Depression in Cardiac Patients Is a Major Cardiovascular Event Risk Factor: A 12-Month Observational Study.

: Depression is a known factor in poor cardiovascular outcomes but is often underassessed in cardiac units. This study evaluates the impact of depression on cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac interventions. The study included 133 patients who underwent uncomplicated procedures for degenerative aortic valve stenosis (n = 40), acute coronary syndrome (n = 29), or chronic coronary artery disease (n = 64).

A Non-Coronary, Peripheral Arterial Atherosclerotic Disease (Carotid, Renal, Lower Limb) in Elderly Patients-A Review PART II-Pharmacological Approach for Management of Elderly Patients with Peripheral Atherosclerotic Lesions outside Coronary Territory.

Aging is a key risk factor for atherosclerosis progression that is associated with increased incidence of ischemic events in supplied organs, including stroke, coronary events, limb ischemia, or renal failure. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults ≥ 75 years of age. Atherosclerotic occlusive disease affects everyday activity, quality of life, and it is associated with reduced life expectancy.

A Non-Coronary, Peripheral Arterial Atherosclerotic Disease (Carotid, Renal, Lower Limb) in Elderly Patients-A Review: Part I-Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Atherosclerosis-Related Diversities in Elderly Patients.

Atherosclerosis is a generalized and progressive disease. Ageing is a key risk factor for atherosclerosis progression that is associated with the increased incidence of ischemic events in supplied organs, including stroke, coronary events, limb ischemia, or renal failure. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults ≥ 75 years of age.

Cardiac microRNAs: diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding post-translational biomolecules which, when expressed, modify their target genes. It is estimated that microRNAs regulate production of approximately 60% of all human proteins and enzymes that are responsible for major physiological processes. In cardiovascular disease pathophysiology, there are several cells that produce microRNAs, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets, and cardiomyocytes.

Impaired coronary flow reserve in patients with poor type 2 diabetes control: Preliminary results from prospective microvascular dysfunction registry.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (DM) is a common comorbidity associated with cardiovascular disease, especially when poor glucose control is present. Extracardiac microcirculatory complications prevalence is well documented, however coronary microcirculatory dysfunction (CMD) seem to be underreported in this group.

Methods: The present study analyzed coronary physiology measurements (coronary flow reserve [CFR], index of microcirculatory resistance [IMR], resistance reserve ratio [RRR]) in 47 diabetic patients (21 subjects with poor glycemia control defined as fasting glucose levels > 7.

The impact of coronary microvascular dysfunction on the discordance between fractional flow reserve and resting full-cycle ratio in patients with chronic coronary syndromes.

Background: Resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) is an alternative to fractional flow reserve (FFR) for the evaluation of borderline coronary artery lesions. Although FFR and RFR results are discordant in some cases, factors associated with the discordance remain unclear. The role of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is discussed as a potential mechanism to explain these discrepancies.

Serum and Vascular Stiffness Biomarkers Associated with the Severity of Degenerative Aortic Valve Stenosis and Cardiovascular Outcomes.

Background: Although degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS) is the most prevalent growth-up congestive heart valve disease, still little known about relationships between DAS severity, vascular stiffness (VS), echocardiographic parameters, and serum biomarkers in patients undergoing transcatheter (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The objective of this study was to identify biomarkers associated with DAS severity, and those that are associated with cardiovascular death (CVD) and episodes of chronic heart failure (CHF) exacerbation. Methods: A total of 137 patients with initially moderate-to-severe DAS were prospectively evaluated for the relationship between DAS severity, baseline VS, and serum biomarkers (uPAR, GDF-15, Gal-3, IL-6Rα, ET-1, PCSK9, RANTES/CCL5, NT-proBNP, and hs-TnT), and were followed-up for 48 months.

Association of Increased Vascular Stiffness with Cardiovascular Death and Heart Failure Episodes Following Intervention on Symptomatic Degenerative Aortic Stenosis.

Background: The resistive (RI) and pulsatile (PI) indices are markers of vascular stiffness (VS) which are associated with outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. We aimed to assess whether VS might predict incidence of cardiovascular death (CVD) and heart failure (HF) episodes following intervention on degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS).

Methods: The distribution of increased VS (RI ≥ 0.

Importance of Increased Arterial Resistance in Risk Prediction in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Degenerative Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of heart failure (HF) and major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE).

Objective: To evaluate impact of vascular resistance on HF and MACCE incidence in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) and degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS).

Methods: From January 2016 to December 2018, in 404 patients with cardiovascular disease, including 267 patients with moderate-to-severe DAS and 137 patients with CRF, mean values of resistive index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI) were obtained from carotid and vertebral arteries.

