Accession Site Does Not Influence the Risk of Stroke after Diagnostic Coronary Angiography or Intervention: Results from a Large Prospective Registry.

Introduction: Periprocedural stroke represents a rare but serious complication of cardiac catheterization. Pooled data from randomized trials evaluating the risk of stroke following cardiac catheterization via transradial versus transfemoral access showed no difference. On the other hand, a significant difference in stroke rates favoring transradial access was found in a recent meta-analysis of observational studies.

Two different techniques of ultrasound-guided peripheral venous catheter placement versus the traditional approach in the pre-hospital emergency setting: a randomized study.

We performed a randomized pre-hospital clinical study to compare two different techniques of ultrasound-guided peripheral venous catheter (PVC) insertion and the conventional cannulation technique in the pre-hospital emergency setting, with a specific focus on the procedural success rate and the time required to introduce PVC. This pre-hospital prospective controlled randomized clinical trial allocated patients treated by emergency medical service to undergo PVC insertion fully controlled by ultrasound (ultrasound guidance of the PVC tip until it penetrates the lumen, group A), PVC insertion partially controlled by ultrasound (target vein identification only, group B) or to receive PVC without any ultrasound guidance (group C). The study outcomes were monitored until the patient was admitted to the hospital.

Correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide and the degree of compression of heart cavities measured by transthoracic echocardiography during cardiopulmonary resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: The concept of personalized cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requires a parameter that reflects its hemodynamic efficiency. While intra-arrest ultrasound is increasingly implemented into the advanced life support, we realized a pre-hospital clinical study to evaluate whether the degree of compression of the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) induced by chest compressions during CPR for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and measured by transthoracic echocardiography correlates with the levels of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO) measured at the time of echocardiographic investigation.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients resuscitated for OHCA were included in the study.

The cone-tetranitrocalix[4]arene tetraradical tetraanion as an electrochemically generated ligand for heavier alkali metal cations.

Four-electron electrochemical reduction of the cone-tetranitrocalix[4]arene in DMF results in the stable tetraradical tetraanion. The positive shift of the reduction potential of the title compound with an increasing concentration of alkali metal ions is caused by complex formation. The tetranitrocalix[4]arene thus represents an electrochemically generated ligand - a promising receptor/sensor - for alkali metal ions.

Heart failure is the strongest predictor of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at higher risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) than patients undergoing PCI in stable clinical conditions. This fact suggests that mechanisms other than contrast nephrotoxicity are involved.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and consequences of AKI in patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI in current daily practice.

Electrochemical and quantum chemical investigation of tetranitrocalix[4]arenes: molecules with multiple redox centers.

The calix[4]arene skeleton is electrochemically inactive, but it is a useful stable frame for building "smart" molecules and supramolecular assemblies. Suitable substitution on the upper (and/or lower) rim leads to unusual and surprising properties in this system. Polynitrocalix[4]arenes with reducible nitro groups located at the upper rim represent molecules with multiple redox centers where the potential for interactions between them is the focus of interest.

Trends in cardiovascular mortality and hospitalisations, and potential contribution of inhospital case-fatality rates to changes in national mortality in the Czech Republic 1994-2009.

Objectives: To analyse trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and hospitalisations in the Czech Republic in 1994-2009 and to assess the contribution of inhospital case-fatality rates (CFR) to changes in national CVD mortality.

Design: National hospitalisation and mortality registers were used to estimate rates of hospital admissions and mortality for hypertension, angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), chronic ischaemic heart disease chronic (IHD), heart failure and stroke.

Patients: All hospitalisations and deaths from CVD during 1994-2009.

Inverse correlation between plasma Beta-carotene and interleukin-6 in patients with advanced coronary artery disease.

The interrelationships between plasma beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and the level of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress were investigated in patients with advanced coronary artery disease (CAD). Plasma beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, malondialdehyde, free radicals, interleukin-6, high sensitive C-reactive protein levels, and other risk factors of CAD were determined in a group of patients with advanced CAD [significant stenosis according to coronarographic examination (n=91) and a control group of examined patients with coronary arteries with no stenosis (n=49)]. Between-group differences in continuous variables were analyzed with the Hotelling T2-test (software NCSS2000), analyses of correlation matrix with the software STATISTICA.

Prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury by theophylline in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease.

Although the optimal strategy for preventing contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) has not yet been established, the current strategy focuses on adequate periprocedural hydration, the use of a low amount of low or iso-osmolar contrast medium, and the application of adjunctive therapies, including hemofiltration, hemodialysis and drugs. Previous trials and meta-analyses concerning the use of the adenosine antagonist theophylline have revealed contradictory results. We sought to evaluate the effect of theophylline in CI-AKI prevention in well-hydrated elderly patients with chronic kidney disease.

Non-invasive diagnosis of coronary-subclavian steal: role of the Doppler ultrasound.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is a well documented cause of graft function failure in patients after left internal mammary artery (LIMA)--left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery grafting. We present a case of the CSSS in a patient with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. To our knowledge such a case has not yet been described.

Ubiquinol-10/lipids ratios in consecutive patients with different angiographic findings.

Objective: Information concerning un-supplemented plasma concentrations of ubiquinol-10 in coronary artery disease patients is still controversial. The aim of this study is to determine the levels of plasma ubiquinol-10 and ratios of ubiquinol-10 to plasma lipids in consecutive patients with different angiographic findings.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography were split in two groups with different atherosclerotic changes.

Crystal structures of lanthanide(III) complexes with cyclen derivative bearing three acetate and one methylphosphonate pendants.

