stimulating protein-1 (MST1).

First-in-man treatment of a degenerated mitral surgical valve with the mechanical expanding Lotus™ valve.

Percutaneous placement of transcatheter heart valves for treatment of degenerated surgical valves in the aortic and mitral position is an emerging therapy for selected high-risk patients. Here we describe in detail the first case in the literature of a patient (female, 72 years old, log EuroSCORE 22.9%) with a degenerated biological mitral prosthesis which was successfully treated by transapical implantation of a Lotus valve.

Transseptal and transmitral Parachute® implantation in conjunction with "MitraClipping".

Aims: Parachute® implantation (PI) is an attractive treatment option for patients with left ventricular apical aneurysms (LVAA). So far, only the retrograde approach has been approved for PI. Unfortunately, severe functional mitral regurgitation (MR) restricts PI.

Biomarkers in stable coronary heart disease, their modulation and cardiovascular risk: The LIPID biomarker study.

Aims: In patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), we aimed to assess 1. the prognostic power of biomarkers reflecting haemodynamics, micronecrosis, inflammation, coagulation, lipids, neurohumoral activity, and renal function; 2. whether changes in concentrations of these biomarkers over 12 months affected subsequent CHD risk; and 3.

SASH1, a new potential link between smoking and atherosclerosis.

Objective: We have previously reported that SASH1 expression is increased in circulating human monocytes from smokers and was positively correlated with the number of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of this study was to further validate the link between smoking, SASH1 and atherosclerosis within the vascular wall and to assess the impact of SASH1 expression on endothelial cell functions.

Method: Human carotids with atherosclerotic plaques were obtained from 58 patients (45 of them with known smoking status: smoker, non-smoker, ex-smokers), and were processed for gene expression analyses and immunostaining.

Candidate biomarkers in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Context: Patients presenting with heart failure symptoms are categorized into heart failure (HF) with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Objective: Aim is to investigate the additional use of candidate biomarkers to characterize patients with either sub-type of HF.

Methods: Literature search was conducted in the electronic databases MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through November 2014.

Which biomarkers are predictive specifically for cardiovascular or for non-cardiovascular mortality in men? Evidence from the Caerphilly Prospective Study (CaPS).

Objective: To examine a panel of 28 biomarkers for prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and non-CVD mortality in a population-based cohort of men.

Methods: Starting in 1979, middle-aged men in Caerphilly underwent detailed medical examination. Subsequently 2171 men were re-examined during 1989-1993, and fasting blood samples obtained from 1911 men (88%).

Valve-in-Valve Procedures in Failing Biological Xenografts Using a Novel Balloon-Expandable Device: Experience in Aortic, Mitral, and Tricuspid Positions.

Background Valve-in-valve (ViV) procedures for degenerated bioprostheses are an alternative for the standard of care in an aging population. Several reports showed that the Edwards Sapien XT (Edwards Lifesciences Co., Irvine, California, United States) transcatheter heart valve (THV) can be used in aortic, mitral, and tricuspid position for ViV procedures.

The utility of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A for determination of prognosis in a cohort of patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is discussed as a biomarker representing unstable plaques in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In this study 927 patients with CAD (534 with stable angina and 393 with acute coronary syndrome [ACS]) and 217 patients without CAD and measured PAPP-A levels were included. Follow-up for a median of 5 years was documented.

Estimation of Values below the Limit of Detection of a Contemporary Sensitive Troponin I Assay Improves Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The limit of detection (LoD) is the minimal amount of a substance that can be consistently detected. In the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) many patients present with troponin concentrations below the LoD of contemporary sensitive cardiac troponin I (cs-cTnI) assays. These censored values below the LoD influence the diagnostic performance of these assays compared to highly sensitive cTnI (hs-cTnI) assays.

Identification of acute myocardial infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation and chest pain with a contemporary sensitive troponin I assay.

Background: The introduction of modern troponin assays has facilitated diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction due to improved sensitivity with corresponding loss of specificity. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with elevated levels of troponin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of troponin I in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome and chronic AF.

Symetis ACURATE TAVI: review of the technology, developments and current data with this self-expanding transcatheter heart valve.

The Symetis ACURATE TA and ACURATE neo technology is a novel transcatheter heart valve for treatment of aortic valvular stenosis. This review illustrates the implantation steps, which are designed for an easy and intuitive transapical and transfemoral TAVI procedure. The most important difference to other self-expanding platforms is the top-down deployment with minimal protrusion of the stent towards the left ventricular outflow tract.

Carcinoid Heart Valve Disease: Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve-In-Valve Implantation in Failing Biological Xenografts.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Carcinoid heart valve disease (CHVD) occurs as the cardiac manifestation of carcinoid syndrome (also known as Hedinger's syndrome), which develops secondary to neuroendocrine tumor activity. CHVD almost exclusively affects right-sided heart valves, since circulating serotonin is metabolized by pulmonary endothelial cells, thus sparing left-sided valves. Replacement of the tricuspid and pulmonary valve is a well-established and feasible therapeutic option for these patients.

Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease in Secondary Prevention--Results from the AtheroGene--Study.

Background: Risk factors are important in cardiovascular (CV) medicine for risk stratification of patients. We aimed to compare the traditional risk factors to clinical variables for the prediction of secondary cardiovascular events.

Methods And Results: For this study, 3229 patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) were included.

Alterations of a Cellular Cholesterol Metabolism Network Are a Molecular Feature of Obesity-Related Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease.

Obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to identify obesity-associated molecular features that may contribute to obesity-related diseases. Using circulating monocytes from 1,264 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants, we quantified the transcriptome and epigenome.