Gut Microbiome in Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients.

Despite knowledge of classical coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease remain high. Therefore, new factors that may affect the development of CAD, such as the gut microbiome, are extensively investigated. This study aimed to evaluate gut microbiome composition in CAD patients in relation to the control group.

Multimodal assessment of right ventricle overload-metabolic and clinical consequences in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) increased afterload leads to adaptive processes of the right ventricle (RV) that help to maintain arterio-ventricular coupling of RV and preserve cardiac output, but with time the adaptive mechanisms fail. In this study, we propose a multimodal approach which allows to estimate prognostic value of RV coupling parameters in PAH patients.

Methods: Twenty-seven stable PAH patients (49.

Prognostic value of late gadolinium enhancement mass index in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Purpose: Dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV) is an important determinant of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at RV insertion points (RVIPs) has been found in majority of PAH patients and was associated with parameters of RV dysfunction. We hypothesize, that more detailed quantification of LGE may provide additional prognostic information.

Prognostic role of PET/MRI hybrid imaging in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective: Right ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Metabolic alterations may precede haemodynamic and clinical deterioration. Increased RV fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) was recently associated with progressive RV dysfunction in MRI, but the prognostic value of their combination has not been established.

Chemokines profile in patients with chronic heart failure treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: Inflammatory mechanisms have been suggested to play a role in the heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) development, but the role of chemokines is largely unknown. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may reverse the HF-REF course. We aimed to evaluate selected chemokines concentrations in HF-REF patients and their relationship with disease severity and clinical response to CRT.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP 7) as a new biomarker in coronary heart disease.

Purpose: The role of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-7 (IGFBP-7) in atherosclerosis is still not well-known. The objective of this study was to find out the following: 1) whether IGFBP-7 may act as a biomarker of coronary artery disease (CAD) occurrence and extent; 2) whether IGFBP-7 is potentially related to the classical and new markers of cardiovascular risk (carotid intima-media thickness - cIMT); 3) whether IGFBP-7 may be a marker of mortality in the group of patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials/methods: The study group consisted of 212 patients with MI and 75 patients with stable CAD, the control group included 100 healthy volunteers.

Increased platelet content of SDF-1alpha is associated with worse prognosis in patients with pulmonary prterial hypertension.

Inflammatory processes and platelet activity play an important role in the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Enhanced IL-6 signaling and higher concentration of stromal-derived factor alpha (SDF-1) have been previously shown to be linked with prognosis in PAH. We hypothesized that platelets of PAH patients have higher content of IL-6 and SDF-1 and thus are involved in disease progression.

The significance of diminished sTWEAK and P-selectin content in platelets of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by proliferative changes in pulmonary arteries. There is growing evidence suggesting that soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and P-selectin could be involved in PAH development and progression. Here we investigate whether circulating platelets may be a source of sTWEAK and contribute to diminished availability of sTWEAK and P-selectin in PAH patients.

Perioperative thrombocytopenia predicts poor outcome in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Purpose: To determine the time point at which thrombocytopenia after TAVI procedure is an indicator of the worst prognosis, with special consideration of perioperative platelet and coagulation activation as its potential causes.

Methods: Thirty two patients (mean age 78.5±7.

Interleukin-6 signaling in patients with chronic heart failure treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Introduction: Increased expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been described in left ventricular dysfunction in the course of chronic heart failure. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a unique treatment method that may reverse the course of chronic heart failure (CHF) with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF). We aimed to evaluate the IL-6 system, including soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130), in HF-REF patients, with particular emphasis on CRT effects.

The causes of thrombocytopenia after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Introduction: Even though thrombocytopenia following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been described, further investigation of this phenomenon is needed.

Aims: To determine which factors may explain the fall in platelet count that occurs after implantation of a TAVI device, including markers of platelet and blood coagulation activation.

Material And Methods: 32 patients without previous indications for dual antiplatelet therapy (mean age 78.

Thrombocytopenia associated with TAVI-The summary of possible causes.

Thrombocytopenia (TP) following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure is a common phenomenon but the underlying mechanisms are neither well known nor described. Postinterventional severe TP is related to worse early and late outcome. Moreover, the statement of enhanced platelet and coagulation activation might justify even stronger antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy following TAVI procedure.

Different manifestations of pulmonary embolism in younger compared to older patients: Clinical presentation, prediction rules and long-term outcomes.

Purpose: Data concerning specific manifestations of pulmonary embolism (PE) among younger patients are scarce. We aimed to evaluate differences in clinical presentation, PE prediction rules, thrombolytic treatment use and PE outcomes in younger (<50 years of age) compared to older patients.

