Cardiology Letters, 2012 (vol. 21), issue 5

May growth hormone and IGF-1 concentrations be used in the stratification of additional cardiovascular risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction?

Mechirova V, Pytliak M, Vargova V, Franko S, Mandulakova A

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):397-405  

Introduction: Research in cardiology has recently also focused on finding suitable biochemical markers for additional cardiovascular risk stratification. Management of patients with cardiovascular diseases would benefit from valid markers of increased risk, and so help to optimize their treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of the growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor - 1 (IGF-1) with patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) hospitalized in the intensive care unit compared with the control group. In addition, we investigated the association between the concentrations of GH and IGF-1 with markers of myocardial...

Pharmacotherapy aimed at reducing LDL-Cholesterol. Statins, combined hypolipidemic therapy and what next?

Fábryová Ľ

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):420-427  

Strategies for preventing complications of atherosclerotic vascular disease have emphasized risk factor modification using treatment approaches supported by evidence-based medicine (aspirin and/or clopidogrel, β-adrenergic blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins). Despite the intensive management conventional risk factors (also with higher doses of statins or combined hypolipidemic therapy) residual cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks remain high. There is the prospect that developing novel hypolipidemic therapies that target the atherogenic lipoproteins - squalene synthase inhibitors, microsomal transfer protein inhibitors,...

Circadian rhythmicity of the cardiovascular system.

Lipková J, Goldbergová M

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):428-434  

Physiological and pathological functions of the cardiovascular system show a clear circadian rhythmicity with a period close to 24 hours. Daily rhythms of the cardiovascular system are mainly attributed to neurohumoral inputs from the central oscillator in SCN as a reaction to external stimuli. Recent studies have shed light on the autonomous control of circadian rhythm in each individual cell, which can work independently from SCN. Thus individual clocks in the distinct myocardial and vascular cells play critical roles in preparing the heart to anticipate daily changes and synchronizing cardiac metabolism and responses to the environment. Disruption...

The role of three-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis of chronic heart failure.

Fojtiková L, Družbacká Ľ, Valočik G

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):435-442  

Three-dimensional echocardiography provides complete information about the size, function, shape and weight of the left ventricle, which plays an essential role in the diagnosis of chronic heart failure. By the use of new parameters it can analyze in detail the regional systolic contraction of the left chambers and to detect ventricular dyssynchrony. Unlike two-dimensional echocardiography, it can assess the right ventricle, which appears to be an important predictor of short-term prognosis in patients with congestive heart failure. Three-dimensional echocardiography is, according to its outputs, comparable to the reference methods, and that is why...

Treatment of stentgraft infection with fresh-frozen arterial allograft, following endovascular aortic repair for abdominal aneurysm of aorta

Kanáliková K, jr., Tomka J, Necpal R, Dulka T, Vulev I, Bažík R, Baláž T, Kučerová D, Kanáliková K

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):406-413  

First case of erosion after an atrial septal defect closure with the Amplatzer septal occluder at the Children´s Cardiac Centre.

Venczelová Z, Nosáľ M, Mašura J

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):414-419  

The catheterization closure of an interatrial septal defect has become a standard interventional procedure. At the Children´s Cardiac Centre we use the easily implantable Amplatzer septal occluder device with which we have a rich experience. The most serious potential complication after its implantation is the creation of an erosion of the roof of the right or left atrium or of the aortic wall. The aim of this article is to present our first case of erosion and to focus attention on this mechanical postcatheterization complication, as well as to offer a summary of basic prevention modalities which can minimize the risk of erosion.

Salutary effects of red palm oil intake on post-ischemic heart recovery and incidence of malignant arrhythmias demonstrated in hypertensive rats

Viczenczova C, Bacova B, Radosinska J1, Knezl V2, Benova T, Goncalvesova E3, Tribulova N

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):388-396  

Cardiac connexin-43 (Cx43) channels at the gap junctions play a crucial role in synchronizing the myocardium, allowing electrical and molecular signals propagation amongst cardiomyocytes. Previously we have shown that up-regulation of Cx43 is most likely involved in the antiarrhythmic mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids. The aim of this study was to explore whether antioxidant rich red palm oil (RPO) may offer protection from malignant arrhythmias and/or attenuate an abnormal myocardial Cx43 expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Untreated hypertensive and age-matched normotensive rats were compared with those supplemented by 200microL/day...

Fabry disease

Solík P, Lesný P, Luknár M, Varga I, Gonçalvesová E

Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(5):381-387  

Fabry disease is a progressive multisystem disease. It belongs among the rare, inherited, metabolic, so called lysosomal diseases. The essence of the disease is the mutation of a gene located on the long arm of the X-chromosome encoding the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. Partial or complete lack of activity of this enzyme results in the accumulation of glycosphingolipids fission products in the lysosomes of various cells. Affected are particularly endothelial cells, and therefore one of the main manifestations of the disease includes cardiovascular problems. Without treatment, the prognosis of patients is unfavourable and it is being understood...