MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in Patients with Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease.

The aim of the study was to assess MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2) and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2) serum levels in patients with diverse types of heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). 101 patients with chronic HF were enrolled. Each patient has assessed the serum levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2, and NT-proBNP.

Expression of Proinflammatory Factors, Proangiogenic Factors and Endostatin in Patients with Heart Failure and Different Grades of Collateral Circulation Development.

Background: The process of collateral vessel maturation is stimulated by numerous factors affecting the endothelium and smooth muscle cells building the vessel wall. Looking for arteriogenesis stimulating factors means looking for a potential innovative heart failure treatment method in the patients unresponsive to traditional therapies.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory factor IL-6, growth factors FGF (FGFa, FGFb, FGFbH), HGF, VEGF and endostatin in heart failure patients in relation to the coronary collaterals development stage.

Impact of nebivolol on levels of serum nitric oxide, plasma von Willebrand factor and exercise stress testing parameters in hypertensive and ischemic heart disease patients.

Background: The dysfunction of vascular endothelium precedes the development of atherosclerosis in patients with arterial hypertension. Nebivolol is a very specific beta-blocker, which can be characterized by a strong endothelial vasodilatative effect. The aim of the study was the assessment of changes in concentrations of serum nitric oxide (NO), plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) and selected parameters of electrocardiographic exercise tests after 4-week nebivolol treatment.

[Plasma urotensin II level in patients with chronic congestive heart failure].

Urotensin II (UTII) is recently discovered neurohumoral factor influencing function and structure of the myocardium and remodeling of the vessels, and it may contribute to pathogenesis of chronic congestive heart failure. The aim of the study was estimation of plasma concentration of UTII in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. The investigations were performed on 79 patients (37 women and 42 men) aged 43-87 yr.

[The leptin concentration in patients with primary arterial hypertension].

Unlabelled: Leptin seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension by activation of the sympathetic nervous system, influencing water - electrolyte balance and vascular remodeling. It is not known whether leptin is a factor participating in the pathogenesis of primary arterial hypertension or its higher concentration in patients with arterial hypertension reflects only the presence of other factors leading to increased blood pressure. The aim of the study was to try to estimate the leptin participation in the development of the arterial hypertension, to evaluate the concentration of leptin in blood serum of patients with mild, moderate and severe arterial hypertension and to determine the relationships between the observed leptin concentration, arterial hypertension degree according to WHO criteria and body mass.

[Serum level of beta-chemokine RANTES in patients with coronary artery disease].

Chronic inflammatory process plays an important, as still not clear, role in pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD), especially in acute coronary syndromes. Chemokines are present in atherosclerotic plaques and are essential factors in the recruitment of leukocytes and stabilization of atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of the study was the evaluation of RANTES serum level in patients with stabile CAD and seeking for correlations between RANTES serum level and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.

[Estimation of the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients after the myocardial infarction].

Aim: Because in patients with the recent myocardial infarction the noticeable differences in the P wave and PQ interval dispersion were observed in comparison to the control group, consisted of the healthy persons, it was an intresting problem to define the period of persistence of these visible changes on the electrocardiograms made in patients after the myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was to estimate the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients after the myocardial infarction in dependence on its location and applied fibrynolytical treatment.

Material And Method: The investigations were conducted on 36 male and female patients in age 40 to 84 years (mean 56 +/- 10,8 years), divided into groups of patients suffering from the inferior myocardial infarction and anterior myocardial infarction.

[Estimation of the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients with the recent myocardial infarction].

Unlabelled: The supraventricular arrhythmia, and especially paroxysmal atrial fibrillation occurred in patients with the recent myocardial infarction are considered to be important therapeutical problem. The estimation of the P wave dispersion could be a method useful to differentiate the group of patients liable to suffer from this dysrhythmia. The aim of this paper was to estimate the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients with the recent myocardial infarction in dependence on the location, applied fibrinolytic treatment and the presence of the supraventricular arrhythmia.

[Homocysteine as the factor of atherosclerosis risk].

A great number of epidemiologic and experimental results of scientific research led to the conclusion, that hyperhomocysteinemia could be possible risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases development in patients suffering from the homocysteinuria and in all the population, because of homocysteine's ability to the activation of the thrombogenesis processes and to the creation of the atherosclerotic changes. Furthermore, the elevated homocysteine concentration exacerbates the effects of the other atherosclerogenous factors, such as tobacco smoking or arterial hypertension. The increased mortality caused by the cardiovascular diseases was observed in patients with the homocysteine concentration elevated above 15 micromol/l on an empty stomach and 38 micromol/l after the methionine intake (the mortality was twice higher).

[Urotensin II--new peptide which regulates function of cardiovascular system].

Human urotensin II is one of the new peptide which regulates function of cardiovascular system. It stimulates cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy and also shows inotropic properties. Urotensin II has the potential pathophysiological role in cardiovascular, lung and kidney diseases.

[Dysmetabolic syndrome].

