Long-term incidence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: analysis of appropriate and inappropriate interventions.

Background: Treatment with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) effectively prevents sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Identifying patients most likely to benefit from a primary prevention ICD remains challenging. We aimed to investigate the long-term incidence of ICD therapy in patients with HCM according to SCD-risk at baseline.

Urinary peptides in heart failure: a link to molecular pathophysiology.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health concern worldwide. The diversity of HF makes it challenging to decipher the underlying complex pathological processes using single biomarkers. We examined the association between urinary peptides and HF with reduced (HFrEF), mid-range (HFmrEF) and preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction, defined based on the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, and the links between these peptide biomarkers and molecular pathophysiology.

[Hypercalcaemia due to the milk-alkali syndrome].

This case report is about an 87-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease and the milk-alkali syndrome, who took calcium carbonate as osteoporosis prophylaxis. We describe, how the milk-alkali syndrome can result in a triad of hypercalcaemia, metabolic alkalosis, and renal insufficiency. The syndrome is now the third most common cause of hypercalcaemia because of the use of calcium carbonate in osteoporosis prophylaxis and treatment, and the syndrome should be considered in patients with hypercalcaemia, as it may result in permanent renal impairment.

[Cardiac arrest induced by vasospastic angina pectoris after vaginally administered misoprostol].

A 41-year-old woman developed cardiac arrest after administration of misoprostol in order to induce an abortion. She was successfully resuscitated. Coronary angiography revealed coronary artery spasm which responded to nitroglycerine.

Urinary Proteomics Pilot Study for Biomarker Discovery and Diagnosis in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background: Biomarker discovery and new insights into the pathophysiology of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) may emerge from recent advances in high-throughput urinary proteomics. This could lead to improved diagnosis, risk stratification and management of HFrEF.

Methods And Results: Urine samples were analyzed by on-line capillary electrophoresis coupled to electrospray ionization micro time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-MS) to generate individual urinary proteome profiles.

[Participation in dinner at a medical conference reduces vascular age and is recommended].

A total of 60 attendees at a medical conference had their peripheral and central blood pressure measured before and after the conference dinner. While heart rate increased, all measurements of peripheral and central blood pressure showed lower values after dinner. Furthermore, attendees' central vascular age was reduced by 13 years after dinner when augmentation index was evaluated in relation to age.