The Prognostic Significance of Atrial Fibrillation and Left Atrium Size in Patients with Aortic Stenosis.

Aim    Aortic stenosis increases left atrial (LA) pressure and may lead to its remodeling. This can cause supraventricular arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to determine if the size of the LA and the presence of atrial fibrillation are related to the prognosis of patients with aortic stenosis.

Diabetes Mellitus and Clinical Outcomes in Carotid Artery Revascularization Using Second-Generation, MicroNet-Covered Stents: Analysis from the PARADIGM Study.

Introduction: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) using conventional (single-layer) stents is associated with worse clinical outcomes in diabetes mellitus (DM) vs. non-DM patients: an effect driven largely by lesion-related adverse events. CAS outcomes with MicroNet-covered stents (MCS) in diabetic patients have not been evaluated.

Improvement of physical capacity in patients undergoing transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects.

Introduction: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly diagnosed in adults. It often remains asymptomatic until the fourth or fifth decade of life. Significant left-to-right interatrial shunting is associated with the risk of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and atrial fibrillation.

[Personality traits of perpetrators of various types of crimes].

This study was conducted in Nowy Wiśnicz, with prisoners sentenced for: murders, sex crimes, theft and robbery, maintenance, bullying. A Polish adaptation of PAI test, made by the author of the study, was used. The study results and its statistical analysis showed characteristic personality features of particular criminal groups can be used in rehabilitation of disturbed people, addicts, and become the basis for preparing actions reducing frequency of committing crimes.

Effectiveness of single medical advice on emergency phone number knowledge in urban adult population--"Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe" substudy.

Introduction: Early access to Emergency Medical Services determines survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, a significant proportion of adults do not know the emergency phone number (EN) and no intervention has been proposed to improve it. Therefore, we aimed to assess prospectively the effectiveness of single advice from a physician on knowledge of the EN in adult population.

Conduction abnormality and arrhythmia after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect.

Background: The aim of this study was to prospectively perform ambulatory 24-h ECG monitoring to assess the effects of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD).

Methods And Results: A total of 235 consecutive subjects (female, n=163; male, n=72; age, 44.6±14.

Conduction Abnormality and Arrhythmia After Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defect.

Background:The aim of this study was to prospectively perform ambulatory 24-h ECG monitoring to assess the effects of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD).Methods and Results:A total of 235 consecutive subjects (female, n=163; male, n=72; age, 44.6±14.

Elevated level of plasma endothelin-1 in patients with atrial septal defect.

Background: The study aimed to assess the level of plasma Endothelin-1 (ET-1) in patients before and after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and to evaluate the usefulness of measuring ET-1 levels for the diagnosis and selection of candidates for ASD closure.

Methods: 80 patients (55 F, 25 M), mean age 42,2 ± 11,5 years were enrolled for an attempt at ASD closure. A group of 19 healthy volunteers, (12 F, 7 M) mean age 39.

The benefit of atrial septal defect closure in elderly patients.

Objective: Closure of an atrial septal defect in elderly patients is controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs) in elderly patients.

Patients And Methods: From a total of 488 patients with ASDs who underwent transcatheter closure, 75 patients aged over 60 years (45 female, 30 male) with a mean age of 65.

Is it worth closing the atrial septal defect in patients with insignificant shunt?

Introduction: Closure of the atrial septal defect in patients with insignificant shunt is controversial.

Aim: To evaluate the outcomes of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in symptomatic patients with borderline shunt.

Material And Methods: One hundred and sixty patients (120 female, 40 male) with a mean age of 30.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography should it be the first choice for persistent foramen ovale screening?

Background: Persistent foramen ovale (PFO) is considered a cause of cryptogenic stroke and a risk factor for neurological events in young patients. The reference standard for identifying a PFO is contrast-enhanced transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of transcranial color Doppler (TCD) and its diagnostic sensitivity compared with TEE.

The prevalence of abnormal echocardiographic findings in a sample of urban adult population.

Background: Echocardiography has emerged as the test of choice for the evaluation of cardiac diseases.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of a spectrum of cardiac abnormalities detected by echocardiography in a representative sample of an urban adult population.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in a random sample of 511 men (47%) and women (53%) aged 48-76 years selected from population registers in Krakow.

Pulmonary artery pulse wave velocity in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary artery (PA) hypertension (IPAH) is associated with severe PA remodelling. Although the resulting increase in pulse wave velocity (PWV) might be of major pathophysiological relevance, little is known about PA-PWV in IPAH. The aim of this study was to characterize PA-PWV and its predictors in patients with IPAH.

Knowledge of a patient-dependant phase of acute myocardial infarction in Polish adults: the role of physician's advice.

Background: Effective management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is limited by patient delay in calling an ambulance. We aimed to assess knowledge related to a patient-dependant phase of AMI and its determinants in adults.

Methods: Questionnaire survey was conducted among a random sample of 942 men (48%) and women (52%) aged 63.

Effect of aortic valve stenosis on haemostasis is independent from vascular atherosclerotic burden.

Objective: The aim of study was to assess whether activation of blood coagulation and platelets is enhanced in aortic stenosis (AS) and if so, to determine factors that might modulate these processes.

Patients/methods: Seventy-five patients with AS (48 males, 27 females, aged 65+/-10 years) were enrolled in the study. A control group comprised 75 age- and sex-matched subjects.