Serum fibrosis markers: Death by validation or a leap of faith?

RESTORE--from deduction to leap of faith.

inhibition of pacemaker output in pacemaker-dependent patients and/or false triggering with tracking to the upper rate limit in patients with reduced left ventricular function may be detrimental. Therefore, we cannot support the approach of Martin and co-workers—that is, to leave the pacemaker sensing function activated. In contrast, we recommend deactivating the sensing function in pacemaker-d...

A global health fund: a leap of faith?

Cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress: a leap of faith or stark reality?

It is well known that cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, valvular dysfunction, and myocardial infarction are associated with cardiac hypertrophy, which is itself an independent risk factor for sudden death. Less certain, however, is the identity of the molecular mechanisms involved in the hypertrophic process. The role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of diseases like hyper...

Leptin and the obesity hypoventilation syndrome: a leap of faith?

he discovery of the anti-obesity hormone leptin (the name is derived from the Greek " leptos " meaning " thin "), the product of the ob gene, 1 has fuelled a recent surge of interest in the mechanisms regulating mammalian fat stores. Leptin, a 16 kD protein of 167 amino acids with a similar crystal structure to cytokines, 2 is produced primarily by white adipose tissue. 3 The hormone elicits ap...

Leap of Faith: Does Serum Luteinizing Hormone Always Accurately Reflect Central Reproductive Neuroendocrine Activity?

The function of the central aspects of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis has been assessed in a number of ways including direct measurements of the hypothalamic output and indirect measures using gonadotropin release from the pituitary as a bioassay for reproductive neuroendocrine activity. Here, methods for monitoring these various parameters are briefly reviewed and then examples presen...