Search

This review is a summary of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines focused on dual antiplatelet therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Given a large number of recommendations concerning antiplatelet therapy published in various ESC guidelines, the main goal of this paper was to compile these separate recommendations into one document. In addition, we set out to present the current state of knowledge and create an algorithm that would be based on all of these guidelines in hope that it would allow quick navigation when selecting the type and duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) depending on the clinical scenario with a special emphasis on evaluating both ischemic and bleeding risks. The review is based on the ESC guidelines on the diagnosis and management of chronic coronary syndromes (2019), revascularization (2018), acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (2017), DAPT (2017), and acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) (2020). The review also provides brief information on the most important studies and meta-analyses in this area, as well as practical pointers for management in the case of bleeding complications and before urgent surgery in patients on DAPT.

Background: Time delays to reperfusion therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) still remain a considerable drawback in many healthcare systems. Emergency medical service (EMS) has a critical role in the early management of STEMI. Under investigation herein, was whether the use of physician-staffed ambulances leads to shorter pre-hospital delays in STEMI patients. Methods: This was an observational and retrospective study, using data from the registry of the Silesian regional EMS system in Katowice, Poland and the Polish Registry on Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) for a study period of January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. The study population (n = 717) was divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 546 patients) — physician-staffed ambulances and group 2 (n = 171 patients) — paramedic-staffed ambulances. Results: Responses during the day and night shifts were similar. Paramedic-led ambulances more often transmitted 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to the percutaneous coronary intervention centers. All EMS time intervals were similar in both groups. The type of EMS dispatched to patients (physicianstaffed vs. paramedic/nurse-only staffed ambulance) was adjusted for ECG transmission, sex had no impact on in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–1.95; p = 0.4). However, service time exceeding 42 min was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 4.19; 95% CI 1.27–13.89; p = 0.019). In-hospital mortality rate was higher in the two upper quartiles of service time in the entire study population. Conclusions: These findings suggest that both physician-led and paramedic-led ambulances meet the criteria set out by the Polish and European authorities. All EMS time intervals are similar regardless of the type of EMS unit dispatched. A physician being present on board did not have a prognostic impact on outcomes.

Aims:The 2017 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction recommended assessing quality of care to establish measurable quality indicators in order to ensure that every ST-elevation myocardial infarction patient receives the best possible care. We investigated the quality indicators of healthcare services in Poland provided to ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients.Methods and results:The Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes is a nationwide, multicentre, prospective study of acute coronary syndrome patients in Poland. For the purpose of assessing quality indicators, we included 8279 patients from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes hospitalised with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in 2018. Four hundred and eight of 8279 patients (4.9%) arrived at percutaneous coronary intervention centre by self-transport, 4791 (57.9%) arrived at percutaneous coronary intervention centre by direct emergency medical system transport, and 2900 (37.2%) were transferred from non-percutaneous coronary intervention facilities. Whilst 95.1% of ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients arriving in the first 12 h received reperfusion therapy, the rates of timely reperfusion were much lower (ranging from 39.4% to 55.0% for various ST-elevation myocardial infarction pathways). The median left ventricular ejection fraction was 46% and was assessed before discharge in 86.0% of patients. Four hundred and eighty-nine of 8279 patients (5.9%) died during hospital stay. Optimal medical therapy is prescribed in 50–85% of patients depending on various clinical settings. Only one in two ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients is enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program at discharge. No patient-reported outcomes were recorded in the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes.Conclusions:The results of this study identified areas of healthcare system that require solid improvement. These include direct transport to percutaneous coronary intervention centre, timely reperfusion, guidelines-based medical therapy (in particular in patients with heart failure), referral to cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs. Also, there is a need for recording quality indicators associated with patient-reported outcomes.

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with diverse clinical manifestations, immune dysfunction, and gut microbiota alterations. The nutritional and biochemical quality of one’s diet can influence the intestinal microbiota, which may play a role in the defense mechanisms against potential pathogens, by promoting a wide variety of immune–host interactions. In the COVID-19 pandemic, besides the development of pharmacological therapies, a healthy balanced diet, rich with food-derived antioxidants, may be a useful strategy. Many studies demonstrated that vitamins and probiotic therapies have positive effects on the treatment and prevention of oxidative stress and inflammation in COVID-19. The ecology of the gut microbiota in the digestive tract has been linked to the transport function of the host receptor known as angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), suggesting that COVID-19 may be related to the gut microbiota. The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and its receptor (ACE2), play central roles in modulating the renin–angiotensin system (RAS). In addition, ACE2 has functions that act independently of the RAS. ACE2 is the receptor for the SARS coronavirus, and ACE2 is essential for the expression of neutral amino acid transporters in the gut. In this context, ACE2 modulates innate immunity and influences the composition of the gut microbiota. Malnutrition is one of the leading underlying causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and, including comorbidities, may be a major cause of worse outcomes and higher mortality among COVID-19 patients. This paper reviews the research on dietary components, with particular emphasis on vitamins, antioxidants, and probiotic therapies, and their impacts on the intestinal microbiota’s diversity during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Background Weight loss (WL) is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Moderate WL is recommended for overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of body weight reduction on survival in patients with both HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and DM. Methods The study comprised patients with HFrEF at the outpatient clinic. WL was defined as a body weight reduction of at least 7.5% during at least 6 months. Clinical features and 1 year mortality were analysed in WL and DM groups. Multivariate regression model was chosen to assess the predictive role of WL in HF patients with and without DM. The analysis regarding obesity before HF was also performed. Results The study comprised 777 patients with HFrEF. Mean age was 53.2 ± 9.2, 12.0% were women, mean EF was 23.7 ± 6.0 %, and New York Heart Association III or IV class, DM, and WL were found in 60.5%, 33.3%, and 47.1% patients, respectively. WL was more prevalent in diabetic patients, comparing with those without DM (53.7% vs. 43.8%, respectively, 0.01), and was associated with higher 1 year mortality only in non‐diabetic group (17.6% for WL vs. 8.2% for non‐WL, log‐rank 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, WL was associated with a higher risk of 1 year mortality in non‐diabetic patients: HR 1.76 (1.05–2.95), 0.03 and only in the subgroup without obesity: HR 2.35 (1.28–4.32), 0.006. In non‐diabetic patients with obesity and in diabetic patients regardless of weight status, WL was not associated with worse prognosis (thereof, WL was excluded from the multivariate models). Conclusions Overall, WL in HFrEF has emerged as a predictor of unfavourable outcomes only in non‐obese patients without DM. More importantly, this study has identified that the presence of DM (irrespective of weight status) or the presence of obesity in non‐diabetic patients abolished the unfavourable impact of WL on long‐term outcomes.

