The Role Played by Novel Inflammatory Markers in Assessment of Peripheral Artery Disease.

: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial process in which inflammatory markers have both therapeutic and prognostic roles. Recent studies bring into question the importance of assessing new inflammatory markers in relation to the severity of peripheral artery disease (PAD), such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR). : We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study including 652 patients with PAD, who were divided into two groups according to the severity of the ankle-brachial index value: mild and moderate obstruction (257 patients) and severe obstruction (395 patients).

Relationships between Easily Available Biomarkers and Non-Dipper Blood Pressure Pattern in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction: Chronic inflammation plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of both arterial hypertension (HTN) and coronary artery disease (CAD), and is more pronounced in individuals with a non-dipper circadian blood pressure (BP) pattern. A non-dipping BP pattern is in turn is associated with increased cardiovascular morbi-mortality, and a higher risk of atherosclerotic events. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are readily available predictors of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk.

Can Bioactive Food Substances Contribute to Cystic Fibrosis-Related Cardiovascular Disease Prevention?

Advances in cystic fibrosis (CF) care have significantly improved the quality of life and life expectancy of patients. Nutritional therapy based on a high-calorie, high-fat diet, antibiotics, as well as new therapies focused on CFTR modulators change the natural course of the disease. They do so by improving pulmonary function and growing BMI.

Cardiac Biomarkers in Sports Cardiology.

Sustained physical activity induces morphological and functional changes in the cardiovascular system. While mostly physiological, they can also become a trigger for major adverse cardiovascular events, the most severe of which are sudden cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, any novel method which can help more accurately estimate the cardiovascular risk should be considered for further studying and future implementation in the standard protocols.

Insulin Pump Therapy Efficacy and Key Factors Influencing Adherence in Pediatric Population-A Narrative Review.

: we aimed to highlight the state of the art in terms of pediatric population adherence to insulin pumps. This study intends to underline the significance of identifying and minimizing, to the greatest extent feasible, the factors that adversely affect the juvenile population's adherence to insulin pump therapy. : articles from PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct databases were evaluated using the following search terms: adherence, pump insulin therapy, children, pediatric population, and type 1 diabetes, in combination with several synonyms such as compliance, treatment adherence, pump adherence, patient dropouts, and treatment refusal.

CPAP Influence on Readily Available Inflammatory Markers in OSA-A Pilot Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive upper airway collapse, chronic hypoxia and a proinflammatory phenotype. The purpose of our study was to evaluate readily available inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), WBC-to-MPV ratio (WMR) and lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR)) before and after CPAP in patients with moderate-severe OSA. We performed a prospective study that included patients with newly-diagnosed moderate-severe OSA.

Eating Habits in Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia from North-Eastern Romania.

(1) Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic autosomal dominant disorder characterized by elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) that develops deposits of lipids in the arterial wall. Since it is underdiagnosed and undertreated, the disease has a high risk of premature cardiovascular disease and death. Patients are not always aware of the changes they should make in their diet.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Cardiac Biomarker Measurements in Young Football Players: A Pilot Study.

Constant and intense physical activity causes physiological adaptive changes in the human body, but it can also become a trigger for adverse events, such as sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death. Our main objective was to assess the use of combined cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and cardiac biomarker determinants in young professional athletes. We conducted a study which involved the full examination of 19 football players, all male, aged between 18 and 20 years old.

Relationship between Frailty and Depression in a Population from North-Eastern Romania.

(1) Background: In the older population, depression often affects people with chronic medical illnesses, cognitive impairment, or disability. Frailty is another important issue affecting older adults, being difficult to clinically distinguish from frailty in advanced old age. Well-designed interventional studies and clinical strategies targeting both frailty and depression are rare or nonexistent.

Multiple Faces of Cervical Lesions in Children.

Pediatric sialolithiasis is a rare condition causing tumefaction, induration, redness, and pain of the affected gland. When the submandibular gland is involved, the lesion can be mistaken for an adenopathy. As there are few studies to elucidate this condition in children, we present a rare case of a 16-year-old female with suggestive symptoms, in which initial clinical examination and two ultrasound examinations mistook the lesion for an adenopathy.

Genetic Polymorphisms in a Familial Hypercholesterolemia Population from North-Eastern Europe.

(1) Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most prevalent inherited metabolic disorders. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) of , , , , and . (2) Methods: From a group of 1499 patients, we included 52 patients diagnosed with FH phenotype and 17 patients in a control group.

