Inhibitors of the blood coagulation process in patients with essential thrombocythemia.

: The aim of the study was to assess the activity of protein C, protein S and tissue factor pathway inhibitor in relation to the risk factors for thrombotic complications in patients with essential thrombocythemia.The study group consisted of 45 newly diagnosed patients with essential thrombocythemia. Protein S activity was determined by chromogenic method.

Usefulness of non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging prior to venous interventions.

Introduction: The number of venous interventions continues to rise. The outcome of venous procedures is related to appropriate stent selection and implantation.

Aim: To compare the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in the determination of target vein section area (VSA) as techniques for selecting an appropriate diameter for a venous stent.

VASCULAR-1 and VASCULAR-2 as a New Potential Angiogenesis and Endothelial Dysfunction Markers in Peripheral Arterial Disease.

The quotient of concentrations concerning the key proangiogenic factor, that is, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and the angiogenesis inhibitor, namely, its soluble receptors (sVEGFR-1 or sVEGFR-2), seems to reflect increased hypoxia and intensity of compensation angiogenesis. Therefore, it can be an ischemic and endothelial dysfunction marker reflected in intermittent claudication (IC) or critical limb ischemia (CLI) in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of VEGF-A/sVEGFR-1 and VEGF-A/sVEGFR-2-presented using a novelty acronym VASCULAR-1 and VASCULAR-2-in patients with IC and CLI, as well as displayed in 4 classes of severity of PAD.

Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Factors Contrasted with Fibrinolysis Disorders in the Blood of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Both in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (DM 2) and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a vital role is played by endothelial dysfunction. Metabolic disorders found in DM 2 (hyperglycemia, insulin resistance), endothelial dysfunction, and increased inflammation lead to intensified atherothrombosis. The fibrinolysis system comprises a natural compensatory mechanism in case of hypercoagulability.

Coexistence of proangiogenic potential and increased MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 levels in the plasma of patients with critical limb ischemia.

The objective of this study was to assess the angiogenic potential expressed as a quotient of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), as an indicator of proangiogenic activity, and the circulating receptors (soluble VEGF receptor protein R1 (sVEGFR-1) and sVEGFR-2), as indicators of the effect of angiogenic inhibition, depending on the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 and their tissue inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 in the plasma of patients with lower extremity artery disease (LEAD). These blood parameters in patients with intermittent claudication (IC) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) were compared for select clinical and biochemical features. Stimulation of angiogenesis in the plasma of individuals with LEAD was evident as indicated by the significant increase in VEGF-A concentration along with reduced inhibition depending on circulating receptors sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2.

F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine (F-FET) PET/CT as a potential new diagnostic tool in multiple myeloma: a preliminary study.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to analyse the diagnostic accuracy of F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine (F-FET) PET/CT tracer in multiple myeloma.

Material And Methods: The analysed group included: patients with newly diagnosed active myeloma (eight patients); in very good partial remission or complete remission (VGPR or CR) after treatment (nine patients); and with active disease after relapse (15 patients).

Results: In patients with newly diagnosed myeloma, 64 lesions were found using CT and 83 lesions using F-FET.

Cognitive function, depression, and anxiety in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with and without adjuvant treatment.

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in developed countries. Both PC and treatment for PC have an adverse impact on physical and mental well-being, and are associated with decreased quality of life. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between neuropsychological symptoms and clinical course in PC patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with or without adjunct therapy.

Clinical significance of nutritional status in patients with chronic heart failure-a systematic review.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) and nutritional disorders are recognized as major challenges for contemporary medicine. This study aims to estimate the role of nutritional disorders as risk factors for CHF development and prognostic factors for CHF patients and the outcome of nutritional intervention in CHF. Full-text English articles published between January 2013 and February 2019 available in the PubMed and Scopus databases were considered.

Lifelong immunoglobulin replacement is not always necessary: A case description of a patient with recurrent infections and hypogammaglobulinemia.

Humoral immunodeficiency with accompanying infections is an indication for human immunoglobulin replacement therapy. Whether treatment will be lifelong or necessary only temporarily depends on the nature of deficiency: primary (persistent) or secondary (persistent or transient). It is not always easy to distinguish between primary and secondary immunodeficiency, especially in adults.

The rheumatoid hand in the light of fluorescence: a diagnostic technique of the future?

Fluorescence spectroscopy is usually applied in physics, chemistry and related sciences. However, in recent years we can observe a growing interest in fluorescence spectroscopy for medical diagnostics. Currently, it is beginning to be used in the monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity.

The "cholesterol paradox" among inpatients - retrospective analysis of medical documentation.

