Association of heart structure and function abnormalities with laboratory findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Conventional risk factors of coronary artery disease fail to explain the increased frequency of cardiovascular morbidity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study was conducted to determine possible association between the heart structure and function abnormalities with established prognostic value assessed by non-invasive imaging techniques and markers of autoimmune and inflammatory phenomena typical for SLE. Echocardiography and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT; Tc-99m-MIBI) at rest were performed in 60 SLE patients in a stable clinical condition of their disease.

Heart structure and function in patients with generalized autoimmune diseases: echocardiography with tissue Doppler study.

Objective: Heart pathology strongly influences the course and prognosis of patients with generalized autoimmune diseases. In spite of autoimmunity being a common denominator of these diseases, systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and dermato/polymyositis (DPM) differ significantly in the pathogenesis of organ damage. The aim of the study was to compare pathologic changes in heart structure and function in these diseases by means of standard echocardiography and tissue Doppler (TDE).

Diastolic heart dysfunction, increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and impaired exercise tolerance in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: Diastolic heart dysfunction, responsible for dyspnoea in heart failure patients, is an important prognostic factor. Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) serve as a model of diastolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aim: To quantify diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and elevation of pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (PCWP) in SSc patients and to assess the effects of these parameters on exercise tolerance.

Prognostic significance and correlations of neurohumoral factors in early and late postoperative period after Fontan procedure.

We focused on neurohumoral activity and its clinical correlates early and late after fenestrated, lateral intra-atrial total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Between 2007 and 2010, we prospectively studied 28 early and 48 late postoperative TCPC patients. Plasma concentrations of vasopressin, endothelin-1, proBNP, proANP were determined.

Relationship between mitral leaflets angles, left ventricular geometry and mitral deformation indices in patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation: imaging by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance.

Unlabelled: Chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is associated with a markedly worse prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI).The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between anterior and posterior mitral leaflet angle (MLA) values, left ventricle remodeling and severity of ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR).

Methods: Forty-two patients (age 63.

[Cardiovascular calcification and five-years mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis].

The very high cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in hemodialyzed patients (HD) is strongly associated with cardiovascular calcification. The aim of the study was to find the predictors of mortality in HD patients during 5-years observation period. The study group was composed of 64 patients (35 F, 29 M) aged 25-75 years (mean 48.

The use of a novel type of distal protection system (FiberNet®) in the percutaneous management of saphenous vein graft disease.

Percutaneous intervention in saphenous vein grafts is associated with a high risk of distal embolisation by plaque material, 'no flow' phenomenon and clinical complications such as myocardial infarction or death. According to randomised trial evidence, intervention in a degenerated vein graft should be performed using an embolic protection device (EPD), since this strategy significantly reduces periprocedural and 30 day adverse event rate. FiberNet® is a novel distal protection system with unique characteristics of a low crossing profile (0.

Effect of renal artery revascularization on left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic function, blood pressure, and the one-year outcome.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the potential interrelations between left ventricle mass (LVM), LV diastolic function, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cardiovascular events in patients undergoing renal artery stenting [corrected] (RAS).

Methods: Prior to RAS, 3 and 12 months afterward, the change in LVM, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), diastolic function (E/A ratio, E' wave velocity, isovolumetric relaxation time [IVRT], E/E' ratio) on echocardiography and change in SBP and DBP on 24-hour monitoring were assessed in 84 patients, aged 63.7 ± 10 years, who underwent RAS for renal artery stenosis > 60%.

Carotid intima-media thickness, hs-CRP and TNF-α are independently associated with cardiovascular event risk in patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease.

Unlabelled: This prospective study aimed to determine whether carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and biomarkers can enhance the predictive value of classic atherosclerosis risk factors (RFs) for cardiovascular (CV) event risk in patients with confirmed atherosclerosis.

Methods: Baseline levels of hs-CRP, Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Nt-proBNP were measured in 304 subjects (189 men) aged 64.2±9.

Knowledge of a patient-dependant phase of acute myocardial infarction in Polish adults: the role of physician's advice.

Background: Effective management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is limited by patient delay in calling an ambulance. We aimed to assess knowledge related to a patient-dependant phase of AMI and its determinants in adults.

Methods: Questionnaire survey was conducted among a random sample of 942 men (48%) and women (52%) aged 63.

Predictors of cerebral reperfusion injury after carotid stenting: the role of transcranial color-coded Doppler ultrasonography.

Purpose: To evaluate the possible role of transcranial color-coded Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) in predicting cerebral reperfusion injury (CRI) in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS) for internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: TCD was obtained in 210 patients (149 men; mean age 64.2+/-8.

Development, implementation, and multicenter clinical validation of the TeleDICOM--advanced, interactive teleconsultation system.

Unlabelled: There is a need to make medical diagnosis available to critically ill patients on-site, without the necessity of time-consuming and risky transportation to larger reference hospitals. The teleconsultation of medical images is possible with the use of Internet-based TeleDICOM software developed in Krakow, Poland. Interactive consultation between two or more centers offers real-time voice communication, visualization of synchronized Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine images, and use of interactive pointers and specific calculation tools.

Myocardial viability detected by myocardial contrast echocardiography--prognostic value in patients after myocardial infarction.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the role of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) as a predictor of cardiac events and death in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Eighty-six patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty for AMI. Segmental perfusion was estimated by MCE in real time at mean 5 days after PCI using low MI (0.

The dynamic assessment of right-ventricular function and its relation to exercise capacity in heart failure.

Aims: To evaluate right-ventricular (RV) function during stress echocardiography (SE) and to assess its relationship with exercise capacity in heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods And Results: We included 88 patients aged 60.9 +/- 11.

Transcatheter closure as an alternative and equivalent method to the surgical treatment of atrial septal defect in adults: comparison of early and late results.

Background: The clinical efficacy of transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure with the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) can only be judged against the results of contemporaneous surgery. The present study compared early and late results of ASD closure using ASO versus open-heart surgery.

Methods: Forty-eight adult patients were found eligible for transcatheter closure in transesophageal echocardiography.