Comparative evaluation of the usability of 2 different methods to perform mild hypothermia in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Several studies have shown that mild hypothermia (32-34°C) markedly mitigates brain damage after cardiac arrest (CA). This study aimed to compare the efficacy of the non-invasive cooling device Hilotherm Clinic (Hilotherm GmbH, Germany) with conventional cooling to induce and maintain mild hypothermia in patients after out-of-hospital CA.

Methods: 50 adult patients with an indication for controlled mild hypothermia were prospectively assigned to conventional cooling (n=20) or cooling with the Hilotherm system (n=30).

The right ventricular response to high afterload: comparison between healthy persons and patients with transposition of the great arteries: a 2D strain study.

Objective: To evaluate the contraction pattern of the systemic right ventricle (RV) in comparison to healthy controls.

Methods: 31 patients (14 female, mean age 21.5 ± 3.

Long-term clinical outcome of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Background: Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at increased risk of cardiovascular events. The long-term effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in patients with MetS and in diabetic patients is not well defined.

Methods: 563 consecutive patients with 629 de novo coronary lesions (< 50 mm lesion length, reference diameter < 3.

Occult impaired glucose regulation in patients with atherosclerosis is associated to the number of affected vascular districts and inflammation.

Objective: The role of inflammatory adipokines has clear mechanistic effects in the promotion of both DM2 and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but it is unknown to what extent atherosclerosis-related inflammation might promote defects of glucose metabolism. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that in subjects with atherosclerotic vascular disease and no previous medical record of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), the diagnosis of occult impaired glucose regulation (IGR) is related to the severity of atherosclerosis, measured as the single or combined presence of an history of coronary artery disease (CAD), carotid atherosclerosis (Car-ATS) and peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: In a population of 551 subjects (440 men and 111 women) with a previous history of atherosclerosis, we investigated the presence of IGR (including both impaired glucose tolerance and DM2).

Effect of high-dose valsartan on inflammatory and lipid parameters in patients with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Aims: The present study aimed to explore the impact of the angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker valsartan (VAL) on inflammatory-/lipid-/glucose parameters in hypertensive diabetic patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: This was a 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled two-center study with VAL 320 mg/d in 109 hypertensive diabetic patients (n=56 non-CAD; n=53 CAD).

Results: VAL treatment did not significantly affect serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) levels in the overall study population but significantly reduced serum IL-6 in the subgroup with high inflammatory load at baseline (IL-6>median (2.

Glucagon-like peptide-1(1-37) inhibits chemokine-induced migration of human CD4-positive lymphocytes.

The present study examined the effect of GLP-1(1-37) on chemokine-induced CD4-positive lymphocyte migration as an early and critical step in atherogenesis. Pretreatment with GLP-1(1-37) reduced the SDF-induced migration of isolated human CD4-positive lymphocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. Similar effects were seen when RANTES was used as a chemokine.

Rapid effect of single-dose rosiglitazone treatment on endothelial function in healthy men with normal glucose tolerance: data from a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Antidiabetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs) improve endothelial function in patients with or without type 2 diabetes. The present randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study examined the time course of a single dose of rosiglitazone on flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation (FMD), metabolic parameters, and its effect on inflammatory markers in non-diabetic men. Forty non-obese, healthy men with normal glucose tolerance were randomised to a single dose of rosiglitazone (8 mg) or placebo, and FMD was assessed at baseline as well as after 6 h and 24 h.

The structure of tavorite LiFePO4(OH) from diffraction and GGA + U studies and its preliminary electrochemical characterization.

Pure tavorite LiFePO4(OH) was synthesized through a hydrothermal route. A fine structural analysis was done by X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques. The structure consists of a three-dimensional network with iron(III) octahedra (FeO6) sharing corners, forming chains that run along the b direction.

LXR activation inhibits chemokine-induced CD4-positive lymphocyte migration.

Migration of CD4-positive lymphocytes into the vessel wall is a critical step in atherogenesis. Recent data suggest that CD4-positive lymphocytes express the nuclear transcription factors Liver-X-Receptor (LXR) alpha and beta with an effect of LXR activators on TH1-cytokine release from these cells. However, the role of LXR in lymphocyte migration remains currently unexplored.

Association of aortic valve calcification severity with the degree of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: This study sought to examine a possible relationship between the severity of aortic valve calcification (AVC), the distribution of AVC and the degree of aortic valve regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: 57 patients (22 men, 81 ± 5 years) with symptomatic AS and with a logistic EuroSCORE of 24 ± 12 were included. 38 patients (67%) received a third (18F)-generation CoreValve® aortic valve prosthesis, in 19 patients (33%) an Edwards SAPIEN™ prosthesis was implanted.

[When only the pathologist may help. Limitation and possibilities of biopsies in Internal Medicine].

Histological evaluation after biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of numerous diseases in Internal Medicine. The gastrointestinal tract (e. g.

Electrical stimulation of sympathetic neurons induces autocrine/paracrine effects of NGF mediated by TrkA.

