The effect of atrial fibrillation on the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with stroke.

Introduction: The association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and the outcome of mechanical throm‑bectomy (MT) in patients with stroke has not been determined so far.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of AF on the efficacy and safety of MT in patients with stroke and to investigate the association between prior anticoagulation and symptomatic intracranial bleeding (ICB).

Patients And Methods: Patients who underwent MT for stroke were enrolled.

Exposure of the eye lens and brain for interventional cardiology staff.

Introduction: Occupational exposure to ionizing radiation for people working with an X-ray treatment unit is one of the highest in medicine. The epidemiological data analyzed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) indicate that the dose threshold for tissues located in the eye lens is or may be lower than previously thought. The new ICRP recommendations reduce the currently used threshold 7.

Open aortic arch surgery: 10 years' single-center experience.

Introduction: Open aortic arch surgery is a complex cardiac surgical procedure.

Aim: We reviewed the 10-year outcomes of elective aortic arch aneurysm surgery in a single cardiac surgical center.

Material And Methods: The analysis includes all patients who underwent elective aortic arch surgery at our institution between January 2010 and December 2020.

Supraventricular Runs in 7-Day Holter Monitoring Are Related to Increased Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in a 3-Year Follow-Up of Cryptogenic Stroke Patients Free from Arrhythmia in a 24 h-Holter.

Introduction: Silent atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS). The 24-h-Holter is insufficient to reveal an occult arrhythmic cause of stroke and the strategy to select the patients for long-term monitoring is missing.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate 7-day-Holter monitoring to identify cases with the arrhythmic cause of stroke in CIS patients in whom 24-h-Holter was free from arrhythmia, and to assess the relation between supraventricular (SV) runs in baseline Holter and the incidence of AF in a 3-year follow-up period.

The Use of Artificial Hypoxia in Endurance Training in Patients after Myocardial Infarction.

The presence of a well-developed collateral circulation in the area of the artery responsible for the infarction improves the prognosis of patients and leads to a smaller area of infarction. One of the factors influencing the formation of collateral circulation is hypoxia, which induces angiogenesis and arteriogenesis, which in turn cause the formation of new vessels. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of endurance training conducted under normobaric hypoxia in patients after myocardial infarction at the level of exercise tolerance and hemodynamic parameters of the left ventricle.

72 hour Holter monitoring, 7 day Holter monitoring, and 30 day intermittent patient-activated heart rhythm recording in detecting arrhythmias in cryptogenic stroke patients free from arrhythmia in a screening 24 h Holter.

Introduction: According to recent studies, silent atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS). 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24 h Holter are not efficient to reveal an occult arrhythmic cause of stroke.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate 72 h Holter, 7 day Holter monitoring, and intermittent single-lead ECG recording in patients with CIS to identify cases with the arrhythmic cause of stroke in patients with CIS in whom 24 h ECG Holter was free from arrhythmia.

Can the expression of the metalloproteinase 9 gene and its inhibitor be considered as markers of heart failure?

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of mortality in developed countries. Its formation is associated with a change in the transcriptional activity of many genes. The aim of the study was to select, from the group of genes related to coronary atherosclerosis and heart failure, genes differentiating patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure on the basis of myocardial ischemia from healthy people, and then genes differentiating patients with various stages of heart failure.

Managed Care after Acute Myocardial Infarction (KOS-zawał) reduces major adverse cardiovascular events by 45% in 3-month follow-up - single-center results of Poland's National Health Fund program of comprehensive post-myocardial infarction care.

Introduction: Despite progress in medical and interventional treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) resulting in low in-hospital mortality, the post-discharge prognosis in MI survivors is still unacceptable. The Managed Care in Acute Myocardial Infarction (MC-AMI, KOS-zawał) is a program introduced by Poland's National Health Fund aiming at comprehensive care for patients with AMI to improve prognosis. It includes acute intervention, complex revascularization, cardiac rehabilitation (CR), scheduled outpatient follow-up, and prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Managed Care after Acute Myocardial Infarction (MC-AMI) - a Poland's nationwide program of comprehensive post-MI care - improves prognosis in 12-month follow-up. Preliminary experience from a single high-volume center.

Background: Despite progress in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), long-term prognosis in MI survivors remains a challenge. The Managed Care in Acute Myocardial Infarction (MC-AMI, KOS-zawal) is the first program of a comprehensive, supervised care for patients with AMI to improve long-term prognosis. It includes acute intervention, complex revascularization, cardiac rehabilitation (CR), outpatient follow-up, and prevention of SCD.

Pol-CDRIE registry - 1-year observational data on patients hospitalized due to cardiac device-related infective endocarditis in Polish referential cardiology centres.

Background: The rate of cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE) is increasing worldwide, but no detailed data are available for Poland.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic data of patients hospitalized due to CDRIE in 22 Polish referential cardiology centers from May 1, 2016 to May 1, 2017.

Methods: Participating cardiology departments were asked to fill in a questionnaire that included data on the number of hospitalized patients, number and types of implanted cardiac electrotherapy devices, and number of infective endocarditis cases.

Management of dyslipidaemia in patients with coronary heart disease: Results from the ESC-EORP EUROASPIRE V survey in 27 countries.

Background And Aims: One of the objectives of the ESC-EORP EUROASPIRE V survey is to determine how well European guidelines on the management of dyslipidaemias are implemented in coronary patients.

