Inflammation markers are associated with metabolic syndrome and ventricular arrhythmia in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Inflammation plays a major role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). Inflammation markers, including white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), are widely used for cardiovascular risk prediction. The aim of the study was to establish factors associated with WBC, CRP and IL-6 in patients with CAD.

A new setup for the investigation of swift heavy ion induced particle emission and surface modifications.

The irradiation with fast ions with kinetic energies of >10 MeV leads to the deposition of a high amount of energy along their trajectory (up to several ten keV/nm). The energy is mainly transferred to the electronic subsystem and induces different secondary processes of excitations, which result in significant material modifications. A new setup to study these ion induced effects on surfaces will be described in this paper.

Association between low-dose folic acid supplementation and blood lipids concentrations in male and female subjects with atherosclerosis risk factors.

Background: Folic acid (FA) is one of the B complex vitamins. It is thought that FA deficiency promotes atherosclerosis formation in arterial endothelium. FA, acting through reducing homocysteine (Hcy) levels, may contribute to decreased cholesterol (Ch) synthesis.

Homocysteine and metabolic risk factors in individuals with family history of premature ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Family history of stroke is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate selected metabolic risk factors and an association between the interaction of family history of premature ischemic stroke (PIS) and homocysteine (Hcy) levels with other risk factors in individuals with family histo ry of PIS.

Patients And Methods: The study involved 344 healthy individuals, including 143 with family history of PIS and 201 without family history of PIS (control group).

Does the progeny of premature ischemic stroke sufferers need intensive interest of physicians oriented toward primary prevention? A pilot study.

Background: Few studies focus on the progeny of stroke patients with respect to the occurrence of other potential risk factors.

Methods: The study group covered 60 males and 62 females whose parents had suffered premature ischemic stroke (PIS); the control group comprised of 41 males and 47 females whose parents had no history of premature vascular event (mean age: 28.4 and 27.