The early recognition of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) is a major clinical challenge for preventing thromboembolic events. In this prospective and multicentric study we evaluated prediction scores for the presence of pAF, calculated from non-invasive medical history and echocardiographic parameters, in patients with unknown AF status. The 12-parameter score with parameters age, LA diameter, aortic root diameter, LV,ESD, TDI A', heart frequency, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, type II diabetes, smoker, ß-blocker, catheter ablation, and the 4-parameter score with parameters age, LA diameter, aortic root diameter and TDI A' were tested. Presence of pAF was verified by continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring for up to 21days in 305 patients. The 12-parameter score correctly predicted pAF in all 34 patients, in which pAF was newly detected by ECG monitoring. The 12- and 4-parameter scores showed sensitivities of 100% and 82% (95%-CI 65%, 93%), specificities of 75% (95%-CI 70%, 80%) and 67% (95%-CI , represent simple, highly sensitive and non-invasive tools for detecting pAF that can be easily implemented in the clinical practice and might serve as screening test to initiate further diagnostic investigations for validating the presence of pAF. Prospective validation of a novel prediction model for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation based on echocardiography and medical history parameters by long-term Holter ECG. SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Here, we analyzed whether specific biomarkers predict the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. We enrolled 2147 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection which were included in the Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV‑2 (LEOSS)-registry from March to June 2020. Clinical data and laboratory values were collected and compared between patients with and without cardiovascular comorbidities in different clinical stages of the disease. Predictors for mortality were calculated using multivariate regression analysis. We show that patients with cardiovascular comorbidities display significantly higher markers of myocardial injury and thrombo-inflammatory activation already in the uncomplicated phase of COVID-19. In multivariate analysis, elevated levels of troponin [OR 1.54; (95% CI 1.22-1.96), p < 0.001)], IL-6 [OR 1.69 (95% CI 1.26-2.27), p < 0.013)], and CRP [OR 1.32; (95% CI 1-CoV-2 infection in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. Elevated markers of thrombo-inflammatory activation predict outcome in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities and COVID-19 disease insights from the LEOSS registry. The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) has become a promising target in cancer immunotherapy. PD-1 expression of CD8 T-cells may be increased via the exploitation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling with kynurenine (KYN) as a ligand. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Cediranib.html Since exercise affects KYN metabolism, we exploratory investigated the influence of acute exercise bouts on AhR and PD-1 levels of CD8 T-cells. In this study, 24 healthy males (age 24.6 ± 3.9years; weight 83.9 ± 10.5kg; height 182.4 ± 6.2cm) completed a single bout of endurance (EE) and resistance exercise (RE) in a randomly assigned order on separate days. Blood samples were drawn before (t0), after (t1), and 1h after (t2) both conditions. T-cell populations, the level of cytoplasmic AhR, and surface PD-1 were assessed by flow cytometry. T-cell populations changed over time, indicated by an increase in the absolute numbers of CD3 lymphocytes after EE (p < .001) and RE (p = .036) and in PD-1 CD8 T-cells after EE (p = .021). Proportions of T-cell populations changed only after EE (t0-t2 p = .029; t1-t2 p = .006). The level of cytoplasmic AhR decreased immediately after exercise in both exercise conditions (EE p = .009; RE p = .036). The level of surface PD-1 decreased 1h after EE (p = .005). We analyzed the level of surface PD-1 and cytoplasmic AhR following acute physical exercise for the first time. Especially EE was observed to impact both AhR and PD-1 levels, undermining its role as the AhR-PD-1 axis modulator. These results provide new insights into the impact of exercise on AhR-signaling, which could potentially be relevant for various chronic diseases. We analyzed the level of surface PD-1 and cytoplasmic AhR following acute physical exercise for the first time. Especially EE was observed to impact both AhR and PD-1 levels, undermining its role as the AhR-PD-1 axis modulator. These results provide new insights into the impact of exercise on AhR-signaling, which could potentially be relevant for various chronic diseases. This study investigated whether intermittent post-exercise sauna bathing across three-weeks endurance training improves exercise heat tolerance and exercise performance markers in temperate conditions, compared to endurance training alone. The subsidiary aim was to determine whether exercise-heat tolerance would further improve following 7-Weeks post-exercise sauna bathing. Twenty middle-distance runners (13 female; mean ± SD, age 20 ± 2years, [Formula see text]O 56.1 ± 8.7mlkg min ) performed a running heat tolerance test (30-min, 9kmh /2% gradient, 40°C/40%RH; HTT) and temperate (18°C) exercise tests (maximal aerobic capacity [[Formula see text]O ], speed at 4mmolL blood lactate concentration ([La ]) before (Pre) and following three-weeks (3-Weeks) normal training (CON; n = 8) or normal training with 28 ± 2min post-exercise sauna bathing (101-108°C, 5-10%RH) 3 ± 1 times per week (SAUNA; n = 12). Changes from Pre to 3-Weeks were compared between-groups using an analysis of co-variance. Six SAUNA only marginally improved Trec.The worldwide prevalence of dementia is estimated at 35.6 million and will rise to 115 million by 2050. There is therefore an urgent need for well-founded dementia diagnostics and well-researched therapeutic options. Previous studies have highlighted that spermidine has the ability to trigger the important process of dissolving amyloid-beta plaques by autophagy. They also confirmed that nutritional intervention with the natural polyamine spermidine can prevent memory loss in aging model organisms. This multicentric double-blind preliminary study focused on the effect of oral spermidine supplementation on older adults' cognitive performance. Memory tests were carried out on 85 subjects aged between 60 and 96 years in 6 nursing homes in Styria. Blood samples were taken for the determination of spermidine concentration and measurement of metabolic parameters. The results demonstrated a clear correlation between the intake of spermidine and the improvement in cognitive performance in subjects with mild and moderate dementia in the group treated with the higher spermidine dosage.