Prognostic value of the new high sensitive cardiac troponin T assay (hs-cTnT) after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background The aim of the study was to assess the value of post-operative cardiac troponin T-levels, measured with a new highly sensitive assay (hs-cTnT), as a suitable parameter to predict patients' outcome after cardiac surgery. With the introduction of the new hs-cTnT assay the correlation between measured levels and the post-operative patient's outcome remains to be evaluated. Methods Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 213) were included.

Relationship between anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicle count across the menstrual cycle using the Beckman Coulter Access assay in comparison with Gen II manual assay.

Background: The study aim was to validate Beckman Coulter's fully automated Access Immunoassay System (BC Access assay) for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and compare it with Beckman Coulter's Modified Manual Generation II assay (BC Mod Gen II), with regard to cycle AMH fluctuations and antral follicle counts.

Methods: During one complete menstrual cycle, transvaginal ultrasound was performed on regularly menstruating women (n=39; 18-40years) every 2 days until the dominant ovarian follicle reached 16mm, then daily until observed ovulation; blood samples were collected throughout the cycle. Number and size of antral follicles was determined and AMH levels measured using both assays.

Surgical decision making for revascularization of chronically occluded right coronary artery.

Objective: Chronic totally occluded right coronary artery (CTO-RCA) often poses a problem in decision making for/against bypass grafting due to the lack of standardized indication criteria. The aim of the study was to investigate whether qualitative angiograms can be useful in decision making for/against surgical revascularization of CTO-RCA.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 69 patients who underwent elective CABG procedure, including single graft to the RCA.

Determinants of cumulative ART live-birth rates in a single-center study: age, fertilization modality, and first-cycle outcome.

Purpose: To analyze cumulative and single-cycle success rates of IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) separately in relation to female age, fertilization modality, and first-cycle outcome.

Methods: The study involved 2997 patients and couples, respectively, who underwent 5339 fresh and 3006 cryo cycles using pronuclear-stage oocytes. Fertilization was achieved by the conventional IVF or ICSI.

FTO Is Associated with Aortic Valve Stenosis in a Gender Specific Manner of Heterozygote Advantage: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene have been linked with increased body weight. However, the data on an association of FTO with cardiovascular diseases remains conflicting. Therefore, we ascertained whether FTO is associated with aortic valve stenosis (AVS), one of the most frequent cardiovascular diseases in the Western world.

Antimüllerian hormone levels and numbers and sizes of antral follicles in regularly menstruating women of reproductive age referenced to true ovulation day.

Objective: To assess menstrual cycle antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels in reproductive age women and which/how many follicles substantially produce AMH.

Design: Prospective study of menstruating women using mixed-effects models to analyze AMH variability and correlation of follicle counts/size classes to AMH levels.

Setting: Clinic.

Prospective randomized trial comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided in-bore biopsy to MRI-ultrasound fusion and transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy in patients with prior negative biopsies.

Background: A significant proportion of prostate cancers (PCas) are missed by conventional transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (TRUS-GB). It remains unclear whether the combined approach using targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-ultrasound fusion-guided biopsy (FUS-GB) and systematic TRUS-GB is superior to targeted MRI-guided in-bore biopsy (IB-GB) for PCa detection.

Objective: To compare PCa detection between IB-GB alone and FUS-GB + TRUS-GB in patients with at least one negative TRUS-GB and prostate-specific antigen ≥4 ng/ml.

Monitoring the menstrual cycle: Comparison of urinary and serum reproductive hormones referenced to true ovulation.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine relationships and interindividual variations in urinary and serum reproductive hormone levels relative to ultrasound-observed ovulation in menstrual cycles of apparently normally menstruating women.

Methods: This was a prospective study of normally menstruating women (no known subfertility), aged 18-40 years (n = 40), who collected daily urine samples and attended the study centre for blood samples and transvaginal ultrasound during one complete menstrual cycle. Serum luteinising hormone (LH), progesterone, estradiol, urinary LH, pregnanediol-3- glucuronide (P3G) and estrone-3-glucuronide were measured.

