Randomized controlled study to evaluate the safety and clinical impact of percutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in patients with severe COVID-19.

A severe course of COVID-19 is characterized by a hyperinflammatory state resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome or even multi-organ failure along a derailed sympatho-vagal balance. In this prospective, randomized study, we evaluate the hypothesis that percutaneous minimally invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) is a safe procedure and might reduce the rate of clinical complications in patients with severe course of COVID-19. In our study, patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the intensive care unit with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, however without invasive ventilation yet, were included and following randomization assigned to a group receiving aVNS four times per 24 h for 3 h and a group receiving standard of care (SOC).

The Role of Bacterial and Fungal Superinfection in Critical COVID-19.

Background: The range of reported rates of bacterial and fungal superinfections in patients with a severe course of COVID-19 is wide, suggesting a lack of standardised reporting.

Methods: The rates of bacterial and fungal superinfection were assessed using predefined criteria to differentiate between infection and contamination.

Results: Overall, 117 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to severe COVID-19 were included.

Percutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Reduces Inflammation in Critical Covid-19 Patients.

Covid-19 is an infectious disease associated with cytokine storms and derailed sympatho-vagal balance leading to respiratory distress, hypoxemia and cardiovascular damage. We applied the auricular vagus nerve stimulation to modulate the parasympathetic nervous system, activate the associated anti-inflammatory pathways, and reestablish the abnormal sympatho-vagal balance. aVNS is performed percutaneously using miniature needle electrodes in ear regions innervated by the auricular vagus nerve.

[Diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in intensive care units].

Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is particularly challenging due to the rapid scientific advances and the often significant hypoxemia. Use of high-flow oxygen, noninvasive mask ventilation, and the technique of awake proning can sometimes avoid the need for intubation. Mechanical ventilation follows the principles of ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; lung protective ventilation) and is generally supplemented by consequent positioning therapy (with at least 16 h in prone position in multiple cycles).

Detection of bacteria via multiplex PCR in respiratory samples of critically ill COVID-19 patients with suspected HAP/VAP in the ICU.

Background: Critically ill Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have high rates of bacterial superinfection. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction panels may be able to provide useful information about the incidence and spectrum of bacteria causing superinfections.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study we included all COVID-19 positive patients admitted to our intensive care unit with suspected hospital-acquired pneumonia/ventilator-associated pneumonia (HAP/VAP) in whom the BioFire® Pneumonia Panel (PP) was performed from tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for diagnostic purposes.

COVID-19-associated myoclonus in a series of five critically ill patients.

Background: In addition to respiratory symptoms, many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present with neurological complications. Several case reports and small case series described myoclonus in five patients suffering from the disease. The purpose of this article is to report on five critically ill patients with COVID-19-associated myoclonus.

Adjunctive treatment with high-titre convalescent plasma in severely and critically ill COVID-19 patients - a safe but futile intervention. A comparative cohort study.

Background: Convalescent plasma (CP) containing antibodies derived from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors has been proposed as a promising therapeutic option for severe COVID-19.

Methods: In our intensive care unit (ICU), 55 patients (46 male, median age 61 years) with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 (35 = 63.6% on mechanical ventilation, 7 = 14.

Successful treatment of intubation-induced severe neurogenic post-extubation dysphagia using pharyngeal electrical stimulation in a COVID-19 survivor: a case report.

Background: A significant portion of critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at high risk of developing intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired swallowing dysfunction (neurogenic dysphagia) as a consequence of requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) is a simple and safe treatment for neurogenic dysphagia. It has been shown that PES can restore safe swallowing in orally intubated or tracheotomized ICU patients with neurogenic dysphagia following severe stroke.

Performance of the recommended ESC/EASD cardiovascular risk stratification model in comparison to SCORE and NT-proBNP as a single biomarker for risk prediction in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Recently, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Association for the Society of Diabetes (EASD) introduced a new cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification model to aid further treatment decisions in individuals with diabetes. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic performance of the ESC/EASD risk model in comparison to the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) risk model and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in an unselected cohort of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods And Results: A total of 1690 T2DM patients with a 10-year follow up for fatal CVD and all-cause death and a 5-year follow up for CVD and all-cause hospitalizations were analyzed.

Clinical and Angiographic Features in Three COVID-19 Patients with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. Case Report.

