[Giant coronary artery aneurysm successfully treated with surgery--a case report].

We report a case of a 54-year-old woman presenting with nonspecific chest pain and clinical symptoms of heart failure. Various diagnostic tools, including both noninvasive methods and coronary angiography, revealed the presence of a giant aneurysm of the right coronary artery. The aneurysm formed a mediastinal mass of a huge size, with blood flow in it, and caused cardiac displacement within the thorax cavity.

[The extreme curvature of the coronary artery as a possible cause of myocardial infarction. A case report].

A case of a 60 year old female with angina and remote myocardial infarction is presented. Coronary angiography revealed an extreme curvature of the right coronary artery which was the most probable cause of infarction. A coronary stent was implanted which resulted in clinical improvement.

Angiogenic and coagulation-fibrinolysis factors in non Hodgkin's lymphoma.

High serum VEGF and bFGF levels are independent prognostic factors of poor prognosis in NHL patients. There is growing evidence that both angiogenesis and haemostatic aberrancies are integral parts of the pathobiology of cancer growth and dissemination. The purpose of the study was: (a) to analyze relations of VEGF and bFGF serum levels, fibrinogen and D-dimer plasma levels with lymphoma Ann Arbor Staging System (AASS) and International Prognostic Index (IPI) and, (b) to evaluate correlations between serum levels of angiogenic cytokines and plasma levels of coagulation-fibrinolysis factors in 52 previously untreated NHL patients included to the study.

[Coexistence of occupational exposure to lead and sleep apnea syndrome as a cause of hypertension and arrhythmias. A case report].

A case of a 54-year-old man occupationally exposed to lead with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and implanted artificial pacemaker due to atrioventricular dissociation of the third degree and pauses in sinus rhythm is presented.

[Genotoxicity effect of chronic lead exposure assessed using the comet assay].

Background: Lead, an important xenobiotic, is globally well distributed. The IARC has classified inorganic lead compounds as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The study was designed to assess genotoxic effects in workers occupationally exposed to Pb.

[Sleep apnea syndrome as a cause of secondary hypertension. A case report].

A case of a 51-year old man, suffering from drug-resistant hypertension, complaining of hypersomnia and fatigue during the day, is presented. In the course of diagnostic procedures the diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome was established. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy was successfully started.

Endoluminal phototherapy for prevention of restenosis: preliminary results at 6-month follow-up.

Objective: The objective of this observational study was to investigate safety and efficacy of laser phototherapy (LPh) in prevention of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background Data: Laser irradiation is known to cause a limitation of the local inflammatory cascade and a stimulation of proliferation of specific cells. Based on the results of previous experiments proving the beneficial effects of laser light on the activity of vascular and inflammatory cells, we attempted to use these properties to prevent restenosis.

The dependence of serum interleukin-6 level on PPAR-alpha polymorphism in men with coronary atherosclerosis.

Background: The association between L162V polymorphism in the gene for peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and the development of coronary heart disease was examined.

Methods: PPAR-alpha polymorphism was determined in 48 men with angiographically confirmed coronary atherosclerosis and in 51 healthy men.

Results: The frequency of the V allele of the L162V polymorphism was four times higher in men with atherosclerosis (0.

[Circulating endothelial cells, endothelial precursors, VEGF and bFGF concentrations in patients with acute leukemias, lymphomas and myelomas].

Circulating endothelial cells and their precursors are suggested by some authors to be novel markers of angiogenesis. The aim of the study was to measure circulating endothelial cells (CEC), circulating endothelial precursors (CEP) and activated endothelial cells (aCEC) and serum concentrations of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor), well-known proangiogenic factors in patients with haematological malignancies before and after chemotherapy. Measurements were carried out in 20 patients with acute leukemia, 21 with malignant lymphoma and with 20 with multiple myeloma.

[Coexistence of pneumoconiosis with myelodysplastic syndrome in a coal miner occupationally exposed to coal dust].

Pneumoconiosis is the most common occupational disease of the respiratory system. The aim of this paper is presentation of case of pneumoconiosis coexisting with myelodysplastic syndrome in a former coal miner occupationally exposed to coal dust. In a mineral coal miner, aged 56 year, with a 15-year duration of work underneath, suffering from pneumoconiosis, pancytopenia was detected.

