Calcitriol Concentration in the Early Phase of Myocardial Infarction and Its Relation to Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common metabolic disorders in the European population. A low level of 25-OH vitamin D3 is related to an elevated risk of myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between calcidiol and calcitriol serum concentration and left ventricular ejection fraction early after interventional treatment for acute coronary syndrome.

The Impact of Regional Maximum Tolerated Interlesion Distance on the Long-Term Ablation Outcomes in Ablation Index Guided Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: An adequate interlesion distance (ILD) applied during point-by-point pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has never been established. We hypothesized that maximum tolerated ILD may differ between PV regions and may influence long-term ablation outcomes.

Methods: A total of 260 AF patients underwent PV isolation with 3D electroanatomical platform.

Does a Vagal Response Indicate Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Improve the Therapeutic Effect of Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation? Insights from Cryoballoon Ablation.

The incidence and influence of vagal response (VR) observed during cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (CBA-based PVI) on the cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) and ablation outcomes in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) remain unknown. 296 patients were treated with a 28 mm second-generation cryoballoon (Medtronic). A total of 74 patients without structural heart disease and concomitant diseases were chosen for a detailed CANS assessment with a heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.

Wristbands in Home-Based Rehabilitation-Validation of Heart Rate Measurement.

The possibility of using a smartwatch as a rehabilitation tool to monitor patients' heart rates during exercise has gained the attention of many researchers. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the HR measurement performed by two wrist monitors: the Fitbit Charge 4 and the Xiaomi Mi Band 5. Thirty-one healthy volunteers were asked to perform a stress test on a treadmill.

New perspective on median arcuate ligament syndrome. Case reports.

A large group of patients with significant asymptomatic or low-symptomatic coeliac trunk stenosis require deeper consideration. On angiography, CT and MRI, 10-24% of examined patients are found to have their coeliac trunk compressed by the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm. The associated median arcuate ligament syndrome, which is also called coeliac trunk compression syndrome or Dunbar syndrome, is rarely fully symptomatic.

Atrial fibrillation risk scores to evaluate left atrial substrate based on voltage analysis in long-standing persistent type of arrhythmia.

Background: Pre-ablation identification of left atrial (LA) low voltage areas (LVA) among long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) population remains challenging.

Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze the potential of selected scores originally developed to assess arrhythmia recurrences, thromboembolic complications, or progression from paroxysmal to persistent AF to predict the presence of LA-LVA in LSPAF patients.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-two patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation followed by high-density-high-resolution LA voltage mapping.

Left and right atrial appendage functional features as predictors for voltage-defined left atrial remodelling in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

It was hypothesised that left atrial (LA) fibrosis identified by the presence of low-voltage areas (LVA) may influence the mechanical and electrical function of the left (LAA) and right (RAA) atrial appendage among the long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) population. 140 consecutive patients underwent voltage mapping of LA with a multielectrode catheter following pulmonary vein isolation and restoration of sinus rhythm with cardioversion. Echocardiography determined LAA peak outflow and inflow velocities and intracardiac catheter-based mean LAA and RAA AF cycle length (AFCL) were obtained during AF before ablation.

Patient perspective and safety of remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in the Polish Nationwide Multicenter Registry: the Medtronic CareLink network evaluation.

Background: Remote monitoring of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices allows the assessment of system effectiveness, arrhythmia occurrence, and indirectly, clinical changes. Medical interventions can be performed earlier because of a faster transfer of information to the monitoring site, even in the case of asymptomatic arrhythmias or abnormalities in the operation of the system.

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and evaluation in an outpatient setting during 12-month follow -up.

Predictors of the voltage derived left atrial fibrosis in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial (LA) arrhythmogenic substrate beyond the pulmonary veins (PV) seems to play a crucial role in the maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of selected parameters with the presence and extent of voltage-defined LA fibrosis in patients with long-standing persistent AF (LSPAF) undergoing catheter ablation.

Methods: One hundred and sixteen consecutive patients underwent high density-high resolution voltage mapping of the LA with a multielectrode catheter following PV isolation and restoration of sinus rhythm with cardioversion.

The value of ablation parameter indices for predicting mature atrial scar formation in humans: An in vivo assessment using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: The VisiTag module (CARTO3) provides an objective assessment of radiofrequency (RF) ablation parameters. This study aimed to determine the predictive value and optimal VisiTag threshold settings for prediction of gaps in mature atrial scar, as assessed non-invasively using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Methods: Twenty-four subjects (11 paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) underwent first-time RF ablation with operators blinded to VisiTag data.

Variability of platelet response to clopidogrel is not related to adverse cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Antiplatelet response to clopidogrel and its influence upon the risk of cardiovascular adverse events among patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been investigated fully.

Methods: Two hundred eleven patients treated with aspirin and clopidogrel were included in the study. Immediately before PCI, residual platelet reactivity testing with impedance aggregometry assay and a single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping analysis targeting variants of CYP2C19, ABCB1, and PON1 genes was performed.

The effect of atrial pacing site on electrophysiological properties of the atrioventricular junction and induction of atrioventricular nodal reentry in patients with typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Background: Clinical studies in humans have shown the site of atrial stimulation to influence atrioventricular (AV) conduction times and refractory periods, the demonstration of dual AV nodal (AVN) pathways, and induction of AVN reentry. These studies often found conflicting results. Moreover, among enrolled patients a minority of them were found to have AVN reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).

[Glaucoma after laser diode treatment in retinopathy of prematurity--case series].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to analyze treatment and outcomes in children with glaucoma secondary to diode laser photocoagulation in retinopathy of prematurity.

Methods: The group of 1507 newborns, examined as outpatients between 2008 and 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. Five patients (0.

The assessment of the role of baseline low-dose CT scan in patients at high risk of lung cancer.

Background: Despite the progress in contemporary medicine comprising diagnostic and therapeutic methods, lung cancer is still one of the biggest health concerns in many countries of the world. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the detection rate of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer in the initial, helical low-dose CT of the chest as well as the analysis of the relationship between the size and the histopathological character of the detected nodules.

Material/methods: We retrospectively evaluated 1999 initial, consecutive results of the CT examinations performed within the framework of early lung cancer detection program initiated in Szczecin.

Effect of cardiac resynchronisation therapy on coronary blood flow in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has beneficial effects on cardiac function, exercise tolerance, symptoms, and prognosis. Coronary blood flow impairment has been observed in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) despite angiographically normal coronary arteries. No data are available on coronary blood flow and coronary flow reserve (CFR) measured by intracoronary Doppler in different coronary arteries in patients with DCM and left bundle branch block (LBBB) before and during treatment with CRT.

Ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias and heart failure in a patient with left ventricular noncompaction and Brugada syndrome.

We report a 47 year-old male patient with coexistence of left ventricular noncompaction and Brugada syndrome. He presented malignant ventricular arrhythmias followed by cardioverter- -defibrillator implantation, atrial fibrillation and flutter and progressive heart failure. This case could be an example of the coexistence of two rare diseases of various genetic patterns that only partially showed overlapping symptomatology and complications, particularly ventricular arrhythmias.