MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in Patients with Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease.

The aim of the study was to assess MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2) and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2) serum levels in patients with diverse types of heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). 101 patients with chronic HF were enrolled. Each patient has assessed the serum levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2, and NT-proBNP.

Expression of Proinflammatory Factors, Proangiogenic Factors and Endostatin in Patients with Heart Failure and Different Grades of Collateral Circulation Development.

Background: The process of collateral vessel maturation is stimulated by numerous factors affecting the endothelium and smooth muscle cells building the vessel wall. Looking for arteriogenesis stimulating factors means looking for a potential innovative heart failure treatment method in the patients unresponsive to traditional therapies.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory factor IL-6, growth factors FGF (FGFa, FGFb, FGFbH), HGF, VEGF and endostatin in heart failure patients in relation to the coronary collaterals development stage.

Impact of nebivolol on levels of serum nitric oxide, plasma von Willebrand factor and exercise stress testing parameters in hypertensive and ischemic heart disease patients.

Background: The dysfunction of vascular endothelium precedes the development of atherosclerosis in patients with arterial hypertension. Nebivolol is a very specific beta-blocker, which can be characterized by a strong endothelial vasodilatative effect. The aim of the study was the assessment of changes in concentrations of serum nitric oxide (NO), plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) and selected parameters of electrocardiographic exercise tests after 4-week nebivolol treatment.

[Plasma urotensin II level in patients with chronic congestive heart failure].

Urotensin II (UTII) is recently discovered neurohumoral factor influencing function and structure of the myocardium and remodeling of the vessels, and it may contribute to pathogenesis of chronic congestive heart failure. The aim of the study was estimation of plasma concentration of UTII in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. The investigations were performed on 79 patients (37 women and 42 men) aged 43-87 yr.

[The leptin concentration in patients with primary arterial hypertension].

Unlabelled: Leptin seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension by activation of the sympathetic nervous system, influencing water - electrolyte balance and vascular remodeling. It is not known whether leptin is a factor participating in the pathogenesis of primary arterial hypertension or its higher concentration in patients with arterial hypertension reflects only the presence of other factors leading to increased blood pressure. The aim of the study was to try to estimate the leptin participation in the development of the arterial hypertension, to evaluate the concentration of leptin in blood serum of patients with mild, moderate and severe arterial hypertension and to determine the relationships between the observed leptin concentration, arterial hypertension degree according to WHO criteria and body mass.

[Serum level of beta-chemokine RANTES in patients with coronary artery disease].

Chronic inflammatory process plays an important, as still not clear, role in pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD), especially in acute coronary syndromes. Chemokines are present in atherosclerotic plaques and are essential factors in the recruitment of leukocytes and stabilization of atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of the study was the evaluation of RANTES serum level in patients with stabile CAD and seeking for correlations between RANTES serum level and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.

[Estimation of the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients after the myocardial infarction].

Aim: Because in patients with the recent myocardial infarction the noticeable differences in the P wave and PQ interval dispersion were observed in comparison to the control group, consisted of the healthy persons, it was an intresting problem to define the period of persistence of these visible changes on the electrocardiograms made in patients after the myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was to estimate the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients after the myocardial infarction in dependence on its location and applied fibrynolytical treatment.

Material And Method: The investigations were conducted on 36 male and female patients in age 40 to 84 years (mean 56 +/- 10,8 years), divided into groups of patients suffering from the inferior myocardial infarction and anterior myocardial infarction.

[Estimation of the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients with the recent myocardial infarction].

Unlabelled: The supraventricular arrhythmia, and especially paroxysmal atrial fibrillation occurred in patients with the recent myocardial infarction are considered to be important therapeutical problem. The estimation of the P wave dispersion could be a method useful to differentiate the group of patients liable to suffer from this dysrhythmia. The aim of this paper was to estimate the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients with the recent myocardial infarction in dependence on the location, applied fibrinolytic treatment and the presence of the supraventricular arrhythmia.

[Homocysteine as the factor of atherosclerosis risk].

A great number of epidemiologic and experimental results of scientific research led to the conclusion, that hyperhomocysteinemia could be possible risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases development in patients suffering from the homocysteinuria and in all the population, because of homocysteine's ability to the activation of the thrombogenesis processes and to the creation of the atherosclerotic changes. Furthermore, the elevated homocysteine concentration exacerbates the effects of the other atherosclerogenous factors, such as tobacco smoking or arterial hypertension. The increased mortality caused by the cardiovascular diseases was observed in patients with the homocysteine concentration elevated above 15 micromol/l on an empty stomach and 38 micromol/l after the methionine intake (the mortality was twice higher).

[Urotensin II--new peptide which regulates function of cardiovascular system].

Human urotensin II is one of the new peptide which regulates function of cardiovascular system. It stimulates cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy and also shows inotropic properties. Urotensin II has the potential pathophysiological role in cardiovascular, lung and kidney diseases.

[Dysmetabolic syndrome].

This paper present definition, prevalence and inheritance of the metabolic syndrome. The dysmetabolic syndrome most likely results from interplay between several genes and affluent environment. The prevalence of the syndrome is also very age-dependent and higher in males than in females.

[Pulse pressure as a prognostic indicator of organ damage in patients with essential hypertension].

Pulse pressure (PP), defined as systolic blood pressure minus diastolic blood pressure, plays an important role as a risk factor for cardiovascular events. Pulse pressure is pulsatile component of blood pressure. A widened pulse pressure reflects increased stiffness of the large arteries.

[Effect of heavy metal ions on function of vascular endothelium in patients with ischemic heart disease].

Unlabelled: Endothelium dysfunction is one of the first signs of atherosclerotic process. There are many factors known, which provoke such a dysfunction; many are still to be revealed. One of them may be a heavy metal ion.

Relation between heavy metals and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with coronary artery disease.

One of the earliest detectable abnormalities in patients with coronary artery disease is left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Its main cause is myocardial ischaemia, but still many of other mechanisms are possible. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, and selenium with left ventricular diastolic function indices in patients with coronary artery disease.

[One-year observation of QT and corrected QT interval dispersion in patients with myocardial infarction].

The aim of the study was to evaluate, if the QT and corrected QT interval dispersion (QTd and QTcd) is a predictor of ventricular arrhythmia during one-year observation in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Investigations were performed in 36 patients with MI, including 22 men and 14 women, aged 40-84 years. Considered criteria was: sex, MI location, applied/non applied thrombolytic treatment, after which patients were classified into 6 groups.

[Cytokines and remodeling of the heart in patients with congestive heart failure].

Proinflammatory cytokines are capable of modulating cardiovascular function by a various mechanisms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the selected cytokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (L-6), endothelin 1 (ET-1) on the remodeling of the heart in patients with congestive heart failure (1-year follow-up). The study was made in 45 patients with congestive heart failure treated in the Department of Cardiology.