Does gastro-esophageal reflux provoke the myocardial ischemia in patients with CAD?

Background: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) may cause chest pain. The aim was to determine the correlation between ischemia and gastro-esophageal reflux in patients with CAD and to assess the influence of short-term "anti-reflux" therapy on the ischemia in patients with GERD and CAD.

Methods: Fifty patients with angiographically proven CAD underwent simultaneous 24-h continuous ECG and esophageal pH monitoring.

The occurrence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic sclerosis hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases Medical University of Białystok in years 2003-2004.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one the most fatal complications of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of PH in SSc patients hospitalized in Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases University Hospital of Bialystok in years 2003-2004. PH was defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) higher than 35 mmHg as evaluated by ECHO-Doppler.

[Some interactions of natural and synthetic anionic polymers with biologically active substances].

Anionic polymers are nowadays extensively used in drug form technology, especially in drug delivery and drug targeting. Development of proper drug and macromolecular excipient composition allows controlled drug delivery in the term of the drug concentration in blood or other tissues, and in the term of the action-time. Between anionic polymers most frequently carbopols, eudragits, alginates and pectins are used.

Stability of ceftazidime pentahydrate in medicinal preparations Biotum and Ceftim.

The influence of temperature and relative air humidity on the stability of ceftazidime in two different pharmaceutical preparations was investigated. The degradation of the substance studied was determined: (a) in dry air at 373, 378, 383, 388 and 393 K; (b) at air humidity RH = 76.4% at 323, 333, 343, 353 and 358 K; (c) in the humidity range 25.

Carbopols as factors buffering triethanolamine interacting with artificial skin sebum.

Triethanolamine is an ethanolamine applied as counter-ion for fatty acid soaps. Interaction between triethanolamine and free fatty acids is suggested to be useful for cleansing sebaceous follicles in acne prevention. Considering relatively high pH of aqueous triethanolamine solutions we investigated influence of different concentrations of anionic polymers--Carbopol 934P, Carbopol 974P and Carbopol 980 on pH, rheological behavior and, most of them, intensity of triethanolamine interaction with artificial skin sebum components.

[Peripartum cardiomyopathy--a case report].

Peripartum cardiomyopathy -- a case report. A case of a 32-year old woman, previously healthy, with heart failure symptoms occurring during third pregnancy, is described. In spite of standard pharmacological treatment, her condition worsened and the pregnancy had to be terminated at 28 hbd by cesarean section.

[Cardiac myxoma attached to anterior leaflet--case report].

Cardiac myxoma attached to anterior mitral leaflet - a case report. A case of a 64-year-old patient with a history of stroke and myocardial infarction is presented. Echocardiography revealed cardiac myxoma originating from anterior mitral leaflet.

[Is Q-wave on admission associated with microvascular injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty?].

Introduction: Impaired microvascular flow, despite patent epicardial artery (no-reflow phenomenon), leads to greater left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI). Predictive factors associated with no-reflow remain largely unexplored. Q-wave on admission (Q(A)) is a sign of extensive ischemia probably predisposing to no-reflow.

[Assessment of possible correlations between endogenous androgens and the extent of coronary heart disease and left ventricle function].

In men, androgens and especially testosterone are considered responsible for the much higher rate of coronary artery disease. The male gender is an independent coronary artery disease risk factor. An adverse correlation between endogenous testosterone levels and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis has been demonstrated in just one study.

ST segment resolution predicts clinical outcome and response to dobutamine testing after primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Aim: To assess clinical outcome and improvement in left ventricular (LV) contractility during a six-month follow-up after successful primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), according to rapid ST segment resolution. The usefulness of early dobutamine echocardiography (DE) in the prediction of LV functional recovery in patients treated with primary PTCA was tested.

Patients And Methods: One hundred ten consecutive patients with first acute myocardial infarction after successful primary PTCA (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow and stenosis of less than 30%) were divided into two groups according to whether ST segment resolution occurred 1 h after the procedure.

Attempts to detect Helicobacter pylori in atherosclerotic plaques.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are regarded to be the main causes of mortality in developed countries, atherosclerosis being at their pathological base. During the recent years, attention was paid to the role of bacterial infections, including Helicobacter pylori, in the process of atherogenesis and coronary heart disease development. The aim of the study was an evaluation of H.

Heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Heart failure is highly prevalent in the population with chronic kidney disease. Upon starting dialysis, 37% of patients will have had a previous episode of heart failure, doubling the risk of death. Both systolic and/or diastolic function may be impaired.

Relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and myocardial ischemia. Effect of reflux on temporary activity of autonomic nervous system.

Purpose: Assessment of the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) influence on myocardial ischemia and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.

Material And Methods: In 50 patients with angiographically confirmed ischemic heart disease (IHD) in I-III CCS class, simultaneous 24-hour ECG and esophageal pH-metry monitoring was performed. We assessed: (1) GERD occurrence in patients with IHD, (2) influence of pathological reflux (PR) on myocardial ischemia--number and total duration of ST depression episodes in GERD and non-GERD patients, (3) temporary activity of ANS was determined according to the dynamics of spectral HRV (Heart Rate Variability) analysis components (LF, HF, VLF, LF/HF).

Effect of some anionic polymers on pH of triethanolamine aqueous solutions.

One of the suggested approaches in the management and prophylaxis of acne involves binding of free fatty acids in the form of soap with alcoholamines. Due to a possible irritating effect of alcoholamines associated with a relatively high pH of their aqueous solutions, complexation of alcoholamines with acid polymers is advocated. Triethanolamine is one of the best recognized alcoholamines.

[Recurrent thrombosis of a mitral mechanical heart valve prosthesis during puerperium--a case report].

A case of a 27-year-old female with prosthetic mitral valve is presented. Prolonged anticoagulation therapy was continued during pregnancy without complications. During puerperium, the dose of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin was reduced due to subcutaneous blood effusions.

Normalisation of elevated ST segment predicts return of left ventricular systolic function and improved outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction, treated with primary coronary angioplasty.

Background: It has been shown that normalisation of elevated ST segment after primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is associated with the achievement of reperfusion at the tissue level.

Aim: To assess prospectively the return of left ventricular (LV) systolic function and the outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), treated with primary PCI, in relation to the early normalisation of the ST segment.

Methods: The study group consisted of 110 consecutive patients (33 females, 77 males, mean age 56 years) with AMI who were successfully treated with primary PCI (TIMI flow grade 3 and residual stenosis <30%) within 12 hours from the onset of symptoms.

Safety and feasibility of a novel dosing regimen of tirofiban administered in patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation before primary coronary angioplasty: a pilot study.

Background: Intravenous glycoprotein GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists administered to patients with acute coronary syndromes limit platelet-dependent thrombus formation and vasoconstriction and lower the complication rate of PCI. The efficacy of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors critically depends on appropriate suppression of platelet aggregation. A growing body of evidence indicates that regimen of tirofiban used in several recent trials may be suboptimal.

[Recurrent systemic embolisation in a patient with a large thrombus in left ventricular aneurysm--case report].

A case of a 47-year-old female with the aneurysm of the left ventricle is presented. Several days prior to the hospitalization signs of femoral embolism emerged, which was treated with embolectomy. Echocardiographic examination revealed large thrombus in the cavity of the aneurysm with pedunculated surrounding echo.

Platelet inhibition by increased tirofiban dosing during primary coronary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Platelet receptor IIb/IIIa inhibition during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) decreases incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). These effects directly result from the level of platelet inhibition. Due to existing data indicating that standard dosing of tirofiban is insufficient for optimal platelet inhibition, we proposed a novel, experimental dosing.

[Severe heart failure due to toxic cardiomyopathy in a young patient--a case report].

A case of a 26-year-old male with a two-week history of increased dyspnea, weakness and depressed physical tolerance, is presented. Dilated cardiomyopathy due to cardiotoxic effects of toluene was diagnosed. Echocardiography showed left ventricular ejection fraction of 15%.

Homocysteine and progression of coronary artery disease.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the newly recognised risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in the development of atherosclerosis has been controversial.

Aim: To assess homocysteine (Hcy) plasma concentration in patients with CAD and to correlate Hcy level with some cardiovascular risk factors.

Effect of natural anionic polymers on the release rate and local concentration of metronidazole at pH near the natural gastric environment.

The aim of the study was to evaluate initially the applicability of certain natural polymers, as metronidazole binding agents in the treatment of ulcerative lesions in the gastric mucous membrane. The investigation involved systems containing metronidazole in combination with sodium alginate, citrus pectin and citrus-apple pectin. The rate of metronidazole release from the investigated preparations was evaluated after acidification to pH in gastric environment.