This paper present definition, prevalence and inheritance of the metabolic syndrome. The dysmetabolic syndrome most likely results from interplay between several genes and affluent environment. The prevalence of the syndrome is also very age-dependent and higher in males than in females.

[Pulse pressure as a prognostic indicator of organ damage in patients with essential hypertension].

Pulse pressure (PP), defined as systolic blood pressure minus diastolic blood pressure, plays an important role as a risk factor for cardiovascular events. Pulse pressure is pulsatile component of blood pressure. A widened pulse pressure reflects increased stiffness of the large arteries.

[Effect of heavy metal ions on function of vascular endothelium in patients with ischemic heart disease].

Unlabelled: Endothelium dysfunction is one of the first signs of atherosclerotic process. There are many factors known, which provoke such a dysfunction; many are still to be revealed. One of them may be a heavy metal ion.

Relation between heavy metals and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with coronary artery disease.

One of the earliest detectable abnormalities in patients with coronary artery disease is left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Its main cause is myocardial ischaemia, but still many of other mechanisms are possible. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, and selenium with left ventricular diastolic function indices in patients with coronary artery disease.

[One-year observation of QT and corrected QT interval dispersion in patients with myocardial infarction].

The aim of the study was to evaluate, if the QT and corrected QT interval dispersion (QTd and QTcd) is a predictor of ventricular arrhythmia during one-year observation in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Investigations were performed in 36 patients with MI, including 22 men and 14 women, aged 40-84 years. Considered criteria was: sex, MI location, applied/non applied thrombolytic treatment, after which patients were classified into 6 groups.

[Cytokines and remodeling of the heart in patients with congestive heart failure].

Proinflammatory cytokines are capable of modulating cardiovascular function by a various mechanisms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the selected cytokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (L-6), endothelin 1 (ET-1) on the remodeling of the heart in patients with congestive heart failure (1-year follow-up). The study was made in 45 patients with congestive heart failure treated in the Department of Cardiology.

[Effects of thrombolysis on left and right ventricular diastolic function in patients after myocardial infraction. One-year follow-up].

Unlabelled: It has been shown, that successful reperfusion of the infarctrelated artery by thrombolysis can prevent left ventricular (LV) dilatation and dysfunction. To date no study has shown the impact of thrombolytic therapy on LV and RV diastolic filling. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of thrombolysis on LV and RV diastolic inflow and systolic function of LV in patients (pts) after anterior myocardial infarction MI.

[The effect of a single moderate physical exertion on serum leptin levels in patients with essential hypertension (preliminary results)].

Leptin is a product of the ob gene and is secreted by the adipose tissue. It takes part in regulation of nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine system and renal functions. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of short term moderate exercise on serum leptin levels in patients with arterial hypertension.

[Cardiovascular disease prevention in the elderly].

In Poland and all over the world, there is a significant increase in the number of elderly persons (over 65 years). Evidently, cardiovascular disorders occur more frequently in the middle-aged and older people. Approximately 60 to 75% of persons over 65 years and older suffer from the myocardial ischaemic disorder or atherosclerosis.

[Levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction].

In acute myocardial infarction may increase the synthesis of cytokines, which can enlarge the myocardial lesion owing to their direct toxic action on myocytes or induction of inflammatory changes that lead to myocardiofibrosis. All this may quickening the appearance of congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was examination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) plasma levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction and analysis of correlation between concentrations of these cytokines and myocardial lesions during infarction.

[Do cytokines have any value in the patients with chronic blood circulation insufficiency?].

Heart failure is a common and increasing public problem. Neurohormonal activation plays a role in the pathophysiology of heart failure, but is probably also affected by cytokines. We studied 75 patients with heart failure NYHA functional class II and III-IV, who were treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (enarenal), diuretics (furosemide) and digoxine.

[Pharmacological treatment of lipid disorders according to present clinical studies].

Hyperlipidemia beside hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking, is considered as the most serious factor of atherosclerosis. Studies performed in Poland indicated that only 28% of men and 32% of women has proper lipids concentration in blood serum. In 1992 the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) divided hyperlipoproteinemia into three types: hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, and each of them into mild and significant.

[The influence of 3-month treatment with molsidomine on structure, function and some neurohormonal parameters in patients with chronic heart failure treated with digoxin, diuretic and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors].

The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of long-term treatment with molsidomine on structure, systolic function and neurohormonal parameters in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Investigations were carried out in 30 patients (mean age 63.0 +/- 10.

[The effect of amlodipine on structure and function of the heart and exercise tolerance in patients with hypertension].

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to assess whether the hypotensive activity of amlodipine is associated with regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and improvement of impaired LV or right ventricular (RV) diastolic function or increasing of tolerance of physical activity in hypertensive patients. Assessment of left ventricular structure, systolic and diastolic function as well as RV diastolic dimension and diastolic function were performed in 24 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension before administration of amlodipine and 3, 6 and 9 months of the treatment. In order to assess the tolerance of physical activity, incremental treadmill exercise testing was performed at baseline and after 6 and 9 months of the therapy with amlodipine.