Sex-specific associations between the environmental exposures and low-grade inflammation and increased blood pressure in young, healthy subjects.

Long-term exposures to environmental factors including airborne as well as noise pollutants, are associated with cardiovascular risk. However, the influence of environmental pollution on the young population is controversial. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the relationships between long-term exposures to different environmental factors and major cardiovascular and inflammatory parameters and biomarkers in young, healthy subjects.

Cardiac microRNAs: diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding post-translational biomolecules which, when expressed, modify their target genes. It is estimated that microRNAs regulate production of approximately 60% of all human proteins and enzymes that are responsible for major physiological processes. In cardiovascular disease pathophysiology, there are several cells that produce microRNAs, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets, and cardiomyocytes.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Aortic Arch Emergencies: Takayasu Disease, Fibromuscular Dysplasia, and Aortic Arch Pathologies: A Retrospective Study and Review of the Literature.

Unlabelled: Non-atherosclerotic aortic arch pathologies (NA-AAPs) and anatomical variants are characterized as rare cardiovascular diseases with a low incidence rate, below 1 case per 2000 population, but enormous heterogeneity in terms of anatomical variants, i.e., Takayasu disease (TAK) and fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD).

Compound motor action potentials in transient and persistent phrenic nerve injury - metanalysis.

The right phrenic nerve is vulnerable to injury (PNI) during cryoballoon ablation (CBA) isolation of the right pulmonary veins. The complication can be transient or persistent. The reported incidence of PNI fluctuates from 4.

microRNAs Associated with Carotid Plaque Development and Vulnerability: The Clinician's Perspective.

Ischemic stroke (IS) related to atherosclerosis of large arteries is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability in developed countries. Atherosclerotic internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS) contributes to 20% of all cerebral ischemia cases. Nowadays, atherosclerosis prevention and treatment measures aim at controlling the atherosclerosis risk factors, or at the interventional (surgical or endovascular) management of mature occlusive lesions.

Clinical Application of Serum microRNAs in Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are promising diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomolecules for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerotic occlusive disease concerns a large population of patients, carrying the highest incidence of fatal and non-fatal adverse events, such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and limb ischemia, worldwide. Consistently, miRs are involved in regulation and pathogenesis of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD), acute coronary syndromes (ACS), both with ST-segment (STEMI) and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarctions (NSTEMI), as well as cardiac remodeling and fibrosis following ACS.

Serum and Vascular Stiffness Biomarkers Associated with the Severity of Degenerative Aortic Valve Stenosis and Cardiovascular Outcomes.

Background: Although degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS) is the most prevalent growth-up congestive heart valve disease, still little known about relationships between DAS severity, vascular stiffness (VS), echocardiographic parameters, and serum biomarkers in patients undergoing transcatheter (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The objective of this study was to identify biomarkers associated with DAS severity, and those that are associated with cardiovascular death (CVD) and episodes of chronic heart failure (CHF) exacerbation. Methods: A total of 137 patients with initially moderate-to-severe DAS were prospectively evaluated for the relationship between DAS severity, baseline VS, and serum biomarkers (uPAR, GDF-15, Gal-3, IL-6Rα, ET-1, PCSK9, RANTES/CCL5, NT-proBNP, and hs-TnT), and were followed-up for 48 months.

MicroRNA-134-5p and the Extent of Arterial Occlusive Disease Are Associated with Risk of Future Adverse Cardiac and Cerebral Events in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting for Symptomatic Carotid Artery Disease.

There is little known about the prognostic value of serum microRNAs (miRs) in diabetic patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery disease (ICAS) who underwent stent supported angioplasty (PTA) for ICAS. The present study aimed to investigate expression levels of selected miRs for future major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) as a marker in diabetic patients following ICAS-PTA. The expression levels of 11 chosen circulating serum miRs were compared in 37 diabetic patients with symptomatic ICAS and 64 control group patients with symptomatic ICAS, but free of diabetes.

Association of Increased Vascular Stiffness with Cardiovascular Death and Heart Failure Episodes Following Intervention on Symptomatic Degenerative Aortic Stenosis.

Background: The resistive (RI) and pulsatile (PI) indices are markers of vascular stiffness (VS) which are associated with outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. We aimed to assess whether VS might predict incidence of cardiovascular death (CVD) and heart failure (HF) episodes following intervention on degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS).

Methods: The distribution of increased VS (RI ≥ 0.

The Maintained Glycemic Target Goal and Renal Function Are Associated with Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Diabetic Patients Following Stent-Supported Angioplasty for Renovascular Atherosclerotic Disease.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) constitute a large proportion of patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS). However, the mechanism of impaired renal function and hypertension in this subset of patients is multifactorial. We aimed to investigate whether, in diabetic patients, renal function (RF), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values following stent-supported angioplasty (PTA) for ARAS have an impact on cardiovascular and renal outcomes.

Expression of miR-1-3p, miR-16-5p and miR-122-5p as Possible Risk Factors of Secondary Cardiovascular Events.

Ischemic event in one arterial territory increases the risk of a subsequent ischemic event. Circulating microRNAs (miRs) emerge as a potential clinical tool to assess risk of subsequent atherothrombotic events such as cardiovascular death (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke (IS). In this prospective study, we searched for athero-specific miRs related to cardiovascular event risk in patients with symptomatic coronary, carotid lesion, or both territories involvements.

Importance of Increased Arterial Resistance in Risk Prediction in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Degenerative Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of heart failure (HF) and major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE).

Objective: To evaluate impact of vascular resistance on HF and MACCE incidence in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) and degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS).

Methods: From January 2016 to December 2018, in 404 patients with cardiovascular disease, including 267 patients with moderate-to-severe DAS and 137 patients with CRF, mean values of resistive index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI) were obtained from carotid and vertebral arteries.