Introduction: The accumulation of visceral abdominal tissue (VAT) seems to be a hallmark feature of abdominal obesity and substantially contributes to metabolic abnormalities. There are numerous factors that make the body-mass index (BMI) a suboptimal measure of adiposity. The visceral adiposity index (VAI) may be considered a simple surrogate marker of visceral adipose tissue dysfunction. However, the evidence comparing general to visceral adiposity in CAD is scarce. Therefore, we have set out to investigate visceral adiposity in relation to general adiposity in patients with stable CAD. Material and methods: A total of 204 patients with stable CAD hospitalized in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Geriatrics entered the study. Based on the VAI-defined adipose tissue dysfunction (ATD) types, the study population (N = 204) was divided into four groups: (1) no ATD (N = 66), (2) mild ATD (N = 50), (3) moderate ATD (N = 48), and (4) severe ATD (N = 40). Nutritional status was assessed using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score. Results: Patients with moderate and severe ATD were the youngest (median 67 years), yet their metabolic age was the oldest (median 80 and 84 years, respectively). CONUT scores were similar across all four study groups. The VAI had only a modest positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.59 p &lt, 0.01) and body adiposity index (BAI) (r = 0.40 p &lt, 0.01). There was no correlation between VAI and CONUT scores. There was high variability in the distribution of BMI-defined weight categories across all four types of ATD. A total of 75% of patients with normal nutritional status had some form of ATD, and one-third of patients with moderate or severe malnutrition did not have any ATD (p = 0.008). In contrast, 55–60% of patients with mild, moderate, or severe ATD had normal nutritional status (p = 0.008). ROC analysis demonstrated that BMI and BAI have poor predictive value in determining no ATD. Both BMI (AUC 0.78 p &lt, 0.0001) and BAI (AUC 0.66 p = 0.003) had strong predictive value for determining severe ATD (the difference between AUC 0.12 being p = 0.0002). However, BMI predicted mild ATD and severe ATD better than BAI. Conclusions: ATD and malnutrition were common in patients with CAD. Notably, this study has shown a high rate of misclassification of visceral ATD via BMI and BAI. In addition, we demonstrated that the majority of patients with normal nutritional status had some form of ATD and as much as one-third of patients with moderate or severe malnutrition did not have any ATD. These findings have important clinical ramifications for everyday practice regarding the line between health and disease in the context of malnutrition in terms of body composition and visceral ATD, which are significant for developing an accurate definition of the standards for the intensity of clinical interventions.

Interventional cardiology has witnessed tremendous changes over the years from a mainly diagnostic approach in an elective population to therapeutic strategies in critically ill patients. Currently, we can treat a broad spectrum of coronary artery, peripheral artery, and structural heart diseases with less invasive, percutaneous approaches that we did not anticipate to be possible just a decade ago. It is certain that the interventional techniques will see further development and we will be able to treat by percutaneous methods more conditions previously thought beyond our reach. Regardless of the advances in catheter-based diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, one thing remains constant. They all require vascular access. And, vascular access is the first technical part of any percutaneous cardiovascular procedure that can determine its overall success. High-quality data together with the availability of training courses for interventional cardiologists and fellows-in-training ensure systematic use of the transradial approach (TRA) which has demonstrated a considerable benefit compared to transfemoral approach both in chronic and acute coronary syndromes. Constant improvement of TRA techniques will further facilitate transradial endovascular and structural interventions, and the growing use for high-risk and complex percutaneous coronary interventions. A continuously growing body of evidence is focused on surpassing current TRA limitations (specifically radial artery occlusion) and expanding alternative vascular accesses such as transulnar approach or distal TRA (“snuff-box” technique). Should this downsizing trend continue, we could see a further paradigm shift toward using the snuff-box technique.

Background. Generally, most vitamin D in the human body (90–95%) is produced in the skin during exposure to sunlight. The effectiveness of this process depends on several biological and physical factors, e.g., age or latitude. Skin synthesis of vitamin D among elderly people is reduced. The aim of the study was to assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] seasonal variations in elderly patients hospitalized at the geriatric department. Methods. The study was carried out on 242 patients aged 60 years or older hospitalized at the geriatric department. The study group was categorized by four seasons as well as month. Results. The median (interquartile range) 25(OH)D concentration among all patients (n = 242) was 33.95 (26.96–45.18) nmol/L. There was no statistical significance in the median serum 25(OH)D concentration with regard to each of the four seasons: in the spring 32.95 (25.96–43.68) nmol/L, in the summer 38.69 (27.46–50.67) nmol/L, in the autumn 33.45 (27.08–44.18) nmol/L, in the winter 34.57 (23.46–43.93) nmol/L, (p = 0.48). Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in all geriatric patients, irrespective of the season. The results of the study indicate no significant differences in median vitamin D concentration among the hospitalized patients across all four seasons. Even in the summer months, in our climate, it is fairly difficult for an elderly person to produce an adequate amount of vitamin D through the skin. Therefore, proper vitamin D supplementation is recommended and should be implemented in the elderly irrespective of the season.

