Cardiology Letters, 2014 (vol. 23), issue 3
Original article
Transcatheter implantation of the self-expandable aortic valve bioprosthesis in a
Fridrich V, Gočár M, Mizera S, Postulka jr. J, Malacký T, Drangová E, Vranka I
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(3):207-214 
The authors describe results from the single centre register of patients with severe aortic stenosis and high surgical risk treated with a transfemoral transcatheter implantation of self-expandable bioprosthesis. Results: Included in the register were 49 consecutive patients with transcatheter implantation procedure performed between April 21st 2009 and June 20th 2013. The register contained 34 (69%) women and 15 (31%) men. The average age was 77.8±5.9 years (median 80.5; interval 68-89). The average NYHA was 3±0.5, the average Euro SCORE was 26.2±12. The procedure was performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory under local...
Evaluation of carotid artery stiffness and flow-mediated vasodilation in patients with resistant hypertension after renal sympathetic denervation.
Skultetyova D, Filipova S, Madaric J, Chnupa P, Fridrich V, Vulev I, Gocar M, Skultetyova D, Filipova S, Madaric J, Chnupa P, Fridrich V, Vulev I, Gocar M.
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(3):215-222
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on office blood pressure (BP). Thereafter we evaluated the effect of BP lowering on carotid artery stiffness and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) using ultrasound and echo-tracking during 6 month follow-up. We found significantly improved office systolic BP changes at 1 month after RDN (p=0.023) together with pulse pressure (PP) changes at 6 months follow-up (systolic BP changes: p=0.041; PP changes: p=0.016). Carotid stiffness values stiffness parameter (beta) and pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) were significantly reduced (beta: p=0.04; Ep:...
Patent foramen ovale: transcatheter closure or conservative dive profile in decompression sickness prevention in divers?
Novotný Š, Honěk J, Januška J, Šefc L, Horváth M, Fiedler J, Šrámek M, Veselka J, Honěk T, Tatár M
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(3):223-227
Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure and safe diving recommendations limiting bottom time and depth on the occurrence of arterial bubbles after simulated dives in a hyperbaric chamber. Methods: Forty-seven divers with a PFO were enrolled in this observational trial. Nineteen divers with PFO performed a decompression dive to 18m for 80 min (control group), 15 divers after a transcatheter PFO closure performed the same dive (group 1) and 13 divers with PFO performed a dive to the same depth for a non-decompression time of 51 min (group 2). In all divers venous and arterial bubbles...
Review
The role of mitochondria in preconditioning of heart induced by diazoxide. New insight into the molecular mechanism
Jašová M, Ferko M, Kancirová I, Muráriková M, Námer P, Waczulíková I, Slezák J, Ziegelhöffer A
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(3):228-233
Diazoxide (DZX), which was assumed to act predominantly as an opener of the ATP-dependent potassium channels (KATP) in mitochondrial membranes, is frequently utilised in the induction of pharmacological preconditioning of the myocardium in an experiment. However, recent findings have revealed that DZX acts more as an activator of the protein kinase Cε (PKCε) and that opening of the mitochondrial KATP channels is its secondary effect only. Moreover, DZX also acts as an inhibitor of the Krebs cycle at the level of succinate dehydrogenase. A similar type of inhibition also occurs in hypoxia and ischemia. The aim of our study was to search...
Is vasovagal syncope a genetic disease?
Evin L, Mitro P
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(3):234-240
Vasovagal syncope is the most common type of reflex syncope and most common syncope of all. This disease has a negative influence on the quality of life in a population. In regards to familiar occurrence, one suspects that genetic predisposition may play a certain role in the development and manifestation of vasovagal syncope. The detailed mechanism of this genetic predisposition is not yet known. Nowadays great attention is focused on research of candidate gene polymorphisms, which may be important in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope. This paper presents a review of knowledge of these polymorphisms in pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope and their...
Perspectives
New treatments for dyslipidemia
Murín J, Pernický M, Kiňová S
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(3):197-206
Cardiovascular diseases are the main reason for mortality and morbidity in the world, and also in our country. An important risk factor for cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia, mainly hypercholesterolemia. A reduction of serum LDL cholesterol level (by diet but mainly by pharmacotherapy) decreases cardiovascular risk of these patients. For the reduction of serum LDL cholesterol levels we use usually statins (mostly strong statins and used in higher doses), ezetimibe and their combination. New drugs are in the pipeline and just entering clinical practice. Among these drugs are ApoB production inhibitors (mipomersen), a microsomal transfer protein...