The effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in acute traumatic spinal cord injury on motor and sensory function within 6 months post-injury: a study protocol for a two-arm three-stage adaptive, prospective, multi-center, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: The pathological mechanism in acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is dual sequential: the primary mechanical lesion and the secondary injury due to a cascade of biochemical and pathological changes initiated by the primary lesion. Therapeutic approaches have focused on modulating the mechanisms of secondary injury. Despite extensive efforts in the treatment of SCI, there is yet no causal, curative treatment approach available.

Significance of psychosocial factors in cardiology: update 2018 : Position paper of the German Cardiac Society.

Background: Psychosocial factors in cardiovascular diseases are increasingly acknowledged by patients, health care providers and payer organizations. Due to the rapidly increasing body of evidence, the German Cardiac Society has commissioned an update of its 2013 position paper on this topic. The German version was published in 2018 and the current manuscript is an extended translation of the original version.

Ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial inflammation: Long-term follow-up of patients with suspected myocarditis.

Background: Inflammatory heart disease is known to be associated with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and impaired ventricular function at presentation or during follow-up. We aimed to investigate the need for implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) due to ventricular dysfunction and occurrence of VA during long-term follow-up in patients admitted with suspected myocarditis.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2016, 191 patients (age 43 ± 13 years, 71% male, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 33 ± 15%) with clinically suspected myocarditis, who underwent endomyocardial biopsies (EMB), were prospectively enrolled and followed up in 6-months-intervals (median follow-up was 83 (49-156) months).

Diagnostic and prognostic validity of different biomarkers in patients with suspected myocarditis.

Background: Myocarditis might be associated with increased markers of myocardial injury. However, data on novel biomarkers, such as high-sensitive Troponin T (hs-TnT) or Copeptin, are lacking. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic and prognostic utility of biomarkers in patients with suspected myocarditis.

Effects of renal sympathetic denervation on heart rate and atrioventricular conduction in patients with resistant hypertension.

Background: Renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) reduces sympathetic activity and blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant hypertension. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of RDN on HR and other electrocardiographic parameters.

Methods: 136 patients aged 62.

Hypo- and hyperglycemia predict outcome in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction: data from EPHESUS.

Background: Hyperglycemia predicts death in cardiovascular disease, but intensive glucose-lowering strategies increase mortality rates in diabetes. The present analysis investigated the prognostic value of postadmission blood glucose (BG) concentration on clinical outcomes in high-risk patients with heart failure after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: A total of 6,496 patients from the Eplerenone Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction Heart Failure Efficacy and Survival Study (EPHESUS) were categorized into 4 groups by plasma glucose concentration: ≤4.

Cardiorespiratory response to exercise after renal sympathetic denervation in patients with resistant hypertension.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the effects of interventional renal sympathetic denervation (RD) on cardiorespiratory response to exercise.

Background: RD reduces blood pressure at rest in patients with resistant hypertension.

Methods: We enrolled 46 patients with therapy-resistant hypertension as extended investigation of the Symplicity HTN-2 (Renal Denervation With Uncontrolled Hypertension) trial.

Prognostic electrocardiographic parameters in patients with suspected myocarditis.

Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters for outcome in patients acutely admitted with myocarditis without previous heart failure who underwent endomyocardial biopsy.

Methods And Results: Between 1995 and 2009, 186 consecutive patients (age: 43.4 ± 13.

Smoking is associated with a high prevalence of microalbuminuria in hypertensive high-risk patients: data from I-SEARCH.

Background: Microalbuminuria (MAU) is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and a predictor of cardiovascular events. The effects of cigarette smoking on the prevalence of MAU in a high-risk population with arterial hypertension are unclear.

Methods: The International Survey Evaluating Microalbuminuria Routinely by Cardiologists in patients with Hypertension (I-SEARCH) documented the clinical profile of 20,364 patients with arterial hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors.

The cardiopulmonary continuum systemic inflammation as 'common soil' of heart and lung disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic heart failure (CHF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occur commonly in the presence of each other and are associated with similar systemic inflammatory reactions. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. C-reactive protein (CRP) could represent the sentinel biomarker to all chronic diseases.