Relationship between bone turnover and left ventricular function in primary hyperparathyroidism: The EPATH trial.

Observational studies suggested a link between bone disease and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction that may be pronounced in hyperparathyroid conditions. We therefore aimed to test the hypothesis that circulating markers of bone turnover correlate with LV function in a cohort of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Cross-sectional data of 155 subjects with pHPT were analyzed who participated in the "Eplerenone in Primary Hyperparathyroidism" (EPATH) Trial.

Rabbit-ATG or basiliximab induction for rapid steroid withdrawal after renal transplantation (Harmony): an open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Standard practice for immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation is quadruple therapy using antibody induction, low-dose tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. Long-term steroid intake significantly increases cardiovascular risk factors with negative effects on the outcome, especially post-transplantation diabetes associated with morbidity and mortality. In this trial, we examined the efficacy and safety parameters of rapid steroid withdrawal after induction therapy with either rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rabbit ATG) or basiliximab in immunologically low-risk patients during the first year after kidney transplantation.

Weight Loss Partially Restores Glucose-Driven Betatrophin Response in Humans.

Context: Recently a potential role of betatrophin was shown in the postprandial switch from lipid to glucose metabolism.

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze whether obesity is associated with altered postprandial betatrophin response and whether this could be restored by weight loss. Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention: Oral glucose load was performed in 12 lean individuals at baseline as well as in 20 obese subjects before and after a 12-week structured weight-loss program at an endocrinology research center.

Prospective clinical observational study evaluating gender-associated differences of preoperative pain intensity.

Previous studies reported conflicting results concerning different pain perceptions of men and women. Recent research found higher pain levels in men after major surgery, contrasted by women after minor procedures. This trial investigates differences in self-reported preoperative pain intensity between genders before surgery.

Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-δ as Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Prevent In-Stent Restenosis and Stent Thrombosis.

Objective: Drug-eluting coronary stents reduce restenosis rate and late lumen loss compared with bare-metal stents; however, drug-eluting coronary stents may delay vascular healing and increase late stent thrombosis. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta (PPARδ) exhibits actions that could favorably influence outcomes after drug-eluting coronary stents placement.

Approach And Results: Here, we report that PPARδ ligand-coated stents strongly reduce the development of neointima and luminal narrowing in a rabbit model of experimental atherosclerosis.

Multicenter Evaluation of a Novel Automated Rapid Detection System of BRAF Status in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissues.

The mutated BRAF oncogene represents a therapeutic target in malignant melanoma. Because BRAF mutations are also involved in the pathogenesis of other human malignancies, the use of specific BRAF inhibitors might also be extended to other diseases in the future. A prerequisite for the clinical application of BRAF inhibitors is the reliable detection of activating BRAF mutations in routine histopathological samples.

Added Value of Multiparametric Ultrasonography in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography Fusion-guided Biopsy of the Prostate in Patients With Suspicion for Prostate Cancer.

Objective: To analyze whether magnetic resonance imaging-ultrasonography (MRI-US) fusion-guided biopsy detects more and clinical significant prostate cancer (PCa) in comparison to conventional transrectal US-guided prostate biopsy (PBX) and to investigate if multiparametric (mp) US during MRI-US fusion can further characterize mpMRI-suspected lesions according to the prostate MRI reporting and data system (PI-RADS).

Methods: From January 2012 to January 2014, 169 patients with a median of 2 negative conventional PBX and/or initially or consistently elevated prostate-specific antigen levels were prospectively included and underwent 3 T mpMRI. Real-time MRI-US fusion scan was used to biopsy the mpMRI-targeted lesions (n = 316).

Diagnosis of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia: Recommendations From the Pneumonia in Stroke Consensus Group.

Background And Purpose: Lower respiratory tract infections frequently complicate stroke and adversely affect outcome. There is currently no agreed terminology or gold-standard diagnostic criteria for the spectrum of lower respiratory tract infections complicating stroke, which has implications for clinical practice and research. The aim of this consensus was to propose standardized terminology and operational diagnostic criteria for lower respiratory tract infections complicating acute stroke.

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.

How is pneumonia diagnosed in clinical stroke research? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Purpose: Diagnosis of pneumonia complicating stroke is challenging, and there are currently no consensus diagnostic criteria. As a first step in developing such consensus-based diagnostic criteria, we undertook a systematic review to identify the existing diagnostic approaches to pneumonia in recent clinical stroke research to establish the variation in diagnosis and terminology.

Methods: Studies of ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, or both, which reported occurrence of pneumonia from January 2009 to March 2014, were considered and independently screened for inclusion by 2 reviewers after multiple searches using electronic databases.

Protein kinase C inhibitor sotrastaurin in de novo liver transplant recipients: a randomized phase II trial.

Efficacy and safety of protein kinase C inhibitor sotrastaurin (STN) with tacrolimus (TAC) was assessed in a 24-month, multicenter, phase II study in de novo liver transplant recipients. A total of 204 patients were randomized (1:1:1:1) to STN 200 mg b.i.

Educational interventions in peritoneal dialysis: a narrative review of the literature.

Objectives: To review the current literature on educational interventions used in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Educational interventions have become increasingly relevant because they play a key role in helping individuals to actively participate in their therapy and to manage their chronic condition. The paper will focus on two areas: (a) educational interventions for individuals living with PD and (b) educational interventions for PD nurses.

