Neurotensin and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Neurotensin is involved in fatty acid and glucose metabolism and promotes the development of obesity and diabetes. These associations appear to be more pronounced in women. We investigated the association of neurotensin with long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Re-appraisal of the obesity paradox in heart failure: a meta-analysis of individual data.

Background: Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with better outcome compared with normal weight in patients with HF and other chronic diseases. It remains uncertain whether the apparent protective role of obesity relates to the absence of comorbidities. Therefore, we investigated the effect of BMI on outcome in younger patients without co-morbidities as compared to older patients with co-morbidities in a large heart failure (HF) population.

Effect of marathon and ultra-marathon on inflammation and iron homeostasis.

The physiological response to high-level endurance exercise, such as running a marathon, poses several beneficial but also potentially harmful metabolic changes. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of marathon (M) and ultra-marathon (UM) on inflammation and iron homeostasis in paired samples. Fifteen well-trained, non-professional endurance athletes (14 males, 1 female) performed both a 130 km ultra-marathon and a traditional 42.

Impact of ultra-marathon and marathon on biomarkers of myocyte necrosis and cardiac congestion: a prospective observational study.

Background: An elevation of cardiac biomarkers is observed after intense or long-lasting physical activity. However, a recent meta-analysis has suggested that there might be an inverse relationship between duration of exercise and degree of biomarker elevation. The objective of this observational study was to investigate the impact of ultra-marathon (UM) vs.

Revisiting the obesity paradox in heart failure: Per cent body fat as predictor of biomarkers and outcome.

Aims: Obesity defined by body mass index (BMI) is characterized by better prognosis and lower plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in heart failure. We assessed whether another anthropometric measure, per cent body fat (PBF), reveals different associations with outcome and heart failure biomarkers (NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT), soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 (sST2)).

Methods: In an individual patient dataset, BMI was calculated as weight (kg)/height (m) , and PBF through the Jackson-Pollock and Gallagher equations.

A Sex-Specific Analysis of the Predictive Value of Troponin I and T in Patients With and Without Diabetes Mellitus After Successful Coronary Intervention.

Elevated levels of troponin are associated with future major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Data on the prognostic value of high sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) compared to high sensitive troponin I (hs-TnI) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients are sparse. We analyzed patients of a single-center registry undergoing coronary stenting between 2003 and 2006.

High-sensitivity troponin T, NT-proBNP and glomerular filtration rate: A multimarker strategy for risk stratification in chronic heart failure.

Background: In a recent individual patient data meta-analysis, high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) emerged as robust predictor of prognosis in stable chronic heart failure (HF). In the same population, we compared the relative predictive performances of hs-TnT, N-terminal fraction of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for prognosis.

Methods And Results: 9289 patients (66 ± 12 years, 77% men, 85% LVEF <40%, 60% ischemic HF) were evaluated over a 2.

Prognostic Value of High-Sensitivity Troponin T in Chronic Heart Failure: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Background: Most patients with chronic heart failure have detectable troponin concentrations when evaluated by high-sensitivity assays. The prognostic relevance of this finding has not been clearly established so far. We aimed to assess high-sensitivity troponin assay for risk stratification in chronic heart failure through a meta-analysis approach.

Usefulness of Elevated Levels of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 to Classify Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Having Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Who Would Benefit from High-Dose Statin Therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) plasma concentration at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) might help identify those patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who benefit most from high-dose statin treatment. Two hundred eighty-four consecutive patients, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ACS, were included in a prospective registry. The combined end point at 3 months after PCI consisted of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unstable angina.

Impact of bivalirudin on mortality and bleeding complications in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing invasive revascularization : A real world experience.

Background: In a retrospective analysis of a prospective single center registry we compared the use of bivalirudin, unfractionated heparin (UFH) monotherapy, UFH + abciximab in 1240 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing stent implantation.

Results: Bivalirudin was associated with tendentially reduced in-hospital minor or major bleeding rates compared to UFH monotherapy (5.9 % vs.

Determinants of growth differentiation factor 15 in patients with stable and acute coronary artery disease. A prospective observational study.

Background: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor ß family and has been associated with inflammation, cancer, aging, diabetes mellitus (DM) and atherosclerosis. Determinants of GDF-15 have been investigated in several conditions. We aimed to investigate determinants of GDF-15 plasma levels in patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD).

