Heart disease in the course of systemic sclerosis - an observational study.

Introduction: Cardiac involvement is one of the major mortality factors in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This observational study aimed to compare patients with and without heart involvement in the course of SSc.

Material And Methods: Electronic medical records of patients treated between January 2021 and August 2022 in the Department of Rheumatology were searched for the diagnosis of SSc (ICD-10 code M47).

No effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy and right ventricular pacing on the right ventricle in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

The right ventricle (RV) function is crucial in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), especially in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). . To assess the RV structure and function in patients with HFrEF, permanent atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and RV pacing (RVp) with two- and three-dimensional echocardiography.

Age-associated evolution of plasmatic amyloid in mouse lemur primates: relationship with intracellular amyloid deposition.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) deposition in the brain is one of its hallmarks, and the measure of plasma Aβ is considered to be a biomarker for anti-amyloid drug efficacy in animal models of AD. However, age-associated plasmatic Aβ modulation in animal models is practically never addressed in the literature.

Economical aspect of PET/CT-guided diagnosis of suspected infective endocarditis in a patient with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

We present a case report of potential reduction of hospitalization costs due to utilization of PET/CT in a diagnostic work-up of a patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and suspicion of infective endocarditis. The PET/CT scan would have shorten hospital stay, prevented clinical complications and reduced the cost of hospitalization by 45%.

Amyloid beta immunization worsens iron deposits in the choroid plexus and cerebral microbleeds.

Anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) immunotherapy provides potential benefits in Alzheimer's disease patients. Nevertheless, strategies based on Aβ1-42 peptide induced encephalomyelitis and possible microhemorrhages. These outcomes were not expected from studies performed in rodents.

Micro-MRI study of cerebral aging: ex vivo detection of hippocampal subfield reorganization, microhemorrhages and amyloid plaques in mouse lemur primates.

Mouse lemurs are non-human primate models of cerebral aging and neurodegeneration. Much smaller than other primates, they recapitulate numerous features of human brain aging, including progressive cerebral atrophy and correlation between regional atrophy and cognitive impairments. Characterization of brain atrophy in mouse lemurs has been done by MRI measures of regional CSF volume and by MRI measures of regional atrophy.

In vivo cross-sectional characterization of cerebral alterations induced by intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin.

Cerebral aging is often associated with the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases leading to dementia. Animal models are critical to elucidate mechanisms associated to dementia and to evaluate neuroprotective drugs. Rats that received intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (icv-STZ) have been reported as a model of dementia.

[Exposure of healthcare personnel to ionizing radiation in the light of radiation hormesis hypothesis].

Radiation hormesis is a hypothetical premise that low doses of ionizing radiation (below 200 mSv) may be beneficial to living organisms. According to this hypothesis low doses of radiation stimulate the processes of DNA repair in cells. As a result they decrease the risk of aberration and the development of tumors.

Quality of life improvement after radiofrequency catheter ablation of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias in patients with structurally normal heart.

Introduction: Patients with structurally normal hearts (SNH) suffering from ventricular tachycardia (VT) or frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are at low risk of sudden cardiac death. Any treatment ameliorates symptoms without a substantial influence on survival.The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the health-related quality of life (QoL) of patients with SNH undergoing elective radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of VT or PVCs.

[Clinical improvement after physical training in patient with severe postinfarction heart failure, who underwent prosthetic heart valve implantation and numerous coronary interventional procedures].

The case of patient with advanced congestive heart failure, NYHA III, of ischaemic and valvular aetiology and concomitant diseases is presented. Introduction of 6-month, controlled physical training resulted in improvement of health status, exercise performance, ventilation and left ventricular function. Quality of life got significantly better.

Effect of combined spironolactone-β-blocker ± enalapril treatment on occurrence of symptomatic atrial fibrillation episodes in patients with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (SPIR-AF study).

Angiotensin II and aldosterone are key factors responsible for the structural and neurohormonal remodeling of the atria and ventricles in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiarrhythmic effects of spironolactone compared to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with recurrent AF. A cohort of 164 consecutive patients (mean age 66 years, 87 men), with an average 4-year history of recurrent AF episodes, was enrolled in a prospective, randomized, 12-month trial with 4 treatment arms: group A, spironolactone, enalapril, and a β blocker; group B, spironolactone and a β blocker; group C, enalapril plus a β blocker; and group D, a β blocker alone.

