Insulin like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) for risk prediction in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).

Introduction: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) caused by degenerative calcification is the most frequent acquired valvular heart disease worldwide and mortality rates are considerably high. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a well-established method for valve replacement in high risk patients with AS. However, there is a lack of reliable predictors for patients undergoing TAVI since commonly used scores were developed for surgical populations.

Efficacy of temperature-guided cryoballoon ablation without using real-time recordings - 12-Month follow-up.

Background: We sought to evaluate a temperature-guided approach of cryoballoon (CB) ablation without visualization of real-time recordings.

Methods And Results: We analysed 166 patients (34.9% female, 60 ± 11 years) with paroxysmal or short-term persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Multi-biomarker analysis in patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Background: In this study we sought to examine whether transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is followed by a change in the plasma levels of novel cardiovascular biomarkers.

Methods: We collected blood samples of 79 patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing TAVI before and at 7 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post TAVI and analyzed the plasma concentrations of GDF-15, H-FABP, fetuin-A, galectin 3, sST2 and suPAR by means of ELISA.

Results: There was a significant increase in the concentration of fetuin-A (median: 52.

Elevated plasma levels of interleukin-16 in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Interleukin (IL)-16, a polypeptide cytokine, plays a crucial role in the inflammatory process, acting as a chemoattractant for peripheral immune cells and has been linked to various inflammatory diseases. However, its role in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unclear.We retrospectively analyzed serum levels of IL-16 in blood of patients with (STEMI, n = 45) and without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, n = 42) compared with controls with excluded coronary artery disease (n = 55).

Impact of Moderate Altitude on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Healthy Volunteers.

Background: The induction of microvascular inflammation and the effects on cytokine production in blood due to hypoxia has been shown in the past. We have previously reported a statistically significant increase of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in normobaric hypoxia in the setting of a hypoxia-chamber. In the present study, we sought to analyze plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines in a real-life stetting in order to foster our knowledge on hypoxia induced microvascular inflammation at moderate altitude.

Multibiomarker analysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Novel biomarkers representing different pathobiological pathways and their role in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were studied.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed serum levels of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity (sST2), growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and plasma fetuin A in blood of patients with AMI (STEMI, n = 61; NSTEMI, n = 57) compared to controls with excluded coronary artery disease (n = 76). Furthermore, detailed correlation analysis was performed.

Soluble ST2 predicts 1-year outcome in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Soluble ST2 (sST2) has been introduced as a novel biomarker in patients suffering from heart failure for risk stratification. In this study, we sought to investigate whether sST2 is useful for risk stratification and prediction of mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Materials And Methods: A total of 274 patients undergoing TAVI were included in this study (149 female; age 81 ± 1 years; EUROSCORE 25 ± 1; STS score 3·8 ± 0·2).

Alterations in systemic levels of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines in overweight adolescents and obese mice.

Background: Obesity represents a major problem for patients and health care systems in most industrialized countries. A chronic inflammatory state in obese individuals leads to disease conditions associated with activation of cellular immune mechanisms. Here, we sought to investigate the role of Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-related cytokines in overweight adolescents and mice on a high-fat diet.

Pulse contour cardiac output monitoring in acute heart failure patients : Assessment of hemodynamic measurements.

Background: Heart failure is known to be a major public health problem. Fluid redistribution contributes to acute heart failure; therefore, knowledge of hemodynamic parameters could be important for optimizing outcomes. The pulse contour cardiac output monitor PiCCO uses the single thermal indicator technique and pulse contour analysis to calculate hemodynamic parameters of preload, afterload, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance and extravascular lung water.

Microparticles in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) is the most frequent form of acquired valvular heart disease. AS is known to entail endothelial dysfunction caused by increased mechanical shear stress leading to elevated circulatory levels of microparticles. Endothelial and platelet microparticles (EMP and PMP) are small vesicles that originate from activated cells and thrombocytes.

Predictive value of the augmentation index derived vascular age in patients with newly diagnosed atherosclerosis.

Early detection of atherosclerosis, i.e., in occupational health screening programs could reduce the rate of cardiovascular events in the working population.

Effect of endothelin-1 and endothelin receptor blockade on the release of microparticles.

Background: Increased levels of endothelial cell microparticles (EMP) are known to reflect endothelial dysfunction (ED). In diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM), the expression of endothelin (ET)-1 is increased. As treatment with an ET-1 antagonist significantly inhibited atherosclerosis in animal models, we sought to investigate whether treatment with ET-1 antagonists affects EMP levels in vitro and in vivo in patients with T2DM.

