Etomidate, but not thiopental, decreases serum cortisol concentration in morbidly obese patients. A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The effect of etomidate administration on the adrenal cortex in obese patients is still unclear. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of a single dose of etomidate on cortisol secretion in the morbidly obese.

Methods: 127 healthy patients were enrolled into the study.

Cardiac troponin I after external electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation as a marker of myocardial injury--a preliminary report.

Background: It is uncertain whether external electrical cardioversion (CV) of atrial fibrillation (AF) can cause myocardial injury identifiable by troponin I (cTnI).

Aim: To examine whether external CV of AF can cause cTnI rise as measured with high-sensitivity assay, and to identify factors determining this elevation.

Methods: Patients with non-valvular AF selected for CV were included.

[N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in exercise induced ischemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease].

Introduction: Preliminary data indicate that B type natriuretic peptides' levels may rise in exercise induced myocardial ischemia in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Such findings hint at a potential broader application of these markers reaching beyond its present use in chronic heart failure and acute coronary syndromes. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is a novel diagnostic marker in acute coronary syndromes as its value increases in states of myocardial ischemia and necrosis.

[Troponin I levels after uncomplicated, elective percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable coronary heart disease].

Unlabelled: Percutaneous coronary intervention is a proven method of treatment of significant number of patients with coronary artery disease. Sometimes it is accompanied by increases of troponin levels. Frequency and degree of these phenomena are not well known.