Cardiology Letters, 2017 (vol. 26), issue 6

Comment on the 2016 ESC guidelines for cardiovascular prevention

Filipová S, Gašpar Ľ, Lietava J, Vachulová A

Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(6):319-322  

EPIT-HF survey of chronic heart failure with reduced, mid-range and preserved ejection fraction in Slovakia. Part 1: Focus on epidemiology

Dúbrava J, Šidlo R

Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(6):323-335  

Background: There is only a limited range of data on clinical characteristics of all three phenotypes of chronic heart failure (HF) and on their comparisons. Epidemiologic data on chronic heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) in Slovakia has not been published until yet. Aims: In a prospective survey to determine and compare epidemiological characteristics of three phenotypes of chronic HF - heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HFmrEF and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Method: The survey was performed by 161 physicians, including 115 cardiologists (71.4%) and 46 internists (28.6%). Consecutive...

Characteristics of erythrocytes and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

Jasenovec T, Radošinská J, Vrbjar N

Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(6):348-352  

Deformability refers to an ability of red blood cells (RBCs) to change their shape in order to pass through capillaries in circulation. Deterioration in RBC deformability contributes to alterations in microcirculatory blood flow and delivery of oxygen to tissues. Decreased deformability of RBC has been found to be the marker of adverse outcomes in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). One of factors responsible for maintenance of RBC deformability is the Na,K-ATPase known as crucial enzyme in maintenance of intracellular ionic homeostasis. Changes in concentration of ions affect cellular volume and consequently RBC deformability. This review summarizes the...

Effect of perivascular adipose tissue on the reactivity of conduit arteries in rats with different predisposition to hypertension

Zemančíková A, Török J

Cardiology Letters 2017, 26(6):336-347  

In this study, the effect of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) on sympathoadrenergic contractions of conduit arteries was studied in rats with normal and increased blood pressure. The superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta were excised from 12-week-old rats of the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), normotensive strain, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) derived from cross-breeding SHR females with WKY males, and paired ring preparations with PVAT intact or removed were prepared from these arteries. In normotensive as well as in hypertensive rats, PVAT exhibited an inhibitory effect on contractile responses of mesenteric...