Does atrial fibrillation still increase the risk of death? One-year follow-up results of the NOMED-AF study.

Introduction: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well‑known risk factor for ischemic stroke and hospitalization, its effect on mortality has not been clearly established.

Objectives: We aimed to assess whether AF is an independent risk factor for death. A secondary objective was to evaluate the role of oral anticoagulation in the prevention of stroke and death in 1‑year follow‑up of patients included in the NOMED‑AF (Noninvasive Monitoring for Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation) study.

Rationale and design of a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of mechanical neuroprotection in reducing the risk of silent brain infarcts associated with percutaneous left atrial appendage closure: study protocol for a LAAC-SBI trial.

Background: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) procedures prevent cardioembolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who have contraindications to oral anticoagulant medications. However, these procedures carry certain risks of peri-procedural complications. One such complication is silent brain infarcts (SBI), which can lead to cognitive impairment and mood disturbances.

Predictors of ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and non-ischemic systolic heart failure.

Background: The benefit derived from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) in subjects with non-ischemic systolic HF (NICM) is less well-established.

Aim: The study aimed to determine the incidence, predictors, and prognostic impact of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ICD and NICM.

Methods: The study sample included 377 consecutive patients with ICD or cardiac resynchronization cardioverter-defibrillators (CRT-D, 74% of patients) and NICM implanted and monitored remotely in a university hospital.

Predictive factors of left ventricular ejection fraction improvement after myocardial infarction treated invasively.

Introduction: One indication for the implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator is a reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35%. However, in certain patients following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) a gradual improvement in LVEF has been observed. The factors determining this increase in LVEF have not been conclusively determined.

The prognostic impact of therapeutic hypothermia after a sudden cardiac arrest in the course of myocardial infarction.

Background: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) is one of the treatment methods recommended in post-sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) patients who remain unconscious after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The present study aimed at assessing the prognostic impact of intravascular MTH on invasively treated patients with an acute myocardial infarction complicated by SCA.

Methods: The presented data were collected via a single-center retrospective analysis of the hospitalization and follow-up of 54 patients with post-myocardial infarction complicated by SCA.

Therapeutic hypothermia and postreperfusion myocardial injury in myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Since the introduction of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), the rate of patients who die of a myocardial infarction or suffer from numerous complications afterwards has significantly decreased. During PPCI, the patient sustains postreperfusion myocardial injury, which entails an extension of the myocardial infarct size related to ischemia.

Comparison of the everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold versus the everolimus-eluting metallic stent in real-world patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Despite the withdrawal of the ABSORB bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) from clinical use, continuous observation of BVS-treated patients is necessary. In the vast majority of clinical trials, patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were excluded from the analysis.

Aim: To compare the early and long-term outcomes of the BVS with the everolimus-eluting metallic stent (EES) in patients with STEMI.

Early and long-term outcomes of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease in real-world clinical practice - insights from the ZABRZE-BVS registry.

Introduction: Randomized trials have proven the feasibility and safety of the bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in selected populations of patients. Data concerning the results of BVS in "real-world" registries with an appropriate sample size are limited.

Aim: Assessment of early- and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing bioresorbable scaffold implantation in an all-comers population of the ZABRZE-BVS registry.

Risk stratification for complex ventricular arrhythmia complicating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate risk factors for ventricular fibrillation/sustained ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) and to develop the risk score for prediction of VF/VT in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated invasively. The secondary aim was to assess the effect of VF/VT on mortality depending on timing of arrhythmia.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed 4363 consecutive patients with STEMI treated invasively.

Prognostic Significance of Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias Complicating ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

The aim of the study was to assess the clinical significance of complex ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) (sustained ventricular tachycardia [sVT] and ventricular fibrillation [VF]) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) depending on timing of arrhythmia. We analyzed 4,363 consecutive patients with STEMI treated invasively between 2004 and 2014. The median follow-up was 69.

Gender-related differences in long-term outcome among high-risk patients with myocardial infarction treated invasively.

Introduction: Treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has an impact on improving long-term outcome. However, patients with other comorbidities are challenging, and are considered as a high-risk population.

Aim: To assess gender-related differences in long-term prognosis after AMI among high-risk patients.

Significance of Atrial Fibrillation Complicating ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

The aim of the present study is to assess the clinical impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by new-onset AF depending on STEMI location and timing of arrhythmia. We analyzed 4,363 consecutive STEMI patients treated invasively. Finally, 4,099 subjects were included into further analysis, as 264 patients were excluded because of previous AF history.

The Incidence, Clinical Significance, and Treatment Effects of Depression in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Recipients.

Objectives: Chronic heart failure (HF) is associated with significantly increased prevalence of depression. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and clinical impact of depression as well as the effectiveness of depression treatment in HF patients.

Methods: A prospective interventional trial included 285 consecutive cardiac resynchronization therapy recipients.