[Venosus thromboembolism in pregnancy--case report].

Venosus thromboembolic disease is an important problem in pregnant women. The overall risk of venosus thromboembolism in pregnancy is 6-times greater then in non pregnant women. In the article we present a case of a pregnant woman with venosus thromboembolism.

[Analysis of obstetrical and gynaecological history of women with urinary stress incontinence].

Urinary leakage is a hygienic and social problem, that concerns women both in reproductive and perimenopausal age. It leads to a life deterioration, depression, and social isolation. Urinary stress incontinence (USI) is one of the most common-type of urine leakage.

[Cervical pregnancy--conservative treatment; case report].

Cervical pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy. This disorder appears with frequency 1 to 10 cases of ectopic pregnancy. For the sake of high risk of unexpected massive haemorrhage from cervical vessels, the cervical pregnancy is a life threatening state.

[Successful angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery in a woman with Takayasu arteritis and associated coronary disease].

Takayasu arteritis is a rare, inflammatory disease affecting mainly young women and is more prevalent in Asia and Latin America. Its etiology is obscure. It involves the aorta and its main branches.

[Influence of tobacco smoking on endothelial function in lead-exposed male workers].

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is a pathology resulting from smoking and occupational exposure to lead. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of cigarette smoking on biochemical parameters of endothelial function in people occupationally exposed to lead.

Materials And Methods: The study covered 105 men, including 43 lead exposed copper-smelters (mean age 49.

[Effect of chronic lead poisoning on the parameters of heart rate variability].

Background: The dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system is one of the effects of chronic exposure to lead. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method used to estimate the autonomic system. The aim of the study was to estimate HRV in people occupationally exposed to lead.

[Assessment of cardiac arrhythmias in patients suffering from essential hypertension].

Heart rate turbulence (HRT) analysis is a novel, non-invasive method enabling to estimate sudden cardiac death risk. Up till now it was used to determine cardiac death risk in patients suffering from congestive heart failure and especially after myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was to estimate heart rate turbulence parameters in patients with essential hypertension and to find correlations between those parameters and age, left ventricular mass and hypertension stages.

[Effect of tobacco smoking on endothelial function in patients with coronary arteriosclerosis].

Smoking is one of the most important risk factors of atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease. Endothelial dysfunction is a pathological result of smoking. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of cigarette smoking on biochemical parameters of endothelial function in persons with angiographically confirmed coronary arteries atherosclerosis.

[Renal artery aneurysm as a cause of resistant hypertension in a young female--case report].

A case of a 19-year-old woman suffering for 5 years from pharmacologically resistant hypertension, is presented. During invasive diagnostic procedures left renal artery aneurysm was found. Surgical resection with vessel prosthesis implantation was successfully performed.

[Correlation between transcriptional activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEFG) and transcriptional activity of its receptors (FLT-1 and FLK-1) in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) of uterine cervix].

Objectives: In this report we focus on angiogenesis, as one component of a complex molecular relations in the process of neovascularisation in the low-grade intraepithelial changes (LSIL). Increasing number of publications indicates that the interrelation between isoforms of VEGF (VEGF121, VEGF145, VEGF165, VEGF183, VEGF189, VEGF206) but not total VEGF is responsible for angiogenesis, both in physiological and pathological processes. The molecular co-operation of the said isoforms and their receptors results in morphological presentation of "de novo" created vascular network that dynamically involves the entire connective tissue stroma of the uterine cervix.

[Fetal pulmonary artery blood flow valuation in pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios].

Objectives: The objective of the study was to estimate selected Fetal Pulmonary Artery blood flow parameters in pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios in relation to normal pregnancies.

Materials And Methods: A total of 52 patients between 26 and 39 weeks of pregnancy complicated by oligohydramnios due to: placental insufficiency, PROM or idiopathic etiology and 69 normal pregnancies were involved in the study. Ultrasound examination using color and pulse Doppler were made.

[Thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation in a patient with left atrial myxoma--a case report].

A case of a 47-year-old man, a Jehovah's Witness, with left atrial myxoma is presented. Clinical presentation included several months of thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Deterioration of heart failure was complicated by pneumonia and worsening of disseminated intravascular coagulation.