Mipomersen, an antisense oligonucleotide to apolipoprotein B-100, reduces lipoprotein(a) in various populations with hypercholesterolemia: results of 4 phase III trials.

Objective: Lp(a) is an independent, causal, genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis. Current pharmacological lipid-lowering therapies do not optimally lower Lp(a), particularly in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

Approach And Results: In 4 phase III trials, 382 patients on maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy were randomized 2:1 to weekly subcutaneous mipomersen 200 mg (n=256) or placebo (n=126) for 26 weeks.

Arthroscopic knotless-anchor rotator cuff repair: a clinical and radiological evaluation.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of the arthroscopic knotless-anchor Speed-Bridge technique, in particular the pattern and the rate of retears. The results were compared with a modified Suture-Bridge knot-tying technique (mDR). The hypothesis is that arthroscopic knotless-anchor Speed-Bridge rotator cuff repair is a sufficient technique to address supraspinatus tears and differs in pattern of retears when compared to mDR.

Short-term TNF-alpha inhibition reduces short-term and long-term inflammatory changes post-ischemia/reperfusion in rat intestinal transplantation.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibition was shown to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) after intestinal transplantation (ITX). We studied the effects of different TNFα inhibitors on acute IRI and long-term inflammatory responses in experimental ITX.

Methods: Orthotopic ITX was performed in an isogenic ischemia/reperfusion model in Lewis rats.

Effects of native and myeloperoxidase-modified apolipoprotein a-I on reverse cholesterol transport and atherosclerosis in mice.

Objective: Preclinical and clinical studies have shown beneficial effects of infusions of apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) on atherosclerosis. ApoA-I is also a target for myeloperoxidase-mediated oxidation, leading in vitro to a loss of its ability to promote ATP-binding cassette transporter A1-dependent macrophage cholesterol efflux. Therefore, we hypothesized that myeloperoxidase-mediated ApoA-I oxidation would impair its promotion of reverse cholesterol transport in vivo and the beneficial effects on atherosclerotic plaques.

Effects of deep sedation on cardiac electrophysiology in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation of supraventricular tachycardia: impact of propofol and ketamine.

Aims: Propofol is commonly used as an anaesthetic during catheter ablation. Bradycardia and termination of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) under propofol are reported. Ketamine is used for cardiac catheterization procedures and increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Tetragonal and cubic zirconia multilayered ceramic constructs created by EPD.

The interest in electrophoretic deposition (EPD) for nanomaterials and ceramics production has widely increased due to the versatility of this technique to effectively combine different materials in unique shapes and structures. We successfully established an EPD layering process with submicrometer sized powders of Y-TZP with different mol percentages of yttrium oxide (3 and 8%) and produced multilayers of alternating tetragonal and cubic phases with a clearly defined interface. The rationale behind the design of these multilayer constructs was to optimize the properties of the final ceramic by combining the high mechanical toughness of the tetragonal phase of zirconia together with the high ionic conductivity of its cubic phase.

Therapeutic arteriogenesis in peripheral arterial disease: combining intervention and passive training.

The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is on the rise in an aging population, significantly affecting quality of life, morbidity and mortality. Besides medical treatment and surgical or interventional revascularization, supervised exercise programs are a primary treatment modality for PAD. Training may significantly increase pain-free walking time (+ 180 %) while avoiding the associated complications of (repeated) invasive revascularization.

Treatment of cutaneous lymphomas: today and tomorrow.

There exist many skin-directed and systemic immunomodulating or cytotoxic treatment options for primary cutaneous T- and B-cell lymphomas. However, especially in advanced stages conventional therapies only end in a transient remission without curative results unable to prolong overall survival. Over the last twenty years the high need of new therapeutic strategies resulted in the development of emerging drugs targeting more tumor specific, like monoclonal antibodies, histone-deacetylase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, or fusion proteins.

Aspergillus spondylodiscitis after multivisceral transplantation.

Background: Although spondylodiscitis is rare, it is increasingly described in patients with compromised immunity due to malignancy, chemotherapy or immunosuppression. Typical pathogens are staphylococcus aureus and enterobacteria; fungal spondylodiscitis is uncommon.

Case Report: We present a case of aspergillus spondylodiscitis following pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with multivisceral and kidney transplantation.

Clinical safety and efficacy of a novel thin-strut cobalt-chromium coronary stent system: results of the real world Coroflex Blue Registry.

Objectives: The aim of this registry was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the Coroflex Blue cobalt-chromium stent in real-world practice.

Background: The development of cobalt-chromium bare-metal stents (BMS) with thinner struts has lead to better deliverability and lower target-lesion revascularization rates compared with stainless steel BMS.

Methods: The Coroflex Blue Registry was an international, prospective, multicenter registry enrolling patients with symptomatic ischemic heart disease attributable to single de novo or restenotic nonstented lesions of a single vessel amenable for percutaneous stenting.

Nuclear factor-kappaB regulates estrogen receptor-alpha transcription in the human heart.

Estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated effects have been associated with the modulation of myocardial hypertrophy in animal models and in humans, but the regulation of ER expression in the human heart has not yet been analyzed. In various cell lines and tissues, multiple human estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) mRNA isoforms are transcribed from distinct promoters and differ in their 5'-untranslated regions. Using PCR-based strategies, we show that in the human heart the ERalpha mRNA is transcribed from multiple promoters, namely, A, B, C, and F, of which the F-promoter is most frequently used variant.