Background: No previous study has investigated the association between gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and vitamin D in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the cross-sectional associations between vitamin D status as assessed by serum 25(OH)D and GGT. Methods: 169 patients were enrolled. Study population was divided into three groups: 1: 25(OH)D &lt, 10 ng/mL (n = 59), 2: 25(OH)D 10&ndash, 20 ng/mL (n = 82), and 3: 25(OH)D &gt, 20 ng/mL (n = 28). Based on a cut-off GGT value identified in ROC analysis, we also divided the study population to compare the following groups: GGT &le, 19 (n = 66) and GGT &gt, 19 (n = 103). Results: GGT activity was the highest in vitamin D severely deficient patients and the lowest in vitamin D insufficient patients. GGT was inversely correlated with 25(OH)D concentrations (R = &minus, 0.23, p = 0.002). The receiver operating characteristics curve identified the discrimination threshold of GGT of &gt, 19 U/L in predicting vitamin D deficiency. Higher leukocyte and neutrophil counts and lower 25(OH)D concentration were found in patients with GGT &gt, 19 U/L. Conclusions: We identified an interaction between declining 25(OH)D levels and rising GGT levels with increasing age, which resulted in an unfavorable 25(OH)D-to-GGT ratio in stable CAD patients. These results suggest that these changes might further contribute to a high cardiovascular risk in the elderly.

Background Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration is elevated in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH); however, its role in the detection of PH associated with lung disease is not well established. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the value of NT-proBNP in the detection of PH in patients with end-stage lung disease (esLD) referred for lung transplantation. Materials and methods The study population consisted of 65 patients: 37 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 20 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 8 patients with other interstitial lung diseases (75% men, mean age 53.3 ± 9.5 years). Serum concentration of NT-proBNP was assessed with an immunoradiometric assay kit. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was measured using a Swan-Ganz catheter. PH was defined as mPAP ≥ 25 mm Hg. Results Median NT-proBNP concentrations were significantly higher in patients with PH than in patients without PH: 139 (49–1236) pg/mL vs 67 (38–116) pg/mL, respectively; P = .016. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that NT-proBNP concentration higher than 131.5 pg/mL was a predictor of PH with good specificity (81%) and positive predictive value (78.9%) but low sensitivity (55.6%) and negative predictive value (58.6%). The area under the ROC curve of serum NT-proBNP concentration for PH was 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.57–0.85, P = .039). Conclusion Serum concentration of NT-proBNP may be useful in the diagnosis of PH in patients with esLD referred for lung transplantation.

Aim: Albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) is emerged as a marker of impaired prognosis. We determined the predictive value of AGR in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methodology: 999 patients with HFrEF were enrolled. Rates of 1-year all-cause mortality were compared between AGR quartiles (Q). Moreover, multivariate survival analysis in Cox's regression model and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed. Results: 90-day and 1-year mortality was the highest in AGR Q1. AGR was an independent predictor of 90-day and 1-year mortality. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed moderate diagnostic value in predicting 90-day (AGR cutoff

There is little published data on the association of platelet function and 25(OH)D concentration. We investigated the associations between mean platelet volume (MPV) and 25(OH)D concentration in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Study population was divided into three groups: group 1—25(OH)D 20 ng/mL (N = 14). Study groups shared similar demographics. MPV values were the highest in group 1, moderate in group 2, and the lowest in group 3 (11.1 vs 10.4 vs 9.8 fL P 10.5 fL) for vitamin D deficiency and a weak predictive value (AUC 0.65) in identifying the discrimination thresholds of 25(OH)D concentration (≤ 15.5 ng/mL) for the presence of large platelets (MPV over the upper limit of normal). In conclusion, even though the effect of vitamin D on platelet size and function is probably multifactorial, our study provides further evidence linking vitamin D to thrombosis and hemostasis. Platelets are another potential element through which vitamin D deficiency could exert adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

In recent years, epidemiological studies have suggested that metabolic disorders are nutritionally dependent. A healthy diet that is rich in polyphenols may be beneficial in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and, in particular, atherosclerosis. Curcumin is a polyphenol found in turmeric and has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, and antidiabetic properties, among others. This review summarizes the influence of supplementation with curcumin on metabolic parameters in selected metabolic disorders.

Aims Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most frequently detected conditions in multimorbid disease clusters. Platelet activation is one of the key mechanisms underlying atherothrombosis in acute myocardial infarction. Available data link mean platelet volume (MPV) to poor prognosis not only in cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular disease. Given the lack of research data on the association between disease clusters and MPV, we have set out to investigate the link between multimorbidity and MPV in diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods A total of 277 patients with DM and STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled. Based on the number of comorbidities the study population was divided into two groups: group 1 (N = 58) with ≤ 1 comorbidity and group 2 (N = 219) with ≥ 2 comorbidities. A subanalysis was performed within the multimorbidity group: group 2A with two or three comorbidities (N = 156) and group 2B with at least four comorbidities (N = 63). Results In the study population, 15.9% of patients had one comorbidity, and 22.0, 34.3, and 22.7% of patients had two, three, or at least four comorbid conditions, respectively. Both MPV and PDW were elevated in multimorbid patients (9.3 vs 10.8 fl and 9.5 vs 10.3 fl, respectively). The highest platelet volume indices were observed in patients with at least four comorbid conditions. There was a moderate positive correlation between MPV and the total number of comorbidities, the number of CVD comorbidities, and the number of non-CVD comorbidities. Conclusions These findings indicate that multimorbidity is associated with an increase in platelet volume indices. MPV values increased with the increasing number of comorbid conditions. Importantly, MPV values were elevated in some, but not all CVD and non-CVD conditions.

