Effect of atorvastatin on systolic and diastolic function in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Aim To investigate the benefit of high-dose lipophilic statin therapy on cardiac remodelling, function and progression of heart failure (HF) in patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods A total of 80 patients with ischemic HF diagnosis were followed during 6 months, and they were divided in two groups. First group (n=40) was treated by high-dose lipophilic statin therapy (atorvastatin 40 mg) and conventional therapy for HF, while the second group (n=40) had no atorvastatin in the therapy.

Beta-blocker Use in Moderate and Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Introduction: The most appropriate choice of pharmacological treatment of heart rhythm disorders occurring in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular comorbidity is often a topic of debate between pulmonologists and cardiologists in clinical practice, although numerous studies and clinical trials have demonstrated evidence to support the use of selective beta-blockers (BBs) in these patients.

Aim: To examine the difference in the number of exacerbations in patients treated with a combination of verapamil and digoxin or BB alone in patients with different COPD stages.

Patients And Methods: The study included 68 patients (n = 68) diagnosed with COPD who were followed-up during a 12-month period, and the number of exacerbations were analyzed.

Significance of Nitric Oxyde Saliva Concentration of the Patients with Renal Failure on Hemodialysis.

Introduction: An increase in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis concentration could help alleviate some pathological changes directly related to uremia.

Aim: To investigate the concentration of nitric oxide in saliva of patients with terminal stage of chronic renal failure on hemodialysis and to investigate the effect of hemodialysis on concentration of nitric oxide in saliva of the patients with terminal stage of chronic renal failure on hemodialysis.

Material And Methods: The study had a prospective character and included 60 respondents of both sexes, at age between 20 and 60 years.

Impact of Different Types of Statins on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Ischemic Heart Failure.

Introduction: The effect of statins on risk of heart failure (HF) hospitalization and lethal outcome remains dubious.

Aim: To investigate whether statin therapy improves clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized for ischemic heart failure (HF), to compare the efficacy of lipophilic and hydrophilic statins and to investigate which statin subtype provides better survival and other outcome benefits.

Material And Methods: Total amount of 155 patients in the study were admitted to the Clinic for Cardiology, Rheumatology and Vascular diseases in Clinical Center University of Sarajevo in the period from January 2014- December 2017.

Predictors of Hospitalization for Heart Failure Decompensation in 18-months Follow-up After Index Hospitalization for Acute Heart Failure.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) has very high rate of repeat hospitalizations due to HF decompensation (HHFD), sometimes very shortly after discharge for acute HF.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to investigate rate of HHFD and to identify their possible predictors.

Patients And Methods: Total amount of 222 patients hospitalized at Clinic for heart and vessel disease and rheumatism in acute HF were followed for next 18 months for occurrence of HHFD.

Hyperlactatemia and the Importance of Repeated Lactate Measurements in Critically Ill Patients.

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of hyperlactatemia and emphasis on repeated lactate measurements in critically ill patients, and the associated mortality.

Materials And Methods: The study included 70 patients admitted in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the Clinical Center, University of Sarajevo, in a 6-month period (July - December 2015). The following data were obtained: age, gender, reason for admission, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, lactate concentrations upon admission, after 24 and 48 hours, and outcome (discharge from hospital or death).

Serum level of tumor marker carbohydrate antigen-CA125 in heart failure.

Objective: To assess serum levels of tumor marker carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) in patients with heart failure (HF) and to investigate possible correlation with echocardiographic parameters and level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Patients And Methods: We included 76 patients with different cardiac symptoms hospitalized at Clinic for heart disease and rheumatism. Control group (n = 26) was consisted of patients without signs and symptoms of HF, normal left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and normal BNP level.

Comparison of two and three dimensional transthoracic versus transesophageal echocardiography in evaluation of anatomy and pathology of left atrial apendage.

Objective: Our objective was the comparison of combined utility of two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and three-dimensional (3D) TTE versus 2D and 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in evaluation of anatomy of the left atrium appendage (LAA) and for clot formation in LAA.

Background: 2DTEE as semi-invasive method has been for a long time used to visualize the LAA. Improved echocardiography technology has increasingly improved visualization of LAA by 2DTTE and 3DTTE in many patients and decreased the need for TEE performance.

Brain natriuretic peptide release in acute myocardial infarction.

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is released from ventricular myocites due to their stretching and volume overload. In heart failure there is BNP release. Aim of this study was to observe BNP release in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Biphasic and monophasic pattern of brain natriuretic peptide release in acute myocardial infarction.

This study evaluated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) release in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), absolute values as well as pattern of its release. There are two different patterns of BNP release in AMI; monophasic pattern--concentration in the first measurement is higher than in the second one, and biphasic pattern--concentration in the first measurement is lower than in the second one. We observed significance of biphasic and monophasic pattern of BNP release related to diagnostic and prognostic value.