Mechanical extraction of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads with a dwell time of more than 10 years: insights from a single high-volume centre.

Aims: To analyze and compare the effectiveness and safety of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads with a dwell time of >10 years (Group A) vs. younger leads (Group B) using mechanical extraction systems.

Methods And Results: Between October 2011 and July 2022, we performed TLE in 318 patients.

Indications for transvenous lead extraction and its procedural and early outcomes in elderly patients: a single-center experience.

Introduction: Due to the prolonged survival of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, leads often need to be removed in elderly individuals.

Objectives: We aimed to analyze indications for transvenous lead extraction (TLE), procedure effectiveness and safety, as well as 30‑day follow‑up in younger patients (≤80 years) and octogenarians (>80 years).

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included 667 patients who underwent TLE: 90 octogenarians (13.

Effectiveness and safety of transvenous extraction of single- versus dual-coil implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads at single-center experience.

The available literature lacks data concerning direct comparison of the effectiveness and safety of single- versus dual-coil implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads transvenous extraction. Certainly, additional shocking coil in superior vena cava adds to the amount of metal in the vascular system. Adhesions developing around the superior vena cava coil add to the difficulty of extraction of ICD lead if lead removal is required.

Transvenous extraction of very old (over 20-year-old) pacemaker leads using mechanical systems: Effectiveness and safety.

Objective: To analyze and compare the effectiveness and safety of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) with mechanical systems of pacing leads older than 20 years (group A) versus younger leads (group B).

Methods: We performed TLE of 591 pacing leads in 377 patients. Fifty (8.

Influence of Cryopreservation on Structural, Chemical, and Immunoenzymatic Properties of Aortic Valve Allografts.

Objectives: The problems in preparing (including cryopreservation) and implanting aortic valve allografts (AVAs) is widely elaborated, but some issues need explanation.

Material And Methods: Twenty AVAs cryopreserved in dimethylsulphoxide/RPMI solution under -160°C for 1-15 years and 3 controls stored at +4°C up to 2 weeks, from 19 male and 4 female donors, aged 20-51, ±30.8 years, were examined using light (LM), digital (DM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay immunoenzymatic tests (PECAM1, CD34).

Quality of life of residents living in a city hosting mega-sport events: a longitudinal study.

Background: It remains unknown whether and when the hosting of mega-sport events increases quality of life of host city residents. The aim of this study is to assess the changes in quality of life of host city residents over the course of hosting a mega-sport event until three months after the event, depending on residents' perception of the atmosphere during the event.

Methods: The study was conducted in Rio de Janeiro, one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in soccer.

Polish Guidelines on Diagnosing Brain Death in Adults vs the International Perspective: Are We in Need of an Update?

Introduction: The Polish definition of brain death originated from the original Harvard criteria and has been revised several times. Practitioners worldwide are required to regularly update their national guidelines on the definition of brain death to fit the latest international research concerning this topic.

Aims: (1) Compare current Polish guidelines on diagnosing brain death in adults with the American, British, Australian, and New Zealand recommendations; and (2) evaluate existing differences for the purposes of updating the Polish guidelines.

The analysis of indications and early results of transvenous lead extraction in patients with a pacemaker, ICD and CRT - single-center experience.

Introduction: Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) is a recognized method of treatment in the case of permanent stimulation complication.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyse the indications and presentation of the early experience of TLE procedures in a group of patients with old pacing systems.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a relevant history of stimulation (at least 12 months in case of a pacemaker) qualified for the research.

Clinical outcomes in patients after surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (minithoracotomy and ministernotomy) have become a valuable alternative to conventional surgical treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS) in high-risk patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term results and complications in patients with symptomatic AS treated with TAVI, surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), minithoracotomy, or ministernotomy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 173 patients with symptomatic AS were enrolled to the study between the years 2011 and 2013.

Atrial septal defect surgery in adults--populational and epidemiological analysis.

Unlabelled: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases found in adolescents and adults. Shunt may lead to serious further complications, such as pulmonary hypertension and right heart chambers overload. The aim of this study was the analysis of the population of adult patients with ASD together with the frequency of the annuloplasty tricuspid ring implantation in ASD II and the necessity of anterior mitral valve cusp suturing due to the cleft accompanying ASD I.

Brain death versus irreversible cardiac arrest--the background and consequences of young people's opinions on stating death in Polish transplantology.