A series of lanthanide(III) complexes formulated as M[Ln(Hdo3ap)].xH(2)O (M = Li or H and Ln = Tb, Dy, Er, Lu, and Y) with the monophosphonate analogue of H(4)dota, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic-10-methylphosphonic acid (H(5)do3ap), was prepared in the solid state and studied using X-ray crystallography. All of the structures show that the (Hdo3ap)(4-) anion is octadentate coordinated to a lanthanide(III) ion similarly to the other H(4)dota-like ligands, i.

Antioxidant vitamin levels do not exhibit negative correlation with the extent of acute myocardial infarction.

Serum levels of vitamin E (VE), beta-carotene (BC) and vitamin C (VC) were determined in 50 patients with the first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before starting thrombolytical treatment. VE and BC were determined by HPLC, VC spectrophotometrically. The reperfused patients were divided according to vitamin concentrations into four groups.

Lanthanide(III) complexes of a mono(methylphosphonate) analogue of H4dota: the influence of protonation of the phosphonate moiety on the TSAP/SAP isomer ratio and the water exchange rate.

A monophosphonate analogue of H4dota, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-4,7,10-tris(carboxymethyl)-1-methylphosphonic acid (H5do3aP), and its complexes with lanthanides were synthesized. Multinuclear NMR studies reveal that, in aqueous solution, lanthanide(III) complexes of the ligand exhibit structures analogous to those of H4dota complexes. Thus, the central ion is nine-coordinate, surrounded by four nitrogen atoms, three acetate and one phosphonate oxygen atoms, and one water molecule in an apical position.

Antioxidant vitamin pool in senior population.

Aim: To compare plasma concentration of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid in healthy seniors (age over 65 years), senior patients with either diabetes mellitus, acute myocardial infarction or dyslipidemia and recommended values of these vitamins.

Methods: Studied groups included 30 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM); 30 patients 1 - 2 weeks after acute myocardial infarction (AMI); 11 patients with lipid metabolism disorder (LD, total cholesterol > 6.2 mM); and control group of 27 healthy persons.

Slow magnetic relaxation in a mixed-valence Mn(II/III) Complex: [MnII2(bispicen)2(mu 3-Cl)2Mn(III)(Cl4Cat)2Mn(III)(Cl4Cat)2(H2O)2] infinity.

A layered mixed-valence manganese complex, [Mn(II)(2)(bispicen)(2)(mu(3)-Cl)(2)Mn(III)(Cl(4)Cat)(2)Mn(III)(Cl(4)Cat)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](infinity), is synthesized and characterized structurally. It displays a slow magnetic relaxation and hysteresis effect.

Antioxidant vitamin levels and glutathione peroxidase activity during ischemia/reperfusion in myocardial infarction.

The consequences of increased oxidative stress, measured as the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) during ischemia/reperfusion, were studied in 48 patients in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (AMI) and a control group (21 blood donors). The serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene were followed. Immediately after the treatment onset the level of alpha-tocopherol started to decrease, reaching a plateau after 24 h.

[Antioxidants and cardiovascular diseases in the Czech population].

The authors studied the possible association between plasma antioxidants and the high rates of cardiovascular diseases in the Czech Republic. The report has three parts. First, plasma antioxidants levels were compared in a random sample of population of two Czech districts (70 men and 66 women) and in British civil servants (246 men and I 12 women).

Selective antioxidant enzymes during ischemia/reperfusion in myocardial infarction.

The study of ischemia/reperfusion injury included 25 patients in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (19 perfused, 6 remained non-reperfused as evaluated according to the time course of creatine kinase and CK-MB isoenzyme activity) and a control group (21 blood donors). Plasma level of malondialdehyde was followed as a marker of oxidative stress. Shortly after reperfusion (within 90 min), a transient increase of malondialdehyde concentration was detected.

Stereoselectivity in the synthesis of unnatural disaccharides.

The synthesis of branched-chain sugars with two hexose moieties linked by a -CH2- bridge in the positions (3-->3) is described. The synthesis starts from protected 3-deoxy-3-(formylmethyl)-alpha-D-allofuranose in which the original formyl group is converted in four reaction steps into a new hexopyranose of D- or L-configuration. The relative configuration of the prepared compounds was determined on the basis of coupling constants in the 1H NMR spectra whereas the absolute configuration of the newly created pyranose was unequivocally assigned by single crystal X-ray crystallography of the 3-deoxy-3-[(2R,4R,5S,6R)-2-ethoxy-5-acetoxy-6- acetoxymethyl-tetrahydropyran-4-ylmethyl]-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylid ene- alpha-D-allofuranose (10).

[Late ventricular potentials in patients with arterial hypertension].

Arterial hypertension is a risk factor of left ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Late ventricular potentials are the electric manifestation of an arrhythmogenic substrate. They identify patients threatened with ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death.

[Control of hypertension in the Czech part of the Pardubice-Augsburg Study].

Objective of the work is to evaluate the prevalence of arterial hypertension, awareness of it, its treatment and control in the Czech part of the Pardubice-Augsburg Study. A random sample of 191 men aged 45-64 years was invited for examination. Arterial hypertension according to the present definition of WHO/International Society of Hypertension (blood pressure > or = 140/90 mm Hg = 18.

An ecological study of determinants of coronary heart disease rates: a comparison of Czech, Bavarian and Israeli men.

Background: The large differences in cardiovascular disease rates between Eastern and Western Europe have largely developed over the last few decades, and are only partly explained by classical risk factors. This study was set up to identify other potential determinants of these differences.

Methods: This was an ecological study comparing random samples of men aged 45-64 years selected from three cities representing populations with different rates of cardiovascular mortality: Pardubice (Czech Republic), Augsburg (Bavaria, Germany), and Jerusalem (Israel).