Sex-specific associations between the environmental exposures and low-grade inflammation and increased blood pressure in young, healthy subjects.

Long-term exposures to environmental factors including airborne as well as noise pollutants, are associated with cardiovascular risk. However, the influence of environmental pollution on the young population is controversial. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the relationships between long-term exposures to different environmental factors and major cardiovascular and inflammatory parameters and biomarkers in young, healthy subjects.

Knowledge about carbon monoxide poisoning among medical and non-medical students living in Kraków - questionnaire study.

O b j e c t i v e s: Accidental exposure to non-fire related carbon monoxide (CO) in young people is largely unquantified. Our aim was to estimate the possibility of exposure to CO and the awareness of intoxication in the population of students living in Kraków, one of the largest academic cities in Poland. M e t h o d s: Anonymous questionnaires about CO poisoning were distributed among medical and non-medical students living in Kraków.

Intima-media thickness and ankle-brachial index are correlated with the extent of coronary artery disease measured by the SYNTAX score.

Introduction: The extent of peripheral artery disease (PAD) measured by the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and intima-media thickness (IMT) is correlated with the complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in stable angina patients. However, data regarding patients with acute coronary syndromes are still lacking.

Aim: To compare coronary complexity measured by the SYNTAX score in patients with and without PAD presenting with myocardial infarction (MI).

Cardiological aspects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess cardiological manifestations of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Background/introduction: Carbon monoxide intoxication is one of the most important toxicological causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early clinical manifestation of CO poisoning is cardiotoxicity.

Clinical outcomes in patients after surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (minithoracotomy and ministernotomy) have become a valuable alternative to conventional surgical treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS) in high-risk patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term results and complications in patients with symptomatic AS treated with TAVI, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), minithoracotomy, or ministernotomy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 173 patients with symptomatic AS were enrolled to the study between the years 2011 and 2013.

Knowledge of chronic total occlusion among Polish interventional cardiologists.

Introduction: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization is indicated in patients with symptoms and evidence of ischemia, but in most cases those types of lesions are still treated medically. In the last few years CTO angioplasty technique has changed dramatically due to considerable advances in techniques and dedicated equipment.

Aim: An attempt to assess the state of knowledge of technical aspects of CTO angioplasty of coronary arteries among Polish interventional cardiologists.

Comparison of patient comfort after coronary angiography by standard arterial access approaches.

Background: Radial access during coronary angiography has become an increasingly popular alternative to femoral access. The procedural outcomes and complications of these two approaches have been thoroughly evaluated; however, no studies have focused exclusively on the postprocedural quality of life of patients.

Aim: To determine and compare both methods from the patient's point of view.

What do Polish interventional cardiologists know about indications and qualification for recanalisation of chronic total coronary artery occlusions?

Background: Chronic total occlusions (CTO) are diagnosed in about 20% of patients with significant coronary artery disease. A disproportion between the high prevalence of CTOs and low rate of invasive treatment still exists. Technical difficulties, clinical uncertainties whether patients benefit from recanalisation, and a lack of knowledge of CTO may be responsible for this fact.