Background: Brain death and irreversible cardiac arrest (ICA) are legally valid diagnoses obligatory for stating organ donors' death in Poland. Their misinterpretation may affect one's attitude toward organ donation. We assessed young people's knowledge and attitudes toward stating death in transplantology and their impact on attitude toward organ transplantation.

Organ Donor Cards--concepts versus reality: a study among academic students in Poland.

Introduction: Organ Donor Cards (ODCs), despite presenting no legal value in Poland, are considered an important mean of expressing one's intent toward organ donation. This study was an assessment of the effectiveness of ODCs in social communication and their connection to one's transplantology knowledge, attitude, and beliefs.

Subjects And Methods: The study included 400 medical students and 400 nonmedical students from public universities in Kraków, Poland.

Current state of knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes toward organ transplantation among academic students in Poland and the potential means for altering them.

Introduction: Students manifest a high level of social commitment. Improving their knowledge and developing more positive attitudes toward organ transplantation may increase the number of organ donations. This study was an assessment of the knowledge and attitudes toward organ transplantation among young people in Poland, with an overview of current beliefs and potential methods for improving transplantology awareness.

Correlations between demographics, knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding organ transplantation among academic students in Poland and their potential use in designing society-wide educational campaigns.

Background: Family objection precludes 10% of cadaveric donations in Poland. Academic students represent a socially influential demographic group. Educational campaigns improving their attitudes may increase overall donation rates.

Causality-driven slow-down and speed-up of diffusion in non-Markovian temporal networks.

Recent research has highlighted limitations of studying complex systems with time-varying topologies from the perspective of static, time-aggregated networks. Non-Markovian characteristics resulting from the ordering of interactions in temporal networks were identified as one important mechanism that alters causality and affects dynamical processes. So far, an analytical explanation for this phenomenon and for the significant variations observed across different systems is missing.

The risk of cholelithiasis in patients after heart transplantation.

Introduction: Extended immunosuppressive treatment in patients after heart transplantation modifies etiopathogenesis and occurrence of many diseases in this population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and to define risk factors for cholelithiasis after heart transplantation (HTX).

Material And Methods: The study population consisted of 176 subjects.

Physical activity in German adolescents measured by accelerometry and activity diary: introducing a comprehensive approach for data management and preliminary results.

Introduction: Surveillance of physical activity (PA) is increasingly based on accelerometry. However, data management guidelines are lacking. We propose an approach for combining accelerometry and diary based PA information for assessment of PA in adolescents and provide an example of this approach using data from German adolescents.

Betweenness preference: quantifying correlations in the topological dynamics of temporal networks.

We study correlations in temporal networks and introduce the notion of betweenness preference. It allows us to quantify to what extent paths, existing in time-aggregated representations of temporal networks, are actually realizable based on the sequence of interactions. We show that betweenness preference is present in empirical temporal network data and that it influences the length of the shortest time-respecting paths.

Nɛ-homocysteinyl-lysine isopeptide is associated with progression of peripheral artery disease in patients treated with folic acid.

Objective: Folic acid (FA) administration can reduce plasma total homocysteine (tHcy); however, it fails to decrease cardiovascular events and progression of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Nɛ-homocysteinyl-lysine isopeptide (Nɛ-Hcy-Lys) is formed during catabolism of homocysteinylated proteins. We sought to investigate factors that determine the presence of Nɛ-Hcy-Lys in PAD patients with hyperhomocysteinemia receiving FA.

[Body mass index influence on aortic valve stenosis].

Aim: The 12 months' observation of body mass index (BMI) influence on natural course of aortic valve stenosis (AVS).

Patients: 60 AVS patients who did not agree for operational treatment were divided into group A (n = 15) with BMI 20-25, group B (n = 27) with BMI 25,01-30 and group C BMI > 30.

Methods: Plasma Lp(a), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) as well as titers of immunoglobulin (Ig) class G, A, M against chlamydia pneumoniae were measured every 12 months.

[Knowledge transfer methods in German disease prevention and health promotion. A survey of experts in the federal prevention research program].

Aim Of The Study: This expert survey analyzed the application and perceived usefulness of knowledge transfer methods for disease prevention and health promotion research.

Methods: 302 experts from 70 administratively distinct projects sponsored under the German federal prevention research program received a questionnaire on transfer methods used for preparation, dissemination and implementation of their project results and the perceived expediency of these methods. 130 experts (43%) from 59 projects (84.