Indirect Treatment Comparison between Ribociclib Combined with Non-Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors and Ovarian Function Suppression vs. Tamoxifen in Premenopausal Women with Early Breast Cancer.

Background: This study provides an indirect treatment comparison of ribociclib combined with non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors and ovarian function suppression (ribociclib + NSAI + OFS) vs. a frequently used treatment option in German clinical routine (tamoxifen ± OFS) in premenopausal patients with HR-positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2-) early breast cancer (BC).

Material And Methods: Data on premenopausal women treated with ribociclib and tamoxifen were derived from the NATALEE clinical trial (NCT03701334) and the retrospective German data collection CLEAR-B, respectively.

Coagulation factor XIII activity predicts left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the major cause of chronic heart failure. The activity of blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIIIa) plays an important role in rodents as a healing factor after MI, whereas its role in healing and remodelling processes in humans remains unclear. We prospectively evaluated the relevance of FXIIIa after acute MI as a potential early prognostic marker for adequate healing.

Telemedical Interventional Management in Heart Failure II (TIM-HF2), a randomised, controlled trial investigating the impact of telemedicine on unplanned cardiovascular hospitalisations and mortality in heart failure patients: study design and description of the intervention.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a complex, chronic condition that is associated with debilitating symptoms, all of which necessitate close follow-up by health care providers. Lack of disease monitoring may result in increased mortality and more frequent hospital readmissions for decompensated HF. Remote patient management (RPM) in this patient population may help to detect early signs and symptoms of cardiac decompensation, thus enabling a prompt initiation of the appropriate treatment and care before a manifestation of HF decompensation.

Prognostic performance of serial in-hospital measurements of copeptin and multiple novel biomarkers among patients with worsening heart failure: results from the MOLITOR study.

Aims: In heart failure, various biomarkers are established for diagnosis and risk stratification; however, little is known about the relevance of serial measurements during an episode worsening heart failure (WHF). This study sought to investigate the trajectory of natriuretic peptides and multiple novel biomarkers during hospitalization for WHF and to determine the best time point to predict outcome.

Methods And Results: MOLITOR (Impact of Therapy Optimisation on the Level of Biomarkers in Patients with Acute and Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure) was an eight-centre prospective study of 164 patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of WHF.

Prognostic potential of midregional pro-adrenomedullin following decompensation for systolic heart failure: comparison with cardiac natriuretic peptides.

Aims: Whereas guidelines recommend the routine use of natriuretic peptides (NPs) in heart failure (HF) care, the clinical relevance and prognostic potential of midregional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is less well established. We aimed to compare the prognostic potential of MR-proADM after acute decompensation for systolic HF with that of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and midregional pro-atrial NP (MR-proANP), to investigate the significance of high/rising MR-proADM, and to evaluate the incremental prognostic yield of repeat measurements.

Methods And Results: The Interdisciplinary Network Heart Failure (INH) programme enrolled patients hospitalized for acute systolic HF and followed them for 18 months (100% complete).

Prognostic significance of serial high-sensitivity troponin I measurements following acute cardiac decompensation-correlation with longer-term clinical outcomes and reverse remodelling.

Background: This study investigated the correlation of levels of and changes in serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hsTnI) with subsequent clinical event rates and changes in cardiac morphology and function in patients hospitalized for acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Methods And Results: HsTnI levels were determined in 875 ADHF patients before discharge from hospital (baseline cohort) and clinical outcomes assessed after 180days. HsTnI was re-measured at 180days in 456/875 patients (follow-up cohort).

A functional variant of the neuropeptide S receptor-1 gene modulates clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization in patients with systolic heart failure: results from the Interdisciplinary Network Heart Failure (INH) Study.

Aims: Psychopathologies may occur in heart failure (HF) and can be associated with adverse outcomes. Amongst neuropeptide S receptor gene functional sequence variants, the T-allele [asparagine(107)isoleucine, NPSR1 rs324981] has been identified as a risk factor for increased anxiety/overinterpretation of bodily symptoms. We investigated all-cause death and re-hospitalization (composite primary endpoint, CPEP) and healthcare utilization in patients hospitalized for decompensated systolic HF with the TT vs.

Frequency and prognostic impact of mid-expiratory flow reduction in stable patients six months after hospitalisation for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aim: This study investigates the prevalence and prognostic impact of central and small airways obstruction (CAO and SAO) in patients with stable heart failure (HF).

Methods & Results: Spirometry was performed in 585 outpatients (mean age 65±12years, 75% male) six months after hospitalisation for acute decompensation secondary to HF with ejection fraction <40%. We assessed forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and mid-expiratory flow (MEF) at 50% of FVC.

High evening salivary cortisol is an independent predictor of increased mortality risk in patients with systolic heart failure.

Aims: Serum cortisol independently predicts mortality risk in patients with systolic heart failure. Salivary cortisol may provide advantages as it better reflects the biologically active free compound. Furthermore, sampling is non-invasive and may easily be performed in outpatients.

Should procalcitonin be measured routinely in acute decompensated heart failure?

Aim: To elucidate the prognostic role of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) without clinical signs of infection at admission.

Materials & Methods: Serial measurements of PCT and NT-proBNP were performed in 168 patients, aged 68 ± 10 years with ADHF followed by 3-month outcome evaluation.

Results: Cox regression analysis demonstrated significant predictive value of baseline PCT for all-cause death/hospitalization (area under the curve: 0.

DNA-methylation of the homeodomain transcription factor PITX2 reliably predicts risk of distant disease recurrence in tamoxifen-treated, node-negative breast cancer patients--Technical and clinical validation in a multi-centre setting in collaboration with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) PathoBiology group.

Our aim was to identify and validate DNA-methylation markers associated with very good outcome in node negative, hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients after adjuvant endocrine therapy which might allow identifying patients who could be spared the burden of adjuvant chemotherapy. Using a methylation microarray, we analysed 117 candidate genes in hormone receptor-positive tumours from 109 breast cancer patients treated by adjuvant tamoxifen. Results were validated in an independent cohort (n=236, 5 centres).