Trimetazidine (TMZ) exhibits metabolic and cardioprotective effects. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of TMZ on interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) serum concentrations in 156 patients with stable coronary artery disease. They underwent a treadmill exercise test (TET) before and after 3 months of TMZ treatment. IL-2 and IL-8 concentrations were determined before and after each TET. Before treatment, TET did not influence IL-2 concentrations, whereas IL-8 concentrations increased. TMZ treatment led to a decrease in IL-2 concentrations before TET, as well as it prevented the increase of IL-8 following the second TET. Obtained results confirmed the improvement in TET performance during TMZ treatment and they revealed a significant influence of TMZ on IL-2 and IL-8 concentrations both before and after TET. These changes may reflect potential anti-inflammatory effects of TMZ.

Background: Impairment of renal function (IRF) is an independent risk factor of myocardial infarction (MI). Aim: The aim of study was to determine if the presence of IRF affects the choice of treatment strategy in patients with MI, and if long-term mortality rates are influenced by the use of an invasive strategy in patients with MI according to the grade of IRF. Methods: Data from the PL-ACS Registry of 22,431 patients hospitalised for MI during 2007–2008 with an available estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with 2009 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula were included. Patients were stratified based on eGFR: ≥ 90 (normal); 60–89 (mild IRF); 30–59 (moderate IRF); 15–29 (severe IRF); and < 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (end-stage IRF). Results: After adjustment, each increase in IRF grade reduced the likelihood of percutaneous coronary intervention by 19% (odds ratio [OR] 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78–0.85; p < 0.001). A higher IRF grade was independently associated with mortality (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.86–2.18; p < 0.001) and major bleeding (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.22–1.66; p < 0.001) during hospitalisation, and mortality at 12 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.55; 95% CI 1.49–1.62; p < 0.001) and 36 months (HR 1.50; 95% CI 1.45–1.55; p < 0.001). Invasive treatment was independently associated with improved 12-month prognosis in non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) patients with mild-to-severe IRF and in ST-elevation MI (STEMI) patients at all IRF grades. Conclusions: Invasive procedures were less frequent with worsening renal dysfunction. Invasive treatment was associ­ated with improved 12-month prognosis in STEMI patients regardless of renal function and in NSTEMI patients with eGFR ≥ 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 .

INTRODUCTION The positive outcomes of the COMPASS trial raise questions about the proportion of patients who could benefit from additional therapy with rivaroxaban in real‑world practice. OBJECTIVES We aimed to identify the proportion of patients from the TERCET registry with significant coronary artery disease (TERCET‑CAD) who could benefit from the use of rivaroxaban and to assess their clinical characteristics and long‑term prognosis in comparison with the corresponding measures in the COMPASS trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS The COMPASS criteria were applied in the TERCET‑CAD population. Patients who met the criteria of the COMPASS trial were included in the COMPASS‑like group. The baseline characteristics and long‑term outcomes of the COMPASS‑like group were compared with the corresponding measures in the acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-alone arm from the COMPASS trial. RESULTS The COMPASS‑like group included 3884 patients (31.6%) out of the 12 286 patients constituting the TERCET‑CAD population. Patients in the COMPASS‑like group were characterized by older age (P

INTRODUCTION Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show poor prognosis. The importance of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular morphology and function in patients with end-stage lung diseases referred for lung transplantation (LT) is not well established. OBJECTIVES To assess whether LV and RV echocardiographic parameters influence survival of patients with IPF, COPD and other interstitial lung diseases (ILD) awaiting LT. METHODS In 65 patients (20 patients with COPD, 37 with IPF and 8 with other ILD), we performed transthoracic echocardiography and right heart catheterization. Echocardiographic parameters were assessed with regard to 1-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS The mortality rate was higher in patients with smaller dimensions of LV end-systolic (LVESD) and end-diastolic (LVEDD) diameter (HR 3.03, 95% CI 1.16-7.69, P = .023; and HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.16-7.14, P = .022; respectively), higher RV-to-LV (RV/LV-4CH) ratio (HR 7.6, 95% CI 1.6-29.5, P = .009) and RV proximal outflow tract (RVOT-PLAX) dilatation (HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.22-5.96, P = .015). These associations were independent of age, gender, body mass index, VC, FEV1% and pulmonary diagnosis. The subanalysis of IPF patients demonstrated that the smaller LVESD and LVEDD increased mortality rate (HR 15.0, 95% CI 2.87-89.72, P = .003; HR 4.95, 95% CI 1.5-15.5, P = .006; respectively). No such associations were found in the COPD patients. CONCLUSION LV echocardiographic parameters (LVESD or LVEDD) are useful in predicting survival in patients with end-stage lung diseases, mainly in IPF patients awaiting LT. Other parameters (RV/LV-4CH and RVOT-PLAX dilatation) may also influence survival.

Curcumin is one of the most frequently researched herbal substances; however, it has been reported to have a poor bioavailability and fast metabolism, which has led to doubts about its effectiveness. Curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and has demonstrated favorable health effects. Nevertheless, well-reported in vivo pharmacological activities of curcumin are limited by its poor solubility, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic profile. The bidirectional interactions between curcumin and gut microbiota play key roles in understanding the ambiguity between the bioavailability and biological activity of curcumin, including its wider health impact.