24 h Holter ECG Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis-A Potential Role for a Precise Evaluation of QT Interval Duration and Associated Arrhythmic Complications.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased systemic inflammatory burden associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality. Prolonged ventricular repolarisation evaluated by QT interval duration is a risk factor for cardiovascular and total mortality. In RA, mortality risk is correlated with dynamics and cumulative incidence of QTc prolongation rather than QTc value.

Genetic Modifying Factors of Cystic Fibrosis Phenotype: A Challenge for Modern Medicine.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a monogenic autosomal recessive disease caused by cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator () gene mutations. CF is characterized by a high phenotypic variability present even in patients with the same genotype. This is due to the intervention of modifier genes that interact with both the CFTR gene and environmental factors.

Beyond the Finish Line: The Impact and Dynamics of Biomarkers in Physical Exercise-A Narrative Review.

The research of biomarkers continues to emerge as a developing academic field which is attracting substantial interest. The study of biomarkers proves to be useful in developing and implementing new screening methods for a wide variety of diseases including in the sports area, whether for leisure activities or professional sports. Novel research has brought into question the immune system and the limitations it may impose on sports practicing.

Surgical versus Transvalvular Aortic Valve Replacement in Elderly Patients-The Impact of Frailty.

(1) Background: The aging process leads to an increased number of patients with cardiovascular diseases that require surgical treatment. One of the most common heart diseases with an increased prevalence in the elderly is aortic stenosis (AS). Recently, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the preferred technique for frail patients with high surgical risk.

Pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease - a changing diagnostic paradigm.

Worldwide, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents, but also as a real public health issue. Over the last decades, the increase in the rates of obesity and overweight in children has led to the increase in the worldwide prevalence of pediatric NAFLD. Detection of a hyperechoic appearance of the liver at ultrasounds or elevated levels of transaminases, identified during a routine control in children, suggests NAFLD.

Endocardial fibroelastosis and dilated cardiomyopathy - the past and future of the interface between histology and genetics.

Endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) signifies the pathological process by which collagen and elastin are focally or diffuse deposited in the endocardium of the left ventricle. The new layer causes left ventricular dysfunction sometimes with fulminant progression to heart failure. EFE is a major component in many congenital heart abnormalities but can also occur in the absence of heart malformations, either as a primary process or in response to cardiac injury.

Short-Term CPAP Improves Biventricular Function in Patients with Moderate-Severe OSA and Cardiometabolic Comorbidities.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing, exhibiting an increasing prevalence and several cardiovascular complications. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold-standard treatment for moderate-severe OSA, but it is associated with poor patient adherence. We performed a prospective study that included 57 patients with newly diagnosed moderate-severe OSA, prior to CPAP initiation.

Relationships between Psychoeducational Rehabilitation and Health Outcomes-A Systematic Review Focused on Acute Coronary Syndrome.

(1) : Cardiac rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary program that includes psychoeducational support in addition to physical exercise. Psychoeducational intervention is a component that has had accelerated interest and development in recent decades. The aim was to analyze the current evidence on the effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Predictive Markers of Early Cardiovascular Impairment and Insulin Resistance in Obese Pediatric Patients.

Background: The increased prevalence of obesity among children determined the rising number of its comorbidities in children and adults, too. This study aimed to evaluate certain markers of inflammation and insulin resistance in obese pediatric patients, identifying those who are more likely to develop further complications.

Methods: We included 115 obese pediatric patients: 85 overweight and obese patients in the study group and 30 normal-weight patients in the control group.

Neuropsychiatric Consequences of Lipophilic Beta-Blockers.

Beta-blockers are a class of drugs with important benefits in cardiovascular pathology. In this paper, we aim to highlight their adverse and therapeutic effects in the neuropsychiatric field. With respect to permeability, we would like to mention that most beta-blockers are lipophilic and can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Waist circumference a clinical criterion for prediction of cardio-vascular complications in children and adolescences with overweight and obesity.

Overweight and obesity in childhood are associated with early cardiovascular dysfunction and promote heightened risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Waist circumference (WC) correlates with visceral obesity, which is why obese children with elevated WC need to be carefully monitored to prevent long-term cardio-metabolic complications. The purpose of our study was to establish if WC could be a predictor of cardiovascular complications in children.