Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society
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Numerous markers have been identified as useful predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, only little is known about the relative benefit of the single markers in risk stratification and the best combination for optimising prognostic power. The aim of the present study was to define the role of the emerging cardiovascular risk marker lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in a multi-marker approach in combination with troponin I (TnI), NT-proBNP, high sensitivity (hs)CRP, and D-dimer in patients with ACS. ⋯ In the setting of stateof- the-art coronary care for patients with suspected ACS in the emergency room, NT-proBNP, troponin I, and Lp-PLA2 are effective independent markers for risk stratification that proved to be superior to the TIMI risk score. Lp-PLA2 turned out to be a more effective risk marker than hsCRP in these patients.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate subjective noise perception and objective parameters of circulation in the vicinity of the Frankfurt airport. Two areas were selected in which aircraft noise was the predominant source of noise (and was) created by planes induced by take off but not during landing. Data of residents living in the two areas were observed over a period of twelve weeks, one area being exposed to air traffic noise for three quarters of the given time, the other for one quarter of the time. ⋯ It is concluded that a population exposed to a nocturnal equivalent continuous air traffic noise level of L(eq(3)) = 50 dB(A) for three quarters of a given time has a higher average blood pressure compared to a population exposed to the same equal energy noise level for only one quarter of the time. Within the East group a parallel between noise exposure and noise perception was observed, while in the West group this parallel did not appear. The difference is considered to be the consequence of higher noise stress levels in the West group. The data are in accordance with recent epidemiological studies and indicate that a nocturnal aircraft noise of L(eq(3)) = 50 dB(A) can have negative effects on subjective noise perception and on objective parameters of circulation.
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To report our experience with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in a congenital heart surgery program. ⋯ In our series, ECMO markedly reduces mortality in patients who would otherwise not survive either open heart surgery or myocardial failure of any origin and was not associated with discernible morbidity in the midterm.
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Letter Case Reports
Pheochromocytoma, a rare cause of acute cardiogenic shock.