Cardiology Letters, 2017 (vol. 26), issue 1
Original article
Quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation
Šantová T, Cinová J, Šuličová A, Šimová Z, Novotná Z, Junová E
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):19-24 
The aim of this study was to verify the individual domains of quality of life of patients with atrial fibrillation before and after the implementation of electrical cardioversion (EKV) with stratification based on the type of diagnosed atrial fibrillation. We employed an abbreviated version of a standardized World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire for collection of empirical data. Based on our findings we may conclude that patients' quality of life improved significantly together with their subjective perception of their health status. Moreover, we demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the subjective perception of patients'...
ECG signs of left ventricular hypertrophy: Results of computer simulations
Bachárová L, Szathmáry V, Mateašík A
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):25-32
The classical paradigm of the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) postulates the increased electrical dominance of the left ventricle, i.e. the increased QRS amplitude in leads that record resultant electrical forces directed leftward, downward and posteriorly. However, the ECG criteria based on this paradigm are characteristic by low sensitivity and questionable specificity. The International Working Group on the ECG Diagnosis of Left ventricular Hypertrophy at the Journal of electrocardiology aims to re-evaluating and re-defining the role of ECG in left ventricular diagnosis. In this paper we present results of simulation studies that create basis...
Dynamic beat-to-beat changes of the cardiac electric field due to psycho-emotional load
Kellerová E, Szathmáry V
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):33-38
The aim of the study was to analyze the up-to-now unexplored beat-to-beat dynamism of the previously described reactive changes in ventricular repolarization, due to sympathetic activation in a psycho-emotional stress situation. R-R intervals, selected parameters of depolarization and repolarization integral body surface potential maps (BSPMs) and blood pressure were evaluated in sitting subjects at rest and during the mental arithmetic test. Despite negligible effects on depolarization, the cognitive stress induced significant dynamic changes of the main repolarization parameters. The amplitudes of the integral ST and QRST BSPMs and the ST non-dipolarity...
Noninvasive identification of local disorders of electrogenesis in ventricular arrhythmias
Tyšler M, Punshchykova O, Švehlíková J, Osmančík P, Žďárská J, Kneppo P
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):39-46
In a study on five patients the focus of premature ectopic ventricular activity was assessed noninvasively using integral body surface potential maps and inverse solution in terms of a single dipole. Precision of the inverse solution was studied using three different torso models: homogeneous torso model, torso model including the inhomogeneities of lungs and heart ventricles, and inhomogeneous torso model including lungs, heart ventricles and atria, aorta and pulmonary artery. The solution was more stable when the homogeneous model was used. However, in some patients the location of the resulting dipole representing the focus of ectopic activity was...
Pulmonary hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis - too many grey zones
Luknár M, Lesný P, Tuchyňová A, Rovenský J, Malinová J, Gonçalvesová E
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):47-51
Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an important cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Diagnosis of PAH is based on strict arbitrary hemodynamic criteria. Borderline conditions with pulmonary artery pressures in grey zones are not rare in SSc patients. The diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of these findings has not been satisfactorily clarified. Correct diagnostic conclusion has a major impact on appropriate treatment decisions. Aim: To describe the results of diagnostic work-up in patients with SSc in a single centre referred for clinical or echocardiographic suspicion of PAH with special regard to borderline...
Anemia and endothelin receptor antagonists - a real risk?
Kováčová M, Luknár M, Danková M, Lesný P, Šimovičová V, Gonçalvesová E
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):52-54
Endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) are linked to anemia development and periodical blood count checkups are recommended with ERA treatment. Pathobiology, characteristics, as well as clinical significance of anemia associated with ERA use, have not been satisfactorily clarified and real-life data are scarce. The aim of our study was to describe the frequency and some other characteristics of anemia and red blood count in a cohort of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treated by ERAs. Eighty-four consecutive patients (57 women) with PAH treated with ERAs more than four months in a single centre from 2005 to 2016 were included in...
Review
Cell therapy of limbs ischemia
Maďarič J
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):5-13
Cell therapy has been proposed as an alternative strategy in patients with critical limb ischemia not eligible for endovascular or surgical revascularization. Several pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that delivery of stem cells with regenerative potential and paracrine ability can improve tissue perfusion and thus prevent amputation via the induction of capillary or collateral growth in a process called "therapeutic angiogenesis". Many cell types have been tested, but results of most clinical trials to date rely on the use of adult autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells or cultured peripheral blood-derived proangiogenic mononuclear...
Empagliflozin and heart failure
Murín J
Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(1):14-18
The latest Guidelines for Heart failure diagnostics and treatment were published in May 2016. They focus mostly on systolic heart failure, and we have no guidelines for diastolic heart failure. Two new drugs have recently become available for the treatment of systolic heart failure. The first is sacubitril/valsartan, supported for entry to the Guidelines owing to positive results in the large clinical study PARADIGM-HF, and this drug has the ambition to replace ACE inhibitors or sartans. The second is an antidiabetic drug, empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor. It was tested in another large study, EMPA-REG OUTCOME, where it presented great cardiovascular...