Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor is Related to Platelet Reactivity and Metformin Treatment in Adult Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels with platelet reactivity and antidiabetes treatment, as well as serum adipocytokine concentrations.

Methods: This observational, open-label study enrolled 149 patients. Serum BDNF, hematologic, biochemical parameters and platelet reactivity were measured.

A serial three- and nine-year optical coherence tomography evaluation of neoatherosclerosis progression after sirolimus- and paclitaxel- -eluting stent implantation.

Background: Early-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) have been shown to accelerate neoatherogenesis. Limited optical coherence tomography (OCT) data on the very long-term neoatherosclerotic progression after DES implantation are available.

Aim: The aim of this study was a serial OCT evaluation of neoatherosclerosis at three and nine years after implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs).

Association of Beta-Blockers with Survival on Patients Presenting with ACS Treated with PCI: A Propensity Score Analysis from the BleeMACS Registry.

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate prognostic value of beta-blocker (BB) administration in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) patients in the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era.

Methods And Results: The BleeMACS project is a multicenter, observational, retrospective registry enrolling patients with ACS worldwide in 15 hospitals. Patients discharged with BB therapy were compared to those discharged without a BB before and after propensity score with matching.

Hybrid Coronary Revascularization in Selected Patients With Multivessel Disease: 5-Year Clinical Outcomes of the Prospective Randomized Pilot Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the 5-year clinical follow-up of the HYBRID (Hybrid Revascularization for Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease) trial.

Background: The HYBRID trial, the only randomized study involving thorough analysis of outcome after the 2 procedures, suggested that hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) is feasible in selected patients with multivessel coronary disease referred for conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There are currently no long-term outcome data from randomized trials in this setting.

Treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome: Recommendations for medical emergency teams: Focus on antiplatelet therapies. Updated experts' standpoint.

A group of Polish experts in cardiology and emergency medicine, encouraged by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, have recently published common recommendations for medical emergency teams regarding the pre-hospital management of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Due to the recent publication of the 2017 ESC guidelines for the management of acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation and 2017 focused update on dual antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease the current panel of experts decided to update the previous standpoint. Moreover, new data coming from studies presented after the previous document was issued were also taken into consideration.

P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor inhibits the release of procoagulant extracellular vesicles from activated platelets.

Background: Activated platelets release platelet extracellular vesicles (PEVs). Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptors P2Y1 and P2Y12 both play a role in platelet activation, The present hypothesis herein is that the inhibition of these receptors may affect the release of PEVs.

Methods: Platelet-rich plasma from 10 healthy subjects was incubated with saline, P2Y1 antagonist MRS2179 (100 μM), P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor (1 μM), and a combination of both antagonists.

Data sharing: A new editorial initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the editors' network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship -emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability-, have been proposed.

Prediction of Post-Discharge Bleeding in Elderly Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights from the BleeMACS Registry.

Background: A poor ability of recommended risk scores for predicting in-hospital bleeding has been reported in elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). No study assessed the prediction of post-discharge bleeding in the elderly. The new BleeMACS score (Bleeding complications in a Multicenter registry of patients discharged with diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome), was designed to predict post-discharge bleeding in ACS patients.

Development and external validation of a post-discharge bleeding risk score in patients with acute coronary syndrome: The BleeMACS score.

Background: Accurate 1-year bleeding risk estimation after hospital discharge for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may help clinicians guide the type and duration of antithrombotic therapy. Currently there are no predictive models for this purpose. The aim of this study was to derive and validate a simple clinical tool for bedside risk estimation of 1-year post-discharge serious bleeding in ACS patients.

Thromboembolic Occlusion of the Left Coronary Artery During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Non-cerebral thromboembolic complications of transcatheter aortic valve implantation are rare, but life threatening. We report a 62-year-old woman with aortic stenosis who qualified for TAVI due to obesity and developed hypotension and bradycardia as a result of thromboembolic occlusion of the LCA.

Left ventricular remodelling pattern and its relation to clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Introduction: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common compensating process in the pressure overload mechanism of aortic stenosis (AS).

Aim: To identify a group of patients with a LVH pattern which may alter periprocedural and 1-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Material And Methods: Echocardiographic examinations of 226 patients with severe AS treated with TAVI between March 2010 and February 2016 were retrospectively analysed and correlated with echocardiographic parameters and clinical outcomes in the study group.

Patient-prosthesis mismatch in patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation - predictors, incidence and impact on clinical efficacy. A preliminary study.

Introduction: Patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) is relatively frequent after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and negatively impacts prognosis.