Telemedicine solutions in cardiology: a joint expert opinion by the Information Technology and Telemedicine Committee of the Polish Cardiac Society, the Section of Noninvasive Electrocardiology and Telemedicine of the Polish Cardiac Society, and the Clinical Research Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences (short version, 2021).

Telemedicine involves diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services being offered remotely by healthcare professionals to exchange crucial clinical information. It is a rapidly developing form of medical activity and part of medical industry, with advanced technologies already available in Poland. Cardiology is one of the fields in which telemedicine methods were pioneered and introduced into everyday practice.

Assessment of the Willis circle flow changes and the severity of degenerative aortic stenosis and cognitive impairment.

Background: Degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) and cognitive function deterioration frequently coexist in elderly patients, which affects the prognosis.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the Willis circle intracranial blood flow parameters and cognitive status in patients with DAS.

Methods: Ultrasonography of the Willis circle and the assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) volume, acceleration time (AT), pulsatile and resistive indexes (PI, RI), as well as cognition tests (Mini‑Mental Status Examination [MMSE] and Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]) were performed in group 1-41 patients with severe DAS (aortic valve area indexed to the body surface area [AVAi] <0.

Long-term clinical outcomes from real-world experience of left atrial appendage exclusion with LARIAT device.

Background: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with LARIAT has emerged as one of the alternatives to oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim was to study long-term outcomes in patients undergoing LARIAT procedure.

Methods: We analyzed patients screened for LARIAT device in four centers between December 2009 and June 2012.

Presence and characteristics of coronary artery fistulas among patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: Coronary artery fistula is defined as a connection between one or more coronary artery and a heart chamber.

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the overall incidence of coronary artery fistulas in Polish patients undergoing diagnostic coronary artery angiography as well as the frequency of particular origin and draining sites.

Methods: The data were obtained from the Polish National Registry of Invasive Cardiology Procedures among patients hospitalized between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016 in invasive cardiology departments in Poland.

Chemokine RANTES and IL-1β in mild therapeutic hypothermia-treated patients after out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest.

Introduction: CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β, which regulate the immune response, may have an impact on survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Aim: To evaluate levels of CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β in patients with ACS complicated by SCA, treated with coronary angioplasty (PCI) and mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH), and these chemokines' impact on the 30- and 180-day survival.

Material And Methods: Thirty-three unconscious patients admitted after SCA with ACS underwent PCI and MTH treatment.

The role of serial carotid intima-media thickness assessment as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis control in patients with recent myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Despite percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), patients after their first myocardial infarction (MI) are at high risk of ischemic event recurrence. Therefore, there is a need for objective markers of adequate atherosclerosis control, independent of prescribed pharmacotherapy and patients' compliance. Such a potential indicator of major adverse cerebral and coronary event (MACCE) risk might be change in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), which indicates atherosclerosis growth.

Clinical experience with 12-month follow-up in patients after implantation of a novel long-tapered sirolimus drug-eluting stent.

Introduction: Long lesions contribute to a significant number of percutaneous coronary interventions.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of a novel long-tapered drug-eluting stent (DES) at a 12-month follow-up (FU) in patients with long coronary atherosclerotic lesions.

Material And Methods: A prospective clinical cohort study was conducted in 32 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention using a BioMime Morph tapered stent (Meril Life Sciences, India).

Prevalence and clinical presentation of myocardial bridge on the basis of the National Polish Percutaneous Interventions Registry and the Classification of Rare Cardiovascular Diseases.

BACKGROUND A myocardial bridge (MB) is defined as a congenital anomaly, in which a segment of an epicardial coronary artery takes an intramuscular course. AIMS The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of MB in coronary arteries among patients who were diagnosed using coronary angiography. METHODS Data were obtained from the National Polish Percutaneous Interventions Registry for patients hospitalized between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, in invasive cardiology departments in Poland and divided into groups with and without MB.

Prospective study on the prognostic value of repeated carotid intima-media thickness assessment in patients with coronary and extra coronary steno-occlusive arterial disease.

INTRODUCTION It is debatable whether the rate of change in carotid intima‑media thickness (CIMT) may be used as a risk indicator of major adverse cerebral and coronary events (MACCEs) in patients with either coronary (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). OBJECTIVES This prospective study aimed to evaluate the association between CIMT changes and the incidence of MACCEs, in patients with symptomatic CAD and PAD. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study comprised 466 patients admitted with steno‑occlusive disease, in whom revascularization was performed for an index lesion.