Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Predictor of Abnormal Heart Rate Turbulence.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, but the exact mechanism has not been fully understood. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the incidence and severity of OSA and heart rate turbulence (HRT). Seventy one patients with clinical suspicion of OSA were qualified to participate in the study.

Obstructive sleep apnea as a predictor of reduced heart rate variability.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and heart rate variability (HRV) in a group of patients with clinical suggestion of OSA.

Methods: 104 patients with clinical suspicion of OSA were qualified to participate in the study (age: 53.15 ± 13.

Plasma YKL-40 levels correlate with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis assessed with the SYNTAX score.

Introduction YKL‑40 is a protein released locally by inflammatory cells. Thus, it may constitute a biomarker of inflammatory conditions, such as atherosclerosis. Objectives The aim of the study was to determine YKL‑40 levels in patients with ischemic heart disease and to analyze the correlation of this biomarker with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-4 and Response to Aspirin in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: High on-aspirin treatment platelets reactivity (HPR) is a significant problem in long-term secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. We hypothesize that imbalance between platelets MMPs/TIMPs results in cardiovascular disorders. We also explored whether chronically elevated blood glucose affects MMP-2/TIMP-4 release from platelets.

Efficacy and safety of LCZ696 (sacubitril-valsartan) according to age: insights from PARADIGM-HF.

Background: The age at which heart failure develops varies widely between countries and drug tolerance and outcomes also vary by age. We have examined the efficacy and safety of LCZ696 according to age in the Prospective comparison of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure trial (PARADIGM-HF).

Methods: In PARADIGM-HF, 8399 patients aged 18-96 years and in New York Heart Association functional class II-IV with an LVEF ≤40% were randomized to either enalapril or LCZ696.

Soluble Cell Adhesion Molecules - Does Estimating sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 Concentration Provide Additional Information About Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease?

Objectives: Cell adhesion molecules (CAM) are thought to have a great impact on endothelium functioning. Interaction between CAM and a receptor may lead to macrophage activation and the release of multiple enzymes such as elastases and colagenases. These enzymes can, in turn, play a role in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and initiation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

A putative placebo analysis of the effects of LCZ696 on clinical outcomes in heart failure.

Aims: Although active-controlled trials with renin–angiotensin inhibitors are ethically mandated in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, clinicians and regulators often want to know how the experimental therapy would perform compared with placebo. The angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 was compared with enalapril in PARADIGM-HF. We made indirect comparisons of the effects of LCZ696 with putative placebos.

Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibition compared with enalapril on the risk of clinical progression in surviving patients with heart failure.

Background: Clinical trials in heart failure have focused on the improvement in symptoms or decreases in the risk of death and other cardiovascular events. Little is known about the effect of drugs on the risk of clinical deterioration in surviving patients.

Methods And Results: We compared the angiotensin-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 (400 mg daily) with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril (20 mg daily) in 8399 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction in a double-blind trial.

Biventricular response of the heart to endurance exercise training in previously untrained subjects.

Background: Functional adaptation of the heart to regular strenuous exercise has not been fully elucidated yet, with different patterns of alterations being reported. We evaluated the effect of endurance exercise training (EET) on left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) mechanics in amateur individuals preparing for triathlon competitions.

Methods: Twenty-one subjects aged 33 ± 6 years underwent conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography at rest before and after a high-intensity (12.

Evaluation of the significance of cystatin C levels in patients suffering from coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Cystatin C is a novel marker used in the diagnosis of preclinical chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of the study was to assess the role of cystatin C in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Material And Methods: The study involved 63 patients of a mean age of 62.

Left main aneurysm and what's next?

The purpose of the case report is to present a case of a 65-year-old male, referred for coronary angiography because of a typical chest pain. The coronary angiography showed an aneurysm of the left main coronary artery. Despite the absence of obvious ischemic symptoms and because of the potential complications of the aneurysm with a width of 15 mm, the patient underwent surgery.

The choice of surgical specialization by medical students and their syncopal history.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess whether medical students' fainting outside the university or while witnessing surgical procedures and/or autopsies influenced their choice of a specialization.

Materials And Methods: The study group consisted of 605 medical students (from fourth to sixth year of study) from five medical universities in Poland (325 women, 212 men and 8 responders of an unspecified gender). The median age of subjects studied was 23 years, and the interquartile range was 23-24 years.

