Pentaenolate activation in the organocatalytic allylic alkylation of indene-2-carbaldehydes.

In this manuscript, the application of pentaenolate intermediates in the allylic alkylation of indene-2-carbaldehydes with Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates is described. The reaction has been carried out in a highly enantio- and diastereoselective manner due to the use of a chiral tertiary amine as a nucleophilic catalyst. The developed reactivity constitutes the first application of organocatalytic pentaenolate activation in asymmetric synthesis, expanding the arsenal of catalytic methods.

Prolonged QRS duration in patients with heart failure: relation to exercise tolerance, diastolic function and aetiology.

Background: In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) QRS prolongation is a frequent finding and is related to increased morbidity and mortality. It is not clear if prolonged QRS in CHF of ischaemic origin (CAD) represents the same severity of the syndrome as in non-ischaemic (non-CAD) cardiomyopathy.

Aim: To assess the relationship between QRS duration and BNP levels, diastolic function and peak VO2 in patients with CAD CHF and non-CAD CHF.

[Left ventricular remodelling and rebuilding of the infarcted area. Morphometric evaluation of the relationships between left ventricular mass, myocyte diameter, capillary density and fibrosis].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to assess the structural changes in both the infarcted region and free left ventricular (LV) wall that underly post-infarct LV remodeling in the human heart.

Material And Methods: Morphometric evaluation was performed in 31 human hearts, as follows: group I (control)--non-cardiac death (mean age: 52.4 +/- 11.

Short- and long-term mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with different therapeutic strategies. Results from WIelkopolska REgional 2002 Registry (WIRE Registry).

Background: Although primary coronary angioplasty seems to be the best treatment in acute myocardial infarction (MI), thrombolytic therapy still remains the most common reperfusion strategy particularly in smaller centers. Nowadays, different regional networks are developed to improve the treatment of patients with MI.

Aim: To analyse the effects of different therapeutic strategies on 30-day and long-term mortality (median time 18.

Mortality in patients with heart failure treated with cardiac resynchronisation therapy. A long-term multi-centre follow-up study.

Background: Benefits of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) for survival in selected congestive heart failure (CHF) patients have been acknowledged by the 2005 ESC guidelines.

Aim: To analyse mortality in CRT pacing only (CRT-P) patients during at least one-year follow-up.

Methods: This was a prospective, multi-site, at least one-year observational study on mortality and mode of death in patients who received CRT-P due to commonly accepted indications.

[Twiddler syndrome: a rare complication of ICD implantation].

Twiddler syndrome is a rare complication after pacemaker or ICD implantation. We present a case of a man who experienced 7 inappropriate ICD shocks because of this complication. Treatment included total system removal and new device implantation on the right side.

Restrictive filling pattern predicts pulmonary hypertension and is associated with increased BNP levels and impaired exercise capacity in patients with heart failure.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is a common finding in patients with systolic heart failure (HF). Severe diastolic dysfunction, which is defined as LV restrictive filling pattern (RFP), is associated with more severe HF, increased sympathetic activity and reduced exercise capacity. It has also been shown to be a predictor of lower survival rate in patients with HF.

Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS). Characteristics, treatments and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes in Poland.

Background: In Poland, together with the transformation of the political system, significant positive changes have been made to the national health care system. This provided a possibility for hospitals to apply current standards of care to patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Aim: To assess contemporary data on epidemiology, management and outcomes of patients with ACS in Poland, and to evaluate adherence to the guidelines' recommended treatment.

[Presyncope caused by non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Significance of RF ablation].

We describe a case of a 55-year-old man with episodes of presyncope caused by non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (ns-VT). Symptoms of significant weakness started when he was 30-year-old. In the last 2 years there was a substantial increase in frequency of presyncope from 2 per month to 8 per week.

Impaired glucose tolerance worsens exercise capacity and ventilatory response to exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: There is increasing evidence for the importance of peripheral abnormalities in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure (HF). Recently, glucose and insulin metabolism abnormalities have been intensively investigated in patients with HF.

Aim: To investigate whether coexistence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) may decrease exercise tolerance and influence ventilatory response to exercise in patients with systolic HF.

First heart sound and opening snap in patients with mitral valve disease. Phonocardiographic and pathomorphologic study.

We investigated correlation between mitral valve morphology and first heart sound (S(1)) and opening snap (OS) amplitude. The analysis revealed negative correlation between the OS amplitude and the area of calcification and the mitral orifice area. We also found negative correlation between the S(1) intensity and the area of calcification.

Acute myocardial infarction and rapid development of coronary aneurysms in a young woman--unusual presentation of Takayasu arteritis?

The present report describes a young female patient with acute myocardial infarction and inflammatory lesions limited to proximal and midsegments of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Based on the presence of positive inflammatory markers, an angiographically confirmed coronary artery lesion and the young age of the patient, an atypical presentation of Takayasu arteritis was diagnosed.

Outcomes in subgroups of hypertensive patients treated with regimens based on valsartan and amlodipine: An analysis of findings from the VALUE trial.