Methods: Standardized methods were used by trained technicians to collect information on 7824 patients from 130 centers in 27 countries, from the medical records and at a visit at least 6 months after hospitalization for a coronary event. All lipid measurements were performed in one central laboratory.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Platelet Count.

Recently, it has been shown in the murine model that platelet maturation takes place, to some extent, in the lungs. The extrapolation of these findings to humans leads to the possibility that chronic lung diseases could affect platelet maturation and, consequently, the platelet count. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are changes in the platelet count in patients with chronic obstructive disease (COPD).

Noninvasive Ventilation-Facilitated Bronchofiberoscopy in Patients with Respiratory Failure.

Respiratory failure is one of the most important risk factors for diagnostic bronchofiberoscopy (BF), whereas therapeutic bronchoscopies are typically performed in intubated patients. Only a few published studies analyzed the outcomes of noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV)-facilitated BF. In this case series, we present our experiences with NIV-facilitated diagnostic and therapeutic BF performed in patients with respiratory failure that was associated with acute interstitial pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis exacerbation, foreign body aspiration, tracheal stenosis, pneumonia, and in a patient with a neuromuscular disease.

Factors determining exercise capacity evaluated during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in 6-month follow-up after ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is one of the main causes of congestive heart failure (CHF). The main symptom of CHF is exercise tolerance impairment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for impaired exercise tolerance in patients after STEMI.

Levosimendan in patients with low ejection fraction undergoing cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Significant impairment of left ventricular function causes low cardiac output syndrome in the immediate postoperative period in 3-14% of patients undergoing surgery, increasing the mortality 15-fold.

Aim: To assess the use of levosimendan in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in 2016.

Material And Methods: The analysis included 14 patients: 3 (21.

Impact of post-hospital cardiac rehabilitation on the quality of life of patients after surgical treatment for coronary artery disease.

Introduction: The quality of life of cardiovascular patients is worse than that of healthy individuals. Pain, dyspnea, and fatigue impair daily activities, which in turn leads to decreased life satisfaction and emotional deterioration. The objective of comprehensive treatment, including early rehabilitation, is to reduce the risk of complications, progression, and recurrence of the disease, as well as to restore, maintain, or improve all aspects of the patient's quality of life to the greatest extent possible.

Myoclonus epilepsy and ataxia due to KCNC1 mutation: Analysis of 20 cases and K channel properties.

Objective: To comprehensively describe the new syndrome of myoclonus epilepsy and ataxia due to potassium channel mutation (MEAK), including cellular electrophysiological characterization of observed clinical improvement with fever.

Methods: We analyzed clinical, electroclinical, and neuroimaging data for 20 patients with MEAK due to recurrent KCNC1 p.R320H mutation.

Adipokines and endothelial dysfunction in acute myocardial infarction and the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events.

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic role of adipokines (adiponectin, apelin, resistin, and visfatin) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in relation to the extent of glucose metabolism impairment and intensity of systemic low-grade inflammation.

Methods: This case-control study covered 131 patients with coronary artery disease: 104 consecutive patients with AMI (74% men, mean age of 62 ± 11 years) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation, and 27 patients with stable angina (70% men, mean age of 63 ± 11 years), who were initially assessed in terms of adipokine levels, C-reactive protein and various echocardiographic and vascular parameters. Major adverse cardiovascular events were recorded in the AMI group during 3-year follow-up.

Neurocardiogenic injury in subarachnoid hemorrhage: A wide spectrum of catecholamin-mediated brain-heart interactions.

Background: The purpose of this review was to summarize the up-to-date knowledge on clinical presentation and management of neurocardiogenic injury and to deliver the evidence of common pathophysiology of this broad spectrum of disorders.

Methods: Medline and EmBase databases were searched to obtain original research articles and review papers using the following key words: neurocardiogenic injury, stress cardiomyopathy,tako-tsubo, subarachnoid hemorrhage, ECG abnormalities, catecholamine toxicity, neuropulmonary edema.

Results: Various forms of cerebral pathology, most importantly subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), are accompanied by transient cardiac dysfunction with ST-segment elevation and QT interval prolongation and T wave inversion with simultaneous release of cardiac troponin.

Segmental left ventricular hypokinesis is associated with embolic signals in transcranial Doppler.

Introduction: Global left ventricular (LV) hypokinesis is considered to be the cause of stroke, while the significance of segmental wall motion abnormalities is still unknown.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of embolic signals in the middle cerebral artery in patients with segmental LV wall hypokinesis in the course of coronary artery disease (CAD) with and without stroke.

Patients And Methods: The study included 68 patients (aged 21-87 years) with segmental LV wall hypokinesis (33 patients without and 35 with stroke).

Optimal visualization of heart vessels before percutaneous mitral annuloplasty.

Background: Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) can be useful before percutaneous mitral annuloplasty (PMA) procedures to visualize the relations between the mitral valve (MV), left circumflex artery (LCx) and coronary sinus (CS).

Methods And Results: We performed a 64-slice MSCT in 196 patients (109 male; age 56.6 ± 11.

Coronary venous retention-a feature in heart failure as evidenced by mean of cardiac computed tomography.

Background: Whether the functional status of the heart can influence the coronary venous system itself has not yet been examined. In order to answer this question, we used multislice computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Purpose: To answer the question of whether the heart failure (HF) is associated with significant anatomical changes in the coronary venous system?

Methods: In 136 (aged 56.