European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jul 2013
Financial, nonfinancial and editors' conflicts of interest in high-impact biomedical journals.
To assess financial, nonfinancial and editors' conflicts of interest (COI) disclosure policies among the most influential biomedical journals publishing original research. ⋯ Authors' financial COI disclosures were required by about 90% of high-impact clinical and basic journals publishing original research. Unlike recent studies showing a significantly lower prevalence of nonfinancial compared with financial disclosures, the former were required by about 70% of journals, suggesting that editors are increasingly concerned about nonfinancial competing interests. Only 40% of journals required disclosure of editors' COI, in conflict with the recommendations of the most influential editors' associations.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jul 2013
Preserved thrombin-inducible platelet activation in thienopyridine-treated patients.
Abundant thrombin generation may be a major reason for subsequent thromboembolic events in patients with cardiovascular disease receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. We therefore investigated the susceptibility of thienopyridine responders and nonresponders to thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP)-6- and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-inducible platelet activation. ⋯ Thienopyridine nonresponders are more susceptible to thrombin- and ADP-inducible platelet activation than patients with good platelet inhibition. However, even patients with adequate thienopyridine-mediated platelet inhibition often show a preserved responsiveness to thrombin. These patients may benefit from additional thrombin receptor blockage or inhibition of thrombin generation.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jun 2013
Lipoprotein lipase in aortic valve stenosis is associated with lipid retention and remodelling.
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a chronic disorder characterized by a fibrocalcific remodelling. It is suspected that lipid retention within the aortic valve may be one important mechanism participating to aortic valve remodelling. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is implicated in lipid metabolism and may play a role in lipid retention within the aortic valve. ⋯ Expression of LPL within CAVD is related to the amount of ox-LDL, which is, in turn, associated with the small, dense HDL phenotype. Lipid retention associated with smaller HDL particles may participate in the expression of LPL, whereby a fibrocalcific remodelling of the aortic valve is promoted.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · May 2013
Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, C-reactive protein and triglyceride are associated with heart rate variability in non-diabetic Danes.
Heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. HRV is in part a function of the activity of the autonomic nervous system and has been associated with low-grade inflammation. In patients with type 2 diabetes, HRV is decreased and is a predictor of poor outcome. As HRV and its determinants in non-diabetic individuals have not been studied properly, the aim of this observational study was to evaluate possible associations between HRV vs. impaired fasting glucose, insulin resistance, lipidaemia and markers of inflammation and immune activation in these individuals. ⋯ A low HRV is not related to prediabetes, that is, insulin resistance and impaired fasting glucose, but is related to the immune and inflammatory markers suPAR and CRP and plasma triglyceride.
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The relevance of mitochondrial dysfunction as to pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction and failure in sepsis is controversial. This focused review evaluates the evidence for impaired mitochondrial function in sepsis. ⋯ Mitochondrial function in sepsis is highly variable, organ specific and changes over the course of sepsis. Patients who will die from sepsis may be more affected than survivors. Nevertheless, the current data from mostly young and otherwise healthy animals does not support the view that mitochondrial dysfunction is the general denominator for multiple organ failure in severe sepsis and septic shock. Whether this is true if underlying comorbidities are present, especially in older patients, should be addressed in further studies.