G-CSF Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Granulocyte-colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF) induces mobilization of progenitor cells but may also exert pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic effects. Treatment with recombinant G-CSF after acute myocardial infarction is currently under examination and has been associated with in-stent restenosis. However, it is not known whether plasma levels of endogenous G-CSF are also associated with an increased cardiovascular risk.

Contrast induced acute kidney injury in acute coronary syndrome patients: A single centre experience.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate predictors of contrast induced acute kidney injury, in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated by percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: We investigated 536 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Contrast induced acute kidney injury was classified according to risk, injury, failure, loss of kidney function and end-stage kidney disease/acute kidney injury network (RIFLE/AKIN) criteria into those with normal kidney function, risk, RIFLE stage I and those with stage ⩾ II.

Long-term mortality of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation for acute and stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are of increased risk for ischemic and bleeding complications, particularly when requiring aggressive antithrombotic therapy after coronary stenting. However, data from unselected patients on long-term mortality are scarce.

Methods: We analyzed 2890 patients of a single-center registry undergoing coronary stenting between 2003 and 2012, of whom 1434 patients had stable coronary artery disease (CAD), while 1456 patients presented with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Soluble ST2 and interleukin-33 levels in coronary artery disease: relation to disease activity and adverse outcome.

Objectives: ST2 is a receptor for interleukin (IL)-33. We investigated an association of soluble ST2 (sST2) and IL-33 serum levels with different clinical stages of coronary artery disease. We assessed the predictive value of sST2 and IL-33 in patients with stable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

An increase of interleukin-33 serum levels after coronary stent implantation is associated with coronary in-stent restenosis.

The study aim was to determine the predictive value of interleukin (IL)-33, a recently described member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, for the development of in-stent restenosis (ISR). IL-33 serum levels were measured in 387 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of whom 193 had stable angina, 93 non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and 101 ST-elevation MI (STEMI), respectively. Blood was taken directly before and 24h after stent implantation.

Influence of high-dose highly efficient statins on short-term mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting for acute coronary syndromes.

Statins are recommended for prevention of progression of cardiovascular disease after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although high-dose highly efficient statins are recommended, especially in high-risk patients, clinical data are scarce and further investigation in "real-world" settings is needed. One thousand five hundred twenty-eight consecutive patients, who underwent PCI for acute coronary syndrome, were included in a prospective registry from January 2003 to January 2011.

Plasma osmolality predicts clinical outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aims: The impact of plasma osmolality on clinical outcome in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients has not been investigated so far.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis, we included 985 patients with ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Plasma osmolality was calculated using concentrations of sodium, plasma glucose, and blood urea nitrogen at admission.

Comparison of HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance test for diagnosis of diabetes in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Measurement of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) to diagnose diabetes mellitus (DM-2) is recommended by several expert groups. DM-2 occurs very frequently among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic strengths of HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in detecting latent glucometabolic disturbances among patients with CAD.

Usefulness of pre-operative copeptin concentrations to predict post-operative outcome after major vascular surgery.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether preoperative determination of plasma copeptin levels in addition to plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) could help improve risk stratification in patients who undergo major vascular surgery. One hundred ninety-eight consecutive patients who underwent major vascular surgery (58.6% infrainguinal aortic reconstruction, 23.

Admission proinsulin is associated with mortality in patients with admission hyperglycemia during acute coronary syndrome: results from a pilot observational study.

Background: Acute hyperglycemia (AHG) is associated with mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The extent to which hyperproinsulinemia contributes to worse clinical outcomes for this specific patient population is unknown.

Methods: We included 308 consecutive ACS patients who underwent coronary angioplasty in this pilot observational study.

Complementary role of copeptin and high-sensitivity troponin in predicting outcome in patients with stable chronic heart failure.

Aims: Copeptin, the C-terminal part of the vasopressin pro-hormone, is elevated after myocardial infarction and predicts adverse outcome. In the present study we investigated whether the complementary role of copeptin and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) could be used for identification of high-risk patients with chronic stable heart failure.

Methods And Results: We measured copeptin and high-sensitivity cTnT (hs-cTnT) levels in 172 consecutive patients with stable chronic heart failure.