Prognostic performance of serial in-hospital measurements of copeptin and multiple novel biomarkers among patients with worsening heart failure: results from the MOLITOR study.

Aims: In heart failure, various biomarkers are established for diagnosis and risk stratification; however, little is known about the relevance of serial measurements during an episode worsening heart failure (WHF). This study sought to investigate the trajectory of natriuretic peptides and multiple novel biomarkers during hospitalization for WHF and to determine the best time point to predict outcome.

Methods And Results: MOLITOR (Impact of Therapy Optimisation on the Level of Biomarkers in Patients with Acute and Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure) was an eight-centre prospective study of 164 patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of WHF.

Heart failure awareness survey in Germany: general knowledge on heart failure remains poor.

Aims: Previous studies demonstrated poor public awareness of heart failure (HF) compared with myocardial infarction and stroke. With respect to several activities to improve HF awareness in recent years, we present data on the development of HF awareness and information sources in Germany over 8 years.

Methods And Results: In 2007, 2012, and 2015, respectively, 2531, 359, and 171 respondents answered questions about causes, presentation, prognosis, and treatment of HF from a survey developed by the German Competence Network HF.

Tolerability and Feasibility of Beta-Blocker Titration in HFpEF Versus HFrEF: Insights From the CIBIS-ELD Trial.

Objectives: This study evaluated the tolerability and feasibility of titration of 2 distinctly acting beta-blockers (BB) in elderly heart failure patients with preserved (HFpEF) and reduced (HFrEF) left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: Broad evidence supports the use of BB in HFrEF, whereas the evidence for beta blockade in HFpEF is uncertain.

Methods: In the CIBIS-ELD (Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study in Elderly) trial, patients >65 years of age with HFrEF (n = 626) or HFpEF (n = 250) were randomized to bisoprolol or carvedilol.

Heart rate following short-term beta-blocker titration predicts all-cause mortality in elderly chronic heart failure patients: insights from the CIBIS-ELD trial.

Aims: Beta-blockers (BBs) improve outcomes in heart failure. Results from the Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study in Elderly (CIBIS-ELD) trial previously demonstrated the feasibility of heart rate, not maximum dose, as a treatment goal. In this pre-specified analysis, we investigated the prognostic value of achieved heart rate after BB optimization on long-term mortality.

Regional differences among female patients with heart failure from the Cardiac Insufficiency BIsoprolol Study in ELDerly (CIBIS-ELD).

Background: The aim of our study was to examine regional differences in the demographics, etiology, risk factors, comorbidities and treatment of female patients with heart failure (HF) in the Cardiac Insufficiency BIsoprolol Study in ELDerly (CIBIS-ELD) clinical trial.

Methods And Results: One hundred and fifty-nine female patients from Germany and 169 from Southeastern (SE) Europe (Serbia, Slovenia and Montenegro) were included in this subanalysis of the CIBIS-ELD trial. Women comprised 54% of the study population in Germany and 29% in SE Europe.

Pediatric low-grade glioma survivors experience high quality of life.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine pediatric low-grade glioma survivors' quality of life and late morbidity including motor, sensory, and cognitive deficits.

Methods: We surveyed 49 survivors and their parents (KINDL questionnaire).

Results: Despite tumor and treatment-associated morbidity, survivors (25 boys and 24 girls, median age at diagnosis 7.

Carboplatin and ototoxicity: hearing loss rates among survivors of childhood medulloblastoma.

Purpose: Patients with medulloblastoma are exposed to ototoxic treatments including radiation therapy and platinum chemotherapy. The favorable toxicity profile of carboplatin led us to substitute this chemotherapeutic agent for cisplatin in the HIT-1991, HIT-MED-1999, and HIT-2000 chemotherapy protocols. We retrospectively investigated its consequences in terms of overall survival and ototoxicity rates.

Scientometric analysis and combined density-equalizing mapping of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) research.

Background: Passive exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is estimated to exert a major burden of disease. Currently, numerous countries have taken legal actions to protect the population against ETS. Numerous studies have been conducted in this field.

Observation and analysis of junior OB/GYNs' workflow in German hospitals.

Purpose: Over the past few years the numbers of German physicians choosing to work abroad or leaving the medical profession have been growing. Main reasons for physicians' dissatisfaction are the lack of autonomy and the subsequent workload. Studies have employed subjective instruments of evaluation to investigate levels of occupational stress.

Effects of complementary eurythmy therapy on heart rate variability.

Background: The importance of mind-body oriented therapies in oncology has increased in recent years. Eurythmy therapy (EYT, Greek: eurythmy=harmonious rhythm) is a mind-body oriented therapy used in Anthroposophic Medicine. EYT can lead to long-term alleviation of chronic disease symptoms and improve patient quality of life.