Rare Source of Embolism in a Young Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.

We present a case of a 31-year-old patient, smoker, with no previous medical history, presenting with acute limb ischemia and infarction of the spleen due to peripheral embolism. The source of embolism was thrombi formations in the left ventricular cavity, located in the area of the regional wall motions abnormalities. CT and coronary angiography confirmed the total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery with collateralization.

Retrospective study assessing efficacy and safety of left atrial appendage occlusion.

Objective: To describe the initial experience with Amplatzer Amulet in left atrial appendage occlusion in Slovakia. To evaluate procedural efficacy and safety.

Background: Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke.

Differences between Slovak and Dutch patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery regarding clinical and psychosocial predictors of physical and mental health-related quality of life.

Background: Differences in health-related quality of life in coronary artery disease patients and associated factors between patients of central and western European descent are rarely investigated. We aim to test differences between Dutch and Slovak health-related quality of life, whether nationality predicted health-related quality of life and if standardised beta weights of health-related quality of life determinants differ across countries.

Design: An observational multicentre study at university cardiac centres in the Netherlands and Slovakia.

Sense of coherence as a predictor of health-related behaviours among patients with coronary heart disease.

Aims: A high sense of coherence (SOC) has been found to be associated with favourable health-related behaviours. However, evidence is for the most part lacking on the influence of SOC on health-related behaviours among coronary heart disease patients. The aim of this study was to explore the association between SOC at baseline and smoking status, nutrition behaviour, physical exercise and alcohol consumption of coronary heart disease patients 12-28 months after they had undergone different cardiac treatments.

Sense of coherence as an independent predictor of health-related quality of life among coronary heart disease patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether sense of coherence (SOC) at baseline predicts health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 12-28-month follow-up among patients with coronary heart disease when controlled for sociodemographic and medical variables.

Methods: A total of 179 consecutive patients (58.28 ± 6.

Psychosocial predictors of change in quality of life in patients after coronary interventions.

Objective: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after coronary interventions (coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) usually improves in patients, but not in all patients. Some patients actually show a significant decline in HRQOL. Our aim was to explore the potential of psychologic well-being (anxiety, depression), vital exhaustion, Type D personality, and socioeconomic position as predictors of HRQOL in patients with coronary disease.

Psychosocial factors of coronary heart disease and quality of life among Roma coronary patients: a study matched by socioeconomic position.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life (HRQL) differ between Roma and non-Roma coronary patients and to what degree socioeconomic status (SES) explains these differences.

Methods: We included 138 patients out of 437 interviewed: 46 Roma, all with low SES, 46 non-Roma with low SES, and 46 non-Roma with high SES. Groups were matched for age, gender and education.

Augmented peripheral chemosensitivity as a potential input to baroreflex impairment and autonomic imbalance in chronic heart failure.

Background: The precise mechanisms responsible for the sympathetic overactivity and blunted baroreflex control in chronic heart failure (CHF) remain obscure. Augmented peripheral chemosensitivity has recently been demonstrated in CHF. We evaluated the relation between peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity and autonomic activity in patients with CHF.

Heart rhythms, ventricular arrhythmias, and death in chronic heart failure.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether abnormalities in heart rate variability (HRV) could act as markers of ventricular tachycardia and prognosis in patients with advanced, chronic heart failure. Fifty patients with chronic heart failure (45 men; mean age, 59 +/- 9 years; New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II-III; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], 19 +/- 9% and peak oxygen consumption, 16.6 +/- 5.