High monthly temperature as a possible risk factor of local vascular bleeding complications during percutaneous coronary interventions evaluated by ultrasonography - retrospective analysis.

Background: Bleeding complications are a very important issue in the era of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Effective antiplatelet therapy increases the rate of successful interventions but the risk of bleeding complications, among them local vascular complications, may be higher. Other factors may also be important in the development of local bleeding complications.

Age-associated cerebral atrophy in mouse lemur primates.

We assessed the regional brain atrophy in mouse lemur primates from 4.7T T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. Thirty animals aged from 1.

[Left atrial myxoma in a patient with heart failure after myocardial infarction - a case report].

A case of a 54-year-old male patient with left atrial myxoma, coronary heart disease, heart failure and multiple cardiovascular risk factors is described. The patient did not present typical symptoms of myxoma. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac myxoma as well as the importance of echocardiographic examination in every patient with decompensated chronic heart failure are discussed.

1H and 13C NMR spectra and solution structures of novel derivatives of 5-substituted creatinines.

Five creatinine derivatives were prepared by the treatment of creatinine with activated carbon and appropriate alcohol (1-4), or ammonia solution (5). Product structures were determined by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy in solution, including 2D HSQC and HMBC experiments. Then, the proton and carbon chemical shifts for these compounds were calculated using GIAO-DFT [B3LYP/6-311G(2d,p)] method and the Gaussian 03W program and furthermore for 1 and 5 using polarizable continuum model (PCM).

[Thrombus visualisation during radiofrequency catheter ablation. A case report].

We report two patients in whom thrombus formation during radiofrequency catheter ablation was detected by echocardiography. Resolution of thrombus after intravenous use of heparin was observed in both patients. Transesophageal and intracardiac echocardiography may be useful in management of this complication.

Lack of involvement of dopamine and serotonin during the orphanin FQ/Nociceptin (OFQ/N)-induced prolactin secretory response.

The purpose of these studies was to examine possible mechanisms of Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin (OFQ/N)-induced prolactin release. We investigated the involvement of the dopaminergic neurons by quantifying DOPAC:DA levels in the median eminence and neurointermediate lobe following central administration of OFQ/N to female Sprague-Dawley rats. To specifically determine the involvement of the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons, immunocytochemical studies were conducted to visualize c-fos protein expression in the arcuate nucleus following central administration of OFQ/N.

[Pharmacological versus invasive treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation].

Aim of this prospective study was to assess quality of life (QoL), left ventricular (LV) function and exercise performance in two groups of patients (pts) with atrial fibrillation (Af) treated with: radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) and antiarrhythmic drugs (AA). Between 1996 and 2000 - 74 patients, 28 women, with drug refractory Af were enrolled by clinical indications for two modes of therapy: RFA and AA. RFA group consisted of 38 pts, 63.

Reduction of acute-phase proteins with tenidap sodium, a cytokine-modulating anti-rheumatic drug.

Four independent studies have investigated and compared the effects of tenidap sodium, naproxen and placebo on CRP in patients with active RA. One of these studies also investigated the effects of tenidap and naproxen on serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations and ESR. The duration of the four studies ranged between 2 weeks and 24 weeks, and depending on the study, tenidap sodium was administered orally in doses of 40-120 mg/day and naproxen in doses of 1000 mg/day.

[Clinical evaluation of hydroxy-ethylated starch (preparation HAES)].

Hydroxy-ethylated starch (HAES-Fresenius) has been evaluated clinically at the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Academy in Warsaw. This plasma substitute is used in several countries as plasma substitute similar to dextran but of better properties. Results of our studies have shown, that HAES is worth its opinion.

[A case of ventricular free wall rupture in acute myocardial infarction treated conservatively with success].

A sixty year old man developed clinical signs of pericardial tamponade on fifth day of acute myocardial infarction. An echocardiogram showed a pericardial effusion and rupture of left ventricular free wall. After pericardial puncture and four days pericardial drainage, the fissure of rupture was closed by formation of thrombus and pseudoaneurysm.