Decrease of circulating myeloid dendritic cells in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: Immunity and inflammation processes are known to be of central importance in chronic heart failure (CHF). Dendritic cells (DCs) are key players in adaptive immunity, yet their role in CHF is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulating DCs in patients with compensated CHF.

Hypobaric hypoxia in 3000 m altitude leads to a significant decrease in circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells in humans.

Introduction: Hypoxia is known to affect the immune system. It leads to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and influences the number of different inflammatory cells. This study investigates the effect of hypoxia on the number of different subsets of circulating human dendritic cells (DCs) as professional antigen-presenting cells.

Current Results of Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the German Aortic Valve Registry.

Background: Conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains the therapy of choice for many patients with severe aortic valve disease. The unique German Aortic Valve Registry (GARY) allows the comparison of contemporary outcomes of AVR with those of transcatheter AVRs. We report here real-world, all-comers outcomes of AVR, including combined AVR and coronary bypass grafting (AVR+CABG).

Involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase class IA (PI3K 110α) and NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1) in regulation of vascular differentiation induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mouse embryonic stem cells.

The impact of reactive oxygen species and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) in differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells is largely unknown. Here, we show that the silencing of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110α and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 1 (NOX1) by short hairpin RNA or pharmacological inhibition of NOX and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) abolishes superoxide production by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mouse ES cells and in ES-cell-derived fetal liver kinase-1(+) (Flk-1(+)) vascular progenitor cells, whereas the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone does not have an effect. Silencing p110α or inhibiting Rac1 arrests vasculogenesis at initial stages in embryoid bodies, even under VEGF treatment, as indicated by platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1)-positive areas and branching points.

Impact of Systemic Normobaric Short-Term Hypoxia on Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Healthy Volunteers.

Background: Hypoxia has been shown to induce a microvascular inflammation, affect the cell count of different types of immune cells, and influence cytokine production in blood. In the present study, serum levels of different cytokines were investigated to achieve insights into the effect of hypoxia on the balance of inflammation and anti-inflammation.

Methods: Pro- (IL-8) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were measured in an experiment exposing 12 healthy subjects (35 ± 9 yr, 176 ± 7 cm, 73 ± 16 kg, BMI 23 ± 4 kg/m2) to systemic, normobaric hypoxia in a hypoxic chamber.

Cardiomyogenesis of embryonic stem cells upon purinergic receptor activation by ADP and ATP.

Purinergic signaling may be involved in embryonic development of the heart. In the present study, the effects of purinergic receptor stimulation on cardiomyogenesis of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were investigated. ADP or ATP increased the number of cardiac clusters and cardiac cells, as well as beating frequency.

Impact of diabetes mellitus and its complications: survival and quality-of-life in critically ill patients.

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus represents an increasing problem for patients and health care systems worldwide. We sought to investigate the effect of diabetes and its associated comorbidities on long-term survival and quality of life following an admission to a medical intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A total of 6662 consecutive patients admitted to ICU between 2004 and 2009 were included (patients with diabetes n=796, non-diabetic patients n=5866).

Outcome predictors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation facilitated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Introduction: Cardiac arrest is the major cause of sudden death in developed countries. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) employs extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients without return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) by conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Aim of the current study was to assess short- and long-term outcome in patients treated with ECPR in our tertiary center and to identify predictors of outcome.

Red cell distribution width and survival in patients hospitalized on a medical ICU.

Objectives: Red cell distribution width was shown to reliably predict mortality and morbidity in numerous clinical settings, including patients hospitalized on surgical intensive care units (ICU). Patients hospitalized on an ICU usually comprise a very heterogeneous patient population. The aim of this analysis was to investigate whether (1) RDW is related to survival outcomes in patients hospitalized on a medical ICU and (2) the prognostic value of RDW is dependent on the diagnosis that led to ICU admission.

Investigation of bacterial translocation in chronic ischemic heart failure in the rat.

Background: Increased markers of systemic inflammation had been found in patients with acute heart failure. These and other findings led to the hypothesis of an increased rate of bacterial translocation in severe or acute heart failure, leading to systemic inflammation. The present study examined if bacterial translocation occurs under physiological conditions in rats and if its rate and spectrum changes in chronic compensated ischemic heart failure.

Elevated plasma levels of interleukin-12p40 and interleukin-16 in overweight adolescents.

Introduction: Obesity during adolescence is an increasing problem for both the individual and health care systems alike. In Western world countries, childhood adiposity has reached epidemic proportions. It is known that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines can be found in the plasma of obese patients.