Burden of Myasthenia Gravis in the Czech Republic: Analysis of the Nationwide Patient Registry.

Introduction: The main goal of this study was to describe the Czech population of patients with MG in terms of demographics, disease characteristics, management approaches, and treatment trends.

Methods: We selected all patients, both incident and prevalent, who were enrolled in the Czech MyReg registry between August 24, 2015 and November 19, 2021. For the descriptive analysis, all patients enrolled in the registry, regardless of their date of diagnosis or date of enrolment, were included.

Prescription versus over-the-counter venotonics: HPLC-DAD and static digestive model simulation comparison.

Background: Venotonics are a class of therapeutically active molecules that have vaso-protective effects. They are used to alleviate venous diseases and disorders, particularly venous insufficiency. We compared the composition of prescription versus over-the-counter (OTC) venotonics using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-DAD) and simulating their digestion using a static digestive model.

APOL1 polymorphisms are not influencing acute coronary syndrome risk in Czech males.

Background: The highest mortality and morbidity worldwide is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which has in background both environmental and genetic risk factors. Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) variability influences the risk of ASCVD in Africans, but little is known about the APOL1 and ASCVD in other ethnic groups.

Methods: To investigate the role of APOL1 and ASCVD, we have genotyped four (rs13056427, rs136147, rs10854688 and rs9610473) APOL1 polymorphisms in a group of 1541 male patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 1338 male controls.

Iron deficiency and all-cause mortality after myocardial infarction.

Background: Data on the clinical significance of iron deficiency (ID) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) are conflicting. This may be related to the use of various ID criteria. We aimed to compare the association of different ID criteria with all-cause mortality after MI.

Cholesterol associated genetic risk score and acute coronary syndrome in Czech males.

Background: Despite a general decline in mean levels across populations, LDL-cholesterol levels remain a major risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The APOB, LDL-R, CILP, and SORT-1 genes have been shown to contain variants that have significant effects on plasma cholesterol levels.

Methods And Results: We examined polymorphisms within these genes in 1191 controls and 929 patients with ACS.

Remote Heart Failure Symptoms Assessment After Myocardial Infarction Identifies Patients at Risk for Death.

Background: Heart failure is a common complication after myocardial infarction (MI) and is associated with increased mortality. Whether remote heart failure symptoms assessment after MI can improve risk stratification is unknown. The authors evaluated the association of the 23-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) with all-cause mortality after MI.

From Cardiovascular Prevention and Differential Diagnosis to the Treatment of Myocardial Damage-Experimental and Human Perspectives.

Cardiovascular diseases are characterized by many clinical, morphological, functional, and biochemical markers, including age, sex, genetic factors, plasma lipids, glycemia, and many other laboratory parameters [...

Hypertension after the Menopause: What Can We Learn from Experimental Studies?

Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease of the adult population and is closely associated with serious cardiovascular events. The burden of hypertension with respect to vascular and other organ damage is greater in women. These sex differences are not fully understood.

The way to data: opinions and recommendations for the provision of health data for secondary use.

Healthcare data held by state-run organisations is a valuable intangible asset for society. Its use should be a priority for its administrators and the state. A completely paternalistic approach by administrators and the state is undesirable, however much it aims to protect the privacy rights of persons registered in databases.

Trajectories and determinants of left ventricular ejection fraction after the first myocardial infarction in the current era of primary coronary interventions.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI). However, current data on trajectories and determinants of EF are scarce. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiology of EF after MI.

International Union of Angiology (IUA) consensus paper on imaging strategies in atherosclerotic carotid artery imaging: From basic strategies to advanced approaches.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and disability in developed countries. According to WHO, an estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths.

Heart failure-related quality-of-life impairment after myocardial infarction.

Aims: Recent advances in therapy led to a significant decrease in mortality and morbidity after myocardial infarction (MI). However, little is known about quality of life (QoL) after MI. We examined heart failure (HF)-related quality-of-life (QoL) impairment, its trajectories, and determinants after MI.

Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Inflammatory Changes after Ovariectomy and Estradiol Substitution in Hereditary Hypertriglyceridemic Rats.

