The Effect of Early Applied Robot-Assisted Physiotherapy on Functional Independence Measure Score in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Robot-assisted training has been widely used in rehabilitation programs, but no significant clinical evidence about its use in productive working-age cardiac patients was demonstrated. Thus, we hypothesized that early applied robot-assisted physiotherapy might provide additional treatment benefits in the rehabilitation of post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. A total of 92 (50 men, 42 women) hospitalized post-MI patients with the age of 60.

Efficacy of dapagliflozin in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction according to body mass index.

Aims: In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), there is an 'obesity paradox', where survival is better in patients with a higher body mass index (BMI) and weight loss is associated with worse outcomes. We examined the effect of a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor according to baseline BMI in the Dapagliflozin And Prevention of Adverse-outcomes in Heart Failure trial (DAPA-HF).

Methods And Results: Body mass index was examined using standard categories, i.

Effect of dapagliflozin according to baseline systolic blood pressure in the Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure trial (DAPA-HF).

Aims: Concern about hypotension often leads to withholding of beneficial therapy in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin, which lowers systolic blood pressure (SBP),according to baseline SBP in Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure trial (DAPA-HF).

Methods And Results: Key inclusion criteria were: New York Heart Association Class II-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%, elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level, and SBP ≥95 mmHg.

Dapagliflozin and Diuretic Use in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction in DAPA-HF.

Background: In the DAPA-HF trial (Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse-Outcomes in Heart Failure), the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin reduced the risk of worsening heart failure and death in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. We examined the efficacy and tolerability of dapagliflozin in relation to background diuretic treatment and change in diuretic therapy after randomization to dapagliflozin or placebo.

Methods: We examined the effects of study treatment in the following subgroups: no diuretic and diuretic dose equivalent to furosemide <40, 40, and >40 mg daily at baseline.

Efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibition according to left ventricular ejection fraction in DAPA-HF.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine whether left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) modified efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin 10 mg compared with placebo in the 4744 patients with LVEF ≤40% randomized in the Dapagliflozin And Prevention of Adverse-outcomes in Heart Failure trial (DAPA-HF).

Methods And Results: We examined whether LVEF, analysed categorically or continuously, modified the effect of dapagliflozin. The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of a worsening heart failure (HF) event (unplanned HF hospitalization/an urgent HF visit requiring intravenous therapy) or cardiovascular death.

Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background: In patients with type 2 diabetes, inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) reduce the risk of a first hospitalization for heart failure, possibly through glucose-independent mechanisms. More data are needed regarding the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with established heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction, regardless of the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In this phase 3, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 4744 patients with New York Heart Association class II, III, or IV heart failure and an ejection fraction of 40% or less to receive either dapagliflozin (at a dose of 10 mg once daily) or placebo, in addition to recommended therapy.

[Management of diabetic patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease].

Extremitovascular arterial ischemic disease (lower extremity peripheral arterial disease - PAD) is an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis and other arterial diseases of vascular system. The lower the ankle-brachial pressure index, the greater the risk of serious acute instable organovascular events (e. g.

Sacubitril/valsartan reduces serum uric acid concentration, an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in PARADIGM-HF.

Aims: Elevated serum uric acid concentration (SUA) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but this may be due to unmeasured confounders. We examined the association between SUA and outcomes as well as the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on SUA in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in PARADIGM-HF.

Methods And Results: The association between SUA and the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization, its components, and all-cause mortality was examined using Cox regression analyses among 8213 patients using quintiles (Q1-Q5) of SUA adjusted for baseline prognostic variables including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), diuretic dose, and log N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.

The effects of body weight loss and gain on arterial hypertension control: an observational prospective study.

Background: Body weight changes are associated with significant variations in blood pressure (BP). Body mass modifications may, therefore, influence hypertension control in primary care.

Methods: Patients with a history of essential arterial hypertension were observed for 12 months.

Atherogenic index of plasma is positively associated with the risk of all-cause death in elderly women : A 10-year follow-up.

Background: The blood concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) do not predict survival in patients older than 60 years. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a logarithm of the triacylglycerol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and a surrogate for the concentration of small dense LDL. It might be a better reflection of the risk of all-cause death in elderly patients.

[Antiplatelet thromboprophylaxis of arterial vascular diseases and organovascular ischemic diseases].

Antiplatelet therapy by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) provided pivotal advances in the prevention and treatment of organovascular (angiovascular, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, extremitovascular, renovascular, genitovascular, mesenteriointestinokolonovascular, bronchopulmovascular, oculovascular, otovascular and other) arterial ischemic diseases. Currently available antiplatelet drugs have some limitations which might be overcomed by improved dosing regimens, use of combination of agents affecting different platelet functions and, in particular, by the new antiplatelet drugs (new arterial antithrombotics) with distinct pharmacodynamic properties offering new advantages, including faster onset of action, greater potency, and reversibility of effects.Key words: arteriothromboprophylaxis - arterial thrombosis - classic antiplatelet drugs - new antiplatelet agents - organovascular arterial diseases.

[Oral anticoagulants for primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism].

Until recently, vitamin K antagonists (VKA; predominantly warfarin) were the only oral anticoagulants for primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism. Prevention and therapy with novel, direct, non-VKA oral anticoagulant agents (NOACs; DOACs: dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban), have recently become available as an alternative to VKA. NOACs have been shown to be non-inferior or superior to VKA in clinical trials.

Changes in vasomotion--effect of hyperbaric oxygen in patients with diabetes Type 2.

Objectives: To investigate vasomotion in diabetic patients who underwent sessions of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-one patients with diabetes Type 2 and lower-extremity neuropathy were enrolled in a prospective matched case-control study. A total of 39 patients underwent 15 sessions of HBO2 therapy consisting of 90 minutes of breathing 100% oxygen at 2.

