The effect of lead free cap on the doses of ionizing radiation to the head of interventional cardiologists working in haemodynamic room.

Objectives: The study aim was to analyse the influence of the lead free cap on doses received by interventional cardiologists. The impact of lead free cap on doses to the head were evaluated in number of studies. As different methods used to assess the attenuation properties of protective cap can lead to ambiguous results, a detailed study was performed.

Occupational exposure to physicians working with a Zero-Gravity™ protection system in haemodynamic and electrophysiology labs and the assessment of its performance against a standard ceiling suspended shield.

A two centre clinical study was performed to analyse exposure levels of cardiac physicians performing electrophysiology and haemodynamic procedures with the use of state of the art Zero-Gravity™ radiation protective system (ZG). The effectiveness of ZG was compared against the commonly used ceiling suspended lead shield (CSS) in a haemodynamic lab. The operator's exposure was assessed using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) during both ablation (radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation (CRYA)) and angiography and angioplasty procedures (CA/PCI).

Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for myocardial fibrosis in patients with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Despite the fact that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is a proven method for detecting myocardial fibrosis, there is a need for new and reliable serological biomarkers. Circulating miRNAs could be a practical and attractive alternative. The purpose of the study was to assess the miRNAs well established in myocardial fibrosis - miR-21, miR-29a, miR-30d and miR-133a - in the plasma of patients with left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) that have areas of LGE assessed by CMR.

Role of preprocedural glutathione concentrations in the prediction of major adverse cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: Poor antioxidant protection of cardiomyocytes due to cardiac ischemia and low serum levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) may be associated with enhanced risk of coronary restenosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether preprocedural serum reduced GSH, reflecting the antioxidant status, may be predictive of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with pPCI.

Patients And Methods: Preprocedural serum GSH level was evaluated in 141 patients with ACS treated with pPCI with bare-metal stent (BMS) deployment.

[Tako-tsubo syndrome - a form of acute coronary syndrome or completely different clinical entity - a case report].

Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a temporary left ventricular dysfunction characterised by acute retrosternal rest pain, ST - segment elevation, slight elevation of cardiac necrosis markers, preferential apical akinesia or hypokinesia with basal hypercontractility in echocardiography. Its clinical picture mimics an acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography reveals normal coronary arteries.