The Impact of Atorvastatin Treatment on the Distribution of Low-Density Lipoprotein Subfractions and the Level of Vitamin D in Patients After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Preliminary Findings.

Clinical trial results indicate that statin therapy aimed at normalising the lipid profile can prevent and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Both LDL and HDL consist of several subfractions, with only the smallest and densest subfractions being the most atherogenic. We examine the effect of Atorvastatin treatment not only on basic lipid profile parameters but also atherogenic lipoprotein subfractions and 25(OH)D levels in patients after the first acute myocardial infarction.

2024 Guidelines of the Polish Society of Laboratory Diagnostics and the Polish Lipid Association on laboratory diagnostics of lipid metabolism disorders.

Lipid disorders are the most common (even 70%) and worst monitored cardiovascular risk factor (only 1/4 of patients in Poland and in CEE countries are on the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal). To improve this, clear and simple diagnostic criteria should be introduced for all components of the lipid profile. These are the updated guidelines of the two main scientific societies in Poland in the area - the Polish Society of Laboratory Diagnostics (PSLD) and the Polish Lipid Association (PoLA), which, in comparison to those from 2020, introduce few important changes in recommendations (two main lipid targets, new recommendations on LDL-C measurements, calculations new goals for triglycerides, new recommendations on remnants and small dense LDL) that should help the practitioners to be early with the diagnosis of lipid disorders and in the effective monitoring (after therapy initiation), and in the consequence to avoid the first and recurrent cardiovascular events.

The Role of Galectin-3 in Heart Failure-The Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Potential-Where Do We Stand?

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an important factor in the pathophysiology of HF, mainly due to its role in cardiac fibrosis, inflammation, and ventricular remodeling. Fibrosis is a hallmark of cardiac remodeling, HF, and atrial fibrillation development.

Involvement of circRNAs in the Development of Heart Failure.

In recent years, interest in non-coding RNAs as important physiological regulators has grown significantly. Their participation in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases is extremely important. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been shown to be important in the development of heart failure.

Mitochondrial Quality Control: the Role in Cardiac Injury.

The heart is a highly energy-dependent organ, and most of its energy is provided by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore, maintaining a well-functioning mitochondrial population is of paramount importance for cardiac homeostasis, since damaged mitochondria produce less adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and generate higher amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with the development of many diseases, including cardiovascular disorders.

The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potential of Galectin-3 in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Galectin-3 plays a prominent role in chronic inflammation and has been implicated in the development of many disease conditions, including heart disease. Galectin-3, a regulatory protein, is elevated in both acute and chronic heart failure and is involved in the inflammatory pathway after injury leading to myocardial tissue remodelling. We discussed the potential utility of galectin-3 as a diagnostic and disease severity/prognostic biomarker in different cardio/cerebrovascular diseases, such as acute ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

A Review of the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Cardiac Fibrosis and Atrial Fibrillation.

The cellular and molecular mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrosis are highly complex. We have reviewed the literature that covers the effectors, signal transduction and physiopathogenesis concerning extracellular matrix (ECM) dysregulation and atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF). At the molecular level: angiotensin II, transforming growth factor-β1, inflammation, and oxidative stress are particularly important for ECM dysregulation and atrial fibrotic remodelling in AF.

Molecular mechanisms of organ damage in sepsis: an overview.

Sepsis is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization. This condition is characterized by systemic inflammatory response to infection. International definition of sepsis mainly points out a multi-organ dysfunction caused by a deregulated host response to infection.

Serum copeptin and copeptin/NT-proBNP ratio - new tools to differentiate takotsubo syndrome from acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Today no established biomarkers are available for the early diagnosis of takotsubo syndrome and its differentiation from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that copeptin and copeptin/NT-proBNP ratio may serve a routine marker combination for non-invasive differentiation.

