Early imaging in heart failure: Exploring novel molecular targets

Conclusions  Noninvasive imaging of neurohumoral upregulation in remodeled myocardium suggests that an imaging strategy can be developed for predicting the rate of remodeling and likelihood of HF development. This should allow a more judicious use of neurohumoral antagonists especially in subjects who do not have manifest HF.⁷⁴ In others specific targeted imaging may allow timely selection of individualized treatment strategies and ensure optimization of therapeutic intervention. Similar to ACE and AII receptors, multiple other targets in the hormonal cascades can identify the likelihood of adverse and favorable remodeling.⁷⁴     

Exercise tolerance after anaemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin in end-stage renal disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of correction of chronic anaemia on the physical performance and the cardiovascular response to effort in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) maintained by haemodialysis. Seven patients (mean age 13.9 years) underwent triangular-type treadmill exercise testing before [haemoglobin (Hb) 6.3±0.9 g/dl] and after (Hb 11.2±1.2 g/dl) anaemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). After treatment, the work-load reached, the peak oxygen uptake and average ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) values were significantly increased (P<0.01,P<0.001,P<0.05 respectively). VAT values, expressed as a percentage of normal values, increased from 55.7±16.6% to 82.4±21%. This improvement correlated well with the increase in Hb (r=0.79). Oxygen pulse also increased significantly, when tested after anacmia correction. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that when the anaemia of children with ESRD is corrected with rHuEPO, there is a clear improvement in acrobic work capacity and effort tolerance.     

Multiple sclerosis and headache co-morbidity. A case-control study

The prevalence of primary headache (PH) in a multiple sclerosis (MS) sample vs. control healthy subjects was investigated at a neurological clinic in 2004–2005: 122 of 238 (51%) MS patients and 57 of 238 (23%) controls proved to be affected by headache. The groups did not differ for the rates of PH types. Headache types of MS patients were comparable to those of PH patients that were observed at the same institute in a case-control comparison. First symptoms of headache preceded those of MS in two thirds of cases. Headache features did not significantly change after MS onset. Comorbidity of MS and PH could be explained by some common clinical and biological traits.     

Definition of An Optimal First-line Chemotherapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Single-agent chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer is the treatment of choice in patients with slow tumor progression and asymptomatic disease. In this patient group, the choice of drugs is based more on good tolerability than on efficacy. By contrast, symptomatic or rapidly progressing disease requires the use of highly active regimens where more weight is put on reliable antitumor activity. While anthraycline-based combination regimens have set the standard of effective treatment, the addition of docetaxel (and to a lesser extent paclitaxel) has improved tumor response, but failed to induce a consistent prolongation of survival. Based on retrospective analyses, it is hypothesised that the combined use of anthracyclines and taxanes in first-line therapy may be most beneficial in defined subgroups: after adjuvant chemotherapy, in patients with HER-2 gene amplification, possibly also in patients with rapidly progressing visceral disease.     

Fahreignung bei Epilepsie und assoziierten Störungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Current controversies in oral lichen planus: report of an international consensus meeting. Part 1. Viral infections and etiopathogenesis.

Despite recent advances in understanding the immunopathogenesis of oral lichen planus (LP), the initial triggers of lesion formation and the essential pathogenic pathways are unknown. It is therefore not surprising that the clinical management of oral LP poses considerable difficulties to the dermatologist and the oral physician. A consensus meeting was held in France in March 2003 to discuss the most controversial aspects of oral LP. Part 1 of the meeting report focuses on (1) the relationship between oral LP and viral infection with special emphasis on hepatitis C virus (HCV), and (2) oral LP pathogenesis, in particular the immune mechanisms resulting in lymphocyte infiltration and keratinocyte apoptosis. Part 2 focuses on patient management and therapeutic approaches and includes discussion on malignant transformation of oral LP.