Trial of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Assessment and Transthoracic Echocardiography Results in Patients with Primary Antibody Deficiency.

The life expectancy and the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in patients with inborn errors of immunity are systematically increasing. The aim of the study was to assess cardiovascular risk factors and to evaluate the heart in echocardiography in patients with primary antibody deficiency (PAD). Cardiac echography and selected cardiovascular risk factors, including body mass index, sedentary lifestyle, nicotine, glucose, C-reactive protein, lipid profile, uric acid level, certain chronic diseases, and glucocorticoid use, were analyzed in 94 patients >18 years of age with PAD.

Aging Athlete's Heart: An Echocardiographic Evaluation of Competitive Sprint- versus Endurance-Trained Master Athletes.

Background: Sports training triggers exercise-induced cardiac remodeling (EICR). Sprint- and endurance-trained master athletes are exposed to different hemodynamic stimuli accompanied by aging. The aim of this study was to compare EICR types in light of the Morganroth hypothesis, frequency of abnormalities, and relationships between cardiac traits and age.

The Interactions of Nintedanib and Oral Anticoagulants-Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications.

Nintedanib is a synthetic orally active tyrosine kinase inhibitor, whose main action is to inhibit the receptors of the platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor families. The drug also affects other kinases, including Src, Flt-3, LCK, LYN. Nintedanib is used in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic fibrosing interstitial lung diseases and lung cancer.

Are changes in heart rate, observed during dobutamine stress echocardiography, associated with a response to cardiac resynchronisation therapy in patients with severe heart failure? Results of a multicentre ViaCRT study.

Background: According to current European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure (HF), cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is indicated in patients suffering from HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF) with significantly widened QRS complexes. The presence of vital myocardium proven by dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is considered as a good prognostic factor for responsiveness to this treatment. Chronotropic incompetence is, on the other hand, a known factor of unfavourable outcome in HF.

Prognostic value of selected echocardiographic, impedance cardiographic, and hemodynamic parameters determined during right heart catheterization in patients qualified for heart transplantation.

The aim of the study was to verify prognostic value of selected echocardiographic (UKG), impedance cardiography (ICG), and right heart catheterization (RHC) parameters in systolic heart failure (HF). UKG, ICG, and RHC were performed in 46 patients with chronic HF with ejection fraction <35%. During a 1-year follow-up, composite endpoint (death or hospitalization due to HF exacerbation) was achieved by 23 (50.

Polish Stress Echocardiography Registry (Pol-STRESS registry) - a multicentre study. Stress echocardiography in Poland: numbers, settings, results, and complications.

Background: Stress echocardiography (SE) is widely used in Europe. No collective data have been available on the use of SE in Poland until now.

Aim: To evaluate the number of SE investigations performed in Poland, their settings, complications, and results.

Dichlorotrifluoromethoxyacetic Acid: Preparation and Reactivity.

We describe the first gram scale preparation of the reagent dichlorotrifluoromethoxyacetic acid. This stable compound is obtained in five steps starting from the cheap diethylene glycol. The reactivity of the sodium salt of this fluorinated acid was also tested and allowed the preparation of new amides.

Bone morphogenetic protein 6-a possible new player in pathophysiology of heart failure.

Derangement of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling was observed in cardiovascular disorders. The present study assesses the diagnostic and prognostic value of BMP6 plasma concentration in chronic heart failure (CHF). 130 CHF patients and 32 controls participated in the study.

Prognostic significance of red cell distribution width and other red cell parameters in patients with chronic heart failure during two years of follow-up.

Background: Studies published during the last decade seem to indicate red blood cell parameters as inexpensive, rapidly available, and simple tools for the assessment of prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of red cell parameters determined in a routine blood count in patients with CHF.

Methods: The study group included 165 patients with the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV CHF hospitalised in the 2nd Department of Cardiology in Bydgoszcz.

Extracellular matrix remodeling in wound healing of critical size defects in the mitral valve leaflet.

The details of valvular leaflet healing following valvuloplasty and leaflet perforation from endocarditis are poorly understood. In this study, the synthesis and turnover of valvular extracellular matrix due to healing of a critical sized wound was investigated. Twenty-nine sheep were randomized to either CTRL (n = 11) or HOLE (n = 18), in which a 2.

Short-term alcohol consumption may have detrimental effect on fibrinolysis and endothelial function: preliminary report of prospective randomised study.

Background And Aim: This study was designed to clarify the impact of the short-term consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages on haemostatic factors, C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and endothelin-1 (E-1) plasma levels.