Methods: The study compared the serum concentrations of copeptin, troponin I (TnI) and NT-proBNP in 19 consecutive women diagnosed with takotsubo syndrome according to the Mayo Clinic criteria and 10 consecutive women diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

MicroRNAs in the development of left ventricular remodeling and postmyocardial infarction heart failure.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) induces unfavorable left ventricular remodeling (LVR), a complex process that involves molecular, cellular, and geometric alterations leading to important changes in heart structure and function. Heart failure (HF) is a frequent complication of AMI, and it remains a serious clinical, epidemiological, and economic challenge. Despite advances in the therapy and management of HF, many patients still suffer from severe symptoms.

Circulating miR-30a-5p as a prognostic biomarker of left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction.

Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with an increased risk of heart failure (HF) development. Diverse microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to appear in the bloodstream following various cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic miRNAs associated with LV dysfunction following AMI.

Galectin-3 in Patients with Acute Heart Failure: Preliminary Report on First Polish Experience.

Background: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) as a biomarker of fibrosis and inflammation has been implicated in the development and progression of heart failure (HF) and may predict increased morbidity and mortality in society.

Objectives: In this preliminary report we investigated the utility of a novel serum marker for the diagnosis of acute HF (AHF).

Material And Methods: The study involved 14 AHF patients aged 67.

Interindividual variability of atorvastatin treatment influence on the MPO gene expression in patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and C-reactive protein (CRP) may play critical roles in generation of oxidative stress and the development of the systemic inflammatory response. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of atorvastatin therapy on the MPO gene expression and its plasma level in relation to lipids level lowering and an anti-inflammatory response in patients after acute myocardial infarction. The research material was represented by 112 samples.

Release kinetics of circulating miRNA-208a in the early phase of myocardial infarction.

Background: The biochemical confirmation of myocardial infarction is based on cardiac troponin (cTnI or cTnT) determination. Recent scientific results suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) might become a new biomarker of tissue injury.

Aim: To evaluate the release kinetics of circulating heart-specific miRNA-208a and also to test the hypothesis that miRNA-208a can serve as an accessible, diagnostically sensitive plasma biomarker of ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Circulating microribonucleic acids miR-1, miR-21 and miR-208a in patients with symptomatic heart failure: Preliminary results.

Background: Cardiomyocytes produce a wide variety of bioactive molecules that regulate numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. Recently, it has been recognized that changes in microribonucleic acid (miRNA) expression may lead to cardiac dysfunction.

Aims: To assess the expression of circulating miRNAs (miR-1, miR-21 and miR-208a) in patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF), and to investigate the relationship between expression of these miRNAs and secretion of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and galectin-3.

Mycophenolic acid attenuates the tumour necrosis factor-α-mediated proinflammatory response in endothelial cells by blocking the MAPK/NF-κB and ROS pathways.

Background: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has beneficial effects in cardiac transplant patients beyond the suppression of tissue rejection. Moreover, mycophenolic acid (MPA), its active metabolite, has been associated with positive effects on atherosclerosis in animal models. The attachment of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium and the subsequent migration of these cells into the vessel wall are early events in inflammation and atherosclerosis.

[Enantiomers: a new problem in pharmacotherapy of depression?].

Enantiomers as a optically active forms of drugs now have a big impact on most areas of pharmacotherapy. They arouse a large interest in the field of psychiatry and especially in the treatment of depression. This is due to the fact that enantiomers (chiral forms) of many drugs may have a different pharmacokinetic, pharmacological or pharmacogenetic profiles.

Ischaemia modified albumin in patients with acute coronary syndrome and negative cardiac troponin I.

Background: Approximately 40-60% of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have normal cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations on admission. Ischaemia modified albumin (IMA) has been suggested as a new biomarker of myocardial ischaemia.

Methods: A total of 43 patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of ACS but with normal (< 0.

Bovine corneal epithelial primary cultures as an in vitro model for ophthalmic drugs studies.

In the recent years a significant development of investigations with regard to bioavailability of ocular drugs has been noticed. The corneal epithelial barrier is the main pathway for ocular penetration of topically applied ophthalmic drugs into the anterior chamber. To work out an in vitro model of bovine corneal epithelial primary cultures and exercise it for permeability research with lipophilic and hydrophilic markers, permeability coefficients estimation of the 6-carboxyfluorescein and rhodamin B was made.