Publications by authors named "Lina M Serna-Higuita"

Background: Post-transplantation diabetes mellitus and carbohydrate intolerance (PTDM/iCHO) are complications following solid organ transplantation, which significantly increases the risk of graft loss and mortality. However, data concerning long-term outcomes in paediatric kidney transplant recipients with PTDM/iCHO are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of graft loss in paediatric kidney transplant recipients with PTDM or iCHO compared with non-PTDM/iCHO.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on patients with ischemic stroke classified as embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), highlighting the need for personalized treatment options between anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention.
  • A meta-analysis of 7 trials with nearly 15,000 patients showed that, overall, anticoagulation did not significantly reduce the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke compared to antiplatelet therapy.
  • However, in patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO), anticoagulation demonstrated improved outcomes, while results varied for those with left atrial enlargement (LAE) depending on whether cardiac monitoring was allowed after randomization.*
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The demographic shift towards an aging population necessitates a reevaluation of surgical interventions like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in octogenarians. This study aims to elucidate the outcomes of CABG in octogenarians with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), a group traditionally considered at high risk for such procedures. Conducted across four academic hospitals in Germany from 2017 to 2023, this retrospective multicenter study assessed 100 patients (50 octogenarians ≥80 years and 50 non-octogenarians <80 years) with HFrEF undergoing isolated CABG.

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This study assesses predictors for postoperative delirium (POD) and ICU stay durations in HFrEF patients undergoing CABG, focusing on ONCAB versus OPCAB surgical methods. In cardiac surgery, especially CABG, POD significantly impacts patient recovery and healthcare resource utilization. With varying incidences based on surgical techniques, this study provides an in-depth analysis of POD in the context of HFrEF patients, a group particularly susceptible to this complication.

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Background Coronary artery calcium (CAC) has prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in asymptomatic individuals, whereas its role in symptomatic patients is less clear. Purpose To assess the prognostic value of CAC scoring for MACE in participants with stable chest pain initially referred for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Materials and Methods This prespecified subgroup analysis from the Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients With Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (DISCHARGE) trial, conducted between October 2015 and April 2019 across 26 centers in 16 countries, focused on adult patients with stable chest pain referred for ICA.

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Importance: The effectiveness and safety of computed tomography (CT) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in different age groups is unknown.

Objective: To determine the association of age with outcomes of CT and ICA in patients with stable chest pain.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The assessor-blinded Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients With Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (DISCHARGE) randomized clinical trial was conducted between October 2015 and April 2019 in 26 European centers.

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: This retrospective multicenter study investigates the impact of obesity on short-term surgical outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Given the rising global prevalence of obesity and its known cardiovascular implications, understanding its specific effects in high-risk groups like HFrEF patients is crucial. : The study analyzed data from 574 patients undergoing CABG across four German university hospitals from 2017 to 2023.

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Background Recent trials support the role of cardiac CT in the evaluation of symptomatic patients suspected of having coronary artery disease (CAD); however, body mass index (BMI) has been reported to negatively impact CT image quality. Purpose To compare initial use of CT versus invasive coronary angiography (ICA) on clinical outcomes in patients with stable chest pain stratified by BMI category. Materials and Methods This prospective study represents a prespecified BMI subgroup analysis of the multicenter Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients with Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (DISCHARGE) trial conducted between October 2015 and April 2019.

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BACKGROUND: Rivaroxaban and dabigatran were not superior to aspirin in trials of patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). It is unknown whether apixaban is superior to aspirin in patients with ESUS and known risk factors for cardioembolism. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-outcome trial of apixaban (5 mg twice daily) compared with aspirin (100 mg once daily) initiated within 28 days after ESUS in patients with at least one predictive factor for atrial fibrillation or a patent foramen ovale.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study aimed to compare the impact of cardiac CT versus invasive coronary angiography (ICA) on cardiovascular events, particularly looking at how smoking status affects these outcomes.
  • Results showed that the effectiveness of CT versus ICA in preventing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was similar across different smoking groups, but a CT-first approach notably reduced complications and procedures needed, especially for smokers.
  • The findings suggest that a CT-first strategy is beneficial for detecting non-obstructive coronary artery disease in patients with stable chest pain, leading to fewer complications regardless of smoking status.
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Background: Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a serious complication of solid organ transplantation. It is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events, which are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. This study aimed to develop and validate a score to predict the risk of PTDM in kidney transplant recipients.

