Accuracy of three-dimensional systolic dyssynchrony and sphericity indexes for identifying early left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Left ventricle (LV) geometry and dyssynchrony are associated with LV remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this prospective study was to assess the diagnostic value of new three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) parameters [sphericity (SI) and systolic dyssynchrony indexes (SDI)] for the prediction of LV remodeling after AMI and to compare them with two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) parameters.

Methods: 2DE and 3DE were performed in 75 patients with AMI within 3 days from the onset of MI and 6 months later.

Positron Emission Tomography in the Diagnosis and Management of Coronary Artery Disease.

Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) are encouraging precise non-invasive imaging modalities that allow imaging of the cellular function of the heart, while other non-invasive cardiovascular imaging modalities are considered to be techniques for imaging the anatomy, morphology, structure, function and tissue characteristics. The role of cardiac PET has been growing rapidly and providing high diagnostic accuracy of coronary artery disease (CAD). Clinical cardiology has established PET as a criterion for the assessment of myocardial viability and is recommended for the proper management of reduced left ventricle (LV) function and ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Association of the genetic and traditional risk factors of ischaemic heart disease with STEMI and NSTEMI development.

Introduction: To evaluate the influence of traditional risk factors of ischaemic heart disease and genetic factors to predict different types of acute coronary syndromes.

Materials And Methods: Five hundred and twenty-three patients with acute coronary syndromes (393 with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 130 with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)) comprised the study group. The control group consisted of 645 subjects free from symptoms of ischaemic heart disease and stroke.

Dobutamine-stress echocardiography speckle-tracking imaging in the assessment of hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenosis in patients with moderate and high probability of coronary artery disease.

Background And Objective: Myocardial deformation indices are considered as sensitive markers of ischemia and may be useful in the quantification of hemodynamic significance of coronary artery disease (CAD). We sought to determine the diagnostic value of speckle-tracking echocardiography derived myocardial deformation parameters at rest and during stress to determine hemodynamically significance coronary artery stenosis in patients with moderate and high probability of CAD.

Materials And Methods: In 81 patients (mean age, 64±8.

Early and late diastolic strain rate vs global longitudinal strain at rest and during dobutamine stress for the assessment of significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with a moderate and high probability of coronary artery disease.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the usefulness of global longitudinal strain (GLS), regional diastolic and systolic strain, strain rate (SR) parameters at rest and during dobutamine stress echocardiography for detecting significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with a moderate or high probability of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Dobutamine stress echocardiography and adenosine magnetic resonance imaging (AMRI) were performed on 127 patients with a moderate and high probability of CAD and left ventricle ejection fraction ≥55%. CAD was defined as ≥70% diameter stenosis on coronary angiography validated as hemodynamically significant by AMRI.

Left ventricular function by speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with low-T3 syndrome and acute myocardial infarction.

Background And Objective: Low-T3 syndrome is common in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Recent experimental and clinical data have suggested a potential negative impact of low-T3 syndrome on myocardial function in patients with AMI. The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) myocardial function in patients with low-T3 syndrome and to investigate the association between hormonal profile and the severity of LV dysfunction using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE).

Role of MMP-2 (-1306 C/T) Polymorphism in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: To determine if the frequency of the MMP-2 (-1306 C/T) genotype has an influence on the development of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methodology: The study enrolled 387 patients with early AMD and a random sample of 682 healthy persons (control group). The genotyping of MMP-2 (-1306 C/T) was carried out using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method.

The Effect of PAI-1 4G/5G Polymorphism and Clinical Factors on Coronary Artery Occlusion in Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: Data on the impact of PAI-1-675 4G/5G genotype for fibrinolysis during myocardial infarction are inconsistent. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of clinical and genetic (PAI-1-675 4G/5G polymorphism) factors with coronary artery occlusion in patients with myocardial infarction.

Materials And Methods: PAI-1-675 4G/5G detection was achieved by using Sanger sequencing in a sample of patients hospitalized for stent implantation due to myocardial infarction.

Effect of clinical factors and gene polymorphism of CYP2C19*2, *17 and CYP4F2*3 on early stent thrombosis.

Aim: To determine the main clinical and genetic factors having impact on early coronary stent thrombosis.

Materials & Methods: Genotyping of CYP2C19*2, *17 and CYP4F2*3 in patients with (n = 31) and without stent thrombosis (n = 456) was performed. Clinical and genetic data were analyzed by binary logistic regression.

