Massive right atrial myxoma with dyspnea at rest in an elderly patient: a case report.

Introduction: Primary heart tumors are extremely rare and myxoma is the most common type of these tumors. Although intra-atrial presentation is a predilection place, right atrial localization is atypical. The symptom triad is characteristic in the clinical presentation of the tumor: embolic complication, intracardiac blood flow obstruction and systemic manifestations like elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fever, anemia, body weight loss.

[Medical treatments in aortic stenosis: role of statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors].

CALCIFIC AROTIC STENOSIS AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS: Aortic stenosis is the most frequent valvular heart disease in western world and its incidence continues to rise. Aortic sclerosis is the first characteristic lesion of the cusps, which is today considered a process similar to atherosclerosis. The progression of the disease is an active process leading to forming of bone matrix and heavily calcified stiff cusps by inflammatory cells and osteopontin.

[Role of natriuretic peptides in the assessment of aortic stenosis severity].

Background/aim: Symptom onset is a critical point in natural course of aortic stenosis and the most important indication for aortic valve replacement. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of natriuretic peptides level in the assessment of symtomatic status of patients with severe aortic stenosis and the preserved left ventricular systolic function.

Methods: In 67 patients with isolated severe aortic stenosis symptomatic status, transthoracic echocardiography, and BNP and NT-proBNP plasma level were assesed.

[Aortic stenosis: from diagnosis to optimal treatment].

Aortic stenosis is the most frequent valvular heart disease. Aortic sclerosis is the first characteristic lesion of the cusps, which is considered today as the process similar to atherosclerosis. Progression of the disease is an active process leading to forming of bone matrix and heavily calcified stiff cusps by inflammatory cells and osteopontin.

Alteration in plasma antioxidant capacity in various degrees of chronic renal failure.

Aim, Patients And Methods: To obtain a more comprehensive profile of extracellular antioxidant capacity in chronic renal failure (CRF), markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA and hydrogen peroxide), protein SH groups (as an important chain-breaking antioxidant) and activity of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, [GPX], catalase and superoxide dismutase, [SOD]) were studied in plasma of 36 non-dialyzed patients with various degrees of CRF and 10 hemodialyzed (HD) patients.

Results: The results show that plasma MDA concentrations significantly increase with the severity of kidney dysfunction (r = -0.543, p < 0.