Impact of socioeconomic and cardiovascular risk factors on the effect of genetic variants associated with NT-proBNP.

N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is an established biomarker for diagnosis of heart failure. The study aims to explore whether known cardiovascular risk factors, including education and income as indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP), may interact with the genetic effect of NT-proBNP-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) to influence plasma levels of NT-proBNP in a population-based study sample. Information on effect alleles of three SNPs previously reported to be related to NT-proBNP was combined individually for 4,520 participants of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study to calculate a genetic risk allele sum score (GRS).

Socioeconomic position is associated with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)-Results of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

Objectives: N-Terminal pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) is a diagnostic marker for heart failure and a prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to examine the association of socioeconomic position (SEP) with NT-proBNP while assessing sex-differences and the impact of CVD risk factors and prevalent CVD on the association.

Methods: Baseline data of 4598 participants aged 45-75 years of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study were used.

Outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in older patients.

Background: The prevalence of aortic valve stenosis is increasing due to the continuously growing geriatric population. Data on procedural success and mortality of very old patients are sparse, raising the question of when this population may be deemed as "too old even for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)." We, therefore, sought to evaluate the influence of age on outcome after TAVR and the impact of direct implantation.

Undersizing but overfilling eliminates the gray zones of sizing for transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the balloon-expandable bioprosthesis.

Background: Current recommendations for valve size selection are based on multidimensional annular measurements, yet the overlap between two different transcatheter heart valve (THV) sizes remains. We sought to evaluate whether undersizing but overfilling eliminates the gray zones of valve sizing.

Methods: Data of 246 consecutive patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the balloon-expandable bioprosthesis with either conventional sizing and nominal filling (group 1 (NF-TAVR), n = 154) or undersizing but overfilling under a Less Is More (LIM)-Principle (group 2 (LIM-TAVR), n = 92) were compared.

NT-proBNP for risk prediction of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality: The getABI-study.

Background: Beside their role in the diagnosis of heart failure in symptomatic patients with dyspnea, natriuretic peptides have been suggested to improve risk prediction of cardiac events and mortality in asymptomatic cohorts. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of NT-proBNP for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality above traditional risk factors in a prospective cohort study of unselected elderly patients in a representative primary care setting.

Methods: We followed 6382 patients of the getABI-study for 7 years.

Feasibility of the Figure-of-8-Suture as Venous Closure in Interventional Electrophysiology: One Strategy for All?

: Venous vascular access with higher sheath size is common in interventional electrophysiology. In contrast to arterial vascular access, no dedicated closure devices exist for closure after venous access with higher sheath sizes. The Figure-of-8-Suture, an easy to apply suture, may be as a feasible approach for closure venous puncture.

First data on cardiac mapping and outcome of pulmonary vein isolation using a novel ablation catheter with tip mini electrodes.

Aims: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a standard treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). AF recurrence after PVI occurs in a substantial number of cases. A novel ablation catheter equipped with mini-electrodes (ME) may facilitate PVI.

Assessment of Systemic Adenosine Effect Using Color Doppler Ultrasound of the Splenic Artery-Feasibility and Potential Clinical Utility for Coronary Interventions.

Adenosine induces coronary vasodilation and simultaneously reduces splanchnic perfusion. This effect can be absent in adenosine non-responders. Imaging of splanchnic arteries under adenosine assessing this effect has not been performed in humans previously.

Cardiac mapping and pulmonary vein isolation using a novel ablation catheter with tip minielectrodes.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a standard treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Identification of gaps in the ablation line is difficult. Tip-ring electrograms from ablation catheters represent relative large areas of myocardial tissue.

Deactivation vs. asynchronous pacing - prospective evaluation of a protocol for rhythm management in patients with magnetic resonance conditional pacemakers undergoing adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) imaging with adenosine stress is an important diagnostic tool in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the method is not yet established for CAD patients with pacemakers (PM) in clinical practice. A possible reason is that no recommendations exist for PM setting (paused pacing or asynchronous mode) during adenosine stress.

Safety and efficacy of clip-based vs. suture mediated vascular closure for femoral access hemostasis: A prospective randomized single center study comparing the StarClose and the ProGlide device.

Objectives: This study is the first head-to-head analysis of StarClose vs. ProGlide in patients undergoing 5F or 6F percutaneous coronary catheterization or peripheral artery interventions.

Background: The clip based StarClose and the suture mediated ProGlide vascular closure device are well established for femoral hemostasis in endovascular therapy.

Comparison of coronary artery calcification, carotid intima-media thickness and ankle-brachial index for predicting 10-year incident cardiovascular events in the general population.

Aims: To compare the predictive value of coronary artery calcification (CAC), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in a primary prevention cohort depending on risk factor profile to determine which of the three markers improves cardiovascular (CV) risk discrimination best in which risk group.

Methods And Results: We quantified CAC, CIMT, and ABI in 3108 subjects (mean age 59.2 ± 7.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with magnetic resonance conditional pacemaker systems at 1.5 T: influence of pacemaker related artifacts on image quality including first pass perfusion, aortic and mitral valve assessment, flow measurement, short tau inversion recovery and T1-weighted imaging.

