@article{SeegersZabelGrueteretal.2015,
  author    = {Seegers, Joachim and Zabel, Markus and Gr{\"u}ter, Timo and Ammermann, Antje and Weber-Kr{\"u}ger, Mark and Edelmann, Frank and Gelbrich, G{\"o}tz and Binder, Lutz and Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph and Gr{\"o}schel, Klaus and Hasenfuß, Gerd and Feltgen, Nicolas and Pieske, Burkert and Wachter, Rolf},
  title     = {Natriuretic peptides for the detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation},
  series = {Open Heart},
  volume    = {2},
  journal   = {Open Heart},
  number    = {e000182},
  doi       = {10.1136/openhrt-2014-000182},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-149939},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Background and purpose: Silent atrial fibrillation (AF) and tachycardia (AT) are considered precursors of ischaemic stroke. Therefore, detection of paroxysmal atrial rhythm disorders is highly relevant, but is clinically challenging. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of natriuretic peptide levels in the detection of paroxysmal AT/AF in a pilot study. Methods: Natriuretic peptide levels were analysed in two independent patient cohorts (162 patients with arterial hypertension or other cardiovascular risk factors and 82 patients with retinal vessel disease). N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and BNP were measured before the start of a 7-day Holter monitoring period carefully screened for AT/AF. Results: 244 patients were included; 16 had paroxysmal AT/AF. After excluding patients with a history of AT/AF (n=5), 14 patients had newly diagnosed AT/AF (5.8\%) NT-proBNP and BNP levels were higher in patients with paroxysmal AT/AF in both cohorts: (1) 154.4 (IQR 41.7; 303.6) versus 52.8 (30.4; 178.0) pg/mL and 70.0 (31.9; 142.4) versus 43.9 (16.3; 95.2) and (2) 216.9 (201.4; 277.1) versus 90.8 (42.3-141.7) and 96.0 (54.7; 108.2) versus 29.1 (12.0; 58.1). For the detection of AT/AF episodes, NT-proBNP and BNP had an area under the curve in receiver operating characteristic analysis of 0.76 (95\% CI, 0.64 to 0.88; p=0.002) and 0.75 (0.61 to 0.89; p=0.004), respectively. Conclusions: NT-proBNP and BNP levels are elevated in patients with silent AT/AF as compared with sinus rhythm. Thus, screening for undiagnosed paroxysmal AF using natriuretic peptide level initiated Holter monitoring may be a useful strategy in prevention of stroke or systemic embolism.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{NeugebauerHeuschmannJuettler2012,
  author    = {Neugebauer, Hermann and Heuschmann, Peter U. and J{\"u}ttler, Eric},
  title     = {DEcompressive Surgery for the Treatment of malignant INfarction of the middle cerebral arterY - Registry (DESTINY-R): design and protocols},
  series = {BMC Neurology},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {BMC Neurology},
  number    = {115},
  doi       = {10.1186/1471-2377-12-115},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133892},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the treatment of severe space-occupying infarction of the middle cerebral artery (malignant MCA infarction) showed that early decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is life saving and improves outcome without promoting most severe disablity in patients aged 18-60 years. It is, however, unknown whether the results obtained in the randomized trials are reproducible in a broader population in and apart from an academical setting and whether hemicraniectomy has been implemented in clinical practice as recommended by national and international guidelines. In addition, they were not powered to answer further relevant questions, e. g. concerning the selection of patients eligible for and the timing of hemicraniectomy. Other important issues such as the acceptance of disability following hemicraniectomy, the existence of specific prognostic factors, the value of conservative therapeutic measures, and the overall complication rate related to hemicraniectomy have not been sufficiently studied yet. Methods/Design: DESTINY-R is a prospective, multicenter, open, controlled registry including a 12 months follow-up. The only inclusion criteria is unilateral ischemic MCA stroke affecting more than 50\% of the MCA-territory. The primary study hypothesis is to confirm the results of the RCT (76\% mRS <= 4 after 12 months) in the subgroup of patients additionally fulfilling the inclusion cirteria of the RCT in daily routine. Assuming a calculated proportion of 0.76 for successes and a sample size of 300 for this subgroup, the width of the 95\% CI, calculated using Wilson's method, will be 0.096 with the lower bound 0.709 and the upper bound 0.805. Discussion: The results of this study will provide information about the effectiveness of DHC in malignant MCA infarction in a broad population and a real-life situation in addition to and beyond RCT. Further prospectively obtained data will give crucial information on open questions and will be helpful in the plannig of upcomming treatment studies.},
  language  = {en}
}