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Objective: To compare cardiac computed tomography (CT) with invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the initial strategy in patients with diabetes and stable chest pain.

Research Design And Methods: This prespecified analysis of the multicenter DISCHARGE trial in 16 European countries was performed in patients with stable chest pain and intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease. The primary end point was a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stroke), and the secondary end point was expanded MACE (including transient ischemic attacks and major procedure-related complications).

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Lu-PSMA-617 is an effective therapeutic option in metastasized castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, some patients progress under treatment. We hypothesized that the tracer kinetics within the metastases may influence the therapy effectiveness and tested this hypothesis by analyzing uptake parameters on 2 consecutive posttherapy SPECT/CT scans.

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Background: Recent advances in digital pathology have enabled accurate and standardised enumeration of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Here, we aim to evaluate TILs as a percentage electronic TIL score (eTILs) and investigate its prognostic and predictive relevance in cutaneous melanoma.

Methods: We included stage I to IV cutaneous melanoma patients and used hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides for TIL analysis.

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Background: Sepsis is one of the most important complications in preterm infants. For this reason, many such infants receive antibiotics during their hospital stay. However, early antibiotic therapy has also been associated with adverse outcome.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Ambroxol is a mucolytic expectorant that's showing promise for conditions like Parkinson's disease due to its ability to stimulate glucocerebrosidase, which is related to disease risk.
  • - A study on rats evaluated the effects of ambroxol post-ischemic stroke and found it led to reduced stroke volumes, improved brain integrity, and better behavioral outcomes over a month.
  • - Metabolomics data suggested ambroxol helps in energy recovery and cellular function, indicating it could potentially lessen ischemic damage and support recovery after a stroke.
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Nephrotic syndrome in patients with cancer may be related to the primary malignancy or chemotherapeutic therapy. Solid organ cancers may cause membranous glomerulonephritis which is manifested by nephrotic syndrome; other less common histologic presentations include focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and minimal change disease. In addition, chemotherapy agents may cause renal toxicity by affecting the small blood vessels, glomeruli, tubules, and interstitium.

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Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) results in significant hypoxia, and ARDS is the central pathology of COVID-19. Inhaled prostacyclin has been proposed as a therapy for ARDS, but data regarding its role in this syndrome are unavailable. Therefore, we investigated whether inhaled prostacyclin would affect the oxygenation and survival of patients suffering from ARDS.

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Rationale: Health-related quality of life after surviving acute respiratory distress syndrome has come into focus in recent years, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Objectives: A total of 144 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19 or of other origin were recruited in a randomized multicenter trial.

Methods: Clinical data during intensive care treatment and data up to 180 days after study inclusion were collected.

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Background: Although obesity has become a significant problem in transplantation medicine, the impact of different immunosuppressive protocols on clinical outcomes in obese transplant recipients remains unclear.

Methods: We performed an analysis of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database. Kidney transplant recipients were categorized according to body mass index (BMI) categories and immunosuppressive protocols: (i) tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil (Tac-MMF), (ii) mTOR-inhibitor/Tac (mTORi-Tac), (iii) mTORi/cyclosporin (mTORi-Cyc) and (iv) mTORi-MMF.

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The stress response to the COVID-19 pandemic might differ between early and later stages. Longitudinal data on the development of population mental health during COVID-19 pandemic is scarce. We have investigated mental health trajectories and predictors for change in a probability sample of the general population in Germany at the beginning and after 6 months of the pandemic.

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Objective: To assess the comparative effectiveness of computed tomography and invasive coronary angiography in women and men with stable chest pain suspected to be caused by coronary artery disease.

Design: Prospective, multicentre, randomised pragmatic trial.

Setting: Hospitals at 26 sites in 16 European countries.

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Diagnosis and grading of non-invasive papillary urothelial tumors according to the current WHO classification poses some challenges for pathologists. The diagnostic reproducibility of separating low-grade and high-grade lesions is low, which impacts their clinical management. Whereas papillary urothelial neoplasms with low malignant potential (PUN-LMP) and low-grade papillary non-invasive carcinoma (LG-PUC) are comparable and show frequent local recurrence but rarely metastasize, high-grade papillary non-invasive carcinoma (HG-PUC) has a poor prognosis.

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