German Centre for Cardiovascular Research

Sepsis in the major burn patient

Abstract Background Sepsis in the context of major burn injury presents a significant challenge to clinicians. It affects a substantial proportion of patients with major burn injury and is the leading cause of death in those that survive to hospital. Due to the complex and profou...

Longitudinal Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Assess Lung Disease in Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract Rationale Matrix pencil decomposition magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) enables quantitative assessment of lung ventilation and perfusion and was shown to correlate with contrast-enhanced (CE) perfusion MRI. Objectives To determine the longitudinal course of MP-MRI par...

MOSAIC: Intra-tumoral heterogeneity characterization through large-scale spatial and cell-resolved multi-omics profiling

Understanding the tumor microenvironment has the potential to significantly advance precision oncology, but this effort has been hampered by the scarcity of consistent large data sets. Here, we introduce MOSAIC (Multi-Omics Spatial Atlas in Cancer), a multi-center clinical omics...

Rapid and Efficient Affinity Isolation of Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Encapsulating Functional Proteins via Internal Twin‐Strep Tetraspanin Tagging

ABSTRACT Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mediators of intercellular communication and promising protein‐delivery vehicles, but isolation of sufficiently pure, intact, engineered EVs remains challenging due to abundant cellular and serum‐derived contaminants. Here, structure‐guid...

GRETA: a results database for whole-genome sequencing studies

Whole-genome sequencing in large cohorts generates vast numbers of genetic association results, but integrating and querying them alongside public reference data remains a challenge for the diverse stakeholders involved. To address this challenge, we developed the Genetic REsults...

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary estimates of a multimodal AKTIVER Heart Delirium Prevention Program in patients indicated for cardiac surgery: study protocol of a randomized controlled PREVENT POstoperative Delirium (PREVENT-POD) Pilot Study

Abstract Background Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication in geriatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. POD is associated with prolonged length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, increased mortality, institutionalization, distress, risk of cognit...

Incidence and Predictors of Complications After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation According to VARC‐3 Criteria: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

BACKGROUND: Despite continuous advancements in devices and techniques, transcatheter aortic valve implantation remains associated with complications impacting outcomes. In 2021, the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC) introduced the VARC-3 criteria to better classify proced...

Epitranscriptomic profiling of VSMC phenotypes reveals uridine modifications linked to post-transcriptional regulation

Background The phenotypic plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) can modulate atherosclerosis progression. Although several gene regulatory steps towards pro-inflammatory phenotypes have been well-studied, epitranscriptomic changes during this transition and their reg...

cGMP Signaling in Arterioles Revealed by FRET ‐Based Real‐Time Measurement in Mice In Vivo

ABSTRACT cGMP evokes arteriolar vasorelaxation and is generated in smooth muscle by the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) stimulated by endothelial NO. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) degrade cGMP and may contribute in diameter regulation. We examined arteriolar cGMP levels in real‐time i...

Clinical Global Impression-Stimulation Outcome Monitoring Tool (CGI-STIM): development and preliminary evaluation of a pragmatic clinical rating tool for electroconvulsive therapy

Abstract Objectives Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective for severe and treatment-resistant mental disorders, but concerns about cognitive side effects and enduring stigma continue to hinder its broader acceptance. Although treatment response and cognitive tolerabi...

Lysed erythrocyte membranes metabolically prime endothelial cells for angiogenesis

Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of pathological angiogenesis and associated with erythrocyte extravasation and lysis. Whether mediators released from lysed erythrocytes instruct endothelial cells (ECs) for new vessel formation is unknown. Here, we show that the membrane fra...

Diagnosing autoimmune encephalitis in psychiatry: clinical recommendations and unresolved challenges from the GENERATE network

Psychiatric syndromes can be caused by underlying autoimmune encephalitis (AE). This represents a diagnostic challenge at the interface of psychiatry and neurology. While AE mostly manifests with a combined, complex neuropsychiatric syndrome, some patients with AE may (initially)...

Prophylactic vs Therapeutic Anticoagulation in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19

Importance Coagulopathy in the context of COVID-19 is a major threat due to deep vein thromboses and pulmonary embolisms. Objective To assess whether therapeutic anticoagulation on top of standard of care (SOC) compared with prophylactic anticoagulation as part of SOC can improve...

Sport, exercise, and physical activity in children with cardiovascular disease. A Clinical Consensus Statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) of the ESC, the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions (ACNAP) of the ESC, and the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC)

Regular physical activity offers numerous benefits to children's health and well-being and is essential for reducing cardiovascular risk in children with cardiovascular disease. Despite increasing evidence supporting its benefits, many young patients remain insufficiently active...

Family-centred psycho-oncological counselling for parents with cancer: a longitudinal secondary data analysis of psychological distress, family functioning and parental concerns

BACKGROUND: When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, it can place a significant burden on the entire family. The aim of this study is therefore to analyse the psychological distress experienced over time among cancer patients or their partners who are raising minor children and wh...

War-related and psychological predictors of experiential and physiological fear of war in Germany: findings from a nationally representative survey

Abstract Background Fear of war has emerged as a relevant psychosocial phenomenon in Europe, yet little is known about factors associated with its experiential and physiological dimensions in representative populations. This study examined sociodemographic, war-related, and psych...

Lysosomal signaling pathways influence heart rhythm, and regulate atrial function

AIMS: In the heart, endogenous nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) triggers lysosomal calcium (Ca2+) release to augment sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ sequestration, producing larger Ca2+ transients. However, the role of lysosomal Ca2+ signals in pacemaker act...

Real-world use of bempedoic acid for hypercholesterolaemia: a German multicentre, retrospective, cohort study

Abstract Background Dyslipidaemia remains a leading cause of death in Germany despite an improving therapeutic landscape, with many patients not achieving guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. Bempedoic acid, an adenosine triphosphate citrate ly...

The lung microbiome in childhood-onset severe neuromuscular disease with respiratory insufficiency: rationale, current evidence, and opportunities for oxford nanopore long-read sequencing

Abstract In severe childhood-onset neuromuscular disease (NMD), ventilatory muscle weakness and ineffective airway clearance drive recurrent infections and chronic colonization that is often culture-negative, polymicrobial, or both. The lung microbiome framework offers a unifying...

Splenic regulation of systemic platelet activation state

Platelets are essential to prevent blood loss and to orchestrate inflammation. Thrombotic complications of vascular disease and hyperresponsive platelets are associated with adverse outcomes, yet physiological mechanisms counteracting systemic platelet activation are poorly defin...