The paradox of the first cycle of chemotherapy-transient improvement of contractility and diastolic function after the first cycle of anthracycline-based chemotherapy: a prospective clinical trial.

Aims: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and anthracyclines are the most commonly administered drugs for these patients. Cardiotoxicity is one of the complications, which limits the success of this therapy. Very few studies have evaluated anthracycline toxicities within the first few hours after the first infusion, and the majority of published studies were performed in animal models.

Effect of Immunosuppressive Therapy on Proteinogram in Rats.

BACKGROUND It has been observed that the use of immunosuppressive drugs in patients after transplantation of vascularized organs may be associated with changes in the concentration of certain fractions of plasma proteins. The concentration of these proteins was correlated with an increased risk of occurrence of stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). This article examines the effect of the most commonly used immunosuppressive drugs on the concentration of plasma proteins in Wistar rats.

[The role of biochemical markers with special regard to troponin, CK-MB, NT-proBNP as early biomarkers of cardiotoxicity among women after chemotherapy due to breast cancer].

Introduction: Cardiotoxicity of drugs in oncology is a growing problem which cardiologists and oncologists have to struggle with. So far, researchers have been looking for biochemical markers which could help to extract a group more prone to developing complications after chemotherapy. Authors’ reports are inconsistent in this topic.

Ascending aorta aneurysm as a cause of superior vena cava syndrome.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is mostly presented in advanced stage of lung cancer. Similar symptoms may misdirect correct diagnosis, especially in nonmalignant cases of SVCS. In the fifties of the 20th century, mediastinitis caused by tuberculosis and syphilis were dominant causes of non-malignant SVCS.

Microvolt T-wave alternans for the risk stratification of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias in patients with previously implanted automatic cardioverter-defibrillator.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the main cause of death in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Implantation of an automatic cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) significantly reduces mortality of these patients. T-wave alternans (TWA) analysis is a relatively new method of SCD risk stratification.

Inappropriate cardioverter-defibrillator discharge continues to be a major problem in clinical practice.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate and causes of inappropriate rhythm detection, and to compare adequacy of ventricular arrhythmia detection by single-chamber and dual-chamber cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD).

Methods: We evaluated 190 patients (age 57.2 +/- 11.

Association of C34T AMPD1 gene polymorphism with features of metabolic syndrome in patients with coronary artery disease or heart failure.

Objective: The common C34T polymorphism in the AMP deaminase-1 (AMPD1) gene results in an inactive enzyme in homozygotes for the mutated T allele. Some studies have shown an association of T allele with longer survival in heart failure (HF) and/or coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to assess genotype-phenotype correlations in such patients, with emphasis on components of the metabolic syndrome.

The influence of low dose atorvastatin on inflammatory marker levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome and its potential clinical value.

Background: High-dose statins are used in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) to reduce inflammation. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the influence of low-dose atorvastatin (20 mg) on selected inflammatory parameters and clinical outcomes after ACS.

Methods: Seventy eight patients (pts) with ACS were randomly divided into group A (39 pts) taking atorvastatin, and group NA (39 pts) not taking any statin for the following six weeks.

Insertion/deletion polymorphism of angiotensin I converting enzyme gene and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a well known risk factor of death from cardiovascular causes. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at particularly high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which accounts for 80% of deaths in this group. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is probably related to increased left ventricular mass (LVM).

[Effect of low dobutamine doses dobutamine on left ventricular diastolic flow parameters in subjects with a low ejection fraction].

Unlabelled: A low dobutamine dose (DOB) improves the systolic function of impaired myocardium. There are some data suggesting the improvement of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function as well. The aim of this work was to assess the influence of DOB on some left ventricular diastolic flow parameters: inflow curve profile and early inflow wave propagation velocity (Prop).