Flow-mediated skin fluorescence: A novel method for the estimation of sleep apnea risk in healthy persons and cardiac patients.

Background: A pilot study revealed a relationship between the results of flow mediated skin fluorescence (FMSF) and of ECG-Holter-based estimated apnea/hypopnea index (eAHI) in asymptomatic individuals. The aim of this study was to test whether the results of FMSF show a relationship with the eAHI in patients with coronary artery disease or aortic stenosis.

Methods: Twenty-one patients (12 coronary disease, 9 aortic stenosis) and 37 healthy volunteers were included.

Diabetes as an independent predictor of left ventricular longitudinal strain reduction at rest and during dobutamine stress test in patients with significant coronary artery disease.

Aims: Diabetes (DM) is a strong cardiovascular risk factor modifying also the left ventricular (LV) function that may be objectively assessed with echocardiographic strain analysis. Although the impact of isolated DM on myocardial deformation has been already studied, few data concern diabetics with coronary artery disease (CAD), especially in all stages of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). We compared LV systolic function during DSE in CAD with and without DM using state-of-the art speckle-tracking quantification and assessed the impact of DM on LV systolic strain.

Evaluation of the impact of atmospheric pressure in different seasons on blood pressure in patients with arterial hypertension.

Objectives: Atmospheric pressure is the most objective weather factor because regardless of if outdoors or indoors it affects all objects in the same way. The majority of previous studies have used the average daily values of atmospheric pressure in a bioclimatic analysis and have found no correlation with blood pressure changes. The main objective of our research was to assess the relationship between atmospheric pressure recorded with a frequency of 1 measurement per minute and the results of 24-h blood pressure monitoring in patients with treated hypertension in different seasons in the moderate climate of the City of Łódź (Poland).

Circumferential strain of carotid arteries does not differ between patients with advanced coronary artery disease and group without coronary stenoses.

Purpose: Speckle tracking echocardiography is widely used for the analysis of myocardial function. Recently, circumferential strain (CS) of carotid arteries was postulated as novel indicator of vascular function. Our aim was to characterize and compare CS of carotid arteries in patients with advanced coronary artery disease and controls without significant coronary stenoses.

Cardiotoxic effect due to accidental ingestion of an organic solvent.

Toxic myocardial injury can be misdiagnosed as a myocardial infarction, resulting in the patient undergoing standard treatment for cardiac rehabilitation. However, such inadequate therapeutic strategies can lead to cardiovascular complications including dilated cardiomyopathy. This study presents a case of a 65-year-old man after accidental ingestion of organic solvents (toluene and xylene), whose condition demonstrated all the criteria for diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

Correlation between the activity of the autonomic nervous system and endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: The endothelium and sympathetic nervous system play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate correlations between noninvasive markers of the endothelial function and the sympathetic nervous system in patients with a recent ACS.

Patients And Methods: The study included 52 patients who experienced an ACS within the previous 3 to 6 months.

[One patient - many faces of myocardial ischaemia].

We present the case of a woman treated with coronary angioplasty due to non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction,then again because of restenosis, who continued to complain of chest pain and syncope. Holter electrocardiogram recording revealed atrioventricular block related to ST-segment elevations and variant angina was diagnosed. Despite administered medications, the patient required pacemaker implantation.

Usefulness of extended holter ECG monitoring for serious arrhythmia detection in patients with heart failure and sleep apnea.

Background: In patients with systolic heart failure (HF), coexisting sleep apnea may promote arrhythmia. Ambulatory Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring (AECG) is a method of arrhythmia and apnea evaluation. We hypothesized that 24-hour AECG in patients with HF who have a high risk of serious arrhythmia may be less accurate than AECG extended to 48 hours and that, moreover, arrhythmia may be related to apnea.