Clampless off-pump versus conventional coronary artery revascularization: a propensity score analysis of 788 patients.

Background: This study aimed to assess if clampless off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) decreases risk-adjusted mortality, stroke rate, and morbidity in unselected patients in comparison to conventional CABG.

Methods And Results: Between July 2009 and November 2010, data of 1282 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG were prospectively recorded. In 30.

Recurrent thromboembolic events after percutaneous device closure of patent foramen ovale.

We report on a 34-year-old male with recurrent transient ischemic attacks 1 year after transcatheter closure of a patent foramen ovale. Echocardiography demonstrated thrombus attached to the device, although the patient had been anticoagulated with phenprocoumon. There was no residual shunt.

Increased expression of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 in failing human myocardium.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is considered to be involved in the development and progression of heart failure. Therefore, we analysed the expression of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1), endothelin receptors A (ET(A)) and B (ET(B)) mRNAs by standard-calibrated, competitive reverse transcriptase-PCR using an internal-deleted in vitro-transcribed cRNA standard. ET-1 peptide levels were measured using isoform-specific rabbit antibodies against synthetic ET-1.