Fibrinogen and a Triad of Thrombosis, Inflammation, and the Renin-Angiotensin System in Premature Coronary Artery Disease in Women: A New Insight into Sex-Related Differences in the Pathogenesis of the Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Its social impact in the case of premature CAD is particularly devastating. Many differences in the presentation of the disease in women as compared to men, including atypical symptoms, microvascular involvement, and differences in pathology of plaque formation or progression, make CAD diagnosis in women a challenge.

The association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and the plasma fibrinogen level in women and men with premature coronary artery atherosclerosis.

Introduction: The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin‑converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with younger age at coronary artery disease (CAD) onset. Some data indicate the relationship between the DD genotype and the fibrinogen level. At the same time, the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system differs in women and men.

Giant Intrapericardial Myxoma Adjacent to the Left Main Coronary Artery.

A 62-years-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of chronic cough, expectoration of thick mucus, hoarseness and tightness in the precordial area. Computed Tomography (CT) examination revealed the presence of a giant intrapericardial tumor with the dimensions of 80 × 38 × 32 mm. It was located anteriorly and laterally to the left atrium, posteriorly to the pulmonary trunk and the ascending aorta.

Menopause improves the predictive value of common cardiovascular risk scores in women with premature coronary artery disease.

Objective: Menopause, particularly its early stage (≤3 years from onset), may be an important risk factor for premature coronary artery disease. The objective of the study was to assess whether the addition of the presence of menopause in women with premature coronary artery disease could improve the predictive value of the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease risk estimator and the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation model.

Methods: The case-control study included 307 women with coronary artery disease aged 55 or less, and 347 age-matched controls without coronary artery disease.

Pulmonary artery rupture as a complication of Swan-Ganz catheter application. Diagnosis and endovascular treatment: a single centre's experience.

Introduction: The placement of a Swan-Ganz catheter into the pulmonary artery may lead to a number of complications (2-17%). In less than 0.2% of cases Swan-Ganz catheterization results in serious vascular damage - pulmonary artery rupture (PAR).

Lumen and calcium characteristics within calcified coronary lesions. Comparison of computed tomography coronary angiography versus intravascular ultrasound.

Introduction: Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a diagnostic method used for exclusion of coronary artery disease. However, lower accuracy of CTCA in assessment of calcified lesions is a significant factor impeding applicability of CTCA for assessment of coronary atherosclerosis.

Aim: To provide insight into lumen and calcium characteristics assessed with CTCA, we compared these parameters to the reference of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

The impact of early menopause on risk of coronary artery disease (PREmature Coronary Artery Disease In Women--PRECADIW case-control study).

Background: Despite improved understanding of atherothrombosis pathophysiology, risk factors associated with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in women are poorly recognized.

Design And Methods: A single-centre, case-control study comprised 323 women (less than 55 years) with established CAD, enrolled between April 2005 and January 2008, and 347 age-matched healthy women selected from the Multi-Center All-Polish Health Survey. We aimed to assess the relationship of menopause and premature CAD.

Prevalence of classical risk factors in Polish women with premature coronary artery disease.

Background: It is generally believed that in 50% of perimenopausal women several factors other than classical risk factors play a significant role in the development of premature coronary artery disease (CAD).

Aim: To determine the prevalence of five classical risk factors (cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and obesity) in women aged〈 55 years with premature CAD.

Methods: We performed a single-centre, case-control study in women〈 55 years with angiographically confirmed CAD or troponin-positive acute coronary syndrome.

Clinical characteristics of patients undergoing surgical ventricular reconstruction by choice and by randomization.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to confirm the generalizability of the conclusions of the STICH (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure) trial.

Background: Surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR) added to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) did not decrease death or cardiac hospitalization in STICH patients randomized to CABG with (n = 501) or without (n = 499) SVR.

Methods: Baseline clinical characteristics of 1,000 STICH SVR hypothesis patients and 1,036 STICH-eligible Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Cardiac Database patients undergoing CABG plus SVR were entered into a multivariate model equation to predict a mortality that placed these 2,036 patients in 1 of 32 risk at randomization (RAR) groups.

Functional anatomy of tricuspid regurgitation in patients with systemic right ventricles.

Objective: Although the functional anatomy of mitral regurgitation has been thoroughly studied and is strongly predictive of postoperative outcome, the functional anatomy of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with systemic right ventricles has not been described.

Methods: We measured the indices of tricuspid valve deformation, right ventricular remodeling and function, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in a series of 42 patients (mean age 20.8 +/- 3.

Factors associated with the presence of tricuspid valve regurgitation in patients with systemic right ventricles following atrial switch.

Background: The development of significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with an unfavorable clinical outcome in patients with systemic right ventricles. Increased knowledge about the factors contributing to its presence would help prevent its progression.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the factors predictive of significant TR in 60 patients with systemic right ventricles following an atrial switch procedure for complete transposition of the great arteries.

Gender differences in angiotensin II and aldosterone secretion in patients with pressure overloaded systemic right ventricles are similar to those observed in systemic arterial hypertension.

Background: There are very few and inconclusive data concerning the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity in adults with systemic right ventricles, compared to classic heart failure patients. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated angiotensin II and aldosterone levels in a series of patients following Mustard or Senning procedures for complete transposition of the great arteries.

Methods: Forty-two patients (31 male and 11 female, mean age 20.

Impact of different re-stenting strategies on expansion of a drug-eluting stent implanted to treat bare-metal stent restenosis.

We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to compare the expansion of drug-eluting stents (DES) implanted to treat bare-metal stent (BMS) restenosis after 3 common re-stenting strategies. A total of 80 consecutive BMS restenotic targets were re-stented either directly (n = 30, group 1) or after low-pressure (<8 atm) pre-dilation with an undersize regular balloon (n = 16, group 2) or after high-pressure (>12 atm) pre-dilation with a semicompliant balloon the same or greater diameter as the original BMS diameter (n = 34, group 3). More patients from groups 2 and 3 had diabetes mellitus.

Application of classic heart failure definitions of asymptomatic and symptomatic ventricular dysfunction and heart failure symptoms with preserved ejection fraction to patients with systemic right ventricles.

Heart failure guidelines classify patients into subgroups with asymptomatic versus symptomatic ventricular dysfunction versus heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. In this study, this approach was applied in a series of patients with complete transposition of the great arteries after atrial switch to assess to what extent this classification fits patients with systemic right ventricles. The study included stable adult patients after atrial switch, stratified according to preserved versus impaired systolic function (fractional area change > or =0.

Crisscross hearts in adults: echocardiographic evaluation and natural history.

Crisscross heart is a rare congenital, rotational abnormality of the ventricular mass, resulting in the crossing of the inflows of the 2 ventricles and each atrium emptying into the contralaterally located ventricle. Few cases of adult patients are described in the literature. We present a case series of 7 adult patients aged 18 to 53 years with crisscross hearts, followed up for 5 to 22 years (mean 14.