NT-proBNP cut-off value for ruling out heart failure in atrial fibrillation patients - A prospective clinical study.

Study Objective: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurements can be used to rule out heart failure in patients with sinus rhythm. Atrial fibrillation often coexists with heart failure but affects NT-proBNP levels. This study aims to identify the optimal NT-proBNP cut-off value for ruling out heart failure among atrial fibrillation patients.

Anterior-Lateral Versus Anterior-Posterior Electrode Position for Cardioverting Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Smaller randomized studies have reported conflicting results regarding the optimal electrode position for cardioverting atrial fibrillation. However, anterior-posterior electrode positioning is widely used as a standard and believed to be superior to anterior-lateral electrode positioning. Therefore, we aimed to compare anterior-lateral and anterior-posterior electrode positioning for cardioverting atrial fibrillation in a multicenter randomized trial.

Maximum-fixed energy shocks for cardioverting atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Direct-current cardioversion is one of the most commonly performed procedures in cardiology. Low-escalating energy shocks are common practice but the optimal energy selection is unknown. We compared maximum-fixed and low-escalating energy shocks for cardioverting atrial fibrillation.

Effects of hyperoxia on myocardial injury following cardioversion-A randomized clinical trial.

Unlabelled: Oxygen has long been assumed beneficial for all ill and injured patients. However, hyperoxia may be harmful and aggravate myocardial injury such as that caused by myocardial infarction. We aimed to investigate if hyperoxia increases myocardial injury following direct current cardioversion compared with room air.

Effects of renal denervation on coronary flow reserve and forearm dilation capacity in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. A randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Microvascular impairment is well documented in hypertension. We investigated the effect of renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on cardiac and peripheral microvasculature in patients with treatment-resistant essential hypertension (TRH).

Methods: A randomized, single centre, double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial.

The effect of renal denervation on arterial stiffness, central blood pressure and heart rate variability in treatment resistant essential hypertension: a substudy of a randomized sham-controlled double-blinded trial (the ReSET trial).

Objectives: To investigate, whether renal denervation (RDN) improves arterial stiffness, central blood pressure (C-BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with treatment resistant hypertension.

Methods: ReSET was a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blinded trial (NCT01459900). RDN was performed by a single experienced operator using the Medtronic unipolar Symplicity Flex catheter.

Elevated calprotectin in patients with atrial fibrillation with and without heart failure.

Calprotectin is an inflammatory marker, which has been found elevated in patients suffering from cardiac conditions, e.g. myocardial infarction, unstable angina and chronic heart failure.

Cardioversion Efficacy Using Pulsed Biphasic or Biphasic Truncated Exponential Waveforms: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Several different defibrillators are currently used for cardioversion and defibrillation of cardiac arrhythmias. The efficacy of a novel pulsed biphasic (PB) waveform has not been compared to other biphasic waveforms. Accordingly, this study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of PB shocks with biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) shocks in patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or -flutter.

Renal denervation in treatment-resistant essential hypertension. A randomized, SHAM-controlled, double-blinded 24-h blood pressure-based trial.

Background: Renal denervation (RDN), treating resistant hypertension, has, in open trial design, been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) dramatically, but this was primarily with respect to office BP.

Method: We conducted a SHAM-controlled, double-blind, randomized, single-center trial to establish efficacy data based on 24-h ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM). Inclusion criteria were daytime systolic ABPM at least 145 mmHg following 1 month of stable medication and 2 weeks of compliance registration.

[Systemic capillary leak syndrome].

A previously healthy 51 year-old man developed various degrees of hypovolaemia 6 times between May 2003 and November 2006. The patient was thoroughly examined for causal agents without any findings (e.g.