7,746 results match your criteria: "Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht; Medtronic Bakken Research Center Maastricht[Affiliation]"

Background And Purpose: Cannabis stimulates several G-protein-coupled-receptors and causes bradycardia and hypotension upon sustained consumption. Moreover, in vitro studies suggest an interference of cannabinoid-signalling with cardiomyocyte contractility and hypertrophy. We aimed at revealing a functional contribution of the cannabinoid-sensitive receptor GPR55 to cardiomyocyte homeostasis and neurohumorally induced hypertrophy in vivo.

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Additional value of CTP maps in occlusion detection on CTP angiographic reconstructions for ischemic stroke.

Eur J Radiol

December 2024

Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), University Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Background: CT perfusion angiographic reconstructions (CTP-AR), derived at the peak arterial inflow, have demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy to CTA for occlusion detection in the anterior circulation. Colour-coded CTP maps may aid in localizing an occlusion. This study aim to assess the additional value of CTP maps for occlusion detection in ischemic stroke patients assessed with CTA or CTP-AR.

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Genetic Landscape of Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy and a Systemic Immune-Mediated Disease.

JACC Heart Fail

January 2025

Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; European Reference Network for Rare, Low Prevalence and Complex Diseases of the Heart (ERN GUARD-Heart), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Systemic immune-mediated diseases (SIDs) may contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and this study aimed to explore the genetic predispositions present in DCM patients with SIDs.
  • The research involved 183 DCM-SID patients, identifying a significantly higher prevalence of pathogenic genetic variants in these individuals compared to healthy controls and DCM patients without SIDs.
  • Findings suggest that about 17-20% of DCM patients with SIDs have pathogenic variants, particularly truncating variants like TTN, indicating the importance of genetic testing for understanding the causes of immune-related DCM.
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Combined strategy of upfront CTCA and optimal treatment for stable chest pain: rationale and design of the CLEAR-CAD trial.

Neth Heart J

November 2024

Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Patients with stable chest pain suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) usually undergo multiple diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out obstructive CAD. Some tests may not effectively assess the presence of CAD, precluding optimal treatment. A diagnostic strategy of upfront computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) combined with optimal medical therapy (OMT) tailored to the extent of CAD may be superior to standard care in preventing major adverse cardiac events.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Clonal haematopoiesis is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a type of heart failure with diverse causes, implying that CH may contribute to the progression of DCM especially in patients with other risk factors like genetic vulnerabilities or environmental influences.
  • * As research into the link between CH and DCM grows, standardized reporting methods are essential for comparing results; understanding CH's role could help tailor specific anti-inflammatory treatments for affected patients
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Preeclampsia is a leading complication of pregnancy that lacks accurate tools for its early prediction. Improved risk stratification tools early in pregnancy would enable more efficient allocation of limited healthcare resources while ensuring that pregnant women destined to develop preeclampsia receive appropriate care. This brief perspective highlights the current state of first-trimester preeclampsia prediction.

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Diabetes and other age-related diseases are associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a by-product of glycolysis and a major precursor in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), is increased in individuals with diabetes and other age-related diseases and is associated with microvascular dysfunction. We now investigated whether increased levels of circulating MGO can lead to cerebral microvascular dysfunction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, and cognitive impairment.

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Purpose: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a comprehensive psychosocial intervention for families coping with parental cancer.

Methods: A quasi-experimental trial with intervention and control group, employing a mixed-methods approach, was conducted. A total of 472 families affected by parental cancer participated.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of using an upper-extremity approach for secondary access during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) compared to the traditional lower-extremity method, as it may reduce significant bleeding risks.
  • - Conducted between November 2022 and November 2023 in the Netherlands, the TAVI XS trial involved 238 patients with severe aortic stenosis, who were randomly assigned to either the upper or lower access groups.
  • - Results showed that the upper-extremity approach had a lower incidence of clinically relevant bleeding (4.2% vs. 13.4% for the lower extremity), suggesting it could be a safer option for patients undergoing
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Introduction: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are risk factors for severe cardiovascular (CV) events, with the risk remaining significantly elevated long after the symptomatic phase of the exacerbation. The pathophysiology underpinning the relationship between acute events of both COPD and CV diseases has been understudied. Our objectives were to review the mechanisms by which COPD exacerbations increase the risk of CV events and understand the temporality of this risk.

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The Association of a Vegan Diet during Pregnancy with Maternal and Child Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Nutrients

September 2024

Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM-School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.