Cardiotoxicity of oncological treatment in children.

The incidence of complications after antineoplastic therapy is increasing in relation to the incidence of cancer and prolonged survival rate. Cardiotoxicity is one of the major complications, and it may occur during the therapy or many years after its termination, often leading to heart failure. Cardiotoxicity has been attributed particularly to cytostatics from the group of anthracycline antibiotics and radiotherapy, which are widely used in oncological treatment.

Familial predisposition to vasovagal syncope.

Objective: A handful of studies suggest a familial predisposition to vasovagal syncope (WS) but the scope of information available to date is poor. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of vasovagal syncope and its familial occurrence in the young.

Methods And Results: The studied group consisted of 281 women and 111 men, aged 18-32 years.

[Life saving angioplasty of left main coronary artery in a high risk patient].

A case a of a life-saving angioplasty of left main coronary artery (LMCA) is presented. A 75 year old patient with a history of diabetes, previous CABG and carotid surgery was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of early post-infarct angina. Coronary angiography revealed significant stenosis of LMCA, in addition to previously known multi-vessel diffuse CAD.

[Successful percutaneous angioplasty of renal artery in a patient with severe arterial hypertension and symptoms of hyperaldosteronism: a case report].

Arterial hypertension may result from renal artery stenosis. In this type of hypertension renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is activated and patients often produce signs of hyperaldosteronism. It must be distinguished from primary hyperaldosteronism in order to chose a proper therapy.

[Estimation of the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients after the myocardial infarction].

Aim: Because in patients with the recent myocardial infarction the noticeable differences in the P wave and PQ interval dispersion were observed in comparison to the control group, consisted of the healthy persons, it was an intresting problem to define the period of persistence of these visible changes on the electrocardiograms made in patients after the myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was to estimate the P wave and PQ interval dispersion in patients after the myocardial infarction in dependence on its location and applied fibrynolytical treatment.

Material And Method: The investigations were conducted on 36 male and female patients in age 40 to 84 years (mean 56 +/- 10,8 years), divided into groups of patients suffering from the inferior myocardial infarction and anterior myocardial infarction.

[Myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery and dobutamine-induced left ventricular outflow tract gradient -- a case report].

We present a case of a 47-year-old patient with arterial hypertension and progressive ST segment changes with a T wave inversion during 2 years of observation. Coronary angiography showed myocardial bridging of LAD and no significant coronary artery stenosis. During subsequent two last years the patient was repeatedly hospitalised due to chest pain.

[The influence of deterioration of clinical condition on the change of revascularisation method in coronary artery disease].

A case of a 52-year old woman with diabetes mellitus and symptomatic, multivessel coronary disease is presented. The patient underwent coronary angiography. Taking in consideration the intensity of atherosclerotic lesions and vessels diameter, she was initially selected for cardiovascular surgery.

[One-year observation of QT and corrected QT interval dispersion in patients with myocardial infarction].

The aim of the study was to evaluate, if the QT and corrected QT interval dispersion (QTd and QTcd) is a predictor of ventricular arrhythmia during one-year observation in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Investigations were performed in 36 patients with MI, including 22 men and 14 women, aged 40-84 years. Considered criteria was: sex, MI location, applied/non applied thrombolytic treatment, after which patients were classified into 6 groups.

[Heart rate variability in patients suffering from essential hypertension with different mapping of left ventricle].

Unlabelled: ECG monitoring by means of Holter method provides not only information concerning arrhythmias, episodes of ischaemia of the cardiac muscle, but it is also recognised and generally accepted method of investigation of the influence of autonomic system on heart. The aim of the study was to assess the heart rate variability in patients suffering from essential hypertension with different geometry of left ventricle. The studies involved 70 patients, in that 35 women and 35 men (mean age 56.

[The influence of physical exercise on heart rate variability].

Heart rate variability is controlled by the influence of autonomic nervous system, whereas one part of the system modulates the activity of the other. There is evidence of increased sympathetic activity in patients (pts) with essential hypertension. The aim of the study was to assess the persisting influence of increased sympathetic activity 30 min after moderate physical exercise on heart rate variability in patients with arterial hypertension.