Background: If menopause is really independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease is still under debate. We studied if ovariectomy in the model of insulin resistance causes cardiovascular changes, to what extent are these changes reversible by estradiol substitution and if they are accompanied by changes in other organs and tissues.

Methods: Hereditary hypertriglyceridemic female rats were divided into three groups: ovariectomized at 8th week ( = 6), ovariectomized with 17-β estradiol substitution ( = 6), and the sham group ( = 5).

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids-Vascular and Cardiac Effects on the Cellular and Molecular Level (Narrative Review).

In the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, in addition to the already proven effective treatment of dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are considered as substances with additive effects on cardiovascular health. N-3 PUFAs combine their indirect effects on metabolic, inflammatory and thrombogenic parameters with direct effects on the cellular level. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) seems to be more efficient than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the favorable mitigation of atherothrombosis due to its specific molecular properties.

Increased pulsatility index is associated with adverse outcomes in left ventricular assist device recipients.

Aims: Recipients of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are exposed to increased risk of adverse clinical events. One of the potential contributing factors is non-pulsatile flow generated by LVAD. We evaluated the association of flow patterns in carotid arteries and of increased arterial stiffness with death and cerebrovascular events in LVAD recipients.

The effect of long-term left ventricular assist device support on flow-sensitive plasma microRNA levels.

Background: Implantation of current generation left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in the treatment of end-stage heart failure (HF), not only improves HF symptoms and end-organ perfusion, but also leads to cellular and molecular responses, presumably in response to the continuous flow generated by these devices. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in multiple biological processes, including the pathogenesis of HF. In our study, we examined the influence of long-term LVAD support on changes in flow-sensitive miRNAs in plasma.

Acute responses of hepatic fat content to consuming fat, glucose and fructose alone and in combination in non-obese non-diabetic individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

We have recently demonstrated that a high-fat load can induce immediate increase in hepatic fat content (HFC) and that such an effect can be modified differently by co-administration of fructose or glucose in healthy subjects. Therefore, we addressed the question how consumption of these nutrients affects changes in HFC in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Eight male non-obese non-diabetic patients with NAFLD underwent 6 experiments each lasting 8 hours: 1.

The Effect of Artificial Pulsatility on the Peripheral Vasculature in Patients With Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist Devices.

Background: Implantation of left-ventricular assist systems (LVASs) has become the standard of care for advanced heart failure (HF). The absence of pulsatility in previous devices contributes to vascular and endothelial dysfunction related to atherosclerotic or vascular complications. We hypothesized that the artificial pulsatility provided by the HeartMate 3 (HM3) (Abbott, Chicago, IL) LVAS would exert a favourable effect on the vasculature.

Predictive factors for a severe course of COVID-19 infection in myasthenia gravis patients with an overall impact on myasthenic outcome status and survival.

Background And Purpose: Myasthenia gravis (MG) patients could be a vulnerable group in the pandemic era of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) mainly due to respiratory muscle weakness, older age and long-term immunosuppressive treatment. We aimed to define factors predicting the severity of COVID-19 in MG patients and risk of MG exacerbation during COVID-19.

Methods: We evaluated clinical features and outcomes after COVID-19 in 93 MG patients.

The role of connexin 37 polymorphism in spontaneous abortion.

Among unique cardiovascular risk factors in women are complications during pregnancy, including miscarriage. Important risk factor is also genetic background. One of powerful candidate genes for cardiovascular disease of atherosclerotic origin (aCVD) is gene for connexin 37 (Cx37) with strong gene-environment interaction including smoking status, that is also strong risk factor for complications in pregnancy including spontaneous abortion (SA).

Very low lipoprotein(a) and increased mortality risk after myocardial infarction.

Background: Inconclusive data exist on risk associated with Lp(a) in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). Aims of the present study were to evaluate the association of Lp(a) level with total mortality and recurrent cardiovascular events.

Design And Methods: Single center prospective registry of consecutive patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction between June 2017 and June 2020 at a large tertiary cardiac center with available blood samples drawn <24h of admission.