Medication patterns and potentially inappropriate medication in patients with metastatic breast cancer: results of the BRE-BY-MED study.

Background: The treatment of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) focuses on prolonging patient survival, providing adequate symptom management, and maintaining quality of life (QoL). This includes supportive therapy to prevent or treat potential side effects and handle comorbidities. The combination of mBC therapy, supportive therapy, and treatment for comorbidities increases the risk for polypharmacy, potential drug-drug interactions (pDDI), potentially inappropriate medication (PIM), and potentially missing drugs (pMD).

Meeting report - Alpine desmosome disease meeting 2024: advances and emerging topics in desmosomes and related diseases.

Desmosomes are adhesive cell contacts abundant in tissues exposed to mechanical strain, such as the stratified and simple epithelia of the epidermis and mucous membranes, as well as the myocardium. Besides their role in mechanical cell cohesion, desmosomes also modulate pathways important for tissue differentiation, wound healing and immune responses. Dysfunctional desmosomes, resulting from pathogenic variants in genes encoding desmosomal components, autoantibodies targeting desmosomal adhesion molecules or inflammation, cause the life-threatening diseases arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and pemphigus and contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Phantom-based gradient waveform measurements with compensated variable-prephasing: Description and application to EPI at 7 T.

Purpose: Introducing compensated variable-prephasing (CVP), a phantom-based method for gradient waveform measurements. The technique is based on the variable-prephasing (VP) method, but takes into account the effects of all gradients involved in the measurement.

Methods: We conducted measurements of a trapezoidal test gradient and of an EPI readout gradient train with three approaches: VP, CVP, and fully compensated variable-prephasing (FCVP).

Nomogram models for predicting outcomes in thyroid cancer patients with distant metastasis receiving iodine therapy.

This study aimed to establish and validate prognostic nomogram models for patients who underwent I therapy for thyroid cancer with distant metastases. The cohort was divided into training (70%) and validation (30%) sets for nomogram development. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrial appendage is linked to a higher risk of thromboembolic events and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cardioversion, a rhythm control treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), requires ruling out cardiac embolic sources, often originating from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is used for LAA evaluation, but it is invasive and not widely available. This study aimed to identify cardiovascular risk factors linked to LAA abnormalities and predictors of thromboembolic events and all-cause mortality.

Computer-assisted medical history taking prior to patient consultation in the outpatient care setting: a prospective pilot project.

Background: Feeding patients' self-reported medical history into the diagnostic care process may accelerate workflows in clinical routine.

Methods: We prospectively piloted a novel medical history documentation system in a German cardiological outpatient practice and evaluated its feasibility and perceived usefulness. Based on a generic software that allows to record structured information, a customized solution for the cooperating practice was developed and implemented.

The risk of death according to left ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular dilatation in 17 321 adults with heart failure from 40 high-, middle- and low-income countries - A Global Congestive Heart Failure (G-CHF) study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the prognostic importance of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) versus right ventricular (RV) dilatation and dysfunction in patients with heart failure (HF) from countries of different income levels.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 17 321 participants with HF from 40 countries. Participants were followed for a median (25th-75th percentile) of 2.

Addressing the Human Experience of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Call to Transform Kidney Care.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a long-term condition in which kidney function declines over time, is a growing global healthcare concern. CKD can have a major impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. Recent research by the International Society of Nephrology highlights that current treatment strategies and policies do not fully address patients' needs.

Assessment of hemodynamic parameters by PiCCO and PAC in patients treated with the Impella CP.

In 28 patients supported by an Impella pump (Impella CP, Abiomed Inc., Danvers, MA), hemodynamic measurements by PiCCO (PULSION Medical Systems SE, Feldkirchen, Germany) and pulmonary artery catheter (PAC or Swan-Ganz Catheter; Edwards Lifescience, Unterschleissheim, Germany) were compared. There was a significant positive correlation of cardiac output (CO;  = 0.

