Comparative analysis of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and T for their association with coronary computed tomography-assessed calcium scoring represented by the Agatston score.

Background: This study evaluates the association between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and T (hs-cTnT) and coronary calcium concentration (CAC) detected by coronary computed tomography (CCT) and evaluated with the Agatston score in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Patients undergoing CCT during routine clinical care were enrolled prospectively. CCT was indicated for patients with a low to intermediate pretest probability for CAD.

Incidence and Prognostic Relevance of Cardiopulmonary Failure in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Recent studies have indicated that patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) have a higher mortality rate than the general population. There is a distinct possibility that TTC could be associated with adverse life-threatening complications like cardiopulmonary failure. Our institutional database constituted a collective of 114 patients diagnosed with TTC.

Clinical Impact of Rest Dual-energy Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background/aim: To evaluate the hypothesis that patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) assessed using rest dual-energy computed tomography-derived myocardial perfusion imaging (DECT-P), could have fewer invasive coronary angiographies (ICA), showing non-obstructive CAD.

Materials And Methods: Patients who had undergone coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA), rest DECT-P and ICA were analyzed.

Results: We evaluated 51 patients (62.

Bedside implantation of a new temporary vena cava inferior filter - Safety and efficacy results of the European ANGEL-Registry.

Purpose: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequently occurring complication in critically ill patients. Simultaneous occurrence of PE and life-threatening bleeding, may render medical anticoagulation impossible. For these patients, inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) present a valuable therapeutic alternative.

Low Prevalence of Inappropriate Shocks in Patients With Inherited Arrhythmia Syndromes With the Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator Single Center Experience and Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Up to 40% of patients with transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) experience lead-associated complications and may suffer from high complication rates when lead extraction is indicated. Subcutaneous ICD may represent a feasible alternative; however, the efficacy of the subcutaneous ICD in the detection and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hereditary arrhythmia syndromes has not been fully evaluated.

Methods And Results: Patients with primary hereditary arrhythmia syndromes who fulfilled indication for defibrillator placement were eligible for enrollment.

Galectin-3 Reflects Left Atrial Function being Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the association between galectin-3 and left atrial function (LAF) in patients undergoing cMRI.

Methods: Patients undergoing cMRI were prospectively enrolled. Right ventricular dysfunction (< 50%) was excluded.

High sensitivity troponin T and I reflect mitral annular plane systolic excursion being assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the association between high sensitivity troponins (hsTn) and mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) in patients undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI).

Methods: Patients undergoing cMRI were prospectively enrolled. Patients with right ventricular dysfunction (< 50%) were excluded.

The autonomic nervous system as a therapeutic target in heart failure: a scientific position statement from the Translational Research Committee of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

Despite improvements in medical therapy and device-based treatment, heart failure (HF) continues to impose enormous burdens on patients and health care systems worldwide. Alterations in autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity contribute to cardiac disease progression, and the recent development of invasive techniques and electrical stimulation devices has opened new avenues for specific targeting of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS. The Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology recently organized an expert workshop which brought together clinicians, trialists and basic scientists to discuss the ANS as a therapeutic target in HF.

Revisiting the prognostic value of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and interleukin-6 in the sepsis-3 era.

Background: Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 (MCP1) and latest sepsis-3 criteria are poorly represented within studies evaluating biomarkers in sepsis. Therefore, this study evaluates the prognostic value of MCP-1 compared to interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with sepsis and septic shock according to sepsis-3 criteria.

Methods: 136 patients with sepsis or septic shock were included within 24h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Percutaneous Closure of Left Atrial Appendage affects Mid-Term Release of MR-proANP.

The left atrial appendage (LAA) represents both a predisposing source of thrombus formation and of neuro-humoral haemostasis. This study aims to evaluate changes of biomarker expression before and after successful percutaneous closure of the LAA. Patients with atrial fibrillation and contraindication for oral anticoagulant therapy were enrolled.

High Sensitivity Troponins Discriminate Different Morphologies of Coronary Artery Plaques Being Assessed by Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: This study evaluates the association between high sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) and T (hsTnT) and the morphology of coronary artery plaques detected by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Patients undergoing CCTA were prospectively enrolled. CCTA was indicated by a low to intermediate pretest probability for CAD during routine clinical care.

Diagnostic value of Pentraxin-3 in patients with sepsis and septic shock in accordance with latest sepsis-3 definitions.

Background: Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is an acute-phase protein involved in inflammatory and infectious processes. This study assesses its diagnostic and prognostic value in patients with sepsis or septic shock in a medical intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: The study includes 213 ICU patients with clinical criteria of sepsis and septic shock.

Elevation of Platelet and Monocyte Activity Markers of Atherosclerosis in Haemodialysis Patients Compared to Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Purpose: The predominant cause of mortality in dialysis patients are cardiovascular events. Platelet and monocyte activity markers play an important role in cardiovascular mortality and were assessed and related to dialysis quality criteria in haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: For this prospective comparative study, HD patients ( = 41) and PD patients ( = 10) were included.

Incremental benefit of late gadolinium cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for risk stratification in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has a low risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD). The ESC clinical risk prediction model estimates the risk of SCD using clinical and echocardiographical parameters without taking into account cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters. Therefore, we compared the CMR characteristics of 149 patients with low, intermediate and high ESC risk scores.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Another Form of Cardiorenal Syndrome.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a life-threatening syndrome with ambiguous pathophysiology. The interdependency between heart failure and kidney failure (KF) is well established, but the influence of KF on TC outcome is not known. This single-center cohort from January 2003 to September 2015 consisted of 114 consecutive patients with TC.

Corrigendum: Comparison and Outcome Analysis of Patients with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Triggered by Emotional Stress or Physical Stress.

[This corrects the article on p. 527 in vol. 8, PMID: 28496419.

Biomarkers in Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common reason for death in the western hemisphere. Therefore, a well-functioning risk-management has been established over the past decades with uprising interest in 'novel' biomarkers to predict adverse coronary events and detect patients with subclinical CAD. This review will focus on selected biomarkers belonging to the family of inflammatory markers (fibrinogen or hs-CRP) or to the family of lipid-associated markers (Lipoprotein associated PA2 or Lipoprotein a) and organ-specific biomarkers (hs-troponin, Cystatin C or NTproBNP).

Biomarkers in Cardiomyopathies and Prediction of Sudden Cardiac Death.

Background: Cardiomyopathies are a major cause of heart diseases in all age groups leading to heart failure and arrhythmias. Additionally, they are an important cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people. Major advances have been made in the understanding of the complex and manifold underlying pathomechanisms and their correlating blood measured biomarkers.