Introduction: There is evidence of positive relationships between cholesterol concentration and risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, higher mortality in patients with a low cholesterol level has been reported (the "cholesterol paradox").

Material And Methods: Medical records of 34 191 inpatients between 2014 and 2016 were reviewed and the relationships between total (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride blood concentrations and all-cause in-hospital death and readmission within 14 and 30 days and 1 year were determined in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of costs of rheumatoid arthritis therapy with selected biological treatment.

Objectives: Among autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. Its pathogenesis is still not fully understood, but the gained knowledge has contributed to the development of modern treatment. The introduction of biological therapy for RA has been a breakthrough in the standard approach to the treatment of this disease.

Affective temperament in inflammatory bowel diseases: Another brick in the wall of differentiation.

Psychiatric disorders are significantly common complications among patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Affective temperament is a concept of core personality traits, which can decribe the vulnerability to mood disorders, therefore its evaluation might convey useful information about patients' mental status in autoimmune disorders. The aim of the study was to evaluate the affective temperament in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) as characteristic features of these diseases, but also in the clinical course and the severity of anxiety and depression.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine and angiogenesis: biological significance.

Competitive inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is the main biological effect of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), i.e. the methylated derivative of L-arginine.

Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of treatment effectiveness with selected biologic treatment in rheumatoid arthritis therapy.

Objectives: Modern treatment of autoimmune diseases is becoming increasingly widely used. We owe it to the continuous and rapid development of biotechnology, molecular biology, immunology, and biochemistry. The proven effectiveness of biological therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should result in its widespread use.

Tofacitinib in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: position statement of experts of the Polish Society for Rheumatology.

Tofacitinib is a newly approved small-molecule targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. The drug was designed as a selective and specific inhibitor of pro-inflammatory receptor signalling. Tofacitinib inhibits the process of intracellular signalling from the receptor to the cellular nucleus and inhibits the inflammation process via a new pathway (inhibition of the Janus kinases), which is unavailable to biological medicines.

The role of ultrasonography in the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis and monitoring its therapeutic efficacy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disease of connective tissue. It is characterized by symmetrical multiple joint involvement and extra-articular symptoms. Modern RA treatment methods place a particular emphasis on the earliest possible diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment.

Efficacy and safety of golimumab as add-on therapy to standard disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: Results of the GO-MORE study in the Polish population.

Background: The GO-MORE study was an open-label, multinational, prospective study that investigated the efficacy and safety of adding golimumab to synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (sDMARDs) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of golimumab add-on therapy in the Polish subpopulation of the GO-MORE study.

Material And Methods: Patients were administered 50 mg subcutaneous doses of golimumab once a month for 6 months, while continuing therapy with sDMARDs and/or glucocorticoids (GCS).

Comprehensive non-invasive cardiac and autonomic assessment in acute ischemic stroke patients: a pilot study.

Background: The aim of this study was to comprehensively determine hemodynamic and autonomic responses during-head up tilt test (HUT) in the acute and recovery phase of ischemic stroke.

Methods: Cardiovascular parameters, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), spectral-indices of heart rate (HRV), systolic (sBPV) and diastolic blood pressure variability (dBPV) were measured at rest in ischemic stroke patients (N.=17) and control group (N.

The influence of patients' nutritional status on the prevalence, course and treatment outcomes of lower limb ischemia: an overview of current evidence.

Introduction: The association of lower limb ischemia (LLI) with disturbances in nutritional status, in respect to over- or undernutrition, is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to present the current state of knowledge on this issue.

Evidence Acquisition: Systematic review of papers published between 2006 and 2018.

Body mass index as a biomarker for the evaluation of the "Obesity Paradox" among inpatients.

Background: Overweight and obesity are, on the one hand, recognized as risk factors for many health-related disorders, and, on the other, as favorable prognostic factors in various patients treated for several different conditions; what is called the "obesity paradox". Until now, the existence of this phenomenon among a general population of consecutive inpatients has not been evaluated. We decided, therefore, to perform an evaluation.

Systemic oxidoreductive balance and vascular function in individuals without clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as the earliest disorder in the development of atherosclerosis, in the pathogenesis of which oxidative stress plays a crucial role. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between non-invasive parameters of vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Material And Methods: Forty-eight individuals without clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis were studied.

The role of ultrasonography in monitoring long-standing rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that poses many diagnostic problems. As a result, it is often diagnosed too late, which makes effective treatment more difficult. The course of the disease is chronic, and it causes irreversible changes in the musculoskeletal system, as well as bone destruction, and this in turn impairs the proper monitoring of the treatment.