Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Correlates with Fibrotic Atrial Myopathy in Patients Undergoing Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is high. Impaired left atrial (LA) function is a major determinant in HFpEF. However, the extent of electrical LA tissue degeneration in HFpEF is unknown.

Obesity and its influence on liver dysfunction, morbidity and mortality after liver resection.

Background: Obesity and associated steatosis is an increasing health problem worldwide. Its influence on post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) and after liver resection (LR) is still unclear.

Methods: Patients who underwent LR were investigated and divided into three groups [normal weight: body mass index (BMI) 18.

Right Atrial Phasic Function in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking and Outcomes.

Background: This study sought to investigate the prognostic impact of right atrial (RA) size and function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Consecutive HFpEF patients were enrolled and indexed RA volumes and emptying fractions (RA-EF) were assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). For patients in SR, feature tracking of the RA wall was performed during CMR.

Physical Exercise Promotes DNase Activity Enhancing the Capacity to Degrade Neutrophil Extracellular Traps.

(1) Background: An unhealthy lifestyle is a significant contributor to the development of chronic diseases. Physical activity can benefit primary and secondary prevention. Higher DNase activity is associated with favourable outcomes after cardiovascular (CV) events.

Risk stratification and long-term outcome of patients receiving in-hospital medical emergency team critical care: experience from Austria's largest medical center.

Background: We aimed to investigate predictors for long-term survival of in-hospital patients with medical emergency team (MET) consultation with or without in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in Austria's largest medical center.

Methods: Data of patients, who needed an intervention of a MET between 01/2014 and 03/2020 were reviewed for this retrospective analysis.

Results: In total, 708 MET calls were analyzed.

RANTES and CD40L under Conditions of Long-Term Physical Exercise: A Potential Link to Adaptive Immunity.

Regular physical exercise was found to be associated with an improved immune response in previous studies. RANTES and CD40L play a pivotal role in host defense, and individuals lacking adequate expression are prone to virus and opportunistic infections. A total of 98 participants were enrolled in this study.

New ECG algorithms with improved accuracy for prediction of culprit vessel in inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: In addition to diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (MI), the electrocardiogram (ECG) may also predict the culprit coronary artery. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ECG algorithms predicting the occluded vessel in inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 300 consecutive patients with inferior STEMI undergoing acute coronary angiography.

Long-term physical activity modulates adipsin and ANGPTL4 serum levels, a potential link to exercise-induced metabolic changes.

Background: Within the presented prospective study, we aimed to illuminate the effect of long-term physical exercise on serum levels of adipsin (complement factor D) and angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4). Although past studies already outlined the effects of acute exercise, our trial design aimed to depict the development under long-term physical activity conditions.

Methods: Ninety-eight participants were included in the study and were asked to perform eight months of moderate physical activity for at least 150 minutes/week and/or vigorous-intensity exercise for at least 75 minutes/week.

Regular Training Increases sTWEAK and Its Decoy Receptor sCD163-Does Training Trigger the sTWEAK/sCD163-Axis to Induce an Anti-Inflammatory Effect?

Background: Low levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) were reported in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. Soluble cluster differentiation 163 (sCD163) serum levels are related to M2 macrophages, having anti-inflammatory attributes. As sport is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects we aimed to investigate the influence of eight months of physical activity on serum sCD163 and sTWEAK levels.

Novel cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with cardiovascular diseases undergoing intensive physical exercise.

Background: In this trial, we analyzed the plasma levels of novel biomarkers that reflect different pathophysiological pathways (sST2: mechanical strain, IGF-BP2: metabolic pathways, suPAR and GDF-15: inflammatory processes) in patients undergoing physical exercise to investigate the effects of training on their plasma concentrations.

Methods: Plasma concentrations of novel biomarkers (sST2, IGF-BP2, suPAR and GDF-15) were analyzed by means of ELISA in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing four weeks of high- and moderate-intensity training (EXCITE Trial) and in patients with one or more cardiovascular risk factors undergoing eight months of intensive physical exercise (IGF-BP2). Plasma levels of sST2 in patients undergoing eight months of intensive exercise have been published previously by our study group (1.

Physical recovery after laparoscopic vs. open liver resection - A prospective cohort study.

Background: While the number of laparoscopic liver resections (LLRs) is increasing worldwide, its impact on physical recovery remains unclear. We hypothesized that LLR is associated with better physical recovery than open liver resection (OLR). To address this question, we investigated the impact of laparoscopic liver resection compared to open liver resection on physical recovery in a prospective trial.

Paper-based training diaries for monitoring of performance progress due to long-term physical activity.

Introduction: Training diaries are a common tool for training monitoring; however, their correlation with an effective performance gain is unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether monitoring of training by paper‑based training diaries reflects the training progress measured by a bicycle stress test in hobby athletes.

Patients And Methods: Out of 109 hobby athletes who were instructed to work out for 8 months with a calculated training pulse, 98 participants completed the study.

New Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Ischemic Heart Disease-GDF-15, A Probable Predictor for Ejection Fraction.

