The outcomes of hypertension treatment depending on gender in patients over 40 years of age.

Introduction: In women, an increase in blood pressure is observed after the menopause. However, the confounding effect of aging and comorbidities should be taken into account. Current guidelines don't recommend any specific treatment of post-menopausal hypertension.

Cardioprotective properties of leptin in patients with excessive body mass.

Background: Adipose tissue is producing adipokines that play different roles in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.

Aims: The study aimed to assess the role of selected biomarkers in hypertensive patients with overweight and obesity compared with those with normal body-mass index (BMI).

Methods: A total of 62 patients with BMI < 25 kg/m (median age 54 (46-58) yrs.

Established and potential echocardiographic markers of embolism and their therapeutic implications in patients with ischemic stroke.

Cardiogenic strokes comprised 11% of all strokes and 25% of ischemic strokes. An accurate identification of the cause of stroke is necessary in order to prepare an adequate preventive strategy. In this review the confirmed and potential causes of embolic strokes are presented, which can be detected in echocardiography in the context of present treatment guidelines and gaps in evidence.

Cytisine - From the Past to the Future.

Introduction: Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are ligand-gated ion channel receptors, distributed throughout central nervous system, as well as in peripheral ganglia and some non-neuronal cells. Cytisine, a qulinolizidine alkaloid, could be considered a high affinity ligand of those receptors. It is a partial agonist of β2*-containing receptors and a full agonist of α7 and β4*-containing receptors.