Aim: We sought to determine the frequency and clinical effects of PPM after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Material And Methods: Overall, 238 patients who underwent TAVI were screened.

Baseline and postoperative levels of C-reactive protein and interleukins as inflammatory predictors of atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a leading arrhythmia with high incidence and serious clinical implications after cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery is associated with systemic inflammatory response including increase in cytokines and activation of endothelial and leukocyte responses.

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the strength of evidence for evaluating the association of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukins (IL), with POAF following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), isolated valvular surgery, or a combination of these procedures.

Comparison of clinical characteristics of real-life atrial fibrillation patients treated with vitamin K antagonists, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban: results from the CRAFT study.

Background: The first-line drugs for the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) are non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), which are preferred over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). There is some evidence that there are dis-crepancies between everyday clinical practice and the guidelines.

Aim: The study aimed to compare the characteristics of patients on VKAs, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban in everyday practice (i.

Risk factors for adverse outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome: single-centre experience with long-term follow-up of treated patients.

Background: For patients experiencing an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a crucial time to assess their prognosis and to plan management is at discharge from hospital.

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify risk factors of mortality during post-discharge period following a hospitalisation for ACS.

Methods: We studied 672 consecutive ACS patients hospitalised and discharged alive between 2002 and 2004.

EQ-5D studies in cardiovascular diseases in eight Central and Eastern European countries: a systematic review of the literature.

Background: The measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by validated generic instruments, such as EQ-5D, has become an increasingly important tool for the assessment of health care in a wide range of diagnoses.

Aim: We aimed to systematically review EQ-5D literature on cardiovascular diseases in eight Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and the EuroQol website up to November 2016.

Factors influencing high-quality chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation scenario, according to 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines.

Background And Aim: Recent American Heart Association guidelines from 2010 and 2015 stressed the importance of high-quality chest compression and defined standards for compression rate, depth, recoil, and maximal acceptable time for interruptions. High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the "cornerstone" of a system of care that can optimise outcomes beyond the return of spontaneous circulation.

Methods: One hundred medical students were enrolled to the study.

Utilisation of lipid-lowering therapies in outpatient settings in Poland: epidemiological survey Economedica Dyslipidaemia 2015.

Background: Dyslipidaemia, especially elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. Treatment of dyslipidaemia and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with lipid-lowering drugs is one of the key issues in reducing cardiovascular mortality. Nevertheless, underutilisation of statins and lipid-lowering drugs is still a problem globally.

Long-term prognosis following acute coronary syndromes: a prospective observational study of an unselected group treated in the 24/7 cardiac catheterisation laboratory at a university hospital.

Background: Risk stratification in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is usually based on clinical data obtained during hospitalisation. To date, there is a limited number of prospective observational studies assessing long-term prognosis of patients discharged from hospital after ACS.

Aim: This study is to investigate long-term follow-up of unselected ACS patients treated at the 24-hour/7-day (24/7) cardiac catheterisation laboratory and discharged from referral university hospital.

OCULUS study: Virtual reality-based education in daily clinical practice.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of stroke and other thromboembolic complications. The OCULUS study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the three-dimensional (3D) movie in teaching patients about the consequences of AF and pharmacological stroke prevention.

Methods: The study was based on a questionnaire and included 100 consecutive patients (38% women, 62% with AF history).

Implementation of mild therapeutic hypothermia for post-resuscitation care of sudden cardiac arrest survivors in cardiology units in Poland.

Background: The post-cardiac arrest (CA) period is often associated with secondary damage of the brain that leads to severe neurological deficits. The current practice guidelines recommend the use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) to prevent neurological deficit and improve survival.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the implementation of medical guidelines in clinical practice and to evaluate the barriers for implementation of TH in cardiology units in Poland.

Single-pill combinations (SPCs) and treatment of arterial hypertension in Poland. Expert consensus statement of the Polish Society of Hypertension and Polish Cardiac Society Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy.

The reasons for the publication of current expert consensus statement after 4 years from the previous one are: the growing number of evidence on the benefits of the use of single-pill combinations (SPCs) in hypertension (also with concomitant dyslipidaemia), the extension of indications for their use in the hypertension management algorithm and the emergence in recent years after the publication of Polish Society of Hypertension experts' position statement in 2013 of new types of SPCs available to doctors in Poland, including triple-drug combinations of antihypertensives and the so-called "hybrids" SPCs containing not only antihypertensive drugs but also statins. The current position statement of experts summarizes the progress of knowledge and practical application of SPCs of antihy-pertensives in Poland. It seems that there will be a long gap in the introduction of new classes of antihypertensive drugs.