Device-related infective endocarditis in cardiac resynchronization therapy recipients - Single center registry with over 2500 person-years follow up.

Aim: To assess incidence, predisposing factors and outcomes of cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE) in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods And Results: High-volume, single-center cardiology database was screened to identify all CDRIE cases, based on modified Duke criteria, amongst 765 consecutive CRT implantations between 2002 and 2015 (70.8% de novo implantations, 13.

Long-term prognosis is related to mid-term changes of glucometabolic status in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated invasively.

Background: Glucometabolic status (GS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has an impact on prognosis, but it may change over time.

Aim: To evaluate the prognosis after AMI treated invasively with respect to changes in GS assessed by oral glucose tolerance test at discharge and at mid-term follow-up visit (FU-visit).

Methods: Glucometabolic status was assessed by two-hour post-load glycaemia and defined as abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT) or normal glucose tolerance (NGT).

Do we need to monitor the percentage of biventricular pacing day by day?

Background: Incidence and clinical significance of transient, daily fluctuations of biventricular pacing percentage (CRT%) remain unknown. We assessed the value of daily remote monitoring in identifying prognostically critical burden of low CRT%.

Methods And Results: Prospective, single-centre registry encompassed 304 consecutive heart failure patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D).

Day by day telemetric care of patients treated with cardiac resynchronisation therapy: first Polish experience.

Background: Due to the recent rapid increase in the number of patients implanted with pacemakers, cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), and cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices (CRT), conventional monitoring at specialist clinics is becoming increasingly difficult. The development of technology has enabled remote device monitoring with the use of teletransmission systems.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of transmission and the possibility of using telemetric data for further clinical management of patients with heart failure (HF) treated with CRT-D.

Refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria and permanent atrial fibrillation associated with dental infection: Mere coincidence or something more to it?

Controversy surrounds the role of dental infection/inflammation in the oral cavity in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and atrial fibrillation (AF), which is mainly due to scarce literature in this area. Therefore, this case report and review of literature illustrate a possible association between the acute-phase response (APR) and clinical conditions, such as CSU and dental infection/inflammation of oral cavity and AF.We describe a 36-year-old man with an 8-year history of difficult-to-treat, uncontrolled CSU, co-existent with dental infection/inflammatory processes of oral cavity and permanent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Safety and efficacy of a second-generation coronary sirolimus-eluting stent with biodegradable polymers in daily clinical practice: a 12-month follow-up of the ALEX registry.

Background: Second-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) have shown higher safety and efficacy compared with first-generation DESs. This effect was achieved by improving biocompatibility using an interalia cobalt-chromium construction, thinner stent struts and biodegradable polymers.

Objectives: To assess clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients receiving a novel second-generation cobalt-chromium sirolimus-eluting stent.

The Impact of Routine Angiographic Follow-Up in a Population of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Within the Left Main Coronary Artery.

Prognostic value of angiographic follow-up in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) still remains uncertain. The aim of the study was to compare clinical characteristics, mortality, and major cardiovascular events in patients with versus without angiographic follow-up after PCI of the LMCA as well as to identify independent risk factors for death after PCI of the LMCA. Study population consisted of 217 patients of 290 consecutive participants who underwent PCI of the LMCA and subsequently were divided into 2 groups: angiographic follow-up group (angio FU group, n = 155) and clinical follow-up group (clinical FU group, n = 62).

Co-lateralized bilingual mechanisms for reading in single and dual language contexts: evidence from visual half-field processing of action words in proficient bilinguals.

When reading, proficient bilinguals seem to engage the same cognitive circuits regardless of the language in use. Yet, whether or not such "bilingual" mechanisms would be lateralized in the same way in distinct-single or dual-language contexts is a question for debate. To fill this gap, we tested 18 highly proficient Polish (L1) -English (L2) childhood bilinguals whose task was to read aloud one of the two laterally presented action verbs, one stimulus per visual half field.

Gender-dependent profile of heart rate turbulence parameters in patients after acute myocardial infarction treated invasively.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether gender is related to differences in heart rate turbulence (HRT) parameters and the authors' own predefined HRT categories comprising turbulence timing (TT) in patients at the early stage of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated invasively.

Methods: We analysed 489 consecutive patients (147 females and 342 males, aged 63.9 ± 11.

Can we rely on machines? Device-detected atrial high rates correspond well with atrial arrhythmias in cardiac resynchronization recipients.

Aims: The aim of the study was to verify in what proportion of patients, device-detected atrial high rate (AHR) episodes are indeed atrial arrhythmias (AAs). We investigated also the reasons for inappropriate arrhythmia classification and assessed if patients with misdiagnosed arrhythmias have distinct characteristics that would help to identify them.

Methods And Results: The study population consisted of 304 consecutive patients implanted with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) and subsequently monitored via remote monitoring for a median follow-up (FU) of 30.