Long-Term Bed Rest Delays the Circadian Phase of Core Body Temperature.

Spaceflight can be associated with sleep loss and circadian misalignment as a result of non-24 h light-dark cycles, operational shifts in work/rest cycles, high workload under pressure, and psychological factors. Head-down tilt bed rest (HDBR) is an established model to mimic some of the physiological and psychological adaptions observed in spaceflight. Data on the effects of HDBR on circadian rhythms are scarce.

The role of non-invasive devices for the telemonitoring of heart failure patients.

Heart failure (HF) patients represent one of the most prevalent as well as one of the most fragile population encountered in the cardiology and internal medicine departments nowadays. Estimated to account for around 26 million people worldwide, diagnosed patients present a poor prognosis and quality of life with a clinical history accompanied by repeated hospital admissions caused by an exacerbation of their chronic condition. The frequent hospitalizations and the extended hospital stays mean an extremely high economic burden for healthcare institutions.

Mode-of-action of the PROPELLA concept in fulminant myocarditis.

Aims: Haemodynamic load induces cardiac remodelling via mechano-transduction pathways, which can further trigger inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that particularly in an inflammatory disorder such as myocarditis, a therapeutic strategy is required which, in addition to providing adequate circulatory support, unloads the left ventricle, decreases cardiac wall stress, and mitigates inflammatory responses.

Methods And Results: Axial flow pumps such as the Impella systems comply with these requirements.

Increased core body temperature in astronauts during long-duration space missions.

Humans' core body temperature (CBT) is strictly controlled within a narrow range. Various studies dealt with the impact of physical activity, clothing, and environmental factors on CBT regulation under terrestrial conditions. However, the effects of weightlessness on human thermoregulation are not well understood.

Lipoprotein(a)--An independent causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease and current therapeutic options.

It is widely accepted that elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have identified Lp(a) as independent cardiovascular risk factor. Consequently, therapeutic concepts are targeting at lowering Lp(a) serum levels.