Prognosis is worse with elevated cardiac troponin in nonacute coronary syndrome compared with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Cardiac troponin (cTn) can be elevated in many patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain but without a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We compared the prognostic significance of cTn in these different populations.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the CHOPIN study, which enrolled patients who presented to the ED with chest pain.

The course of adrenomedullin and endothelin levels in patients with vasodilatory shock after cardiac surgery compared to patients after uncomplicated elective cardiac surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the course of adrenomedullin (ADM) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in patients with vasodilatory shock after cardiac surgery and to explore differences compared to patients after uncomplicated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. ADM and ET-1 are involved in the vasomotor response during vasodilatory shock.

Materials And Methods: We included 32 patients with vasodilatory shock (study group) and 10 patients after uncomplicated CABG surgery (control group).

Biomarkers Enhance Discrimination and Prognosis of Type 2 Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The observed incidence of type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) is expected to increase with the implementation of increasingly sensitive cTn assays. However, it remains to be determined how to diagnose, risk-stratify, and treat patients with T2MI. We aimed to discriminate and risk-stratify T2MI using biomarkers.

Rapid identification of pathogens in positive blood culture of patients with sepsis: review and meta-analysis of the performance of the sepsityper kit.

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of deaths, and rapid identification (ID) of blood stream infection is mandatory to perform adequate antibiotic therapy. The advent of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry for the rapid ID of pathogens was a major breakthrough in microbiology. Recently, this method was combined with extraction methods for pathogens directly from positive blood cultures.

Copeptin for the prediction of recurrent cerebrovascular events after transient ischemic attack: results from the CoRisk study.

Background And Purpose: Copeptin has been associated with recurrent cerebrovascular events after transient ischemic attack (TIA). In an independent cohort, we evaluated copeptin for the prediction of recurrent cerebrovascular events within 3 months after TIA and assessed the incremental value of copeptin compared with the ABCD2 (age, blood, clinical features of TIA, duration of symptoms, presence of diabetes mellitus) and ABCD3-I (ABCD2, dual TIA [the presence of ≥2 TIA symptoms within 7 days], imaging [the presence of abnormal findings on neuroimaging]) scores.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted at 3 tertiary Stroke Centers in Switzerland and Germany.

Cardiovascular biomarkers in preeclampsia at triage.

Introduction: To investigate the ability of cardiovascular plasma biomarkers to identify imminent preeclampsia (PE) among pregnant women at triage.

Material And Methods: C-terminal pro-arginine vasopressin (copeptin), C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET-1), mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), and mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) were prospectively measured in pregnant women presenting at the obstetrical triage units of the University Hospitals of Basel and Zurich, Switzerland. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to assess and quantify the predictive ability of cardiovascular biomarkers.

Association of plasma soluble α-klotho with pro-endothelin-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To study the relationship between plasma soluble klotho (sKlotho) and pro-endothelin-1 (proET-1) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Subjects And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 175 T2DM subjects and 56 non-diabetic controls. Plasma sKlotho, proET-1 and extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by ELISA and ILMA, respectively.

The prognostic value of midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.

Background: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a well-known prognostic marker of outcome and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) is a stable fragment of the ANP precursor hormone. As a prognostic marker after ischemic stroke, it reliably predicts poststroke mortality and functional outcome.

Copeptin helps in the early detection of patients with acute myocardial infarction: primary results of the CHOPIN trial (Copeptin Helps in the early detection Of Patients with acute myocardial INfarction).

Objectives: The goal of this study was to demonstrate that copeptin levels <14 pmol/L allow ruling out acute myocardial infarction (AMI) when used in combination with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) <99 th percentile and a nondiagnostic electrocardiogram at the time of presentation to the emergency department (ED).

Background: Copeptin is secreted from the pituitary early in the course of AMI.

Methods: This was a 16-site study in 1,967 patients with chest pain presenting to an ED within 6 hours of pain onset.

Copeptin adds prognostic information after ischemic stroke: results from the CoRisk study.

Objective: To evaluate and validate the incremental value of copeptin in the prediction of outcome and complications as compared with established clinical variables.

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, cohort study, we measured copeptin in the emergency room within 24 hours from symptom onset in 783 patients with acute ischemic stroke. The 2 primary end points were unfavorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 3-6) and mortality within 90 days.

Autoantibodies to the IGF1 receptor in Graves' orbitopathy.

Context: Graves' disease (GD) is maintained by stimulating antibodies against the TSH receptor. Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is the main extrathyroidal manifestation of GD, potentially involving autoimmunity against the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R).

Objective: We tested for autoantibodies against the IGF1R (IGF1R-Abs) in sera of GD patients and controls and elucidated their possible implication in the disease.

Copeptin, procalcitonin and routine inflammatory markers-predictors of infection after stroke.

Background: Early predictors for the development of stroke-associated infection may identify patients at high risk and reduce post-stroke infection and mortality.

Methods: In 383 prospectively enrolled acute stroke patients we assessed time point and type of post-stroke infections (i.e.

