For high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) to be used in longitudinal multi-center studies to assess disease and treatment effects, data must be aggregated across multiple timepoints and scanners. This requires an understanding of the factors contributing to scanner precision, and multi-scanner cross-calibration procedures, especially for clinical populations with severe phenotypes, like osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). To address this, we first evaluated single- and multi-center short- and long-term precision errors of standard HR-pQCT parameters. Two imaging phantoms were circulated among 13 sites (7 XtremeCT and 6 XtremeCT2) and scanned in triplicate at 3 timepoints/site. Additionally, duplicate in vivo radial and tibial scans were acquired in 29 individuals with OI. Secondly, we investigated subject- and scanner-related factors that contribute to precision errors using regression analysis. Thirdly, we proposed a reference site selection criterion for multisite cross-calibral clinical imaging modality in multi-center longitudinal clinical trials.This study is the first to assess long-term reproducibility and cross-calibration in a study using first and second generation HR-pQCT scanners. The results presented in this context provide timely guidelines for future use of this powerful clinical imaging modality in multi-center longitudinal clinical trials. Bone turnover markers (BTM) are gaining ground in clinical practice but to fully use their potential there is a need for establishing valid reference intervals (RI). Consequently, the purpose of the study was to establish general RI as well as suggested clinical RI for carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX), pro-collagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), osteocalcin (OC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bone ALP) in children and adolescents. BTM were measured on Danish children and adolescents participating in the CHAMPS-study DK. A total of 762 participants were included (8-18years, 50.4% girls) contributing a total of 1410 study visits. see more The RI was calculated based on 2-years age spans. Participants with biochemical signs of metabolic bone disease were excluded. The differences in RI between age groups clearly reflect changes in growth with an initial increase in BTM, greatest in boys, and a subsequent decrease most pronounced in girls. β-CTX and PINP are markers most affected by these changes, compared to OC and bone ALP. The suggested clinical 95% RI included participants with vitamin D insufficiency but no biochemical signs of metabolic bone disease which did not markedly alter the RI. RI for β-CTX, PINP, OC and bone ALP varies with age and sex. β-CTX and PINP which reflect bone resorption and formation processes are mostly affected by these changes. We suggest a set of clinically applicable 95% RI for the four BTM to heighten the usefulness and generalizability of the RI.RI for β-CTX, PINP, OC and bone ALP varies with age and sex. β-CTX and PINP which reflect bone resorption and formation processes are mostly affected by these changes. We suggest a set of clinically applicable 95% RI for the four BTM to heighten the usefulness and generalizability of the RI. Endoscopically detected esophageal lesions (EDELs) are common following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and may progress to atrioesophageal fistula (AEF). The purpose of this study was to study (1) the benefit of luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring and (2) the impact of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in detecting EDEL and defining pre-existing lesions. The primary endpoint was the number of ablation-induced lesions. Patients with atrial fibrillation were randomized to PVI with LET monitoring (LET[+]) or without LET monitoring (LET[-]). All patients underwent EGD before and after PVI. Ablation power at the left atrial (LA) posterior wall was limited to 25 W in all patients and was titrated to a minimum of 10 W guided by esophageal temperature in the LET[+] group. Eighty-six patients (age 67 ± 10 years; 57% male) were included (44 LET[+], 42 LET[-]). PVI was achieved in all, and additional linear LA lesions were done in 50%. Eight patients developed EDEL (6 LET[+], 2 LET[-]; P = NS). Whereas LET <41°C did not differentiate with regard to EDEL formation, temperature overshooting ≥42°C was associated with a higher risk for new EDEL. Two-thirds of patients showed incidental findings (esophagitis, gastric ulcer) on preprocedural EGD; 8 esophageal lesions were pre-existing. Four patients in the LET[+] group developed epistaxis following insertion of the probe. Monitoring of LET does not prevent ablation-induced esophageal lesions. Patients without temperature surveillance were not at higher risk, but temperatures ≥42°C were associated with increased likelihood of mucosal lesions.Monitoring of LET does not prevent ablation-induced esophageal lesions. Patients without temperature surveillance were not at higher risk, but temperatures ≥42°C were associated with increased likelihood of mucosal lesions. Accumulating data suggest blood biomarkers could inform stroke etiology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of multiple blood biomarkers in elucidating stroke etiology with a focus on new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardioembolism. Between January and December 2017, information on clinical and laboratory parameters and stroke characteristics was prospectively collected from ischemic stroke patients recruited from the National University Hospital, Singapore. Multiple blood biomarkers (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], d-dimer, S100β, neuron-specific enolase, vitamin D, cortisol, interleukin-6, insulin, uric acid, and albumin) were measured in plasma. These variables were compared with stroke etiology and the risk of new-onset AF and cardioembolism using multivariable regression methods. Of the 515 ischemic stroke patients (mean age 61 years; 71% men), 44 (8.5%) were diagnosed with new-onset AF, and 75 (14.5%) had cardioembolism. The combination of 2 laboratory parameters (total cholesterol ≤169 mg/dL; triglycerides ≤44.5 mg/dL) and 3 biomarkers (NT-proBNP ≥294 pg/mL; S100β ≥64 pg/mL; cortisol ≥471 nmol/l) identified patients with new-onset AF (negative predictive value [NPV] 90%; positive predictive value[PPV] 73%; area under curve [AUC] 85%). The combination of 2 laboratory parameters (total cholesterol ≤169 mg/dL; triglycerides ≤44.5 mg/dL) and 2 biomarkers (NT-proBNP ≥507 pg/mL; S100β ≥65 pg/mL) identified those with cardioembolism (NPV 86%; PPV 78%; AUC 87%). Adding clinical predictors did not improve the performance of these models. Blood biomarkers could identify patients with increased likelihood of cardioembolism and direct the search for occult AF.Blood biomarkers could identify patients with increased likelihood of cardioembolism and direct the search for occult AF.