Background: Various biomarkers have been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of serum levels of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) with left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) in CAD patients and controls.

Methods And Results: CAD patients were divided into three groups according to their EF as measured by the biplane Simpson method (53-84%, 31-52%, ≤30%).

Serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein decreases and soluble isoform of suppression of tumorigenicity 2 increases significantly by long-term physical activity.

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of long-term physical activity on biomarkers for myocyte ischemia (heart-type fatty acid-binding protein, H-FABP), matrix remodelling/vascular stress (soluble isoform of suppression of tumorigenicity 2, sST2) and inflammation (soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, suPAR). In this prospective observational study 109 subjects were recruited, 98 completed the study. Subjects were asked to perform exercise within the calculated training pulse for 8 months.

Prevalence of early repolarization syndrome and long-term clinical outcome in patients with the diagnosis of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is diagnosed in up to 14% of sudden cardiac death (SCD) survivors. Early repolarization syndrome (ERS) in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmia is characterized by an elevated J-point in inferior and/or antero-lateral leads. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of ERS in IVF patients, and to evaluate potential differences in clinical outcome.

Long-term physical activity leads to a significant increase in serum sRAGE levels: a sign of decreased AGE-mediated inflammation due to physical activity?

There is growing evidence that low levels of the circulating soluble receptor of advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) are a valuable predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of long-term physical activity on serum sRAGE levels. 109 subjects were recruited, and 98 completed the study.

Long-term endurance training increases serum cathepsin S levels in healthy female subjects.

Background: Circulating cathepsin S (CS) has been associated with a lower risk for breast cancer in a large Swedish cohort. Long-term physical activity has been shown to have beneficial effects on the development of various cancer subtypes, in particular breast and colorectal cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term endurance sport on CS levels in females.

Sports and HDL-Quality Reflected By Serum Amyloid A and Surfactant Protein B.

: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of long-term physical activity on HDL quality, reflected by serum amyloid A (SAA) and surfactant protein B (SPB). : 109 healthy subjects were recruited, 98 completed the study. Participants perform within the calculated training pulse for 8 months.

Specific indications and clinical outcome in patients with subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - A nationwide multicentre registry.

Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICD) are an innovative and less invasive alternative to transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) in selected patients. We aimed to investigate the underlying diseases and the specific indications for implanting S-ICD in clinical practice, as well as the prevalence of shock delivery and complications.

Methods And Results: From December 2012, data of 236 patients (30,5% female; age 48,6±16,8years) were gathered from 12 centres in Austria.

Effect of long-term physical activity on PCSK9, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) levels: a prospective observational trial.

INTRODUCTION    Since proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors were introduced to the market, the interest in PCSK9 metabolism has increased dramatically. OBJECTIVES    We investigated prospectively the influence of long-term physical activity on PCSK9, highand low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively), and lipoprotein(a) levels [Lp(a)]. PATIENTS AND METHODS    A total of 109 participants were recruited and instructed to increase their sport pensum by 75 min/wk of vigorous-intensity or 150 min/wk of moderate-intensity endurance training (or a mixture) within the calculated training pulse for 8 months.

Endurance training significantly increases serum endocan but not osteoprotegerin levels: a prospective observational study.

Background: Endocan (EN) was suggested a potential inflammatory and cardiovascular disease (CVD) marker which might also be involved in renal failure and/or renal failure-associated vascular events. It is not clear whether osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a pro- or anti-atherogenic factor, however, it is agreed upon that OPG is elevated in subjects with increased calcification status. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of long-term physical activity on serum endocan (EN) and osteoprotegerin-levels.

Long-term endurance training increases serum cathepsin S and decreases IL-6 and hsCRP levels.

Cathepsin S (CS) was shown to play a key role in cancer progression, atherosclerosis, heart valve disease, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. The present prospective study aimed to investigate the influence of sports on CS, interleukin-6 (Il-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. Ninety-eight of 109 participants completed the study.

Osteopontin is elevated in patients with mitral annulus calcification independent from classic cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) regulates the Ca(++)-deposition in bone and coronary arteries. Elevated OPN were also associated with (aortic) valve calcification in healthy individuals. This study aimed to investigate the association between OPN levels and mitral annulus calcification (MAC) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Physical inactivity increases endostatin and osteopontin in patients with coronary artery disease.

The balance between the angiostatic factor endostatin (ES) and angiogenic factor osteopontin (OPN) is essential in physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Several circumstances might influence this equilibrium and are of distinct interest when investigating mechanisms in coronary artery disease (CAD). The present explorative cross-sectional study was to investigate the influence of physical inactivity on ES and OPN levels in 181 male and 71 female patients with angiographycally verified CAD.

A new coronary artery disease grading system correlates with numerous routine parameters that were associated with atherosclerosis: a grading system for coronary artery disease severity.

Background: Several scoring systems have tried to determine the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) to investigate the connection between CAD severity and laboratory parameters.

Methods: In total, 189 male (mean age: 61.86±10.