With the increasing prevalence of pregnant women adhering to a vegan diet, gaining insight into their nutritional intake and its association with maternal and fetal outcomes is essential to providing recommendations and developing guidelines for general practice. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review of the available scientific literature in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane was conducted in January 2024. : The titles and abstracts of 2211 unique articles were screened.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) can lead to various cerebrovascular issues, but research on sex differences in SVD is limited.
  • This study analyzed data from over 20,000 patients with acute ischemic stroke to examine whether the presence and severity of cerebral microbleeds (CMB) and other SVD markers differ between males and females.
  • Results showed that males had more frequent CMB while females had fewer lacunes but higher severe white matter hyperintensities, indicating distinct SVD characteristics based on sex.
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Homograft implant for prosthetic aortic endocarditis with paravalvular abscess in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava.

Multimed Man Cardiothorac Surg

October 2024

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiovascular Research Institute-Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Article Synopsis
  • A patient with prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis faced severe complications, necessitating urgent surgery due to significant valve detachment and prior cardiac surgeries.
  • Preoperative imaging uncovered a rare left superior vena cava anomaly, which required special techniques for safe surgery.
  • The surgical procedure involved removing the infected valve and tissue, then replacing it with a cryopreserved aortic homograft for better fit and function.
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Objective: To explore associations between general health-related problems and subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD), determined by CT coronary calcium score (CT-CCS), in a general population.

Design: A cross-sectional design.

Setting: This study was performed in a prospective population-based cohort, examining the health and health-related behaviour of individuals living in the Northern Netherlands.

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Atrioventricular node ablation for atrial fibrillation in the era of conduction system pacing.

Eur Heart J

December 2024

Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Article Synopsis
  • Management of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains challenging despite improvements in catheter-based treatments and repeat ablation procedures.
  • Atrioventricular node ablation (AVNA) has regained importance as a treatment option due to advancements in cardiac pacing technology, which address pacing-induced cardiomyopathy concerns.
  • The review will explore the role of permanent pacemaker implantation and AVNA in AF management, highlighting its effects on haemodynamics, benefits of 'pace-and-ablate therapy', and identifying patient groups that might benefit from this approach earlier.
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The Effect of Teleprehabilitation on Adverse Events After Elective Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

J Am Coll Cardiol

October 2024

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart and Vascular Center, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background: Patients scheduled for cardiac surgery and procedures often present with modifiable risk factors for adverse perioperative outcomes. Prehabilitation has shown potential to enhance mental and physical fitness; however, its effect on clinical cardiovascular endpoints in this population has not been studied.

Objectives: The current trial was designed to evaluate the effect of a personalized multimodal teleprehabilitation on the incidence of composite endpoint on major adverse cardiovascular events in patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery.

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Cath-HG improves the survival rates and symptoms in LPS-induced septic mice due to its multifunctional properties.

Int Immunopharmacol

December 2024

NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Sepsis is a serious condition that results from severe infection and leads to a harmful immune response, potentially causing multiple organ failure and death, highlighting the need for better treatments.* -
  • Cath-HG is a compound identified to improve platelet function and survival in septic mice, with properties that include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant effects.* -
  • Research shows that Cath-HG can effectively neutralize LPS, kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and protect against tissue damage in sepsis, making it a strong candidate for new sepsis therapies.*
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Article Synopsis
  • Over the past 50 years, more invasive cardiovascular procedures have been performed worldwide, increasing risks of acute brain injury during and after these interventions.
  • Current international guidelines often overlook the issue of acute brain injury from cardiovascular procedures, which can lead to worse medical outcomes and higher healthcare costs.
  • The international Consensus Statement aims to provide recommendations for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this acute brain injury while also highlighting areas where more research is needed.
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Article Synopsis
  • Angiotensin II (Ang II) is crucial for blood pressure regulation, and a modified version called pyruvamide-Ang II (Ang P), created with a cheaper vitamin B derivative (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate), may provide a cost-effective treatment for hypertension.
  • Studies showed that Ang P leads to lower calcium entry in vascular smooth muscle cells and has a weaker binding affinity to the angiotensin II type 1 receptor, resulting in less vasoconstriction compared to traditional Ang II.
  • In tests on rats, using PLP significantly reduced blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats and prevented blood pressure spikes in normal rats when treated with both Ang II and PLP, suggesting
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Association of ambient air pollution with cognitive functioning and markers of structural brain damage: The Maastricht study.

Environ Int

October 2024

Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the relationship between air pollution and its impact on cognitive functioning and brain health, given the rise in dementia cases and a lack of cures.
  • It involved 4,002 participants from The Maastricht Study, analyzing various brain integrity markers and cognitive abilities while considering their residential air pollution exposure.
  • Results showed no significant links between air pollution and cognitive performance or most brain markers, but a curvilinear relationship was noted where both low and high exposures were related to reduced grey matter volume.
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