Effect of Low Dose Atorvastatin Therapy on Baroreflex Sensitivity in Hypertensives.

Introduction: Impaired baroreflex function is associated with a shift in autonomic balance towards sympathetic dominance, which may play important role in the development of arterial hypertension and consequent target organ damage.

Aim: To determine the effect of treatment on the cardiovascular autonomic modulation expressed by baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in hypertensives.

Methods: A total of one hundred fourteen hypertensive patients (58 male/56 female, 65 ± 13 years of age, BMI 30 ± 3.

[Arterial hypertension--multicirculus vitiosus vasorum].

Aim: The aim of this review is to address documents and a number of studies on hypertension published in the last years in order to assess their contribution to our expanding knowledge of arterial hypertension.

Discussion: Arterial hypertension is not defined by symptoms and signs but by numbers of blood pressure values. Arterial hypertension is vascular disease (vascular risk factor) of many vascular diseases (atherosclerosis; arteriolosclerosis/arteriolonecrosis/arteriolocalcinosis; arterial thrombosis; arterial embolism; arterial thromboembolism; arterial dissection; complicated arterial aneurysm) and other.

[Epidemiologic data of hyperuricaemia prevalence in the conditions of primary care in Slovakia].

Hyperuricaemia represents nowaday the new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Prevalence data and its treatment in our patient's population are still missing. Literature data shows, that its prevalence differs in various populations significantly from 4% up to 40% with race and geographical means.

Influence of Ejection Fraction on Outcomes and Efficacy of Sacubitril/Valsartan (LCZ696) in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: The Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure (PARADIGM-HF) Trial.

Background: The angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696) reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared with enalapril in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (EF) in the Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure (PARADIGM-HF) trial. We evaluated the influence of EF on clinical outcomes and on the effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan compared with enalapril.

Methods And Results: Eight thousand three hundred ninety-nine patients with New York Heart Association class II to IV HF with reduced EF [left ventricular EF (LVEF) ≤40%] were randomized to sacubitril/valsartan 97/103 mg twice daily versus enalapril 10 mg twice daily and followed for a median of 27 months.

[Arterial hypertension - multicirculus vitiosus vasorum].

Aim: The aim of this review is to address documents and a number of studies on hypertension published in the last years in order to assess their contribution to our expanding knowledge of arterial hypertension.

Discussion: Arterial hypertension is not defined by symptoms and signs but by numbers of blood pressure values. Arterial hypertension is vascular disease (vascular risk factor) of many vascular diseases (atherosclerosis; arteriolosclerosis/arteriolonecrosis/arteriolocalcinosis; arterial thrombosis; arterial embolism; arterial thromboembolism; arterial dissection; complicated arterial aneurysm) and other.

[Epidemiologic data of hyperuricaemia prevalence in the conditions of primary care in Slovakia].

Unlabelled: Hyperuricaemia represents nowaday the new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Prevalence data and its treatment in our patient´s population are still missing. Literature data shows, that its prevalence differs in various populations significantly from 4 % up to 40 % with race and geographical means.

Effect of short term aerobic exercise on fasting and postprandial lipoprotein subfractions in healthy sedentary men.

Background: Our goal was to investigate the effect of short term exercise on fasting and postprandial lipoprotein profile.

Methods: Healthy sedentary men exercised 20 min for four days. The intensity of exercise was modulated to maintain 75-80 % of a calculated HRmax.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on lipoprotein subfractions in diabetic patients.

Objectives: Favorable metabolic changes have been observed in many in vitro and animal studies after application of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2). Metabolic changes after hyperbaric oxygen therapy, especially focused on lipoprotein subfractions, have not been described in humans. Our aim was to investigate possible alteration in concentration of lipoprotein subfractions in diabetic patients after hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Regional differences of vasodilatation and vasomotion response to local heating in human cutaneous microcirculation.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vasodilatation and vasomotion response to local heating in the cutaneous microcirculation of the ankle, dorsum of foot and forearm. Recently, it has been suggested that this response differs between the forearm and the leg.

Probands And Methods: Twenty-nine young healthy adults were recruited.

Orthostatic hypotension in diabetic patients-10-year follow-up study.

Introduction: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in diabetics is a common but often underestimated and underdiagnosed complication of diabetes mellitus. One of the most clinical apparent forms of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is orthostatic hypotension.

Objectives: To retrospectively assess the association of the orthostatic hypotension (OH) with macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus and to determine its effect on mortality.

[Erectile dysfunction as the first sign of systemic vascular diseases and of organovascular arterial ischemic diseases. Guidelines and Challenge of the Angiology section of Slovak Medical Chamber (AS SMC, 2015)].

Erectile dysfunction is a highly prevalent and progressive condition affecting the quality of life of man and his sexual partner. Evidence is accumulating in favour of erectile dysfunction as a sign of a genitovascular disease (GVD) in the majority of patients. Erectile dysfunction may be considered as the clinical manifestation of a organovascular disease affecting penis (male genitovascular disease - MGVD) as well as angina pectoris is the typical manifestation of a vascular disease affecting coronary arteries of a heart (cardiovascular disease - CVD).

[The effect of adding phytosterol to hypolipidemic therapy with statins on the size of lipoprotein particles in patients with very high cardiovascular risk].

Despite significant improvement in the diagnosis and therapy of cardiovascular diseases their global risk and proportion of their clinical forms remains very high. Still the large part of the patients cannot reach the estimated target lipid levels despite statin therapy. Low adherence to preventive programmes with physical training and diet leads to progression of the pathological process of atherothrombosis.