Copeptin: a marker for stress reaction in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: To compare venous cord plasma concentrations of 4 vasoactive peptide precursors: carboxy-terminal proarginine vasopressin, CT-prondothelin (ET)-1, midregional proadrenomedullin, and MR-proatrial natriuretic peptide, between fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction and appropriate for gestational age controls.

Study Design: Matched-pair analysis of 12 fetuses with significant intrauterine growth restriction and 42 healthy appropriate for gestational age control fetuses. All infants were singletons, delivered by elective section after 34 weeks and without chromosomal abnormalities.

Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin improves disposition strategies for patients with acute dyspnoea: results from the BACH trial.

Objectives: To assess the value of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) in guiding patient disposition from the emergency department (ED), as one of the key factors of hospital resource utilisation, in undifferentiated patients with acute dyspnoea.

Methods: We used clinical and outcome data from a large international biomarker study (BACH trial) and analysed data of all 1557 patients of the European and US sites presenting with acute dyspnoea. Patients were discharged or transferred from the ED to different levels of care (general ward, monitoring unit, intensive care unit).

Direct comparison of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide with N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis of patients with atrial fibrillation and dyspnoea.

Objectives: Due to different release mechanisms, mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR proANP) may be superior to N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP) in the diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We compared MR proANP and NT proBNP for their diagnostic value in patients with AF and sinus rhythm (SR).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

A novel method for the in vivo isolation of circulating tumor cells from peripheral blood of cancer patients using a functionalized and structured medical wire.

The isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the blood of patients afflicted with solid malignant tumors becomes increasingly important as it may serve as a 'liquid biopsy' with the potential of monitoring the course of the cancer disease and its response to cancer therapy, with subsequent molecular characterization. For this purpose, we functionalized a structured medical Seldinger guidewire (FSMW), normally used to obtain safe access to blood vessels and other organ cavities, with a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed to the cell surface expressed epithelial cell surface adhesion molecule (EpCAM). This medical device was optimized in vitro and its biocompatibility was tested according to the regulations for medical devices and found to be safe with no noteworthy side effects.

The atrial natriuretic peptide does not serve osmoregulation but predicts outcome following brain injury.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plays an important role in body fluid homeostasis. ANP has been established as a marker of cardiac dysfunction and may play a role in brain edema development after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In order to identify its specific assignment following TBI, we related clinical data and treatment variables in 63 patients to longitudinal midregional (MR) proatrail natriuretic peptide (ANP) measurements.

Plasma midregional proadrenomedullin in newborn infants: impact of prematurity and perinatal infection.

Introduction: Adrenomedullin (ADM) is one of the strongest endogenous vasodilating hormones. Its stable by-product midregional-proADM (MR-proADM) is an established indicator of systemic infection and cardiovascular compromise in adult patients.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the perinatal factors affecting MR-proADM plasma concentrations in 328 newborn infants with a gestational age (GA) between 24 and 41 wk.

Use of procalcitonin for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients presenting with a chief complaint of dyspnoea: results from the BACH (Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure) trial.

Aims: Biomarkers have proven their ability in the evaluation of cardiopulmonary diseases. We investigated the utility of concentrations of the biomarker procalcitonin (PCT) alone and with clinical variables for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with a chief complaint of shortness of breath.

Methods And Results: The BACH trial was a prospective, international, study of 1641 patients presenting to EDs with dyspnoea.

Copeptin as a prognostic factor for major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: C-terminal portion of provasopressin (copeptin) has recently been discussed as a novel biomarker for the early rule-out of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim is to investigate the prognostic value of copeptin with regard to mortality and morbidity in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We consecutively recruited a cath lab cohort of 2,700 patients (74.

The role of copeptin as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in the emergency department.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated in response to stress. One of the activated hypothalamic hormones is arginine vasopressin, a hormone involved in hemodynamics and osmoregulation. Copeptin, the C-terminal part of the arginine vasopressin precursor peptide, is a sensitive and stable surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin release.

Influence of age, race, sex, and body mass index on interpretation of midregional pro atrial natriuretic peptide for the diagnosis of acute heart failure: results from the BACH multinational study.

Aims: Midregional pro atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) is useful for diagnosing acute heart failure (HF) in patients presenting to the Emergency Department with dyspnoea. Optimal interpretation of MR-proANP requires understanding of how various demographic variables influence its levels and performance as a diagnostic marker. We sought to determine how age, race, sex, and body mass index (BMI) affect the levels and interpretation of MR-proANP for the diagnosis of acute HF.

Low plasma level of atrial natriuretic peptide predicts development of diabetes: the prospective Malmo Diet and Cancer study.

Context: The cardiac natriuretic peptides are involved in blood pressure regulation, and large cross-sectional studies have shown lower plasma levels of N-terminal pro-natriuretic peptide levels [N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (N-ANP) and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (N-BNP)] in patients with insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes.

Objective: In this study, we prospectively tested whether plasma levels of mid-regional ANP (MR-ANP) and N-BNP predict new-onset diabetes and long-term glucose progression.

Design, Setting, And Patients: MR-ANP and N-BNP were measured in 1828 nondiabetic individuals of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort (mean age 60 yr; 61% women) who subsequently underwent a follow-up exam including an oral glucose tolerance test after a median follow-up time of 16 yr.