Antithyroid drugs (ATDs) are widely used for the treatment of Graves' disease (GD) in the general population. Over the past decade, there has been an increasing awareness that several disturbances of thyroid function may occur in mothers after delivery which may be more prevalent than previously appreciated. Exacerbation of immune reactions occurs 3-12 month following delivery. Management of hyperthyroidism during lactation requires special considerations and should be implemented to prevent any adverse outcomes in mother and neonate. Continuation of breastfeeding is safe and should be encouraged in hyperthyroid mothers taking ATDs, whether these are ATDs being continued after gestation or indeed ATD treatment initiated in the postpartum period. Given PTU hepatotoxicity concerns, experts currently recommend using low-to-moderate MMI doses as a first-line therapy in lactating mothers. PTU should be reserved only as a second-line agent for cases of severe hyperthyroidism (thyroid storm) and allergic reactions to previous MMI treatment. ATD should be administered in divided doses immediately following each feeding. Evaluation of thyroid function tests is advisable at least 3-4 weeks after the initiation of breastfeeding.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Acute coronary syndromes are diagnosed in 1.5 million patients, in Poland about 140,000 patients per year. A medical dispatcher who has first contact with the patient or a witness of the accident plays a very important role. The aim: To analyze the quality indicators of the State Emergency Medical System, including the role of the medical dispatcher diling with patients with STEMI.Material and methods: The medical documentation of the Voivodeship Emergency Medical Service in Katowice for the years 2013-2016 (n =915345)was analized a retrospective analysis. The study included those causes that ended with the diagnosed STEMI (870 cases). The final diagnosis was based on the data of the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes PL-ACS and AMI-PL.Results: STEMI was diagnosed in 870 visits (0.095%) causes. More often in men than in women (63.8% vs. 36.2%, p0.001). The average age of the patients was 65 years ± 11.3. Most frequent STEMI occurred during the day (p0.001). Patients either smoke or smoked in the past, a small proportion never smoked (78.3% vs 31.7%, p0.001). The most frequent place occurrence of STEMI was the victim's home (p0.001). The average time in the emergency code (K-1) was 6 min 29 seconds. It is worth noting that changing the code causes a dramatic increase in the time of a team reaching the place of an accident (p0.001). The time of giving help is related to the time of day and the light of a conversation (p0.001).Conclusions: Medical dispatcher and Emergency Medical Teams play a key role diling with patients with STEMI. Conducting activities in accordance with the current medical knowledge leads to much lower mortality and results in a better quality of life for the patient and his family.

The aim: We aimed at assessing the prognostic significance of diabetes mellitus in patients with NSTEMI treated with PCI as well as determining the independent predictors of worse prognosis.Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 830 patients hospitalized between January 2006 and December 2012 with diagnoses of NSTEMI and undergoing angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions. Patients were divided into two groups: with diabetes mellitus (246 patients) and without diabetes mellitus (584 patients). All patients were followed up at 30 days, 12 months, and 24 months.Results: Diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of complex endpoints (HR, 1.64) at the 24-month follow-up visit: myocardial infarction not ending with death analyzed alone (HR, 1.82), death analyzed together with myocardial infarction not ending with death (HR, 1.65), and repeated revascularization performed due to the presence of ischemia (HR, 1.63) Moreover, diabetes mellitus was one of the factors influencing 24-month mortality, but its independent influence was at the threshold of significance (HR, 1.46; p=0.08). In the multiple factor analysis the independent risk factors for death at the 24-month follow-up were: creatinine concentration on admission, LVEF, age, and cardiogenic shock during hospitalization.Conclusions: Despite similar efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention, diabetes mellitus was associated with a worse in-hospital and long-term outcomes. Diabetes mellitus did not affect long-term mortality.

Primary malignant cardiac tumors are rare, and mostly manifest as sarcomas in various types. As non-invasive diagnostic modalities, e.g. echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, have become more sensitive, there is a marked increase in the number of patients diagnosed. Nevertheless, most patients die within one year of initial diagnosis, either because of the often asymptomatic presentation of cardiac tumors until advanced disease, or a low index of suspicion on the part of the physician. The presenting symptoms, treatment options and, indeed, prognosis are largely controlled by the tumor's anatomic location. Cardiac sarcomas may present with a variety of symptoms and are known to be great mimickers. A quick diagnosis facilitates the initiation of a proper treatment (surgical resection, adjuvant chemotherapy), which may in turn improve the prognosis. Metastases to the heart are far more common, unfortunately, clinical manifestations are mainly dominated by generalized tumor spread. The article summarizes epidemiology, symptoms, diagnostic modalities, and possible treatment options.

An 82-year-old man presented with a two-week history of increasing shortness of breath and exercise intolerance. His medical history included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. He had undergone left nephrectomy and splenectomy for abdominal trauma and had

Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication in end-stage lung disease (esLD). The aim of this study was to establish the best threshold values for mean, systolic, and diastolic artery pressure (mPAP, dPAP, and sPAP, respectively) to identify patients with esLD referred for lung transplantation and to predict 1-year prognosis. Methods Sixty-five patients were enrolled in the study (75% men) with a mean age of 53.3 ± 9.5 years; 31% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 57% had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and 12% had interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). The mean period of observation was 14.4 ± 5 months. We assessed invasively mPAP, dPAP, and sPAP, as well as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), using a Swan-Ganz catheter. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to identify the best cutoff points for mPAP, dPAP, and sPAP to predict survival. The study endpoint was defined as 1-year mortality before transplantation. Survival analysis was completed according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Results During follow-up, 30 (46.1%) patients died and 19 (29%) underwent lung transplantation. Based on ROC curve analysis, we estimated mPAP ≥30 mm Hg, dPAP ≥20 mm Hg, and sPAP ≥44 mm Hg as the best threshold values with the highest sensitivity (70%, 70%, and 73%, respectively) and specificity (76%, 69%, and 72%, respectively) and the acceptable area under curve (0.67, 0.68, and 0.72, respectively). The negative predictive values for mPAP, dPAP, and sPAP were higher than the positive predictive values (79%, 77%, and 81% vs 67%, 61%, and 64%, respectively). We also constructed Kaplan-Meier curves for mPAP, dPAP, and sPAP threshold values. There were significant differences in 1-year survival between patients with and without PH for mPAP, dPAP, and sPAP threshold values (P = .005, P = .035, and P Conclusion Elevated mPAP, dPAP, and sPAP are related to worse prognosis in patients with esLD referred for lung transplantation.

