Bicycle spiroergometry: comparison of standardized examination protocols for adolescents: is it necessary to define own standard values for each protocol?

Purpose: To compare performance data of adolescents collected with five different bicycle spiroergometry protocols and to assess the necessity for establishing standard values for each protocol.

Methods: One-hundred-twenty adolescents completed two bicycle spiroergometries within 14 days. One of the two tests was performed based on our institutional weight-adapted protocol (P0).

Validation of Embedded Experience Sampling (EES) for Measuring Non-cognitive Facets of Problem-Solving Competence in Scenario-Based Assessments.

To measure non-cognitive facets of competence, we developed and tested a new method that we refer to as Embedded Experience Sampling (EES). Domain-specific problem-solving competence is a multi-faceted construct that is not limited to cognitive facets such as domain knowledge or problem-solving strategies but also comprises non-cognitive facets in the sense of domain-specific emotional and motivational dispositions such as, for instance, interest and self-concept. However, in empirical studies non-cognitive facets are usually either neglected or measured by generalized self-report questionnaires that are detached from the performance assessment.

Clinical outcome and quality of life after interventional treatment of left main disease with drug-eluting-stents in comparison to CABG in elderly and younger patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the clinical outcome and quality of life of elderly patients who underwent either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) for treatment of significant left main disease (LMD) compared to a younger patient population.

Methods: Consecutive patients, admitted into our institution between 04/2004 and 12/2007 with LMD and a life expectancy of >1 year were prospectively included and stratified in two groups (either CABG or left main stenting [LMS] with DES) based on the patients' age at inclusion (> or ≤75 years). Rates of death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and target lesion revascularization (TLR) were evaluated over a 12 month follow-up.