Is there any relationship between lipids and vitamin B levels in persons with elevated risk of atherosclerosis?

Background: There is increasing evidence that plasma homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Low levels of serum folates, cobalamin and pyridoxine are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Most dietary products contain cholesterol as well as methionine, so hyperlipidemia could be associated with a higher level of homocysteine and inversely with lower levels of B vitamins.

Atrial fibrillation after conventional and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: two opposite trends in timing of atrial fibrillation occurrence?

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common complications after cardiac surgery. It occurs most often between the 2nd and 3rd postoperative day. The aim of this study was to compare the daily distribution of AF incidence between patients operated on with the standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) technique and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting on the beating heart (OPCABG) without extracorporeal circulation.

[Effect of transmyocardial laser revascularization on the myocardium in the early postoperative period].

Background: Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) is a modem approach in the management of coronary artery disease. It can be considered as a method of choice in some cases unsuitable for coronary angioplasty or bypass grafting. Transmyocardial laser revascularization is expected to relieve angina and to improve patient quality of life and survival.

[Evaluation of bypass patency in the radial artery with intermediate term observation].

After an initial learning experience in the early 70's, radial artery is now used as the second arterial graft of choice (after both ITAs). The aim of the study was to compare patency rates of venous and arterial grafts--especially radial artery--in mid-term follow up period. 19 patients with stable angina and 11 with unstable angina underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with CPB.

[Thermographic monitoring of of the left anterior descending coronary artery bypass without extracorporeal circulation, but using stabilizing procedures. Case report].

During the coronary artery bypass off pump procedure thermal angiography was evaluated for the intraoperative assessment of the patency and the flow in the left internal mammary to the left anterior descendens. Our observation confirms that thermal angiography may be used as an intraoperative method which improves graft quality control during coronary bypass procedures.

[Myocardial revascularization without extracorporeal circulation in patients with ischemic impaired left ventricular contraction].

Coronary bypass graft procedures still remain a surgical challenge in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. The study was designed to compare off pump myocardial revascularization with conventional bypass procedures in patients with ejection fraction below 35%. Our results suggest that in selected patients off pump bypass procedure, may be used as a suitable and safe alternative to conventionalon pump coronary surgery, permitting complete revascularization with comparable short-term results.