Aim: There has been a rise in contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). We examined the role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting CI-AKI episodes in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and diabetes. Methods: A total of 719 patients with diabetes and MI were enrolled. Study population was divided into: group 1 (n = 615) without CI-AKI and group 2 (n = 104) with CI-AKI. Results: Patients with CI-AKI had higher in-hospital mortality and a longer in-hospital stay. Median PLR was higher in patients with CI-AKI. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated PLR to be a good predictive tool in assessing the risk of CI-AKI. PLR was an independent predictor of CI-AKI (OR: 1.22; p

The investigation of death in young (35 years), previously fit individuals, calls for a detailed autopsy with emphasis placed upon the examination of the heart. In most instances, the cause of cardiac death can be identified during autopsy. However, a large percentage of sudden deaths remain unexplained even after comprehensive medicolegal investigation, including autopsy, and are labelled as autopsy-negative sudden unexplained cardiac death (SUD). Still, when you look to the law, an autopsy, a much needed truth-finding-instrument, usually is not mandatory and is left up to the discretion of various medical or legal authorities, which when making a decision, balance various, often conflicting interests of the state and society on the one hand and of the deceased and his family on the other. Cardiac molecular autopsy calls for a close cooperation between medical examiner, pathologist, family physician, cardiologist, geneticist, and the relatives. Multidisciplinary approach and the identification of genetic cause of SUD enable proper genetic counselling for surviving relatives as well as for implementing specific preventive/therapeutic strategies, e.g. implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation.

Serum phosphorus abnormalities may pose a risk on the cardiovascular system. In heart failure (HF) phosphorus homeostatic mechanisms are altered and may be modified by modern HF therapy. The impact of therapy optimization on phosphorus abnormalities and related outcome remains unknown. In 722 patients with HF subjected to treatment up-titration we analyzed the prevalence of serum phosphorus abnormalities and their relation to HF severity on top of optimal treatment, and we assessed adjusted risk of phosphorus abnormalities at different stages of HF. We analyzed predictors of hypo- and hyperphosphatemia and relation to prognosis. Hypophosphatemia was associated with better response to therapy, was more prevalent in milder HF, and the association was independent of age, sex, BMI, etiology of HF, kidney function and the use of diuretics. Hypophosphatemic patients lost more phosphorus into urine. They had also less catabolic profile. Patients with hyperphosphatemia on top of optimal therapy responded worse to treatment. Hyperphosphatemia was more prevalent in advanced HF, but the effect was attenuated after adjustment for potential confounders. Clinical and biochemical profiles of hyperphosphatemics suggested domination of catabolism. Neither hypophosphatemia nor hyperphosphatemia modifies the outcome Serum phosphorus abnormalities are related to HF severity on top of optimal therapy. Hypophosphatemia occurring on HF up-titration therapy likely has a multifactorial pathophysiology comprising of urinary phosphorus wasting and refeeding effects. Hyperphosphatemia is linked to the catabolic profile but the effect of renal impairment can't be ruled out. The prognostic impact of serum phosphorus abnormalities remain to be established.

In the general population, the lowest mortality risk is considered to be for the body mass index (BMI) range of 20–24.9 kg/m2. In chronic diseases (chronic kidney disease, chronic heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) the best survival is observed in overweight or obese patients. Recently above-mentioned phenomenon, called obesity paradox, has been described in patients with coronary artery disease. Our aim was to analyze the relationship between BMI and total mortality in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the context of obesity paradox. We searched scientific databases for studies describing relation in body mass index with mortality in patients with ACS. The study selection process was performed according to PRISMA statement. Crude mortality rates, odds ratio or risk ratio for all-cause mortality were extracted from articles and included into meta-analysis. 26 studies and 218,532 patients with ACS were included into meta-analysis. The highest risk of mortality was found in Low BMI patients—RR 1.47 (95 % CI 1.24–1.74). Overweight, obese and severely obese patients had lower mortality compared with those with normal BMI–RR 0.70 (95 % CI 0.64–0.76), RR 0.60, (95 % CI 0.53–0.68) and RR 0.70 (95 % CI 0.58–0.86), respectively. The obesity paradox in patients with ACS has been confirmed. Although it seems to be clear and quite obvious, outcomes should be interpreted with caution. It is remarkable that obese patients had more often diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension, but they were younger and had less bleeding complications, which could have influence on their survival. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10654-014-9961-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nowadays, amiodarone is the most commonly used antidysrhythmic drug in clinical practice. It is highly effective in the management of recurrent ventricular dysrhythmias, paroxysmal supraventricular dysrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and flutter, and in the maintenance of sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Moreover, it has the added benefit of being well tolerated in patients with both normal and impaired left ventricular systolic function. Despite amiodarone's potent antidysrhythmic actions, its use is hampered by numerous adverse effects on various organs, including the thyroid. Adverse effects are becoming more prevalent given the increasing incidence of dysrhythmias and wider amiodarone use. Thus, physicians and patients should both be aware of the potential thyroid-specific sequelae. However, amiodarone is likely to remain a significant problem for endocrinologists as concerns exist over the use of the new alternative antiarrhythmic agent, dronedarone, especially in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction because of the risk of hepatic injury and increased mortality. The final diagnostic and therapeutic approaches must be discussed among the patient, the general practitioner, the cardiologist, and the endocrinologist.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase reactant that shares structural and functional homology with C-reactive protein (CRP). However, unlike CRP, which is synthesized mainly in the liver, PTX3 is produced at the site of inflammation. It has been suggested that PTX3 plays the same role in the periphery that CRP does in circulation. PTX3 may represent a rapid marker of local inflammation. Fifty-one patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled. Blood samples were collected on admission. Plasma concentration of PTX3 and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were determined. Median PTX3 concentration was 0.92 μmol/L (0.58–1.40). Median hsCRP concentration was 0.90 mg/L (0.75–1.10). There was a positive correlation between PTX3 and total cholesterol (R = 0.34; P = 0.01), PTX3 and LDL cholesterol (R = 0.35; P = 0.01), and PTX3 and hsCRP (R = 0.46; P = 0.0005). We found no correlation between hsCRP and all laboratory parameters. We found higher PTX3 concentrations in patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) functional class 3 (compared to CCS functional class 2) and in patients taking nitrates. Lower PTX3 concentrations were reported in patients taking calcium channel blockers (amlodipine). hsCRP concentrations remained similar among these subgroups of patients. PTX3 is a marker of clinically more advanced CAD (CCS2 vs CCS3; nitrates vs no nitrates). PTX3 is also associated with other cardiovascular risk factors (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and hsCRP). PTX3 may be a potential early marker of cardiovascular risk before the increase of systemic markers like hsCRP.