Intermittent Cold-Blood Cardioplegia and Its Impact on Myocardial Acidosis during Coronary Bypass Surgery.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the degree of myocardial acidosis in patients undergoing elective coronary bypass surgery, in whom intermittent cold-blood cardioplegia (ICBC) was used for myocardial protection. The results of this study are presented in comparison to those of a previous trial conducted by the same investigators, using a similar methodology, but with intermittent warm-blood cardioplegia (IWBC).

Patients And Methods: In 15 patients undergoing elective myocardial revascularization with ICBC for myocardial protection, metabolic changes of global ischemia indicators, lactate and pH values (measured simultaneously in coronary sinus and arterial blood) were analyzed.

Survival predictors in ventricular assist device patients with prior extracorporeal life support: selecting appropriate candidates.

Several centers turn patients down for long-term ventricular assist devices (VADs) once they have received extracorporeal life support (ECLS) due to the expected poor outcome in these patients. The aim of this study was to identify survival predictors in this cohort of patients. Data of patients undergoing VAD support between January 2010 and November 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Impact of sperm cell source on the results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Purpose: There is an ongoing debate whether the source of sperm cells, the etiology or the extent of male factor infertility has influence on the outcome of ICSI cycles.

Methods: The results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) according to the source of spermatozoa in patients with severe male factor infertility were compared in a retrospective study: 249 couples underwent a total of 337 fresh ICSI cycles with the use of fresh motile testicular or fresh motile ejaculated spermatozoa.

Results: For all variables, there were no statistically significant differences in the ICSI results between both groups.

Prospective evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging guided in-bore prostate biopsy versus systematic transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy in biopsy naïve men with elevated prostate specific antigen.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging guided biopsy is increasingly performed to diagnose prostate cancer. However, there is a lack of well controlled, prospective trials to support this treatment method. We prospectively compared magnetic resonance imaging guided in-bore biopsy with standard systematic transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy in biopsy naïve men with increased prostate specific antigen.

Examination of intrarenal resistance indices indicate the involvement of renal pathology as a significant diagnostic classifier of preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy with endotheliosis leading to occlusion of renal perfusion with an impact on the glomerular filtration barrier. We therefore analyzed the role of intrarenal resistance indices in the renal interlobular arteries measured by Doppler ultrasound as a diagnosis of PE.

Methods: Women with preeclampsia (n = 24; mean blood pressure/24 h = 145 ± 11/ 93 ± 7 mm Hg; mean proteinuria = 5.

Time is brain?--Surgical revascularization of acute symptomatic occlusion of the internal carotid artery up to one week.

Background: Clinical outcome and surgical success rate of open surgical reconstruction for acute symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion up to 1 week after stroke onset were analyzed to determine a cutoff time, after which risk exceeds clinical benefit.

Methods: From November 1997 to March 2007, a total of 5369 patients were examined at the authors' stroke unit; 502 from this cohort underwent ICA reconstruction. A subgroup of 49 patients underwent surgical revascularization of acute ICA occlusion within 168 hr at a mean of 42.

Critical chronic peripheral arterial disease: does outcome justify crural or pedal bypass surgery in patients with advanced age or with comorbidities?

Background: We wanted to know the effect of comorbidity, age, and gender on the outcome after surgical below-knee revascularization for critical chronic limb ischemia.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 624 consecutive patients who underwent below-knee bypass surgery between January 1996 and December 2005 because of chronic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Patients' characteristics were: diabetes mellitus (DM) n = 445 (71%), coronary artery disease (CAD) n = 310 (49%), dialysis-dependent renal insufficiency (dRI) n = 88 (14%), age >70 years n = 279 (44%), male n = 423 (68%), PAD Fontaine's stage III n = 105 (17%), and PAD stage 4 n =519 (83%).

Single-center experience with open surgical treatment of 36 infected aneurysms of the thoracic, thoracoabdominal, and abdominal aorta.

Background: To describe a single-center experience with open surgical treatment of infected aortic aneurysms. We analyzed risk factors for 90-day mortality.

Methods: Between 1983 and 2008, 4,410 patients underwent open surgery for thoracic, thoracoabdominal, or abdominal aneurysm at our institution.

