Screening for atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke in elderly individuals with or without preexisting cardiovascular disease: A post hoc analysis of the randomized LOOP Study.

Background: An evidence-based approach for risk stratification of subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) and hereby AF screening is lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether established cardiovascular diseases (CVD) could help to identify the population more likely to benefit from AF screening.

Methods: The LOOP Study randomized AF-naïve individuals aged ≥70 years and with additional stroke risk factors to either screening with implantable loop recorder (ILR) and subsequent anticoagulation upon detection of new-onset AF episodes ≥6 min, or usual care.

Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction without Acellular Dermal Matrix: Have We Come Full Circle?

Breast reconstruction is an integral part of breast cancer treatment [...

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a national study on the association between favourable neurological status and biomarkers of hypoperfusion, inflammation, and organ injury.

Aims: In refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with prolonged whole-body ischaemia, global tissue injury proceeds even after establishment of circulation with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). We aimed to investigate the role of biomarkers reflecting hypoperfusion, inflammation, and organ injury in prognostication of patients with refractory OHCA managed with ECPR.

Methods And Results: This nationwide retrospective study included 226 adults with refractory OHCA managed with ECPR in Denmark (2011-2020).

Presence and development of diabetic retinopathy in 153 238 patients with type 2 diabetes in the Danish Registry of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) along with associated markers in patients with type 2 diabetes in the Danish DR-screening programme.

Methods: We included all persons with type 2 diabetes in the Danish Registry of Diabetic Retinopathy, who had attended at least one episode of DR screening in 2013-2018. DR was classified as levels 0-4 indicating increasing severity.

Anterior quadratus lumborum block does not reduce postoperative opioid consumption following laparoscopic hemicolectomy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in an ERAS setting.

Background And Aims: An opioid-sparing postoperative analgesic regimen following laparoscopic hemicolectomy is optimal to promote minimal postoperative pain, early mobilization, and improved quality of recovery. Various regional anesthesia techniques have been tested to improve postoperative pain management after laparoscopic hemicolectomy. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of administering a preoperative bilateral ultrasound-guided anterior quadratus lumborum nerve block on postoperative opioid consumption after laparoscopic colon cancer surgery.

Efficacy and safety of brolucizumab in age-related macular degeneration: A systematic review of real-world studies.

Intravitreally injected anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are first-line treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Phase 3 trials demonstrated non-inferiority of anti-VEGF therapy with brolucizumab compared with aflibercept in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gains, with superior anatomical outcomes after brolucizumab. The purpose of the review was to summarize real-world efficacy and safety data on brolucizumab in patients with nAMD.

Prophylactic treatment of breast implants with a solution of gentamicin, vancomycin and cefazolin antibiotics for women undergoing breast reconstructive surgery: protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (The BREAST-AB trial).

Introduction: Periprosthetic infection is one of the most severe complications following implant-based breast reconstruction affecting 5%-10% of the women. Currently, many surgeons apply antibiotics locally on the breast implant to reduce the risk of postoperative infection, but no randomised, placebo-controlled trials have tested the treatment's efficacy.

Methods And Analysis: The BREAST-AB trial (BREAST-AntiBiotics) is an investigator-initiated, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of local treatment with gentamicin, vancomycin and cefazolin on breast implants in women undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction.

Comparison of 24-hour urinary creatinine clearance and estimated glomerular filtration rate based on a panel of filtration markers in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires accurate assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In practice, GFR is typically estimated by equations based on creatinine concentration in blood, but creatinine is affected by non-GFR factors such as age and sex. Alternative filtration markers such as cystatin C, beta-trace protein (BTP), and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) may be less dependent on age and sex, but equations combining these markers have not been investigated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Lung function in Lolland-Falster Health Study (LOFUS).

Background: COPD prevalence in Denmark is estimated at 18% based on data from urban populations. However, studies suggest that using the clinical cut-off for airway obstruction in population studies may overestimate prevalence. The present study aims to compare estimated prevalence of airway obstruction using different cut-offs and to present lung function data from the Lolland-Falster Health Study, set in a rural-provincial area.

Inactivating mutations in large B-cell lymphoma in a real-world cohort: Strong correlation with translocation.

Inactivating mutations in Bruton's tyrosine kinase () in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) have recently been reported. These mutations were found in BTK inhibitor-treatment naïve patients. Here, we report the mutation status in a real-world cohort of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Shaping Better Rehabilitation to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: Experiences of Nurses and Colleagues With an Interdisciplinary Telerehabilitation Intervention.

In order to evaluate the reach of a collaborative cross-sectoral telerehabilitation intervention to patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), this study investigates how nurses and interdisciplinary colleagues experienced working with it. In two focus group interviews, the experiences of working in the empowerment and tele-based >>> program were examined among three nurses and four interdisciplinary colleagues. Data were analyzed with inspiration from Ricoeur's theory of narrative and interpretation and discussed with Gittell's theory of relational coordination.