While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has often been perceived as a predominantly respiratory condition, it is characterized by complications in multiple organ systems. Especially the involvement of the cardiovascular system, along with the possibly severe pulmonary injury, is crucial for prognosis. We identified three COVID-19 patients with takotsubo (TT) cardiomyopathy at our infectious diseases treatment center and present their clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and angiographic features.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 using multiple antibody assays in two cases with negative PCR results from nasopharyngeal swabs.

We report of two cases of progressed COVID-19 with negative PCR tests from nasopharyngeal swabs, in whom diagnosis was made by different antibody assays, including a lateral flow rapid test and multiple commercial ELISAs, finally confirmed by comprehensive serological assays. These cases highlight that commercial ELISAs and even rapid tests might significantly aid the diagnosis of COVID-19, particularly, if a combination of serological assays is used with a specific clinical question, in severely ill patients after seroconversion and when comprehensive serological methods are used for confirmation.

Natural History of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation: Implications of Quantitative Doppler Assessment.

Objectives: This study sought to define the relationship between functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF); and to establish the prognostic value of quantitative measures of TR severity (i.e., effective regurgitant orifice area [EROA] and regurgitant volume).

Evolution of secondary mitral regurgitation.

Aims: Secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) drives adverse remodelling towards late heart failure stages. Little is known about the evolution of MR under guideline-directed therapy (GDT) and its relation to cardiac remodelling and outcome. We therefore aimed to assess incidence, impact, and predictors of progressive secondary MR in patients under GDT.

Refining the prognostic impact of functional mitral regurgitation in chronic heart failure.

Aims: Significant efforts are currently undertaken to reduce functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) in patients with chronic heart failure in the hope to improve prognosis. We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of FMR in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) under optimal medical therapy (OMT) and various conditions of HFrEF. We further intended to identify a heart failure phenotype, where FMR is most likely a driving force and not a mere bystander of the disease.

GDF-15 Is Associated with Cancer Incidence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Diabetes has been linked epidemiologically to increased cancer incidence and mortality. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is increased in patients with diabetes and has recently been linked to the occurrence of cancer. We investigated whether circulating GDF-15 concentrations can predict the incidence of malignant diseases in a diabetic patient cohort already facing increased risk for cancer.

Cardiovascular safety of metformin and sulfonylureas in patients with different cardiac risk profiles.

Objectives/background: Based on previous experiences, the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency recommend that clinical trials for novel antidiabetic drugs are powered to detect increased cardiovascular risk. In this context, data concerning licensed drugs such as metformin and sulfonylureas are conflicting. The influence of baseline cardiovascular risk on any treatment effect appears obvious but has not been formally proven.

Necrotizing fasciitis due to Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 after exposure to Austrian bathing sites.

We report on two cases of necrotizing fasciitis of the lower leg due to nontoxigenic Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae). A 73-year-old woman (case 1) and an 80-year-old man (case 2) were hospitalized with symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis on July 18 and August 15, 2015, respectively.

Outcome of conservative management vs. assist device implantation in patients with advanced refractory heart failure.

Background: In patients with advanced refractory heart failure (HF) cardiac transplantation (HTX), conservative medical management and the implantation of a ventricular assist device (VAD) represent valuable options. The determination of the best therapeutic destination strategy for the individual patient remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcome in advanced refractory HF patients either managed conservatively receiving optimal contemporary medical therapy ('conservative'), or who who underwent pulsatile flow VAD ('pVAD') or continuous-flow VAD ('contVAD') implantation.

Cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with cancer and their association with all-cause mortality.

Objective: Patients with cancer may display elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and high-sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) without clinical manifestation of cardiac disease. This study aimed to evaluate circulating cardiovascular hormones and hsTnT and their association with mortality in cancer.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 555 consecutive patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer and without prior cardiotoxic anticancer therapy.

Translation of ERC resuscitation guidelines into clinical practice by emergency physicians.

Purpose: Austrian out-of-hospital emergency physicians (OOHEP) undergo mandatory biannual emergency physician refresher courses to maintain their licence. The purpose of this study was to compare different reported emergency skills and knowledge, recommended by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines, between OOHEP who work regularly at an out-of-hospital emergency service and those who do not currently work as OOHEP but are licenced.

Methods: We obtained data from 854 participants from 19 refresher courses.

Association of endostatin with mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Experimental data imply that in decompensated heart failure (HF), the anti-angiogenic factor endostatin is increased. This study aimed to investigate whether the angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin is related to the risk of all-cause mortality in a prospective cohort study of chronic HF patients.

Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, endostatin serum concentrations were determined in patients with chronic HF.