Simple clinical scores to predict blood pressure and renal function response to renal artery stenting for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Introduction: There are no systematic tools to predict blood pressure (BP) or renal function (RF) improvement after stent‑assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS).

Objective: This study aimed to develop simple, clinically applicable scores based on preprocedural clinical and renal ultrasonography parameters in order to predict BP and RF improvement following ARAS‑PTA.

Patients And Methods: A total of 202 patients who underwent ARAS‑PTA were categorized as RF responders (eGFR increase ≥11 ml/min/1.

Assessment of the Willis circle flow changes and the severity of degenerative aortic stenosis and cognitive impairment.

Background: Degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) and cognitive function deterioration frequently coexist in elderly patients, which affects the prognosis.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the Willis circle intracranial blood flow parameters and cognitive status in patients with DAS.

Methods: Ultrasonography of the Willis circle and the assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) volume, acceleration time (AT), pulsatile and resistive indexes (PI, RI), as well as cognition tests (Mini‑Mental Status Examination [MMSE] and Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]) were performed in group 1-41 patients with severe DAS (aortic valve area indexed to the body surface area [AVAi] <0.

Long-term outcomes and determinants of stenosis recurrence after renal artery angioplasty in hypertensive patients with renovascular disease.

Introduction: Restenosis (RS) following percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) of renal artery stenosis (RAS) might have an unfavourable impact on renal function and blood pressure (BP) outcomes.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of RS in patients treated with PTA for RAS, and the relationship between BP and renal function (RF) changes with RS.

Material And Methods: We analysed freedom from RS in 210 patients (age 64.

Determinants of long-term outcome in patients after percutaneous stent-assisted intervention for renal artery steno-occlusive atherosclerotic disease.

Introduction: The effect of stent‑assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for renal artery stenosis (RAS) on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as well as renal function, in comparison with medical therapy, is still debatable. Data on determinants of cardiovascular (CV) outcome after PTA are lacking.

Objectives: We aimed to identify determinants of major cardiac and cerebral events (MACCEs) following PTA for RAS.

Chemokine RANTES and IL-1β in mild therapeutic hypothermia-treated patients after out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest.

Introduction: CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β, which regulate the immune response, may have an impact on survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Aim: To evaluate levels of CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β in patients with ACS complicated by SCA, treated with coronary angioplasty (PCI) and mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH), and these chemokines' impact on the 30- and 180-day survival.

Material And Methods: Thirty-three unconscious patients admitted after SCA with ACS underwent PCI and MTH treatment.

The role of serial carotid intima-media thickness assessment as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis control in patients with recent myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Despite percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), patients after their first myocardial infarction (MI) are at high risk of ischemic event recurrence. Therefore, there is a need for objective markers of adequate atherosclerosis control, independent of prescribed pharmacotherapy and patients' compliance. Such a potential indicator of major adverse cerebral and coronary event (MACCE) risk might be change in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), which indicates atherosclerosis growth.

Prospective study on the prognostic value of repeated carotid intima-media thickness assessment in patients with coronary and extra coronary steno-occlusive arterial disease.

INTRODUCTION It is debatable whether the rate of change in carotid intima‑media thickness (CIMT) may be used as a risk indicator of major adverse cerebral and coronary events (MACCEs) in patients with either coronary (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). OBJECTIVES This prospective study aimed to evaluate the association between CIMT changes and the incidence of MACCEs, in patients with symptomatic CAD and PAD. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study comprised 466 patients admitted with steno‑occlusive disease, in whom revascularization was performed for an index lesion.

Circulating miRNA levels differ with respect to carotid plaque characteristics and symptom occurrence in patients with carotid artery stenosis and provide information on future cardiovascular events.

Introduction: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) levels are potentially important biomarkers and therapeutic targets of cerebral ischemic event (CIE) in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS).

Aim: This prospective study investigated associations between circulating miRNAs and symptomatic and asymptomatic ICAS, carotid plaque morphology and future cardiovascular events.

Material And Methods: Circulating miRNAs (miR-1-3p, miR-16-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-133b, miR-134-5p, miR-208b-3p, miR-375 and miR-499-5p) were analyzed in 92 consecutive patients with significant ICAS referred for revascularization.

Diagnostic and prognostic micro-RNAs in ischaemic stroke due to carotid artery stenosis and in acute coronary syndrome: a four-year prospective study.

Background: Circulating microRNAs (miRs) levels are potentially important diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or cerebral ischaemic events (CIE) resulting from internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS).

Aim: This four-year prospective study aimed to compare the levels of circulating miRs in ACS vs. CIE patients, and investigate miRs potentially associated with risk of recurrent cardiovascular events.

Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical outcome in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis after carotid artery revascularization.

Introduction: About 30% of patients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS) develop dementia after a cerebral ischemic event (CIE), and 20-50% suffer from CIE recurrence during 6 months. Carotid artery revascularization (CAR) may prevent CIE recurrence, at the cost of new microembolic lesions (MES). The impact of CAR on cognitive function is debatable.

Determinants of long-term outcome in patients after percutaneous stent-assisted management of symptomatic subclavian or innominate artery stenosis or occlusion.

Aims: Incidence and determinants of restenosis and adverse events after endovascular management (PTA±stent) of the subclavian/innominate artery (SA/IA) stenosis/occlusion remain unclear due to the relatively short-term follow-up or limited size of prior studies. This large-scale, long-term prospective study investigated safety, efficacy, and prognosis after SA/IA PTA±stent.

Methods And Results: The study involved 411 consecutive patients with symptomatic SA/IA stenosis/ occlusion; 393 were followed annually after successful PTA±stent for up to 16 (minimum one) years.