European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCirculating cardiac biomarkers and postoperative atrial fibrillation in the OPERA trial.
Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery and predicts increased morbidity and mortality. Identification of patients at high risk of POAF with the help of circulating biomarkers may enable early preventive treatment but data are limited, especially in contemporary surgical patients. ⋯ Among patients undergoing cardiac surgery, NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT are related to clinical and surgical characteristics, have different perioperative time courses but are not independently associated with risk of POAF.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2015
Transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD): the TRIPOD Statement.
Prediction models are developed to aid healthcare providers in estimating the probability or risk that a specific disease or condition is present (diagnostic models) or that a specific event will occur in the future (prognostic models), to inform their decision-making. However, the overwhelming evidence shows that the quality of reporting of prediction model studies is poor. Only with full and clear reporting of information on all aspects of a prediction model can risk of bias and potential usefulness of prediction models be adequately assessed. ⋯ To aid the editorial process and readers of prediction model studies, it is recommended that authors include a completed checklist in their submission (also available at www.tripod-statement.org).
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Feb 2015
Multicenter StudyStress and inflammatory biomarkers and symptoms are associated with bioimpedance measures.
This large cross-sectional, multi-centre study evaluated the association of body composition measurements by a novel dual frequency bioimpedance device (BIA-ACC) with chronic stress/inflammation biomarkers and the presence of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). ⋯ MUS is an index of chronic stress and inflammation and BIA-ACC may provide a useful, bloodless and rapid tool in the clinical setting, distinguishing patients with chronic stress/inflammation from healthy subjects and monitoring their response to treatment.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialBed rest does not induce hypercoagulability.
Although there is no direct evidence, it is generally believed that bed rest shifts the haemostatic system towards hypercoagulability; thus, immobilized patients are commonly treated with anticoagulants. We therefore aimed to investigate whether long-term bed rest actually leads to an elevated risk for thromboembolic events. ⋯ Our data indicate that the re-ambulation period is associated with a tendency towards hypercoagulability: ttPeak and StartTail were significantly shorter, Peak and VELINDEX were significantly higher compared to baseline. Moreover, plasma levels of F1 + 2, TAT, FVII and FVIII were significantly higher compared to baseline. The results from our study suggest that bed rest by itself is not associated with hypercoagulable states in healthy subjects.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Dec 2014
Ezetimibe prevents the formation of oestrogen-induced cholesterol gallstones in mice.
Oestrogen is an important risk factor for cholesterol cholelithiasis not only in women of childbearing age taking oral contraceptives and postmenopausal women undergoing hormone replacement therapy, but also in male patients receiving oestrogen therapy for prostatic cancer. In women, hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy markedly increase the risk of developing gallstones. We investigated whether the potent cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe could prevent the formation of oestrogen-induced cholesterol gallstones in mice. ⋯ Ezetimibe protects against the oestrogen-mediated lithogenic actions on gallstone formation in mice. Our finding may provide an efficacious novel strategy for the prevention of cholesterol gallstones in high-risk subjects, especially those exposed to high levels of oestrogen.