Heart rate variability fraction--a new reportable measure of 24-hour R-R interval variation.

Background: The scatterplot of R-R intervals has several unique features. Its numerical evaluation may produce a new useful index of global heart rate variability (HRV) from Holter recordings.

Methods: Two-hundred and ten middle-aged healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

Mobilization of CD34/CXCR4+, CD34/CD117+, c-met+ stem cells, and mononuclear cells expressing early cardiac, muscle, and endothelial markers into peripheral blood in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Adult stem cells can contribute to myocardial regeneration after ischemic injury. Bone marrow and skeletal muscles contain a population of CXCR4+ cells expressing genes specific for muscle progenitor cells that can be mobilized into the peripheral blood. The aims of the study were (1) to confirm the presence of early tissue-committed cells expressing cardiac, muscle, and endothelial markers in populations of mononuclear cells in peripheral blood and (2) to assess the dynamics and magnitude of the mobilization of CD34+, CD117+, CXCR4+, c-met+, CD34/CD117+, and CD34/CXCR4+ stem cells into peripheral blood in relation to inflammatory and hematopoietic cytokines in patients with ST-segment-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

The epidemiology of heart failure.

Heart failure is becoming increasingly common. More than 20 million people worldwide are estimated to have heart failure. Prevalence is rising because the population is ageing: in both men and women, the prevalence of heart failure in those aged 80-89 years is roughly 10 times the prevalence in those aged 50-59 years.

Prognostic impact of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in severe chronic congestive heart failure: a substudy of the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival (COPERNICUS) trial.

Background: The utility of N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) to predict the occurrence of death and hospitalization was prospectively evaluated in the COPERNICUS study, which enrolled patients with an ejection fraction <25% and symptoms of chronic congestive heart failure at rest or on minimal exertion.

Methods And Results: Baseline plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured in a subgroup of 814 men and 197 women with symptoms at rest or on minimal exertion who were enrolled in the COPERNICUS study and were randomized to placebo (n=506) or carvedilol (n=505). Values of NT-proBNP were markedly increased despite the requirement that patients be euvolemic before the start of treatment (mean+/-SD, 3235+/-4392 pg/mL; median, 1767 pg/mL).

The pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in patients with acute myocardial infarction and chronic stable angina.

The aim of this study was to assess the plasma levels of VEGF and interleukin-10 in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable chronic angina (SA) and correlate the values with traditional CHD risk factors, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and established inflammatory marker hsCRP. Fifty patients with AMI and 30 with SA were enrolled. IL-10 levels in AMI patients were lower than in SA patients (9.

Efficacy of tenecteplase in combination with enoxaparin, abciximab, or unfractionated heparin: one-year follow-up results of the Assessment of the Safety of a New Thrombolytic-3 (ASSENT-3) randomized trial in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: In the ASsessment of the Safety of a New Thrombolytic 3 (ASSENT-3) study, full-dose tenecteplase plus enoxaparin or half-dose tenecteplase plus abciximab reduced the frequency of ischemic complications of acute myocardial infarction, when compared to full-dose tenecteplase plus unfractionated heparin. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of these fibrinolytic regimens on 1-year mortality.

Methods And Results: Vital status at 1 year was available for 5942 patients (97.

[Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography for the non-invasive assessment of coronary flow reserve--a case report].

We describe a case of a 55-year-old male with anterior myocardial infarction, treated in the acute phase with thrombolysis. Transthoracic echocardiography showed hypokinetic apical segments, ejection fraction of 55% and reduced coronary flow reserve in the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Elective coronary angiography revealed a borderline (40-50%) lesion in LAD.

Influence of pretreatment systolic blood pressure on the effect of carvedilol in patients with severe chronic heart failure: the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival (COPERNICUS) study.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the influence of pretreatment systolic blood pressure (SBP) on the efficacy and safety of carvedilol in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Background: Although beta-blockers reduce the risk of death in CHF, there is little reported experience with these drugs in patients with a low pretreatment SBP, who may respond poorly to beta-blockade.

Methods: We studied 2,289 patients with severe CHF who participated in the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival (COPERNICUS) trial.

Increased variability of the coupling interval of premature ventricular beats may help to identify high-risk patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics and predictive value of the variability of coupling interval of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) for cardiac mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Background: Frequent VPBs have been linked to an increased risk for cardiac death in patients with coronary artery disease. It is unknown whether analysis of coupling interval of VPBs from ambulatory ECG recordings can be used for risk statification in these patients.

NT-proBNP in severe chronic heart failure: rationale, design and preliminary results of the COPERNICUS NT-proBNP substudy.

Background: Neither profiles nor prognostic value of cardiac N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) have been prospectively evaluated in a sufficient number of patients with severe chronic heart failure (CHF) treated with carvedilol or placebo.

Methods: Baseline and follow-up plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured in the European part of the COPERNICUS Trial. This study enrolled patients with an ejection fraction <25% and symptoms of CHF at rest or on minimal exertion, equally randomized to placebo or carvedilol.

[Assessment of interventions conducted in the program Southern Poland Epidemiological Survey in adults with high hypercholesterolemia].

In 1997 the Southern Poland Epidemiological Survey trial was conducted, the largest primary prevention action in Poland, which comprised 50,111 subjects. In this trial subjects with total cholesterol over 300 mg% were identified. After two years period these subjects were contacted to assess the kind and effectiveness of their action to reduce hypercholesterolemia and other CAD risk factors.

Cytomegalovirus infection in acute myocardial infarction. Is there a causative relationship?

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Whether CMV may be involved in the development of acute myocardial infarction (MI) has not yet been established.

Aim: To asses the prevalence of active or latent CMV infection in patients with angina or acute MI.

Role of antiplatelet drugs in the prevention of cardiovascular events.

Antiplatelet drugs have an established place in the prevention of vascular events in a variety of clinical conditions, such as myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death. Both European and American guidelines recommend the use of antiplatelet drugs in patients with established coronary heart disease and other atherosclerotic disease. In high-risk patients, such as those with post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, and in patients with stable or unstable angina, peripheral arterial occlusive disease or atrial fibrillation, antiplatelet treatment may reduce the risk of a serious cardiovascular event by approximately 25%, including reduction of non-fatal myocardial infarction by 1/6, non-fatal stroke by 1/4 and cardiovascular death by 1/6.

Left ventricular systolic function in myocardial infarction survivors treated with primary angioplasty, thrombolysis of angioplasty preceded by thrombolysis.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be treated with thrombolysis, primary angioplasty or a combination of both methods. Preservation of left ventricular systolic function is an important goal of treatment.

Aim: To assess whether the mode of treatment of AMI influences left ventricular systolic function measured 6 months after AMI.

[Primary coronary angioplasty with the use of embolic protection device - a case report].

A case of 65 year old male with acute myocardial infarction is described. The patient underwent successful primary coronary angioplasty with the use of a distal embolic protection device.