Reduction of left ventricular mass, left atrial size, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level following alcohol septal ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is an alternative to surgical treatment in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Through alcohol-induced necrosis, ASA leads to an increase in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter and a decrease in LVOT pressure gradient.

Aim: We sought to assess the effect of ASA on left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and mass, left atrial (LA) size, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level.

Higher admission glycaemia independently of diagnosed or unrecognised diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for failed myocardial tissue reperfusion and higher mortality after primary angioplasty.

Background And Aim: Admission hyperglycaemia worsens reperfusion in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ST-segment elevation resolution parallels myocardial tissue reperfusion and predicts the outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Methods: We investigated whether higher glycaemia on admission impairs tissue-level reperfusion after pPCI for STEMI, as-sessed with the single-lead Schröder method of ST-segment resolution analysis (maxSTE).

Heart Transplantation and Risk of Cardiac Vasculopathy Development: What Factors Are Important?

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to find the main risk factors for development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), especially factors identified before the surgical procedure and factors related to the recipient profile and the medical history of the donor. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 147 patients who had heart transplantation (HT) included in this study: mean age was 45.8±15.

Factors related to on-treatment platelet aggregation assessed by multiple electrode aggregometry in percutaneous coronary intervention patients on clopidogrel and aspirin.

Introduction: There is ongoing controversy concerning the clinical value of platelet function monitoring in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Patients at risk of high on-treatment platelet aggregation (HPR) may benefit most from such monitoring.

Aim: To define the factors related to HPR on aspirin and clopidogrel, looking at a wider spectrum of variables than those assessed in some previous studies.

Platelet aggregation and the risk of stent thrombosis or bleeding in elective percutaneous coronary intervention patients.

: Platelet aggregation monitoring in patients after stent implantation is a promising way of preventing stent thrombosis and bleeding. The aim of the study was to verify whether clopidogrel (ADPtest) and aspirin (ASPItest) response measured by Multiplate (Dynabyte, Munich, Germany) analyzer in elective percutaneous coronary implantation patients predict the risk of stent thrombosis or other ischemic adverse events and bleeding. In this prospective, observational study 697 elective percutaneous coronary implantation patients were analyzed.

Platelet aggregation and risk of stent thrombosis or bleeding in interventionally treated diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Platelet aggregation monitoring in diabetic patients treated with coronary interventions (PCI) for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a promising way of optimizing treatment and outcomes in this high risk group. The aim of the study was to verify whether clopidogrel response measured by Multiplate analyzer (ADPtest) in diabetic ACS patients treated with PCI predicts the risk of stent thrombosis or cardiovascular mortality and bleeding.

Methods: Into this prospective, observational study 206 elective PCI patients were enrolled.

Lack of Impact of Presence of Positive C4d Staining in Capillaries in Myocardial Biopsies on Long-term Survival of Heart Transplant Patients.

Background: The long-term survival of 209 consecutive patients (mean age, 46 ± 15 years) from a single center with ≥1 diagnostic myocardial biopsy after heart transplantation was analyzed.

Methods: Patients were considered as C4d positive if a capillary staining (immunohistochemistry in paraffin samples) was observed in ≥1 myocardial biopsy. Data were analyzed according to pathologic consensus of antibody mediated rejection definition of C4d+ positivity: 2004 definition in group A and the 2013 definition in group B and compared with their respective controls, composed of patients who do not meet those criteria.

Early occlusion of the non-infarct-related coronary artery following successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

We present a clinical case of early occlusion of the non-infarct-related artery (non-IRA) in a patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Several hours after successful percutaneous treatment of the occluded right coronary artery the patient developed a second myocardial infarction, which was caused by acute occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, which had a significant lesion in the proximal segment. The lesion was diagnosed during the first catheterization, but was left untreated.

Total ischaemic time and 9-year outcomes in STEMI patients treated with pPCI.

Background: Prolonged total ischaemic time (TIT) has been shown to independently predict poor myocardial perfusion in STEMI patients and affect in-hospital mortality. We aim to evaluate the influence of TIT on long-term follow-up (F/U) and identify the factors associated with TIT in patients with STEMI treated with pPCI at a high volume centre.

Methods: In a prospective "all-comer" registry, clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics, TIT and 9-year mortality were determined in consecutive STEMI patients treated with pPCI.

Risk is not flat. Comprehensive approach to multidimensional risk management in ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty (ANIN STEMI Registry).

Introduction: Current risk assessment concepts in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are suboptimal for guiding clinical management.

Aim: To elaborate a composite risk management concept for STEMI, enhancing clinical decision making.

Material And Methods: 1995 unselected, registry patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) (mean age 60.

Usefulness of dual-source computed tomography for the evaluation of coronary arteries in heart transplant recipients.

Background: Heart transplant recipients require serial assessment of coronary arteries due to a risk of cardiac allograft vasculopathy or atherosclerosis. Currently available non-invasive imaging methods are of a limited value for the detection of coronary stenoses, and thus invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is recommended.

