Cardiovascular risk assessment by electrocardiographic Holter monitoring in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are ranked as the third cause of mortality among people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), but the relationship of infection with cardiovascular risk remains disputable. We have focused on the comprehensive use of parameters obtainable during long-term electrocardiographic (ECG) Holter monitoring.

Material And Methods: Heart rate variability and turbulence (HRV and HRT), deceleration/acceleration capacity (DC/AC), corrected QT interval (QTc) and late potential (LP) were used.

[Oxidative-reductive balance in patients after acute coronary syndrome that undergo cardiac rehabilitation].

Unlabelled: Cardiac rehabilitation is essential part of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treatment. Controlled physical activity (both aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activities) is the most important part of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). There is a close relationship between regular physical exercise and secondary prevention in patients after ACS.

[Evaluation of effects of cardiac rehabilitation in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting by six minute walk test].

Unlabelled: Exercise capacity testing is a procedure that enables enrollment into cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and CR effects evaluation. Six minute walk test (6MWT) is an easy and measurable method of exercise capacity assessment in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of study was to evaluate effects of CR in patients after cardiac surgery for ACS using 6MWT MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 patients (aged 41-65 years; mean age 56.

[Heart rate recovery after exercise in subjects undergoing cardiologic rehabilitation].

Unlabelled: Research indicates that slow heart rate recovery 1-2 minutes after exercise is a predictor of cardiovascular mortality, sudden mortality as well. It is hardly related to myocardial ischemia; most of all, it is related to impaired activities of the parasympathetic system. The purpose of this study was to assess HRR in subjects after a surgical treatment (percutaneous coronary intervention - PCI) of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), undergoing cardiologic rehabilitation.

Persistent ductus arteriosus in a 72-year-old woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and depression syndrome: a therapeutic and diagnostic problem.

Treating the elderly is often problematic, especially when congenital heart disease is diagnosed. The aim of this study is to present the case of a 72-year old woman with depression syndrome, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and past cerebral stroke, in whom persistent ductus arteriosus Botalli was diagnosed. Due to exacerbation of the depressive syndrome, she did not give her consent to further diagnostics, possible interventional procedures and treatment with oral anticoagulants.

Heart rhythm turbulence and NT-proBNP in decompensated liver cirrhosis--a pilot study.

Background: Heart rhythm turbulence (HRT) is a novel tool for evaluation of cardiovascular mortality. Liver cirrhosis is associated with hemodynamic and myocardial disturbances termed cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. In the stable stage of liver cirrhosis, systolic and myocardial dysfunction is correlated with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Melatonin treatment improves blood pressure, lipid profile, and parameters of oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Experimental studies have proven that melatonin has many beneficial pleiotropic actions. The aim of this study was to assess melatonin efficacy in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). The study included 33 healthy volunteers (who were not treated with melatonin) and 30 patients with MS, who did not respond to 3-month lifestyle modification.

Recurrent syncope and hypocalcaemic cardiomyopathy as manifestations of Fahr's syndrome.

In our report we would like to present a case of a 60-year-old patient with epileptic seizures, affective disturbances, only mild neurocognitive disorders and cardiomyopathy. A female patient was taken to the internal ward with a tentative diagnosis of recurrent syncope. Laboratory results disclosed severe hypocalcaemia, hypoparathyroidism, and hypothyroidism.

Aronia melanocarpa extract reduces blood pressure, serum endothelin, lipid, and oxidative stress marker levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Experimental studies have shown that anthocyanins may exert pleiotropic effects. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of Aronia melanocarpa extract on blood pressure and serum concentration of endothelin-1 (ET-1), lipids, glucose, uric acid, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dysmutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reacting substrates, TBARS) in erythrocytes of patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).

Material/methods: The study comprised 22 healthy volunteers and 25 patients with MS.

[Statins in chronic heart failure--new indication?].

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is connected with very high risk of death. Discovery of neurohormonal mechanisms which contribute to pathogenesis of CHF changed therapeutic management of CHF. It was indicated that statins may exert beneficial effects in patients with CHF through preventing acute coronary syndromes, reducing myocardial hypertrophy, decreasing activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic system, inhibitory effects on inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases, improving endothelial function.