Age-related normograms of serum antimüllerian hormone levels in a population of infertile women: a multicenter study.

Objective: To produce age-related normograms for serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) level in infertile women without polycystic ovaries (non-PCO).

Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: Fifteen academic reproductive centers.

Whole body MRI in type I Gaucher patients: evaluation of skeletal involvement.

Background: Bone disease is a serious complication of type 1 Gaucher disease, which if untreated can result in pain, disability and reduced quality of life. MRI is the method of choice for assessing and monitoring bone involvement in Gaucher patients. MRI bone evaluation has been predominantly carried out on the lumbar spine and/or lower extremities using quantitative or semi-quantitative methods.

Does atovaquone prolong the disease-free interval of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis?

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of suppressing a recurrence of Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis after treatment with atovaquone.

Methods: Retrospective, nonrandomized, clinical trial. Forty-one immunocompetent patients were treated for Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis with atovaquone between 1999 and 2006.

Metabolic monitoring of postischemic myocardium during intermittent warm-blood cardioplegic administration.

In 12 patients undergoing elective myocardial revascularization with intermittent administration of warm-blood cardioplegic solution for myocardial protection, we analyzed metabolic changes by assay of global ischemia indicators (pH, lactate, glucose, and potassium), which we measured in the coronary sinus and arterial blood during the ischemic and postischemic periods. A typical cumulative ischemic pattern with progressively decreasing pH values and progressively increasing lactate values could not be observed in all patients. It was not the degree of lactate washout, but the lactate concentration at the end of each reperfusion, that correlated significantly with global metabolic recovery time, which suggests the importance of effective reperfusion.

Prospective randomized trial of operative vs interventional treatment for renal artery ostial occlusive disease (RAOOD).

Introduction And Objectives: Patients with either renovascular hypertension (RVH) and/or renal insufficiency (RI) due to renal artery ostial occlusive disease (RAOOD) can successfully undergo an open surgical reconstruction procedure (OSRP), but since the publication of Blum et al(1) percutaneous balloon stent angioplasty (PTRA + stent) leaving a small part of the stent within the aorta has become very popular. However, balloon dilatation and stenting does not remove the atherosclerotic plaque, which is often heavily calcified but leads to disruption of the plaque causing myointimal hyperplasia and recurrent stenosis. Therefore, a comparison of the two treatment modalities concerning complications and durability in a prospective randomized design was felt to bring more insight to the discussion.

Portal vein embolization and autologous CD133+ bone marrow stem cells for liver regeneration: initial experience.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of portal vein embolization (PVE) and CD133(+) bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) administration to the liver, compared with PVE alone, to augment hepatic regeneration in patients with large hepatic malignancies.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee; informed consent was obtained. Thirteen patients underwent PVE of liver segments I and IV-VIII to stimulate hepatic regeneration prior to extended right hepatectomy.

Systemic mycophenolate mofetil avoids immune reactions in penetrating high-risk keratoplasty: preliminary results of an ongoing prospectively randomized multicentre study.

Recently, in a monocentre study mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was demonstrated to be efficacious and safe in penetrating high-risk keratoplasty. Here, preliminary results of a randomized multicentre trial are presented. To date, 86 of 140 scheduled patients undergoing high-risk penetrating keratoplasty have already been randomized into the two study groups: 48 into the MMF group and 38 into the control group.

Efficacy of a herbal preparation in patients with functional dyspepsia: a meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, clinical trials.

A meta-analysis was performed of double-blind, randomized clinical studies that evaluated the efficacy of the herbal preparation Iberogast in patients with functional dyspepsia. All studies had the same duration and used the same dosage of active treatment and the same primary outcome measure, a dyspepsia-specific gastrointestinal symptom score. Of the 592 trial participants, 196 were treated with Iberogast and 192 with placebo or cisapride (positive control).

The effects of cidofovir 1% with and without cyclosporin a 1% as a topical treatment of acute adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis: a controlled clinical pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of cidofovir 1% eyedrops with and without cyclosporin A 1% eyedrops as a treatment of acute adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis (AKC).

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Participants: Thirty-four patients with acute adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis of recent onset.