Aim: We evaluated diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) as a potential alternative to ICA for the detection of coronary stenoses.

Are cardiomyocytes able to generate pre-amyloid peptides?

We performed ultrastructural testing of a cardiac biopsy taken from a heart with amyloidosis in which transthyretin mutation and light chain A amyloidosis were excluded. Cardiomyocytes of the affected heart showed accumulation of endosomal-like structures in which soluble amyloid oligomeric conformation was deposited. Intracellular accumulation of β -amyloid as well as phosphorylated tau protein seen in the immunohistochemical study suggest that the heart tissue may generate an amyloidogenic peptide leading to cardiomyocyte destruction and heart dysfunction.

Clustering of admission hyperglycemia, impaired renal function and anemia and its impact on in-hospital outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: To examine the incidence and inter-relationships between admission hyperglycemia, anemia and impaired renal function and its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI.

Methods: The study group comprised 1880 patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI, enrolled in a prospective registry.

Results: The primary endpoint of in-hospital death occurred in 88 (4.

Sodium level on admission and in-hospital outcomes of STEMI patients treated with primary angioplasty: the ANIN Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Background: Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder reported to be a predictor of poor prognosis among hospitalized patients, but individuals with high levels also tend to have less favorable outcomes. This study investigated whether sodium level on admission is predictive of in-hospital outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary angioplasty.

Material/methods: Included were 1858 patients admitted with STEMI for primary angioplasty.

Primary angioplasty in patients > or = 75 years old with ST-elevation myocardial infarction - one-year follow-up results.

Background: Efficacy and safety of primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI) in elderly patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have not yet been definitely established because these patients were usually excluded from large randomised trials.

Aim: To evaluate in-hospital and one-year outcome after primary PCI in elderly patients, and to assess clinical characteristics of this group.

Methods: The study population included 1061 consecutive STEMI patients, mean age 60.

Association of non-specific inflammatory activation with early mortality in patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome treated with primary angioplasty.

Background: The association of inflammatory markers with mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains controversial, so in the present study the relationships of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil (N) and lymphocyte (L) counts and the N/L ratio with occurrence of in-hospital mortality were assessed in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI.

Methods And Results: Inflammatory parameters were assessed on admission in 1,078 consecutive, unselected patients with STEMI admitted for primary PCI. In-hospital death occurred in 6.

Comparison of prognostic value of epicardial blood flow and early ST-segment resolution after primary coronary angioplasty. ANIN--Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Background: TIMI scale is commonly used for angiographic assessment of reperfusion effectiveness and early risk stratification in patients treated with primary angioplasty for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Since ST-resolution analysis allows a noninvasive insight into the reperfusion status at the myocardial tissue level, it may be a better predictor of outcome after primary angioplasty.

Aim: To compare the prognostic value of the reperfusion effectiveness evaluation based on either the epicardial blood flow assessment according to the TIMI scale, or ST-segment resolution analysis in patients treated with primary coronary angioplasty for STEMI.

Comparison of different methods of ST segment resolution analysis for prediction of 1-year mortality after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Resolution of ST segment elevation corresponds with myocardial tissue reperfusion and correlates with clinical outcome after ST elevation myocardial infarction. Simpler method evaluating the extent of maximal deviation persisting in a single ECG lead was an even stronger mortality predictor. Our aim was to evaluate and compare prognostic accuracy of different methods of ST segment elevation resolution analysis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a real-life setting.

White blood cell count adds prognostic information to the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk index in patients following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (ANIN Myocardial Infarction Registry).

Aims: To determine the relationship between baseline white blood cell (WBC) count, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk index, and 30-day mortality in unselected patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary mechanical reperfusion (PCI).

Methods And Results: 903 patients from prospective registry admitted for primary PCI to a tertiary cardiological center. Both baseline WBC count and TIMI risk index data were dichotomized about the respective medians.

Acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. In-hospital and mid-term results of invasive treatment in the National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw-Anin.

Background: Mortality in acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock approaches 90%, regardless of the type of pharmacological treatment.

Aim: To assess in-hospital and mid-term results of invasive treatment of patients with acute MI with ST segment elevation (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Methods: From a prospective registry of all patients admitted to our institution for urgent coronary angiography due to acute coronary syndrome between February 2001 and June 2002, patients with STEMI, symptom duration up to 12 hours and cardiogenic shock diagnosed on admission were identified.

Late results of percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy compared to patients with 'de-novo' stenosis.

Background And Aims Of The Study: The outcome of percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy (BMC) has been reported as poor in patients with prior surgical commissurotomy. The study aim was to evaluate immediate and long-term follow up results of BMC in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy compared to patients with 'de-novo' mitral stenosis.

Methods: Between October 1988 and September 1999, a total of 1,027 patients underwent BMC.