Association of major cardiovascular risk factors with the development of acute coronary syndrome in Lithuania.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease remains the leading cause of death in Lithuania. Timely recognition of CV risk factors and intervention to reduce these risk factors is of absolute importance to prevent coronary heart disease and reduce its burden on society. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of major CV risk factors in general population and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and to determine their association with the development of ACS.

The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases Polymorphisms in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix components and play an important role in the physiological and pathological remodeling of tissues.

Purpose: To assess the impact of MMP-2 Rs2285053 (C->T), MMP-3 Rs3025039 (5A->6A), and MMP-9 Rs3918242 (C->T) single nucleotide polymorphism on the development of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: The study group comprised 148 patients with AMD, and the control group enrolled 526 randomly selected persons.

SCARB1 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs5888) is associated with serum lipid profile and myocardial infarction in an age- and gender-dependent manner.

Background: Mutation in SCARB1 gene, exon 8 rs5888, has been associated with altered lipid levels and cardiovascular risk in humans though the results have been inconsistent. We analysed the impact of SCARB1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs5888 with plasma lipid profile and association with coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Lithuanian population characterized by high morbidity and mortality from CAD and high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: The study included 1976 subjects from a random sample (reference group) and an myocardial infarction (MI) group of 463 patients.

Left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction: impact of clinical, echocardiographic parameters and polymorphism of angiotensinogen gene.

Introduction: The development of left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction is a predictor of heart failure and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the polymorphism of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene with threonine (T) instead of methionine (M) at amino acid 235 in exon 2 (M235T) had effects on cardiac remodelling after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: One hundred and forty-one patients (mean age 56.

Does matrix metalloproteinase-3 polymorphism play a role in age-related macular degeneration in patients with myocardial infarction?

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine if the genotype of the matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) gene might carry the risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in patients with myocardial infarction.

Material And Methods: A total of 499 patients with an acute myocardial infarction or with a history of myocardial infarction were enrolled into the study. They were subdivided into 2 groups: 273 patients with ARMD and 226 patients without ARMD.

Components of left ventricular ejection and filling in patients with aortic regurgitation assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography.

The aim of our study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) longitudinal, radial, and rotational function and its relationship with conventional LV parameters of systolic and diastolic function in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) by speckle-tracking echocardiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A total of 26 asymptomatic patients with moderate AR, 34 patients with severe AR, and 28 healthy controls were included into the study.

Does longitudinal strain predict left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction?

Background: One of the most prognostically significant consequences of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the development of an adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to evaluate a feasibility of speckle tracking imaging (STI), in particular, global longitudinal strain (Ls) in predicting LV remodeling after AMI.

Methods: A total of 82 AMI patients (mean age 57.

Early age-related macular degeneration in patients with myocardial infarction.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Enrolled in the study were 262 acute MI patients (MI group), aged 40-64 years, as well as 1,155 non-MI persons, aged 40-64 years, from a random sample (reference group) of the Kaunas population.

Results: The prevalence of early AMD in the random sample was 7.

Left ventricular mechanics in asymptomatic normotensive and hypertensive patients with aortic regurgitation.

Background: The aims of this study were to detect subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and to determine the impact of arterial hypertension on LV systolic function using speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR).

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with AR and 47 healthy controls were included in the study. LV rotation and longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain were measured using speckle-tracking imaging.

Changes of electrophysiological parameters in patients with atrial flutter.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to study some anatomic and electrophysiological features of the right atrium, related to the presence of atrial flutter.

Materials And Methods: A total 23 patients with type I atrial flutter and 22 patients without atrial flutter were studied. Right atrium size was assessed using echocardiography before intracardiac examination and radiofrequency ablation.

[Clinical forms of infective endocarditis in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in 2002-2005].

Objectives: To determine the incidence and distribution of clinical forms of infective endocarditis and to compare these data with data of 1983-1993.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 116 patients with infective endocarditis treated in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in 2002-2005 was performed. The data were compared with analogical data of 1983-1993.

[The main aspects of symptomatic therapy of chronic heart failure].

The main aims of the treatment of chronic heart failure are to improve and to maintain the quality of life, to increase duration of life, to decrease mortality, to prevent diseases leading to the heart failure development, and to prevent the progression of heart failure. Diuretics are the drugs of first choice for the treatment of congestive heart failure. They can improve the quality of patient's life quite quickly.