Methods: The study group consisted of 57 healthy male volunteers, aged 20-29 years. Subjects were randomised to consume 300 mL of red wine, white wine, 12% ethanol, black currant juice or water for five days.

Relationship between B-type natriuretic peptide serum level, echocardiographic TEI index and the degree of diastolic dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved systolic function.

Introduction: The growing number of heart failure (HF) patients is becoming an important issue in cardiology. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a recognized marker of HF, including in patients with preserved systolic function. The TEI index is an indicator of left ventricular function.

Giant post-infarction pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle manifesting as severe heart failure.

A 57 year-old female was admitted for chronic heart failure (HF) with NYHA class IV symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed ruptured left ventricular (LV) lateral and posterior wall between their basal and middle segments resulting in giant, round pseudoaneurysm formation with a diameter of 12 cm. Bidirectional flow through a 2.

[Recurrent cardiac tamponade and sepsis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis].

Exudative pericarditis is found in 30-50% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in later stages of the disease. Most cases present with no or few symptoms. We report a case of a 68 year-old male with a history of mild RA who developed exudative pericarditis leading to recurrent cardiac tamponade requiring repeated pericardiocenteses.

[Successful therapy and rehabilitation following stroke in a pregnant woman with prosthetic aortic valve].

This report describes a case of a 40 year-old woman with implanted aortic prosthetic valve, who experienced thrombo-embolic complication in a form of ischaemic stroke in 15 week of pregnancy. At the beginning of the event, the patient suffered from mixed aphasia, right-side paresis and depressive syndrome. Thanks to cooperation of many specialists, especially rehabilitation team, she restored overall physical efficiency, speaking ability, delivered a healthy child, and returned to normal family and social activity.

[Severe tachycardiomyopathy and thrombus in the left atrial appendage--a case report].

We describe a case of severe left ventricular (LV) heart failure caused by tachycardiomyopathy with concomitant presence of unsolved thrombus in left atrial appendage despite effective oral anticoagulant treatment. Successful ablation of atrial flutter and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia entailed resolution of heart failure symptoms and normalisation of LV function.

[Severe, thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension with recurrent pulmonary embolism and right heart thrombi in a patient with past myocardial infarction, cerebral ischaemic stroke and small intestine necrosis].

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a chronic progressive disease of pulmonary circulation characterised by indistinct ethiopathogenesis. We present a case of a 50 year-old male with thrombophilia of unknown origin leading to the formation of multiple thrombi within venous circulation followed by episodes of acute pulmonary embolism resulting ultimately in acute heart failure in the course of developing CTEPH. Unfortunately, despite the wide range of haemostasis laboratory tests we were not able to define the type of coagulation abnormality.

Relationship between thoracic fluid content and natriuretic peptide type B in patients with systolic heart failure.

Background: Thoracic fluid content (TFC) is one of the basic parameters measured by impedance cardiography (ICG). The B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a neuroendocrine mediator produced in the ventricular myocardium and released in response to the increase of wall tension.

Aim: To determine the relationship between TFC measured by ICG and BNP serum level in patients with systolic heart failure (HF).

Immunoglobulin E as a marker of the atherothrombotic process in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Clot formation is a crucial moment in the patophysiology of acute coronary syndromes. The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between immunoglobulin E (IgE), lipid parameters and chosen hemostatic markers. The role of IgE as a possible participant in the atherothrombotic process was also investigated.

Immunoglobulin E in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Background: In recent years, increased serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration in patients with cardiovascular diseases has been generating more and more interest. It is as yet unknown, however, if the increased IgE level is a marker of future coronary incidents and whether it may be regarded as an ischemic heart disease risk factor, or if it is indicative of the participation of antibodies in an inflammatory reaction to tissue damage. The aim of the study was to evaluate what significant changes in the total IgE concentration occur in patients with different forms of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and whether the concentration differs in comparison to healthy people.

The reliability of noninvasive cardiac output measurement using the inert gas rebreathing method in patients with advanced heart failure.

Background: Impaired cardiac output (CO) is a key element of heart failure (HF). So far, there has been no simple, reliable, inexpensive and non-invasive CO measurement method feasible for clinical practice. Not a single diagnostic test has been elaborated to diagnose and monitor HF.

Fluorous tolerance of the estrogen receptor alpha as probed by 11-polyfluoroalkylestradiol derivatives.

The concern of this work was to try to delineate factors, inherent to fluorination, susceptible to influence estradiol binding to the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). For this purpose, fluorinated chains were linked at 11beta position of the steroid (i.e.