Neuronal remodeling with increased sympathetic innervation density has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, increased transcardiac nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were observed in a canine model of AF. Whether atrial myocytes or cardiac sympathetic neurons are the source of neurotrophins, and whether NGF is the main neurotrophic factor contributing to sympathetic nerve sprouting (SNS) in AF still remains unclear.

C-Peptide in the vessel wall.

Patients with insulin resistance and early type 2 diabetes exhibit an increased sensitivity to develop a diffuse and extensive pattern of arteriosclerosis leading to a remarkable increase in vascular complications, including myocardial infarction and stroke. The accelerated atherosclerosis in these patients is likely to be multifactorial. In this review, we introduce the new hypothesis that C-peptide could play a role as a mediator of lesion development.

Dual stack black blood carotid artery CMR at 3T: application to wall thickness visualization.

Background: The increasing understanding of atherosclerosis as an important risk factor for the development of acute ischemic events like ischemic stroke has stimulated increasing interest in non-invasive assessment of the structure, composition and burden of plaque depositions in the carotid artery wall. Vessel wall imaging by means of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is conventionally done by 2D dual inversion recovery (DIR) techniques, which often fail in covering large volumes of interest as required in plaque burden assessment. Although the technique has been extended to 2D multislice imaging, its straight extension to 3D protocols is still limited by the prolonged acquisition times and incomplete blood suppression.

Resistin: a newly identified chemokine for human CD4-positive lymphocytes.

Aims: Increased levels of resistin, a peptide secreted by adipocytes and inflammatory cells, circulate in patients with insulin resistance and early type 2 diabetes, a high-risk population for the development of a diffuse and extensive pattern of arteriosclerosis. Recent data suggest that resistin may activate vascular cells such as smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, but hitherto nothing is known about the role of resistin in CD4-positive lymphocytes. Therefore, the present study examined the effect of resistin on CD4-positive lymphocyte migration, an important process in early atherogenesis.

Epstein-barr virus-induced gene-3 is expressed in human atheroma plaques.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by a complex immune response in the vessel wall, involving both inflammation and autoimmune processes. Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (Ebi3) is a member of the interleukin (IL)-12 heterodimeric cytokine family, which has important immunomodulatory functions. To date, little is known about the role of Ebi3 in vascular disease.

Signalling processes involved in C-peptide-induced chemotaxis of CD4-positive lymphocytes.

Previous data from our group demonstrated that C-peptide induces chemotaxis of CD4-positive lymphocytes in-vitro, mediated by activation of G-protein and PI 3-kinase gamma, but additional signalling pathways involved in this process remained unexplored. In the present study we further analyze intracellular signalling pathways which lead to C-peptide-induced CD4-positive lymphocyte migration. We provide evidence that C-peptide-induced chemotaxis of CD4-positive lymphocytes is critically dependent on activation of Src-kinase and RhoA, Rac-1 and Cdc42 GTPases.

Advanced glycation end products and C-peptide-modulators in diabetic vasculopathy and atherogenesis.

Patients with insulin resistance and early type 2 diabetes exhibit an increased propensity to develop a diffuse and extensive pattern of arteriosclerosis. Diabetic subjects show a remarkable increase in vascular complications, including myocardial infarction and strokes. The accelerated atherosclerosis in these patients is likely to be multifactorial.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) outbreak in captive wild birds and cats, Cambodia.

From December 2003 through January 2004, the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, Cambodia, was affected by the highly pathogenic influenza virus (H5N1). Birds from 26 species died. Influenza virus subtype H5N1 was detected in 6 of 7 species tested.

The Residual Risk Reduction Initiative: a call to action to reduce residual vascular risk in patients with dyslipidemia.

Despite achieving targets for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, and glycemia in accordance with current standards of care, patients with dyslipidemia remain at high residual risk of vascular events. Atherogenic dyslipidemia, characterized by elevated triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, often with elevated apolipoprotein B and non-HDL cholesterol, is common in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus, or metabolic syndrome and contributes to both macrovascular and microvascular residual risk. However, atherogenic dyslipidemia is largely underdiagnosed and undertreated in clinical practice.

The Residual Risk Reduction Initiative: a call to action to reduce residual vascular risk in dyslipidaemic patient.

Despite current standards of care aimed at achieving targets for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, blood pressure and glycaemia, dyslipidaemic patients remain at high residual risk of vascular events. Atherogenic dyslipidaemia, specifically elevated triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, often with elevated apolipoprotein B and non-HDL cholesterol, is common in patients with established cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome and is associated with macrovascular and microvascular residual risk. The Residual Risk Reduction Initiative (R3I) was established to address this important issue.

Impact of rosiglitazone on visfatin and adiponectin plasma concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Visfatin is a recently described new adipokine that is considered to bind to the insulin receptor and induce insulin action via signal transduction pathways distinct from those of insulin. This study investigated whether circulating plasma visfatin levels may be influenced by PPARy activation, as shown for adiponectin and other adipokines. Samples from a prospective single-blinded placebo-controlled three-month intervention study with rosiglitazone were retrospectively analysed.