Background: Mortality of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with cardiogenic shock (CS) on admission remains high despite invasive treatment. The aim of this analysis was to assess the relationship between the infarct-related artery (IRA) and the early and 12-month outcomes of patients with STEMI and CS treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Two thousand ninety patients with STEMI and CS registered in the prospective Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes from October 2003 to November 2009 were included. Results: The in-hospital mortality in the left main (LM), left anterior descending artery (LAD), circumflex artery (Cx), and right coronary artery (RCA) groups was 64.7%, 41.0%, 36.0%, and 30.8%, respectively, with p

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are infections of tissues, organs, or spaces exposed by surgeons during performance of an invasive procedure. SSIs are classified into superficial, which are limited to skin and subcutaneous tissues, and deep. The incidence of deep SSIs in lung transplant (LTx) patients is estimated at 5%. No reports have been published as to the incidence of superficial SSIs specifically in LTx patients. Common sense would dictate that the majority of superficial SSIs would be bacterial. Uncommonly, fungal SSIs may occur, and we believe that no reports exist as to the incidence of viral wound infections in LTx patients, or in any solid organ transplant patients. We report a de novo superficial wound infection with herpes simplex virus following lung transplantation, its possible source, treatment, and resolution.

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common complication in advanced lung disease. Echocardiography provides additional information and may be useful to assess PH probability. Objectives: We evaluated the usefulness of combination of well-known echocardiographic parameters in detecting PH in patients with advanced lung disease referred for lung transplantation. Methods: The study population consisted of 37 consecutive patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 20 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 8 patients with other interstitial lung diseases. PH was defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥ 25mmHg diagnosed by cardiac catheterization. Results: PH was present in 67.6% of enrolled IPF patients, 30% of enrolled COPD patients and 75% of patients with other interstitial lung diseases. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) ≥43 mmHg to be the threshold for PH prediction (n=37, sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 81.8%, area under curve (AUC) 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-1.0; p=0.019). Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) diameter ≥ 34mm and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) ≤ 18mm had acceptable sensitivity, specificity and AUC (n=65, 62.2%, 89.3%, 0.77, 95% CI 0.66-0.89; p=0.11 and n=62, 77.1%, 66.7%, 0.74, CI 0.61-0.87; p=0.27, respectively). Combination of RVSP, RVOT and TAPSE, obtained in 36 patients, increased the sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) to 100%. Conclusions: In patients with advanced lung diseases referred for lung transplantation the combination of RVSP, RVOT diameter and TAPSE may be helpful in PH exclusion. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Introduction Platelet activation and hyperreactivity plays a pivotal role in developing intravascular thrombus in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Mean platelet volume (MPV), which is readily available in clinical settings, has been linked to poor prognosis following STEMI. Recently, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has emerged as a new marker of worse outcomes linking inflammation and thrombosis. We investigated the prognostic significance of the new marker, MPVLR, in diabetic patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods A total of 623 patients with diabetes mellitus and STEMI undergoing primary PCI were enrolled and divided based on the median MPVLR on admission into two groups: group 1 (N=266) with an MPVLR ≤4.46 and group 2 (N=257) with an MPVLR >4,46. Results Despite similar clinical features patients with elevated MPVLR (group 2) had worse angiographic characteristic suggestive of a higher thrombus burden. In-hospital and one-year mortality was higher in group 2. ROC analysis revealed moderate diagnostic value in predicting in-hospital mortality (adjusted HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04–1.23; P=0.003; MPVLR cut-off >6.13) similar to that of PLR a good diagnostic value in predicting long-term mortality (adjusted HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.42–1.63; P 5.88) better than that of PLR. MPVLR remained an independent risk factor of early and late mortality. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever study that has investigated MPVLR. Despite similar clinical characteristics, patients with elevated MPVLR had worse angiographic features which may indicate a greater thrombus burden. Elevated MPVLR is an independent risk factor of early and late mortality following STEMI. In addition, it has similar value to PLR in predicting in-hospital mortality, and a better value than PLR in predicting long-term mortality.

