The association between blood pressure and long-term outcomes of patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy with and without surgical revascularization: an analysis of the STICH trial.

Aims: Hypertension (HTN) is a well-known contributor to cardiovascular disease, including heart failure (HF) and coronary artery disease, and is the leading risk factor for premature death world-wide. A J- or U-shaped relationship has been suggested between blood pressure (BP) and clinical outcomes in different studies. However, there is little information about the significance of BP on the outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction.

Pre-hospital delay of treatment in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: experience of cardiac centre located in the vicinity of the centre of Warsaw.

Background: Early reperfusion therapy with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves left ventricular function and reduces mortality.

Aim: To assess the time delay in treatment of patients with STEMI referred to a twenty-four-hour interventional centre located in the vicinity of the centre of Warsaw.

Methods: We analysed 350 consecutive STEMI patients admitted to our Department between October 2005 and September 2006.

Primary coronary intervention in diabetic octogenarians with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have higher mortality risk than non-diabetic patients. No data are available on long-term results of interventional treatment of ACS in diabetic patients aged > or =80 years.

Aim: To compare the effects of primary angioplasty (pPCI) on short- and long-term outcome in diabetic patients > or =80 years with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared to those without diabetes mellitus (DM) of similar age.

Treatment of myotonia with antiarrhythmic drugs.

The effects of disopyramide, phenytoin, mexiletine, and tocainide were compared in 30 patients with myotonic disorders. The severity of myotonia was assessed by clinical and electromyographic criteria at the end of each treatment phase lasting four weeks. Mexiletine (MXT) and tocainide (TCD) were found to be the most potent antimyotonic agents.