Non-iatrogenic left atrial wall dissection.

Non-iatrogenic left atrial wall dissection is a rare lesion defined as a gap from the mitral valve annulus to the interatrial septum or wall of the left atrium. We report the case of a 57-year-old man with symptoms of acute cardiac and renal failure. Trans-esophageal echocardiography and computed tomography showed significant mitral valve regurgitation and dissection of the posterior wall of the left atrium.

Human galectin‑3: Molecular switch of gene expression in dermal fibroblasts in vitro and of skin collagen organization in open wounds and tensile strength in incisions .

Understanding the molecular and cellular processes in skin wound healing can pave the way for devising innovative concepts by turning the identified natural effectors into therapeutic tools. Based on the concept of broad‑scale engagement of members of the family of galactoside‑binding lectins (galectins) in pathophysiological processes, such as cancer or tissue repair/regeneration, the present study investigated the potential of galectins‑1 (Gal‑1) and ‑3 (Gal‑3) in wound healing. Human dermal fibroblasts, which are key cells involved in skin wound healing, responded to galectin exposure (Gal‑1 at 300 or Gal‑3 at 600 ng/ml) with selective changes in gene expression among a panel of 84 wound‑healing‑related genes, as well as remodeling of the extracellular matrix.

The possible role of machine learning in detection of increased cardiovascular risk patients - KSC MR Study (design).

Introduction: Currently, just a few major parameters are used for cardiovascular (CV) risk quantification to identify many of the high-risk subjects; however, they leave a lot of them with an underestimated level of CV risk which does not reflect the reality.

Material And Methods: The submitted study design of the Kosice Selective Coronarography Multiple Risk (KSC MR) Study will use computer analysis of coronary angiography results of admitted patients along with broad patients' characteristics based on questionnaires, physical findings, laboratory and many other examinations.

Results: Obtained data will undergo machine learning protocols with the aim of developing algorithms which will include all available parameters and accurately calculate the probability of coronary artery disease.

The three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in distinguishing between ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiology of heart failure.

Aims: The aim of this pilot study was to compare selected three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D STE) parameters in patients with ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiology of heart failure (HF) and to identify indices that can differentiate the two pathologies.

Methods And Results: Forty patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% were included to the study: 20 patients (age 63 ± 9.0 years, LVEF 29.

EQ-5D-5L questionnaire as suitable assessment of quality of life after epiduroscopy : Multicenter randomized double-blind pilot study.

Background: Epiduroscopy is a well-established diagnostic and to certain level therapeutic tool in complex situations, where conventional methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lack power or resolution to detect pathological changes. Such a situation is primarily failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) but also radicular pain without surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of epiduroscopic treatment in patients with FBSS.

Right aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery and aortic coarctation including a descending aortic aneurysm.

Backround: The right aortic arch and aortic coarctation are rare congenital anomalies with the incidence of 0.1% and 0.03-0.

Left atrial appendage strain rate is associated with documented thromboembolism in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: The left atrial appendage (LAA) strain and strain rate have not yet been studied in the prediction of cardiac thromboembolism. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the significance of LAA strain and strain rate as assessed by speckle-tracking imaging in relation to documented thromboembolic events.

Methods: A group of 80 patients with a mean age of 65 years who were referred for electrical cardioversion of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation was retrospectively analyzed.

Genistein Improves Skin Flap Viability in Rats: A Preliminary In Vivo and In Vitro Investigation.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been developed to achieve beneficial effects of estrogens while minimizing their side effects. In this context, we decided to evaluate the protective effect of genistein, a natural SERM, on skin flap viability in rats and in a series of in vitro experiments on endothelial cells (migration, proliferation, antioxidant properties, and gene expression profiling following genistein treatment). Our results showed that administration of genistein increased skin flap viability, but importantly, the difference is only significant when treatment is started 3 days prior the flap surgery.

Should open excisions and sutured incisions be treated differently? A review and meta-analysis of animal wound models following low-level laser therapy.

Although low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was discovered already in the 1960s of the twentieth century, it took almost 40 years to be widely used in clinical dermatology/surgery. It has been demonstrated that LLLT is able to increase collagen production/wound stiffness and/or improve wound contraction. In this review, we investigated whether open and sutured wounds should be treated with different LLLT parameters.

Aortic Valve Repair of a Stenotic Unicuspid Aortic Valve in Young Patients.

Background: The unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a well-described pediatric congenital abnormality, with incidence of 0.02% in the general population. Bicuspidization has been described as a potential surgical option to repair this defect.

Detection of Pathological Changes in the Aorta during Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Progression on Molecular Level.

The progression of thoracic aortic aneurysm depends on regulation of aortic wall homeostasis and on changes in the structural components of the extracellular matrix, which are affected by multiple molecular signalling pathways. We decided to correlate the diameter of ascending thoracic aneurysm with gene expression of inflammation markers (IL-6, CRP), cytokine receptors (IL-6R, TNFR1, and TNFR2), and extracellular matrix components (Emilin-1, MMP9, and TIMP) for detection of the degree of pathological process of TAA formation. The experimental group was divided into three groups according to the diameter of the aortic aneurysm.

Surgical Treatment of a Catheter-Induced Iatrogenic Dissection of the Right Coronary Artery following Cardiac Catheterization.

