Fungal infections of the feet in patients with erysipelas of the lower limb: is it a significant clinical problem?

Background: Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the superficial layers of the skin usually caused by Group A Streptococci, often seen in clinical practice. Fungal infections of the feet and elderly age are some of the most significant risk factors for the infection. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of fungal infections from different regions of the feet in patients with erysipelas.

Association of muscular strength with pulsatile and steady hemodynamics in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Grip strength and blood pressure are strongly interrelated. Blood pressure is an essential component of arterial load, which modulates cardiac output.

Objectives: We aimed to asses the correlation between grip strength and both steady and pulsatile components of arterial load in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Pulse wave velocity to the global longitudinal strain ratio in survivors of myocardial infarction.

Background: New index of pulse wave velocity to global longitudinal peak systolic strain (PWV/GLPSS) was reported to be associated with cardiovascular damage. We evaluated the prognostic role of this metric in survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Material And Methods: We investigated in 569 patients with AMI, whether PWV/GLPSS was associated with a composite endpoint of death, stroke or new myocardial infarction, in long-term follow-up.

Arterial excess‑reservoir pressure integral as a predictor of cardiovascular complications in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION    The excess pressure-time integral (excess PTI) and reservoir pressure-time integral(reservoir PTI) are new measures derived from blood pressure (BP) waveform decomposition. Thesemarkers predict cardiovascular (CV) complications and are associated with target organ  damage inpa tients on antihypertensive treatment or those with chronic and acute heart failure. OBJECTIVES    We investigated whether reservoir PTI or excess PTI predict future CV events (death, stroke, myocardial infarction [MI]) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and reduced ejection fraction (EF).

Prognosis after acute coronary syndrome in relation with ventricular-arterial coupling and left ventricular strain.

Background: The value of modern non-invasive indices of the left ventricle (LV) and arterial system function, and their interaction for determining prognosis in contemporarily treated patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is not well established. The study aimed to determine the association of ventricular-arterial (VA) coupling, LV global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLPSS), global strain rate (GSR) and end-diastolic volume at end-diastolic pressure 30mmHg (V30) with long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ACS.

Methods: Echocardiography was applied in 569 ACS patients followed up for >12months after hospitalization.

The first non-African case of Trichophyton rubrum var. raubitschekii or a urease-positive Trichophyton rubrum in Central Europe?

We report a case of a 34-year-old Polish Caucasian male who was diagnosed with tinea manuum caused by Trichophyton rubrum var. raubitschekii. It would be the first described case of a dermatophytosis caused by this fungus in Poland and one of a few cases in Central Europe described so far.

Association between insulin like growth factor-1 and lipoprotein metabolism in stable angina patients on statin therapy: a pilot study.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to test whether there was an association between systemic levels of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) and selected parameters of lipid metabolism depending on the lipid-lowering therapy. This work was conducted in patients described by us previously who had either highly probable, or documented, coronary artery disease, and controlled serum lipids with prolonged statin therapy.

Methods: The study was conducted among 140 patients undergoing coronary angiography.

The oxygen stress index and levels of circulating interleukin-10 and interleukin-6 in patients with chronic heart failure.

Objectives: We sought to study circulating levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines together with the oxygen stress index in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Background: Patients with CHF exhibit elevated levels of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines but the relative level of these cytokines with the oxygen stress index have not been reported.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with CHF and 10 control subjects were studied.