There are only limited data on the impact of device-related artifacts on image quality in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with pacemakers (PM). Adenosine stress perfusion, T1-weighted imaging and flow measurement as well as valve characterization have not been evaluated previously concerning artifact burden. We aimed to assess image quality in all routinely used CMR sequences.

N-Terminal Pro-B Type Natriuretic Peptide is Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment in the General Population.

Background: N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker of cardiac stress and is linked with silent cardiac diseases. While associations of cognitive impairment with manifest cardiovascular diseases are established, data on whether subclinical elevation of NT-proBNP levels below clinically established threshold of heart failure is related with cognitive functioning, especially mild cognitive impairment (MCI), is rare.

Objective: Aim of the present study was to investigate the cross-sectional association of NT-proBNP levels and MCI in a population-based study sample without heart failure.

Total atrial conduction time to predict occult atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke.

Background: Insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) increases the detection rate of occult atrial fibrillation (AF) after cryptogenic stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of total atrial conduction time (TACT) assessed by tissue Doppler imaging (PA-TDI interval) to predict AF presence in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Methods: Ninety patients (57.

A novel cross-sector telemedical approach to detect arrhythmia in primary care patients with palpitations using a patient-activated event recorder.

Background: Patient-activated event recorders (ER) can facilitate diagnosis in unclear palpi-tations, however impact of ER screening on further treatment in clinical routine is unknown. We investigated the feasibility and clinical value of a network-based telemetric monitoring using a patient activated ER.

Methods: The network consisted of 12 general practitioners (GP) and a department of car-diology (DC).

Air pollution and diastolic function in elderly women - Results from the SALIA study cohort.

Background: Studies linking particulate matter (PM) with heart failure (HF) show inconsistent results. However, the association of air pollution with diastolic function, an important determinant of heart failure, has not been studied yet and is addressed in the presented study.

Methods: 402 women (69-79 years) of the clinical follow-up (2007-2010) of the ongoing population-based prospective SALIA (Study on the influence of Air pollution on Lung function, Inflammation and Ageing) cohort were examined using Doppler echocardiography: Of the 291 women with preserved ejection fraction, the ratio of peak early diastolic filling velocity and peak early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/E') was collected in 264 and left atrial volume index (LAVI) in 262 women.

Feasibility and safety of adenosine cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with MR conditional pacemaker systems at 1.5 Tesla.

Background: Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) with adenosine stress is a valuable diagnostic tool in coronary artery disease (CAD). However, despite the development of MR conditional pacemakers CMR is not yet established in clinical routine for pacemaker patients with known or suspected CAD. A possible reason is that adenosine stress perfusion for ischemia detection in CMR has not been studied in patients with cardiac conduction disease requiring pacemaker therapy.

Reverse Remodelling of the Atria After Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: Evidence from Electro-mechanical and Endocrine Markers.

Background: Recent studies have suggested a strong association between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on reverse atrial remodelling in patients with OSA is poorly understood. We aimed to determine the impact of CPAP therapy on total atrial conduction time measured by PA tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) interval in patients without history of AF.

NT-proBNP is superior to BNP for predicting first cardiovascular events in the general population: the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) as well as N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) are associated with cardiac events in the general population. Yet, data from the general population comparing both peptides for their prognostic value is lacking.

Methods: Participants from the population-based Heinz-Nixdorf-Recall-study without cardiovascular diseases were included.

Safety and effectiveness of a novel vascular closure device: a prospective study of the ExoSeal compared to the Angio-Seal and ProGlide.

Purpose: To prospectively assess the safety and efficacy of a novel absorbable vascular closure device (ExoSeal) in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization with femoral access compared to the established collagen-based (Angio-Seal) and suture-mediated (ProGlide) closure devices.

Methods: This prospective, observational, dual-center, non-randomized, non-blinded study enrolled 1013 patients (65.1 ± 11.

Reverse atrial remodeling in patients who maintain sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion: evidence derived from the measurement of total atrial conduction time assessed by PA-TDI interval.

Background: A key mechanism of atrial fibrillation (AF) is atrial remodeling. Total atrial conduction time non-invasively assessed via tissue Doppler imaging (PA-TDI interval) may reflect the degree of electrical and structural atrial remodeling. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the PA-TDI interval is an independent predictor of recurrent AF after successful electrical cardioversion (eCV) and if it suggests reverse atrial remodeling.

Monitoring ASA and P2Y12-specific platelet inhibition--comparison of conventional (single) and multiple electrode aggregometry.

Objective: Several platelet function test systems exist for the evaluation of the platelet inhibitory effect in patients on P2Y12 inhibitors and/or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) therapy. Studies comparing different available assays found only a poor correlation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the correlation and agreement between single electrode (SEA) and multiple electrode (MEA) aggregometry.

B-type natriuretic peptide for incident atrial fibrillation-The Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Thus, identifying subjects with unknown AF or at higher risk for future AF in the general population is of importance. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is linked with silent cardiac diseases.