Severity and Etiology of Incident Stroke in Patients Screened for Atrial Fibrillation vs Usual Care and the Impact of Prior Stroke: A Post Hoc Analysis of the LOOP Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Atrial fibrillation (AF) screening trials have failed to demonstrate a significant reduction in stroke risk. The impact on stroke severity and the importance of prior strokes are unknown.

Objective: To assess stroke characteristics in patients undergoing implantable loop recorder (ILR) screening for AF vs usual care and assess the importance of prior stroke.

Attendance in a national screening program for diabetic retinopathy: a population-based study of 205,970 patients.

Aims: A nationwide diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening program has been established in Denmark since 2013. We aimed to perform an evaluation of adherence to DR screenings and to examine whether non-adherence was correlated to DR progression.

Methods: The population consisted of a register-based cohort, who participated in the screening program from 2013 to 2018.

Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among patients with cardiovascular disease in Denmark, 2017-2019.

Background: Influenza vaccination protects against morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to describe influenza vaccine uptake in patients with CVD in a universal-access healthcare system.

Methods: Using nationwide Danish registries, we included all patients with prevalent CVD, defined as heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), ischemic heart disease (IHD), or stroke during three consecutive influenza seasons (October-December 2017-2019).

Temporal Changes, Patient Characteristics, and Mortality, According to Microbiological Cause of Infective Endocarditis: A Nationwide Study.

Background Monitoring of microbiological cause of infective endocarditis (IE) remains key in the understanding of IE; however, data from large, unselected cohorts are sparse. We aimed to examine temporal changes, patient characteristics, and in-hospital and long-term mortality, according to microbiological cause in patients with IE from 2010 to 2017. Methods and Results Linking Danish nationwide registries, we identified all patients with first-time IE.

Effect of adrenaline on serum mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and central blood volume.

New Findings: What is the central question in this study? Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is secreted in response to atrial wall distension and thus allows for evaluation, albeit indirect, of the central blood volume. Adrenaline has chronotropic and inotropic effects. We evaluated whether the chronotropic and inotropic effects of adrenaline were reflected in mid-regional proANP.

Durability of Antibody Response after Primary Pneumococcal Double-Dose Prime-Boost Vaccination in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients and Candidates: 18-Month Follow-Up in a Non-Blinded, Randomised Clinical Trial.

Background: Pneumococcal prime-boost vaccination is recommended for solid organ transplant recipients and candidates. The long-term durability of the antibody (AB) response is unknown. The same applies to a dose-dependent immune response.

Systolic Blood Pressure and Effects of Screening for Atrial Fibrillation With Long-Term Continuous Monitoring (a LOOP Substudy).

Background: Hypertension is a well-known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) and stoke, but data on the interaction between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and effects of AF screening are lacking.

Methods: The LOOP Study randomized AF-naïve individuals aged 70 to 90 years with additional stroke risk factors to either screening with implantable loop recorder (ILR) and anticoagulation initiation upon detection of AF episodes ≥6 minutes, or usual care. In total, 5997 participants with available baseline SBP measurements were included in this substudy.

Investigation of the correlation between diabetic retinopathy and prevalent and incident migraine in a national cohort study.

Migraine is a disease characterized by cerebral vasodilation. While diabetes has previously been associated with a lower risk of migraine, it is not known if diabetic retinopathy (DR), a retinal peripheral vascular occlusive disease, is a potential biomarker of protection against migraine. Therefore, we aimed to examine diabetic retinopathy as a marker of prevalent and 5-year incident migraine.

Targeted potassium levels to decrease arrhythmia burden in high risk patients with cardiovascular diseases (POTCAST): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Low plasma potassium (p-K) is associated with increased risk of malignant arrhythmia and observational studies indicate protective effects of p-K in the upper reference level. However, randomized clinical studies are needed to document whether actively increasing p-K to high-normal levels is possible and safe and improves cardiovascular outcomes.

Objective: To investigate if increased p-K reduces the risk of malignant arrhythmia and all-cause death in high-risk patients with a cardiovascular disease treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for primary or secondary preventive causes.

Immunogenicity and safety of double dosage of pneumococcal vaccines in adult kidney transplant recipients and waiting list patients: A non-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

Background: Pneumococcal prime-boost vaccination is recommended for solid organ transplant recipients, but is not thoroughly tested in this population. Furthermore, a pneumococcal vaccine dose effect has never been investigated, though observed in healthy adults. To assess whether a double dose of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) increases the immunogenicity of prime-boost vaccination in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and patients on the kidney transplant waiting list (WLPs), a phase 3, randomized, non-blinded trial was conducted.

Unstable Angina as a Component of Primary Composite Endpoints in Clinical Cardiovascular Trials: Pros and Cons.

Background: Unstable angina (UA) is a component of acute coronary syndrome that is only occasionally included in primary composite endpoints in clinical cardiovascular trials. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the potential benefits and disadvantages of including UA in such contexts.

Summary: UA comprises <10% of patients with acute coronary syndromes in contemporary settings.