[Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy--our experience and review of current knowledge].

Background: Tako-tsubo cardiomypathy is a relatively novel heart syndrome characterized by acute onset of reversible left ventricular apical ballooning, in the absence of significant epicardial artery stenosis that mimics acute coronary syndromes. The most common clinical presentations are chest pain and dyspnoea, frequently preceded by an episode of emotional or physiologic stress, ST-segment elevation or T wave changes in the precordial leads, minor cardiac biomarker release, and transient wall-motion abnormalities involving the left ventricular apex and mid-ventricle despite the absence of obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. The syndrome more often affects postmenopausal women.

[Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: case report and literature review].

The authors present an interesting case report of 69-year-old caucasian woman with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a relatively recently described heart syndrome that probably develops due to the direct toxic effect of excessively released catecholamines on cardiac adrenoceptors during emotional or physical stress. The typical features include reversible left ventricular apical dyskinesis, chest pain with ST-T changes on ECG, minimal myocardial enzymatic release and the absence of coronary stenosis on coronary angiogram.

How does delaying treatment affect the long-term prognosis for patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary angioplasty?

Background: The benefit of thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) strongly depends on the time from the onset of symptoms to the initiation of treatment. For AMI patients treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) this delay of treatment seems to be important only up to a certain time level.

Aim: To assess the effects of time to treatment of AMI with PCI on the short- and long-term prognosis.

[Effect of primary coronary angioplasty on long-term prognosis in patients with diabetes mellitus].

Objectives: To investigate feasibility and safety of primary PCI in diabetic patients.

Background: Diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been shown to be at high risk for adverse clinical outcomes. Limited data is available on long term prognosis of diabetics treated with primary PCI.

[Long-term prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarct and treatment with direct coronary angioplasty].

Background: Primary coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has a beneficial effect on the immediate prognosis for patients with acute myocardial infarction. Number of information about effects of direct PTCA on the long-term prognosis are less numerous. The aim of the work was to establish the long-term prognosis for not-selected patients treated by direct PTCA.