Cardiology Letters, 2016 (vol. 25), issue 5

Oxidative stress after pulmonary veins isolation: Deteriorative or protective factor?

Böhm A, Tóthová L, Urban L, Slezák P, Bacharová L, Musil P, Cvičela M, Hatala R

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(5):353-364  

Introduction: There is a well-known relation between oxidative stress and atrial fibrillation. The aim of our research was to study the relation between the percentage of time spent in atrial fibrillation (AF burden) and concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers, before and after pulmonary veins isolation (PVI). Methodology: We included 19 patients (mean age 55±10 years, 4 females and 15 males) with implanted loop recorders unde­ rgoing PVI. Plasmatic concentrations of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), fructosamine, advanced oxidation protein products and thiobarbituric-acid reacting substances (TBARS) were measured and AF burden was...

Lipid spectrum and lipid particles size in patients with acute coronary syndromes in younger age-groups

Mistríková L, Sabaka P, Oravec S, Gašpar Ľ, Šimko F, Dukát A

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(5):365-368  

The role of LDL-cholesterol particles in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes is well known. Small-dense LDL-cholesterol particles are the most important lipid particles contributing to the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque. However the size of intermediate lipid particles, as well as very low density lipoproteins, in the pathology of acute coronary syndrome in younger patients have not yet been estimated. Patients of younger ages suffering from acute myocardial infarction have a significant increase of VLDL as well as large and medium size of IDL-particle size measured at the time of the event when compared to the controls. And also,...

Time delay due to health care system and impact of the delay on the short term prognosis of patients with STEMI. A single Cardiocentre experience analysis

Šaffová M, Studenčan M, Kmec J, Sováriová Soósová M

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(5):369-375  

Aim: To assess the impact to their short-term prognosis of the system time delay to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in patients with STEMI. Methods: Retrospective analysis of documentation of 340 patients with STEMI and primary PCI in the Prešov Cardiocentre in 2014. Short-term prognosis in patients was studied in three indicators: in-hospital mortality, in-hospital cardiac decompensation and systolic left ventricular function judged by echocardiography during hospitalisation. Chí-quadrat tests (χ2) and Fisher exact test, analyses of variance or Mann-Whitneyho U test were calculated to test association between variables. Results:...

2015 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases

The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(5):392-430  

Anti-fibrillating and defibrillating capability of atorvastatin, melatonin and omega-3 fatty acids demonstrated in acute conditions on isolated heart model

Egan Beňová T, Knezl V, Viczenczová C, Szeiffová Bačová B, Radošinská J, Tribulová N

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(5):376-383  

Objectives: Cardioprotective compounds, atorvastatin, melatonin, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DPA) show antiarrhythmic effects in clinical as well as in experimental studies, but their acute effects are less examined. The aim of the study was to further our understanding of the effects of monitored antiarrhythmic agents and their ability to defibrillate the heart. Methods: Experiments were performed on the isolated Langendorff perfused heart model. The effects of atorvastatin, EPA and DHA were studied in the heart of adult male and female rats with hereditary hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) and the effects of melatonin were studied...

An approach to the management of cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients - where are we in 2016?

Murín J, Mikla F, Wawruch M, Kiňová S

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(5):384-388  

Type 2 diabetic patients have about a two times higher cardiovascular risk than non-diabetic persons. The UKPDS study showed us that strict glycaemic control in diabetic persons only reduces micro­ vascular events during the 10 years of treatment, but during the next 10 years of treatment there is also a reduction in macrovascular events. Other studies have shown similar results, but statistically non-significant (ADVANCE, VADT), though the ACCORD study showed more cardiovascular events in diabetics under strict glycaemic control. Also in the rosiglitazone study there was an increase of heart failure events in the rosiglitazone arm of treatment. Therefore...

Acute coronary syndromes Need to the change traditional antiplatelet therapy for a new one? Benefit, risk, and how?

Hricák V

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(5):389-391  

Antiplatelet dual therapy (APDT) - acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and inhibitor of the platelet P2Y12 receptor - is an essential indispensable therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated conservatively or by intervention. Classical APDT ASA + clopidogrel is increasingly replaced by the new ASA + PDDL prasugrel or ticagrelor. Altering the drugs is a clinical challenge which should be reflected in the strict stratification of the risk of major ischemic complications, including thrombosis in stent, against the risk of major bleeding in a patient with ACS. In work, maybe for the first time in domestic literature, we present for everyday...