Background: In the Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) trial the primary outcome (cardiac morbidity and mortality) did not differ between valsartan and amlodipine-based treatment groups, although systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure reductions were significantly more pronounced with amlodipine. Stroke incidence was non-significantly, and myocardial infarction was significantly lower in the amlodipine-based regimen, whereas cardiac failure was non-significantly lower on valsartan.

Objectives: The study protocol specified additional analyses of the primary endpoint according to: sex; age; race; geographical region; smoking status; type 2 diabetes; total cholesterol; left ventricular hypertrophy; proteinuria; serum creatinine; a history of coronary heart disease; a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack; and a history of peripheral artery disease.

Effect of heparin on blood vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

It has been demonstrated that high blood vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with myocardial infarction decrease rapidly after reperfusion, possibly in response to heparin administration. We measured serum VEGF concentration before and after heparin infusion in 105 patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Serum VEGF concentration in patients with STEMI was significantly higher than in healthy controls.

Effect of impaired myocardial reperfusion on left ventricular remodeling in patients with anterior wall acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary intervention.

We assessed the effect of impaired myocardial blush after primary coronary intervention (PCI) on left ventricular remodeling in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study population consisted of 145 patients with first anterior STEMI that was treated successfully (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction grade 3 flow) with PCI. Left ventricular remodeling was defined as an increase of > or =20% in end-diastolic volume based on repeated echocardiographic measurements in patients.

Effect of microvascular reperfusion on prognosis and left ventricular function in anterior wall myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.

Background: Myocardial reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction may fail despite successful recanalization of the infarct-related artery. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of myocardial reperfusion on clinical outcome and left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods: The clinical significance of myocardial blush grade (MBG)-angiographic marker of myocardial reperfusion, in 104 patients (age 62+/-13 years) with first anterior myocardial infarction, successfully (TIMI 3) treated with primary angioplasty was analysed.

[The risk of mitral pathology in marphanoid female basketball players].

Unlabelled: Recently much research has been done focusing on the problem of athlete's heart as a physiological phenomenon as well as a cause of morbidity or even mortality. The question rises whether pathology discovered in some athletes was primary or developed after professional excessive training program.

The Aim: We studied a group of young female athletes (basketball players) to test the hypothesis that marfanoid habitus, favorable in this sport, could bear predisposition for pathology of the heart.

[Acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. Difficult decision concerning long-distance transportation to a tertiary centre -- a case report].

A case of a 60-year-old female with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock is presented. The patient received thrombolytic therapy, however, developed cardiogenic shock and required resuscitation with intubation, mechanical ventilation and repeated defibrillation due to recurrent ventricular fibrillation. The patient was transported by air to the tertiary centre with catheterisation laboratory (distance -- 120 km), where successful angioplasty with stent implantation in the right coronary artery was performed.

Relationship between tissue reperfusion and postinfarction left ventricular remodelling in patients with anterior wall myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary angioplasty.

Introduction: Pathological left ventricular remodelling is considered the main cause of heart failure in patients after myocardial infarction.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate correlations between the degree of coronary microvascular reperfusion assessed by means of the angiographic myocardial blush grade (MBG) scale and adverse left ventricular remodelling in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary angioplasty.

Methods: This study involved 92 consecutive patients, hospitalised because of their first anterior wall myocardial infarction, who underwent successful (TIMI-3 grade flow) primary coronary angioplasty.

Evaluation of exercise capacity with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and type B natriuretic peptide concentrations in adult patients with patent atrial septal defect.

Unlabelled: Adults with patent atrial septal defect (ASD) usually find their exercise capacity satisfactory, and therefore hesitate to accept proposed surgical treatment of the heart disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate both the exercise capacity, using the cardio-pulmonary stress test, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in asymptomatic adults with ASD. Thirty-six patients with patent secundum type ASD (aged mean 44.

QT interval dispersion as a new marker of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of isolated single-vessel coronary artery stenosis.

Background: There are no reliable non-invasive markers of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The aim of our study was to measure changes in QT interval dispersion after PTCA and to determine whether restenosis subsequently affects QT interval dispersion.

Methods And Results: Fifty-six consecutive patients - 41 men and 15 women (mean age: 56.

Chronic infarct-related artery occlusion is associated with a reduction in capillary density. Effects on infarct healing.

Aim: To assess the relationship between infarct-related artery (IRA) stenosis and capillary density and to assess its effect on scar formation in the human heart.

Materials And Methods: Morphometric evaluation was performed in 51 human hearts, as follows. Group I non-cardiac death (control), Group II post-Q-wave myocardial infarction (QMI) death and Group III patients who survived QMI and who underwent aneurysmectomy.

Cytokines and heart rate variability in patients with chronic heart failure.

Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a non-invasive method of assessment of the autonomic nervous system's effects on heart function. In chronic heart failure (CHF), decreased HRV correlates with the progression of the disease. It is also known that in CHF increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines are present.