Material/methods: We studied 238 consecutive patients with proven PE who were retrospectively categorized into three PE probability subgroups according to the revised Geneva score (RGS) and Wells score (WS).

Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in the Course of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Clinical Significance and Impact on Prognosis.

The relationship and clinical implications of atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are poorly investigated. We aimed to analyze clinical characteristics and prognosis in PE patients with paroxysmal AF episode. .

The strengths and weaknesses of non-invasive parameters obtained by echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing in comparison with the hemodynamic assessment by the right heart catheterization in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Purpose: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis requires invasive assessment by right heart catheterization (RHC), but screening and monitoring are performed using non-invasive methods: echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The aim of the study was to assess correlations between the parameters obtained in non-invasive testing and RHC in patients with PH of different etiologies.

Material/methods: The study included 53 medical records of PH patients (32 women) aged 29-81 years.

The rs2228145 polymorphism in the interleukin-6 receptor and its association with long-term prognosis after myocardial infarction in a pilot study.

Introduction: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with a complex function that is described as both pro- and anti-inflammatory. One factor that influences its function is the rs2228145 A/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the IL-6 receptor (IL6R) gene. C allele carriers have a decreased inflammatory response and decreased prevalence of ischemic heart disease.

Matrix Metalloproteinase Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Complex Predicts Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Electrical Cardioversion in Obese Patients.

Background: There is not much data on matrix metalloproteinase neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (MMP-NGAL) complex in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the value of MMP-NGAL complex in predicting AF recurrence after electrical cardioversion.

Methods: The serum levels of NGAL, cystatin C, interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, copeptin, MMP-NGAL complex, matrix metalloproteinase 2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, Von Willebrand factor, B-type natriuretic peptide and the urinary level of NGAL were evaluated before cardioversion.

CHA DS VASc score predicts unsuccessful electrical cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia occurring in 2% of the population. It is known that AF increases morbidity and limits quality of life. The CHA DS VASc score (congestive heart failure/left ventricular dysfunction, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease, age 65-74 and sex category (female)) is widely used to assess thrombotic complications.

Management of patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease in light of the latest guidelines.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the rate reaches even 30% in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients with AF and CKD have a significantly higher risk of thrombotic complications, particularly ischemic stroke, and at the same time, a higher bleeding risk (proportionally to the grade of renal failure). In addition, AF and CKD share a number of comorbidities and risk factors, which results in increased mortality rates.

Alterations of soluble TWEAK and CD163 concentrations in patients with chronic heart failure.

Unlabelled: Inflammatory activation plays a pivotal role in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF). A novel mediator from TNF family: soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) along its soluble decoy receptor CD163 (sCD163) recently has been investigated in other cardiovascular pathologies. We aimed to evaluate sTWEAK and sCD163 concentrations in HF-REF patients.

Predictive value of Galectin-3 for the occurrence of coronary artery disease and prognosis after myocardial infarction and its association with carotid IMT values in these patients: A mid-term prospective cohort study.

Objective: The role of Galectin-3(Gal-3) in atherosclerosis progression has not been definitely acknowledged. The aim of the study was to establish the following: whether Gal-3 may act as an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) occurrence and its advancement, if Gal-3 has potential relations with classical and new markers of cardiovascular risk (carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and whether Gal-3 may be a marker of mortality in the group of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) during mid-term follow-up.

Patients And Methods: The study group was composed of 233 patients with MI and 100 patients with a stable CAD.

Activity of the kynurenine pathway and its interplay with immunity in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective: We evaluated blood concentrations of kynurenine pathway metabolites, natural and induced regulatory T cells (nTreg, iTreg), and Th17 cells in order to examine the activity of the kynurenine pathway and its relation to immune status in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: Plasma concentrations of tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, anthranilic acid, and 3-hydroxykynurenine were quantified in 26 patients with PAH (vs 30 healthy controls) at baseline and after 6 months, and assessed them in relation to clinical parameters, frequencies of lymphocyte subsets, and outcome.

Results: The PAH group presented higher concentrations of tryptophan (52.

Predictors of Long-Term Mortality in Patients Hospitalized in an Intensive Cardiac Care Unit.

Patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) are a heterogeneous population with a high mortality rate. The aim of our study was to investigate which clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic parameters routinely assessed may affect long-term mortality in a non-selected ICCU population.A total of 392 patients hospitalized between 2008-2011 (mean age, 70 ± 13.