Cardiovascular status in endogenous cortisol excess: the prospective CV-CORT-EX study.

Objective: Cushing's syndrome (CS) results in increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Subtype-specific differences and possible reversibility after biochemical cure are not well investigated.

Design: Prospective cohort study evaluating the CV status in different forms of endogenous cortisol excess.

Hospitalized Advanced Heart Failure With Preserved vs Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Global Perspective.

Background: Outcomes of hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) and characteristics of advanced HF stage may vary across left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and world regions.

Objectives: This study sought to analyze characteristics of hospitalized advanced HF patients across LVEF spectrum, world regions, and country income.

Methods: Among 18,553 hospitalized patients with acute HF (7,902 new-onset HF and 10,651 decompensated chronic HF) enrolled in the global registry REPORT-HF (International Registry to Assess Medical Practice With Longitudinal Observation for Treatment of Heart Failure), we analyzed characteristics and outcomes of patients with advanced HF, defined as previously diagnosed HF; severe symptoms before current admission (NYHA functional class III/IV); and ≥1 HF-related hospitalization in the preceding 12 months, excluding the current.

Real-world characteristics and treatment of cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis: A multicentre, observational study.

Aims: Data on the clinical profiles of patients with transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in the post-approval era of tafamidis 61 mg are lacking. Study aims were characterization of contemporary ATTR-CM patients, analysis of potential eligibility for the 'Transthyretin Amyloidosis Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial' (ATTR-ACT) and identification of factors associated with the decision on tafamidis 61 mg treatment.

Methods And Results: This retrospective study analysed ATTR-CM patients seen at eight University Hospitals in the first year after approval of tafamidis 61 mg for ATTR-CM in Germany (April 2020 to March 2021).

Physiologists as medical scientists: An early warning from the German academic system.

"Medical scientists" are postgraduate investigators who are engaged in biomedical research, and either hold a biomedical PhD or are qualified in medicine but do not participate in patient care. Medical scientists constitute ~40% of staff at medical faculties and >90% at nonuniversity medical research institutions in Germany. However, medical scientists in Germany face limited long-term career prospects and a lack of dedicated training and support programmes.

PET imaging of sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs): Unveiling metabolic dynamics in diabetes and oncology.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs) play a crucial role in glucose regulation and are essential therapeutic targets for diabetes management. Recent advancements have leveraged SGLT-targeted PET imaging to examine these transporters' roles in both health and disease.

Scope Of Review: This review highlights recent innovations in PET imaging targeting SGLTs, with a particular focus on SGLT-specific radiotracers, such as alpha-methyl-4-deoxy-4-F-fluoro-d-glucopyranoside (Me-4FDG).

Cardiac diffusion-weighted and tensor imaging: A consensus statement from the special interest group of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

Thanks to recent developments in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance is fast emerging in a range of clinical applications. Cardiac diffusion-weighted imaging (cDWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (cDTI) now enable investigators and clinicians to assess and quantify the tridimensional microstructure of the heart. Free-contrast DWI is uniquely sensitized to the presence and displacement of water molecules within the myocardial tissue, including the intracellular, extracellular, and intravascular spaces.

Gpr55 deficiency crucially alters cardiomyocyte homeostasis and counteracts angiotensin II induced maladaption in female mice.

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.

Rethinking Thin-Layer Chromatography for Screening Technetium-99m Radiolabeled Polymer Nanoparticles.

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is commonly employed to screen technetium-99m labeled polymer nanoparticle batches for unreduced pertechnetate and radio-colloidal impurities. Although this method is widely accepted, our findings applying radiolabeled PLGA/PLA-PEG nanoparticles underscore its lack of transferability between different settings and its limitations as a standalone quality control tool. While TLC profiles may appear similar for purified and radiocolloid containing nanoparticle formulations, their in vivo behavior can vary significantly, as demonstrated by discrepancies between TLC results and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and biodistribution data.