Iatrogenic dissections of the ascending aorta are an uncommon and severe complication during cardiac catheterization. A 68-year-old female patient underwent diagnostic cardiac catheterization due to non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. During the procedure, a catheter-induced 360(°) Class I dissection of the right coronary artery occurred.

Follow-up after the Ross procedure, how significant it is, case reports of three patients.

Background: Dilatation of the pulmonary autograft is a major drawback of the Ross procedure and it is the leading cause for reoperation in these patients.

Case Presentation: In this report we describe 3 cases reports, each one with a different outcome, of patients that underwent the Ross procedure.

Conclusions: In order to prevent any lethal or non-lethal complications of the pulmonary autograft these patients need a close and life- long systematic follow-up.

Pharmacological activation of estrogen receptors-α and -β differentially modulates keratinocyte differentiation with functional impact on wound healing.

Estrogen deprivation is considered responsible for many age-related processes, including poor wound healing. Guided by previous observations that estradiol accelerates re‑epithelialization through estrogen receptor (ER)‑β, in the present study, we examined whether selective ER agonists [4,4',4''-(4-propyl [1H] pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)‑trisphenol (PPT), ER‑α agonist; 2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile (DPN), ER‑β agonist] affect the expression of basic proliferation and differentiation markers (Ki‑67, keratin‑10, ‑14 and ‑19, galectin‑1 and Sox‑2) of keratinocytes using HaCaT cells. In parallel, ovariectomized rats were treated daily with an ER modulator, and wound tissue was removed 21 days after wounding and routinely processed for basic histological analysis.

Melatonin treatment in the prevention of postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery patients.

Introduction: Post-cardiac surgery delirium is a severe complication. The circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion has been shown to be altered postoperatively.

Aim Of The Study: It was hypothesized that restoring normal sleeping patterns with a substance that is capable of resynchronizing circadian rhythm such as exogenous administration of melatonin may possibly reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium.

"V" aortoplasty of the proximal descending aorta in the elephant trunk procedure.

Complex pathology of the aorta, especially in patients presenting an aneurysm involving the entire aortic arch and proximal descending aorta has been approached in one or two stages. Surgical management of those with an extremely wide diameter of the proximal descending aorta is not yet well defined. The patient in this case was an asymptomatic 47-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with aneurysm of the ascending aorta, whose aortic arch and descending aorta had presented only overall weakness (examination by inspection and palpation without histological verification).

Plantago lanceolata L. water extract induces transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and increases tensile strength of healing skin wounds.

Objectives: Although the exact underlying mechanisms are still unknown, Plantago lanceolata L. (PL) water extracts are frequently used to stimulate wound healing and to drain abscesses. Therefore, in this experimental study the effect of PL water extract on skin wound healing was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Surgical management of a hypoplastic distal aortic arch and coarctation of aorta in a patient with Klippel-Feil syndrome, ascending aortic aneurysm and bicuspid aortic valve.

Klippel-Feil syndrome has been associated with cardiovascular malformations, but only 3 cases have been reported to be associated with aortic coarctation and surgical management is not defined. A 51-year old woman with Klippel-Feil syndrome associated with an aneurysm of the ascending aorta, hypoplastic aortic arch and aortic coarctation at the level of the left subclavian artery presented with shortness of breath 2 years after diagnosis. Imaging identified interim development of a 7.

Clinical and biochemical determinants of metabolic syndrome among Roma and non-Roma subjects in the eastern part of Slovakia.

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clustering of cardiovascular risk. The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among populations of lower socioeconomic status is a cause of concern and calls for an effective public health response.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Roma population compared with the non-Roma population in the eastern part of Slovakia and to determine the parameter which has the strongest association with metabolic syndrome.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in relation to metabolic syndrome in the Roma population compared with the non-Roma population in the eastern part of Slovakia.

Background: Obesity-induced metabolic syndrome is a multiple risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and type 2 diabetes, and ethnic minorities seem to have unfavourable medical risk factors in general more frequently than majority populations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in relation to metabolic syndrome in the Roma population compared with the non-Roma population residing in the eastern part of Slovakia.

Results: 123 Roma and 79 non-Roma patients with metabolic syndrome were evaluated.

Low-level laser therapy with 810 nm wavelength improves skin wound healing in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Objective: The aim of present study was to evaluate whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can reverse the impaired wound healing process in diabetic rats.

Background Data: Impaired wound healing in diabetic patients represents a major health problem. Recent studies have indicated that LLLT may improve wound healing in diabetic rats, but the optimal treatment parameters are still unknown.

Slovak trial on cardiovascular risk reduction following national guidelines with CaDUET® (the STRONG DUET study).

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin for reducing blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and predicted 10-year cardiovascular (CV) risk have been demonstrated in low CV risk countries. The Slovak Trial on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Following National Guidelines with CaDUET® (amlodipine besylate/atorvastatin calcium; Pfizer, Morrisville, PA, USA; STRONG DUET) study evaluated its clinical utility in Slovakia, one of the highest CV risk regions in Europe.

Methods: This was a two-phase study involving 100 outpatient cardiologist and internist departments in Slovakia.

The occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation according to different surgical settings in cardiac surgery patients.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery. The pathogenesis of postoperative atrial fibrillation is multifactorial. The aim of the study was to analyse preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors and their relationships with the occurrence and duration of atrial fibrillation.