Urinary NT-proBNP compared head-to-head to plasmatic NT-proBNP in a real life collective with an ICD.

Aims: Plasma NT-proBNP is an established marker of heart failure. Previous studies suggested urinary NT-proBNP has potential as marker of chronic heart failure as well. The objective of this study was to compare urinary NT-proBNP to plasma NT-proBNP in a real-life collective of patients with an ICD, especially regarding ICD-therapies.

Impact of sarcopenia and fat distribution on outcomes in penile cancer.

Sarcopenia, defined as age-associated loss of skeletal muscle function and muscle mass, is a negative prognostic marker for survival in several tumor entities. However, data evaluating the impact of sarcopenia and fat distribution on penile cancer are rarely described. We performed a retrospective study including 38 patients who were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.

Differential effects of alendronate on chondrocytes, cartilage matrix and subchondral bone structure in surgically induced osteoarthritis in mice.

Bisphosphonates (BP) are considered a treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA) due to reduction of OA-induced microtrauma in the bone marrow, stabilization of subchondral bone (SB) layer and pain reduction. The effects of high-dose alendronate (ALN) treatment on SB and articular cartilage after destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) or Sham surgery of male C57Bl/6J mice were analyzed. We performed serum analysis; histology and immunohistochemistry to assess the severity of OA and a possible pain symptomatology.

Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia Is Associated With Increased Mortality Risk in Hospitalizations for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A National Inpatient Sample Analysis.

Background This study analyzed the incidence, characteristics, and mortality risk associated with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) among hospitalizations for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with lung involvement. Methods Adult hospitalizations from the 2016-2020 nationwide inpatient sample were analyzed using relevant International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes for SLE with lung involvement (M32.13) and COP (J84.

Impact of Age on Predictive Capabilities of Ferritin, Ferritin-Hemoglobin Ratio, IL-6, and sIL-2R for COVID-19 Severity and Mortality.

The study aimed to establish the impact of age on the predictive capability of ferritin, ferritin-hemoglobin ratio (FHR), IL-6, and sIL-2R in COVID-19 patients. Compared to patients with moderate condition, patients with severe condition had higher ferritin level (441.0 [188.

Comparative Analysis of Bariatric Surgery and Non-surgical Therapies: Impact on Obesity-Related Comorbidities.

Obesity is associated with a broad spectrum of comorbidities, including metabolic dysregulation, cardiovascular complications, and socioeconomic impacts. Traditional lifestyle interventions often yield transient results in weight management, while bariatric surgery offers a promising alternative. This systematic review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and focused on randomized controlled trials comparing bariatric surgery (e.

Predictors for prolonged and escalated perioperative antibiotic therapy after microvascular head and neck reconstruction: a comprehensive analysis of 446 cases.

Literature suggests that intravenous prophylaxis exceeding 48 h offers no additional benefit in preventing surgical site infections (SSI) in patients with microvascular head and neck reconstruction. However, protocols for antibiotic therapy duration post-reconstruction are not standardized. This study identifies factors predicting prolonged intravenous antibiotic use and antibiotic escalation in patients receiving free flap head neck reconstruction.

Infection image: cystic pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia - forgotten?

A 43-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with progressive dyspnea. CT scan showed pronounced cystic lesions and ground glass opacitiy in both lungs and diagnosis of HIV infection was established. Bronchoscopy confirmed diagnosis of pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP).

Castleman Disease: A Rare Lymphoproliferative Disorder With Diverse Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment Approach.

Castleman disease (CD) includes rare and intricate lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by the abnormal growth of lymph nodes and immune system disturbances. It primarily presents in two forms: unicentric Castleman disease (UCD), which affects a single lymph node area, and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), which involves multiple lymph nodes and systemic manifestations. The disease's underlying mechanisms are often linked to immune system irregularities, especially involving interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Evaluation of Mortality Rate Disparities for Cardiac Arrest Between Urban and Rural Cohorts in the United States Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) Database.

Introduction The United States includes diverse geographic areas with distinct urban and rural settings. Urban areas served with higher health services and the rural regions with restricted facilities. This disparity results in higher rural mortality rates.

Heart Transplantation and Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Long-Term Prognosis and Effects on Mental Health.

Heart transplantation and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have emerged as crucial interventions for end-stage heart failure, dramatically improving patient outcomes. This narrative review examines their historical context, indications, procedures, and outcomes, as well as their impact on long-term survival, quality of life, functional status, and mental health. While heart transplantation remains the optimal treatment, donor scarcity limits its application.

Sex-specific response of the human plasma lipidome to short-term cold exposure.

Cold-induced lipolysis is widely studied as a potential therapeutic strategy to combat metabolic disease, but its effect on lipid homeostasis in humans remains largely unclear. Blood plasma comprises an enormous repertoire in lipids allowing insights into whole body lipid homeostasis. So far, reported results originate from studies carried out with small numbers of male participants.

Dynamic Contrast Ultrasound Diagnostics (CEUS) of Liver Lesions and Post-treatment Control with A New High-resolution Examination Technique (HiFR) and Perfusion.

Background And Aims: To evaluate, if high frame rate (HiFR) contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and external perfusion analysis (VueBox®)can give answers on liver tumour diagnostics.

Methods: A multifrequency probe (C1-6 /Resona R9) and 1-2.4 ml ultrasound contrast medium were used for CEUS up to 5-6 min.

Systematic development of a patient-reported ONCOlogical-ROUTinE-Screening (ONCO-ROUTES) procedure at the University Cancer Center Regensburg.

Purpose: The evaluation of treatment success and progression in oncology patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is playing an increasingly important role. Meanwhile, PROs are a component of the certification requirements of the German Cancer Society for oncology centers. PROs are used to provide supportive therapy.