Ventricular diastolic dimension over maximal myocardial thickness is robust landmark of systolic impairment in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND The effects of focal hypertrophy on geometry of the left ventricle and systolic function have not been studied in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), despite the fact that the former is the most prominent disease characteristic. The aim of our study was to analyze systolic function over ventricle geometry, generating a functional index made from left ventricle end diastolic dimension (LVEDD) divided by end diastolic thickness of the region with maximal extent of hypertrophy and interventricular septum. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our hospital database of cardiac magnetic resonance was screened for HCM.

Supplementary Diagnostic Landmarks of Left Ventricular Non-Compaction on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Purpose: Diagnostic criteria for left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) are still a matter of dispute. The aim of our present study was to test the diagnostic value of two novel diagnostic cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters: proof of non-compact (NC) myocardium blood flow using T2 sequences and changes in geometry of the left ventricle.

Materials And Methods: The study included cases with LVNC and controls, from a data base formed in a period of 3.

Auxiliary diagnostic potential of ventricle geometry and late gadolinium enhancement in left ventricular non-compaction; non-randomized case control study.

Background: There are still ambiguities existing in regard to left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) diagnostic imaging. The aim of our study was to analyze diagnostic potential of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and ventricle geometry in patients with LVNC and controls.

Methods: Data on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) studies for LVNC were reassessed from the hospital's database (3.

Changes in pulmonary artery systolic pressure correlate with radiographic severity and peripheral oxygenation in adults with community-acquired pneumonia.

Purpose: The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the relationship between changes in pulmonary artery systolic pressure (ΔPASP) and both severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and changes in peripheral blood oxygen partial pressure (PaO ).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-five consecutive adult patients hospitalized for treatment of CAP were recruited in this single-center cohort study. Doppler echocardiographic measurement of PASP was performed by 2 staff cardiologists.

CX43 Expression in Colonic Adenomas and Surrounding Mucosa Is a Marker of Malignant Potential.

Background/aim: Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem. The adenoma-carcinoma sequence offers potential for screening and surveillance. We tested the clinical behavior and diagnostic utility of connexin 43 (CX43) in connection with pathohistological risk.

Muscle strength differ between patients with diabetes and controls following heart surgery.

Background: The aim of our study was to analyze muscle strength in patients with recent surgical treatment for ischemic and combined ischemic-valvular heart disease, based on existence of diabetes mellitus. Connections existing between muscle strength and patient characteristics or conventional diagnostic tests were analyzed as well.

Methods: Study prospectively included consecutive patients scheduled for cardiovascular rehabilitation 0-3months after heart surgery.

Prolonged utilization of proton pump inhibitors in patients with ischemic and valvular heart disease is associated with surgical treatments, weight loss and aggravates anemia.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the commonest drugs used nowadays. The aim of our study was to analyze prolonged utilization of proton pump inhibitors in medical therapy of patients with ischemic and valvular heart disease. Secondly, profile of utilization was scrutinized to patient characteristics and type of cardiovascular treatments.

Connections between nutritional status and proton pump inhibitor therapy in patients scheduled for cardiovascular rehabilitation after treatment for ischaemic and valvular heart disease.

Background: Multiple and yet uncertain connections exist between cardiovascular diseases and the nutritional status of patients, particularly in relation to cardiovascular treatments. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are among the most commonly used group of drugs.

Aim: To analyse utilisation of PPI in association with nutritional risk of patients scheduled for rehabilitation after treatment for ischaemic and valvular heart disease.

Impact of cardiovascular treatments and systolic dysfunction on nutritional risk in patients with ischemic and valvular heart disease.

Objective: There is a limited knowledge about connections existing between impaired systolic function and nutritional risk. The aim of our study was to evaluate nutritional risk in patients recently treated for valvular or ischemic heart disease, depending on the impairment of left ventricle systolic function and chronic cardiovascular therapy.

Methods: Nutritional risk screening was applied using a nutritional risk screening (NRS)-2002 [ 1 ] tool in cross-sectional study settings on patients scheduled for cardiovascular rehabilitation.

Bleeding and Thrombotic Events in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Review of Literature.

Bleeding and thrombotic events are among the most common complications detected in patients with mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Herein, we reviewed the available evidence on the prevalence, etiology, and management of bleeding and thrombotic events in patients following MCS procedures, such as implantation of both intra- and paracorporeal devices that generate either pulsatile or nonpulsatile flow. Extracorporeal life support procedures providing support to the failing heart and lungs were also reviewed.

Persistent endothelial dysfunction turns the frequent exacerbator COPD from respiratory disorder into a progressive pulmonary and systemic vascular disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries of the world, while the main cause of mortality and morbidity in COPD patients are acute exacerbations and cardiovascular diseases. With regard to the frequency of exacerbations the phenotype "frequent exacerbators" has been defined, which, besides a more severe clinical course and a significantly higher total mortality, is also characterised by an elevated risk of cardiovascular mortality, as some indicators show us. It is notable that during the exacerbation of COPD, next to other changes, a significant aggravation of endothelial function occurs while the ED and COPD relationship seems very complex and is still in greater part unknown.

The predictive value of platelet function point-of-care tests for postoperative blood loss and transfusion in routine cardiac surgery: a systematic review.

Excessive bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) operations remains to be a persistent problem and weak platelet function certainly contributes to bleeding diathesis. Antiplatelet therapy (APT) is an integral component of perioperative management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery procedures, both with and without use of CPB. In addition to individual variability in platelet function, different preoperative APT administration/discontinuation management further affects platelet function, which in turn may reflect bleeding tendency.

Clinical and seasonal variations of nutritional risk screening in patients scheduled for rehabilitation after heart surgery.

Background: Current knowledge on the pervasiveness of increased nutritional risk in cardiovascular diseases is limited. Our aim was to analyze the characteristics of nutritional risk screening in patients scheduled for rehabilitation after heart surgery. Prevalence and extent of nutritional risk were studied in connection with patients' characteristics and seasonal climate effects on weight loss dynamics.

Obesity dilemma in the global burden of cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: Obesity is a well-known risk factor in the cardiovascular disease continuum. However, its clinical effects are multimodal, perplexed and non-unanimously understood. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and effects of obesity on the cardiometabolic risk factors and systolic function of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients scheduled for cardiovascular rehabilitation.

Heart surgery stems increased nutritional risk, expressed during the course of stationary rehabilitation.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are a vast global health burden. Despite common prevalence, current knowledge and investigations concerning nutritional aspects are limited. Characteristics and dynamics of nutritional risk are not entirely known for most of the entities, disease stages or treatment-induced fluctuations.

Multifaceted individualities in pharmacological treatments of obesity.

Simply put, there is no cure for obesity. Pharmaceuticals that induce weight loss of extent of at least 5% from baseline are applied and tested as the weight loosing drugs. Available guidelines include recommendations that pharmacologic treatment of obesity may be offered to patients with BMI > 30 kg/m2; or BMI >27 kg/m2 and obesity related comorbidity.

Obesity in the cardiovascular continuum.

A higher prevalence of coronary heart disease, cardiac and overall mortality is associated with obesity. The development of obesity appears in different adaptations in the morphology of cardiac structure and function. Obesity causes eccentric hypertrophy and changes in diastolic function of left ventricle.

Challenging the evidence based medicine principles among clinical obesity treatments.

Obesity is among the greatest health problems worldwide. However, there is a certain lack in regard to objective evidence-based clinical therapeutic algorithms. The conservative therapy (lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy) often fails to attain clinically significant weight lost.