Effectiveness of a Standardized Combination of Intracameral Mydriatics and Anaesthetic on Mydriasis during Cataract Surgery with Coexisting Diseases.

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of a standardized combination of intracameral mydriatics and anesthetic (SCIMA) on mydriasis in patients with coexisting diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF) during phacoemulsification.

Methods: Patients with cataract were included in the study if they achieved pupil dilation diameter ≥ 6.0 mm after the administration of mydriatic eyedrops (ME) during the first visit (V1).

Asymptomatic Caseous Calcification of the Mitral Annulus in a 66-Year-Old Woman with 3-Year Imaging Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is an uncommon form of mitral annular calcification and can be misdiagnosed as heart abscess, neoplasm, or other lesions occupying the atrioventricular groove. Data regarding imaging follow-up of patients with CCMA are limited. This report presents a case of CCMA with a 3-year imaging follow-up.

Long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction and no ischemic changes on electrocardiogram.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is commonly associated with ischemic abnormalities on electrocardiography (ECG). However, a significant proportion of patients present with no ischemic changes (NIC), and their baseline characteristics and management differ considerably from those with other ECG patterns. In the era of rapid troponin assays, the exact prognostic effects of normal ECGs remain unclear.

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection as a preferable method of treatment for iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms after invasive cardiovascular procedures - a single-center experience.

Introduction: Arterial cannulation is inherently associated with a risk of vascular complications including pseudoaneurysm (psA) that are encountered in both radial and femoral artery access. Among various methods of treatment of pseudoaneurysm the most popular are: watchful waiting for a spontaneous resolution, ultrasound-guided compression, ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) and surgical treatment. In many previous reports nonsurgical methods appeared to be effective in most cases.

Choosing a treatment method for post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms guided by the late to early velocity index.

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) is often the first-line treatment for iatrogenic post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms (psA). There are also first reports of the use of biologically derived tissue glues (TG) instead of sole thrombin especially when UGTI was unsuccessful or in case of psA recurrence. Previously, we have established that a late to early velocity index (LEVI) < 0.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries: Score derivation for prediction based on a large national registry.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) and obstructive coronary arteries (MI-CAD) are treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (pPCI), while patients with STEMI and non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), usually require non-invasive therapy. The aim of the study is to design a score for predicting suspected MINOCA among an overall group of STEMI patients.

Materials And Methods: Based on the Polish national registry of PCIs, we evaluated patients between 2014 and 2019, and selected 526,490 subjects treated with PCI and 650,728 treated using only coronary angiography.

Clinical presentation and 3-year outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes and non-obstructive coronary arteries on angiography.

Background: With the emerging interest in patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), there is a need to define an even broader group of patients with the syndrome of myocardial ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA). There are limited data on the clinical characteristics and prognoses of such patients who present with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and undergo urgent coronary angiography that reveals no significant lesions. The aim of this observational study was to compare patients with ACS INOCA and those with ACS with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) both within unadjusted cohorts and with propensity score matched controls.

Associations of changes in patient characteristics and management with decrease in mortality rates of men and women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction - a propensity score-matched analysis.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to estimate how much of the recent decrease in mortality among patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) can be attributed to improved treatment strategies, and how much it is related to changes in baseline clinical characteristics, and to compare these findings for men and women.

Material And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 32,790 patients with STEMI from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes PL-ACS hospitalised in 2005 and 2011. Changes in treatment strategies including pharmacotherapy were analysed.

The progress in outcomes of the management of patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction between 2005 and 2014 in Poland - a propensity score matching analysis from the PL-ACS registry.

Introduction: Dynamic changes both in clinical profile and treatment strategy of non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients have been observed recently. The exact impact of them on prognosis in a wide national population remains unclear.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of treatment advances between 2005 and 2014 on the outcomes of NSTEMI cases.

Global peak left atrial longitudinal strain assessed by transthoracic echocardiography is a good predictor of left atrial appendage thrombus in patients in sinus rhythm with heart failure and very low ejection fraction - an observational study.

