Prognostic Value of Exercise Capacity in Kidney Transplant Candidates.

Background Exercise stress testing for cardiovascular assessment in kidney transplant candidates has been shown to be a feasible alternative to pharmacologic methods. Exercise stress testing allows the additional assessment of exercise capacity, which may have prognostic value for long-term cardiovascular outcomes in pre-transplant recipients. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of exercise capacity on long-term cardiovascular outcomes in kidney transplant candidates.

Use of Atrial Strain to Predict Atrial Fibrillation After Cerebral Ischemia.

Objectives: This study sought to identify whether atrial strain could be used as an imaging biomarker to predict atrial fibrillation (AF).

Background: AF is found in up to 30% of cryptogenic cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), which themselves account for 30% to 40% of ischemic CVA.

Methods: This observational study evaluated all patients who had an echocardiogram (transthoracic echocardiogram [TTE]) following presentation with cryptogenic CVA from 2010 to 2014.

Association of survival time with transthoracic echocardiography in stable patients with heart failure: Is routine follow-up ever appropriate?

Background: The appropriateness of repeat transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for stable heart failure (HF) is based on timing of the follow-up examination, but this lacks scientific support. We sought the association of routine follow-up TTE on survival and readmission in stable HF.

Methods: Patients with HF were selected from consecutive HF admissions from 2008 to 2012.

PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia: causes and survival in 138 patients.

Context: Hypercalcemia is a common complication of cancer with PTHrP an important mediator. Literature on the underlying causes of PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia, in both malignant and benign conditions, is limited to small case series and case reports.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically identify a large series of cases of PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia and to document differences in demographics and the clinical course between malignant and benign etiologies.

Defining pulmonary exacerbation in children with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Rationale: Exacerbations in non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis are associated with worsening lung functions and quality of life. A standardized definition of exacerbation could improve clinical care and research.

Objective: To formulate a clinically useful definition of pulmonary exacerbation for pediatric non-CF bronchiectasis.

Free cortisol method comparison: ultrafiltation, equilibrium dialysis, tracer dilution, tandem mass spectrometry and calculated free cortisol.

Background: Free cortisol (FC) can be calculated from measurements of total cortisol and binding proteins or measured after mechanical separation of unbound and bound fractions by equilibrium dialysis or ultrafiltration. FC can then be measured indirectly by 3H-cortisol dilution or directly by immunologic or tandem mass spectrometry assays.

Methods: We compared FC measured with ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC MS/MS) with 3H-cortisol dilution in ultrafiltrates and dialysates and also with calculated FC (Coolens equation).

Characterising adrenal function using directly measured plasma free cortisol in stable severe liver disease.

Background & Aims: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) has been reported in patients with advanced liver disease. Diagnosing AI is problematic owing to controversies in using total serum cortisol as a measure of adrenal function. No published data exist on directly measured plasma free cortisol (PFC) in patients with liver disease.