Real-world Data on Treatment Patterns and Bleeding in Cancer-associated Thrombosis: Data from the TROLL Registry.

 International guidelines are increasingly recommending direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as the first-line treatment for cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). However, data regarding treatment patterns and adherence to guidelines in patients with CAT are scarce.  This study aimed to explore anticoagulant treatment patterns in patients with CAT and to calculate the incidence rates of bleeding events.

Developing a machine learning model for bleeding prediction in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis receiving anticoagulation therapy.

Background: Only 1 conventional score is available for assessing bleeding risk in patients with cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT): the CAT-BLEED score.

Objectives: Our aim was to develop a machine learning-based risk assessment model for predicting bleeding in CAT and to evaluate its predictive performance in comparison to that of the CAT-BLEED score.

Methods: We collected 488 attributes (clinical data, biochemistry, and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, diagnosis) in 1080 unique patients with CAT.

B-type Natriuretic Peptide as a Marker of Different Forms of Systemic Sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease which affects various tissues and organs, including skin, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. Cardiac involvement is the most commonly recognized problem and a significant cause of morbidity. The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a previously known marker of elevated cardiovascular risk in SSc, but the levels of BNP in various forms of SSc have not been investigated so far.

Psoriasis is the independent factor for early atherosclerosis: A prospective study of cardiometabolic risk profile.

Background/aim: Psoriasis as multisystemic inflammatory dis-ease is related with an increased cardiometabolic risk. The aim of the study was to analyze risk biomarkers, peripheral and renal arteries ultrasonography and echocardiography for subclinical atherosclerosis and metabolic disease in 106 subjects (66 psoriasis patients and 40 controls, 20 eczema patients and 20 healthy volunteers).

Methods: In all exameenes following parameters were analyzed: body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein, D-dimer, serum amyloid A (SAA), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, ApoB, ApoB/Apo A1 index, fasting glucose, C-peptide, fasting insulinemia, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HOMA-β-cell, lipid profile, serum uric acid concentration (SUAC), 24-h proteinuria and microalbuminuria.

Low On-Treatment Platelet Reactivity Predicts Long-Term Risk of Bleeding After Elective PCI.

Background: Bleeding after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is an important complication with impact on prognosis.

Aim: To evaluate the predictive value of enhanced platelet responsiveness to dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel, for bleeding, after elective PCI.

Methods And Results: We performed multiple electrode aggregometry (MAE) platelet functional tests induced by arachidonic acid (ASPI) and adenosine-diphosphate (ADP) before PCI, and 24 hours after PCI, in 481 elective PCI patients who were followed-up for an average of 15.

The importance of sleep apnea index determination using 24 h ECG analysis in patients with heart rhythm disorders.

Background/aim: A possible cause of malignant heart rhythm disorders is the syndrome of sleep apnea (periodic cessation of breathing during sleep longer than 10 seconds). Recent 24 h ECG software systems have the option of determination ECG apnea index (AI) based on the change in voltage of QRS complexes. The aim of the study was to determine the significance of AI evaluation in routine 24-hour Holter ECG on a group of 12 patients.

Correlation between the Finnish Diabetes risk Score and the severity of coronary artery disease.

Background/aim: The FINish Diabetes RIsk SCore (FINDRISC) which includes age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, physical (in) activity, diet, arterial hypertension, history of high glucose levels, and family history of diabetes, is of a great significance in identifying patients with impaired glucose tolerance and a 10-year risk assessment of developing type 2 diabetes in adults. Due to the fact that the FINDRISC score includes parameters which are risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), our aim was to determine a correlation between this score, and some of its parameters respectively, with the severity of angiographically verified CAD in patients with stable angina in two ways: according to the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score and the number of diseased coronary arteries.

Methods: The study included 70 patients with stable angina consecutively admitted to the Clinic of Cardiology, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade.

PCI and clopidogrel: antiplatelet responsiveness and patient characteristics.

Objective: This study on responsiveness to clopidogrel and aspirin evaluates its interaction with: (i) patient characteristics; (ii) procedure characteristics; (iii) antiplatelet dose.

Methods And Results: After elective PCI, 60 patients receiving aspirin 100 mg daily, and clopidogrel 75 mg daily were monitored with the PFA 100 test and VASP assay. Non-responsiveness to aspirin and clopidogrel was found in 23 (38%) and 18 (30%) of 60 patients, respectively.

The influence of bisoprolol dose on ADP-induced platelet aggregability in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy.

Purpose: Dual antiplatelet therapy is recommended after acute coronary syndrome or after percutaneous coronary intervention with coronary stent implantation. Many of the patients on dual antiplatelet therapy receive β-blockers; some of them could have antiaggregatory effect. Bisoprolol is a highly selective adrenoceptor-blocker, which is often used in the settings of percutaneous coronary intervention or acute coronary syndrome in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy.

[The importance of tests applied to evaluate the effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy in patients with recurrent coronary stent thrombosis].

Background: Stent thrombosis is potentially lethal complication with huge economic burden. The role of insufficient response to antiplatelet therapy is still unclear reason for its occurrence.

Case Report: We presented 54-year-old man with recurrent stent thrombosis on the 4th, 9th and 12th day after the primary percutaneous coronary intervention in spite of double antiaggregation therapy (aspirin+clopidogrel).

Thienopyridine resistance among patients undergoing intracoronary stent implantation and treated with dual antiplatelet therapy: assessment of some modifying factors.

In this open, prospective study we assessed the prevalence of antiplatelet resistance among patients subjected to intracoronary stent implantation. In patients treated with aspirin + thienopyridine (N = 32), platelet reactivity index (PRI) significantly decreased after 2 and 7 days of dual antiplatelet treatment in comparison with the same patients on aspirin monotherapy (P<0.001, both).

The prognostic value of nailfold capillary changes for the development of connective tissue disease in children and adolescents with primary raynaud phenomenon: a follow-up study of 250 patients.

To assess the prognostic value of capillaroscopy findings for the development of connective tissue disease in children and adolescents with Raynaud phenomenon, we followed up a group of 250 (mean age 15 years) for 1 to 6 years after the first capillaroscopy was performed. Every 6 months they were screened for signs and symptoms of connective tissue disease. Analysis was performed on capillary changes registered 6 months before the development of connective tissue disease.