Background: Peak left atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) can help identify left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) in patients with atrial fibrillation. Nevertheless, few studies have been performed in patients in sinus rhythm without established indications for anticoagulation but with increased risk of LAAT, such as heart failure (HF) with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction patients. The primary aim of this study was to identify clinical and transthoracic echocardiography predictors of LAAT in HF patients with very low left ventricular ejection fraction and sinus rhythm.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Two Dosing Protocols for Ultrasound Guided Thrombin Injection in Patients with Iatrogenic Femoral Pseudoaneurysms.

Objective: Ultrasound guided thrombin injection (UGTI) is a minimally invasive method of treatment for iatrogenic post-catheterisation femoral pseudoaneurysms (psAs). The optimal dosing protocol for UGTI has not been established. The aim of the study was to compare the success and complication rates between two different dosing protocols (the most commonly used "standard dose protocol" and the "low dose protocol," which is the fractionated administration of smaller thrombin doses of up to 40 IU every 15 s) in patients with a psA with sac volume of ≥1 mL.

Late to early velocity index as a predictor of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm recurrence in patients treated with ultrasound-guided thrombin injection.

Introduction: Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) is the preferred treatment of pseudoaneurysms (psA). The potential risk of complications increases with the number of UGTI treatments needed for complete psA obliteration. Identification of risk factors for recurrent psA is needed.

Left atrial longitudinal strain in dilated cardiomyopathy patients: is there a discrimination threshold for atrial fibrillation?

To determine the left atrial longitudinal strain discrimination threshold of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A total of 100 DCM patients and LVEF < 25% were included. Of them, 50 had sinus rhythm (SR), and 50 had AF.

Survival benefit from recent changes in management of men and women with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary interventions.

Background: Nowadays, the majority of patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) are treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). In recent years, there have been ongoing improvements in PCI techniques, devices and concomitant pharmacotherapy. However, reports on further mortality reduction among PCI-treated STEMI patients remain inconclusive.

Trends in sex differences in clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Poland from 2005 to 2011.

Introduction: During the last decade, there has been an increased awareness of sex differences in the clinical characteristics, management, and mortality in myocardial infarction. Many previous studies have found that women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have a poorer baseline risk profile, are less intensively treated, and have worse outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate whether sex disparities in STEMI have changed in recent years.

[Risk factors and treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock].

Aim: To assess risk factors and prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) in Poland.

Methods: Data from The Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) were analysed in 2008-2012. A total of 57400 consecutive STEMI patients included.

Pregnancy after myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass grafting - is it safe?

Pregnancy after myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), although still rare, is slowly becoming a challenge in everyday clinical practice. In recent decades MI has been observed to occur more frequently in young women. Concurrently an increasing number of women decide to become pregnant at more advanced age.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in a 52-year-old man - clinical presentation mimicking an acute coronary syndrome.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is an infrequently diagnosed, genetically determined disease that leads to significant clinical consequences, including progressive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias accounting for sudden cardiac death. We report the case of a 52-year-old patient who presented with ventricular tachycardia and features of an acute coronary syndrome. However, routine tests excluded critical coronary stenosis and the final diagnosis was arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

[Transcatheter aortic valve implantation and its place in the contemporary treatment].

Symptomatic stenosis of the aortic valve has recently been an important clinical issue. On one hand the number of patients who need surgical treatment of valve failure is increasing. On the other hand their general state of health and concomitant diseases determine that they are disqualified from surgery.

Pregnancy after acute coronary syndrome: a proposal for patients' management and a literature review.

Coronary artery disease complicates only 0.01% of all pregnancies. For this reason, more exhaustive data on the management of such cases is lacking.

[Factors affecting melanogenesis and methods used for identification of pigmentation disorders].

Melanins are pigments widely distributed in living organisms. In humans melanin is synthetised in the retina, choroid and epidermis. Melanins fulfil a protective function and are responsible for the color of eyes, skin and hair.

[Statins and their pleiotropic effects].

Statins are well-established and effective drugs in the treatment of hyperlipidemias and coronary heart disease. However the effects of statins extend beyond their lipid-lowering actions, due to their capacity to inhibit prenylation of some intracellular regulatory proteins. Recent studies have shown that statins could modulate inflammantory response, improve endothelial function, exert antiarrhytmic properties, have beneficial effects on renal function and bone tissue.