Case presentation and primary diagnosisDr. Szkodzinski, Dr. Nowowiejska-Wiewiora: A 58-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) withchest pain and palpitations of 2 h duration as well as arapid heart rate (approximately 170 beats/min) and dizzi-ness. The patient reported episodic palpitations within theprior 12 months. His past medical history was negativefor prior surgeries, medications or any drug allergies. Onadmission, the patient was normotensive, normocardicand afebrile. Physical examination was unremarkable. Anelectrocardiogram (ECG) showed a normal sinus rhythmwith slight ST-segment elevation in precordial leads V1and V2, and a rsr’ pattern in V1 (Fig. 1a). Laboratory testsrevealed elevated cardiac marker CK-MB mass 20 ng/mL(upper limit of normal 5 ng/mL) and troponin T 0.4 ng/mL(upper limit of normal 0.1 ng/mL). Based on the clinicalpresentation, elevated cardiac markers and ECG findings, aprimary diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardialinfarction (STEMI) was made. The patient received5,000 U of unfractionated heparin IV, 300 mg of aspirinand 600 mg of clopidogrel, and was transferred to cathe-terization laboratory.Final diagnosisDr. Hudzik, Dr. Wozniak: Coronary angiography showednormal coronary arteries. The ECG tracing normalizedafter the procedure (Fig. 1b). Echocardiography revealednormal left and right ventricle functions (left ventricularejection fraction 60%) with no structural heart disease.Inflammatory states were excluded based on negativeinflammation markers [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein0.9 mg/L, erythrocyte sedimentation rate 6 mm/h, normalleukocyte count 6.7 (10

Background. The efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is limited by the need for repeat revascularization resulting from restenosis. The restenosis rate after treatment for in-stent restenosis (recurrent restenosis) is high (> 30%). Numerous studies have suggested the predictive value of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). Methods. We sought to determine whether serum levels of IL-6 and TGF-β1 could help identify individuals with recurrent restenosis. Thirty seven patients with a history of stent implantation were enrolled and divided into three groups: (1) patients with a current, first restenosis (n = 9); (2) patients with current restenosis and at least one prior restenosis (recurrent restenosis) (n = 11), and (3) patients with a history of restenosis, but without current restenosis (n = 17). Results. The baseline profile was similar in all three groups. The median (25 th-75 th percentile) concentrations of IL-6 were: group 1 – 2.8 (1.4-5.5); group 2 – 2.6 (0.6-8.6); group 3 – 2.4 (0.9-4.7) p = 0.69 and TGF-β1: group 1 – 3.6 (0.2-14.4); group 2 – 4.2 (1.8-57.6); group 3 – 6.6 (2.8-30.0) p = 0.57. Moreover we found no correlation, either between diameter stenosis and IL-6 (R = 0.10; p = 0.38) or TGF-β1 (R = 0.10; p = 0.57). Both IL-6 (AUC 0.59 p = 0.4 and AUC 0.51 p = 0.9) and TGF-β1 (AUC 0.64 p = 0.2 and AUC 0.50 p = 0.9) failed to provide significant results in receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Conclusion. We report that there is no association between the severity of diameter stenosis (restenosis) and IL-6 or TGF-β1 concentrations. Our findings might suggest that levels of IL-6 and TGF-β1 have no predictive value for identifying patients with recurrent restenosis.

Studies have shown that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) play an important role in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 3-month treatment with simvastatin on serum levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) in patients with diagnosed hypercholesterolemia. In total, 156 patients with hypercholesterolemia were recruited for the study. The inclusion criteria for this study were designed to allow the enrollment of a representative group of patients for cytokine studies. The patients were divided into two groups: (1) patients with a mild-to-moderate risk of heart disease, who had total cholesterol (TC)300 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l), LDL-cholesterol210 mg/dl (5.4 mmol/l), and who lacked risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) after treatment with a diet for 3 months; (2) patients with a high-to-very high risk of CAD, who had TC300 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l), LDL-cholesterol210 mg/dl (5.4 mmol/l), and at least two risk factors for CAD after treatment with a diet and administration of simvastatin (20 mg/day) for a three month period. The control group consisted of ten healthy volunteers who each had a normal lipid profile. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and IGF-1 concentrations were measured at baseline and either after six months of dietary supplementation (first group) or after three months of dietary supplementation and three months of simvastatin treatment (second group).In patients with mild-to-moderate risk of CAD, a decreased serum concentration of IGF-1 was observed three months after beginning a low-fat diet. However, no changes in the serum concentration of IGF-1 were noted in patients with high-to-very high risk of CAD. Additional three-month treatment with simvastatin decreased the serum concentration of IGF-1.

Immediate risk stratification of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the time of initial presentation is important for their optimal management. Generally, prognostic scores are derived from registry or trial data and are composed of clinical or angiographic variables independently

A 53-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse was brought in by ambulance. He had been found on a park bench, after lying there for about eight hours. The temperature outside was 15°C. Initial assessment showed that the patient had an irregular heart rate of 30 beats/min, respiration rate of 14

Purpose Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a universally available parameter with routine blood counts. It has been linked to many cardiovascular risk factors. MPV is a marker of platelet size and activity and has been linked to poor prognosis following STEMI. There has been an increasing number of reports linking diabetes mellitus (DM) to platelet dysfunction. The aim of the study was to examine the association between admission MPV and clinical outcomes in patients with DM and STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The secondary objective of the study was to evaluate whether this index can be used to determine the long-term prognosis. Methods A total of 1,557 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI were enrolled and divided into two groups depending on their diabetes mellitus status: Group 1 – patients with diabetes mellitus (N = 539) and Group 2 – patients without diabetes mellitus (N = 1018). Results MPV and peak CK-MB concentration were higher in diabetic patients as compared to non-diabetic patients. In diabetic patients, MPV was positively correlated with admission Killip class and negatively correlated with time to death during follow-up, initial TIMI flow, final TIMI flow, and erythrocyte count. In non-diabetic patients, MPV was positively correlated with the number of diseased coronary arteries, admission Killip class, and negatively correlated with time to death during follow-up and initial TIMI flow. ROC analysis revealed high diagnostic value of MPV in predicting in-hospital and one-year mortality. MPV cut-off level was lower for diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic patients. Conclusions Diabetic patients had higher MPV than non-diabetic patients. Both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients MPV proved to have good prognostic value for in-hospital and late mortality. MPV cut-off value for predicting mortality was lower in diabetic patients. Mortality rate was the highest in the fourth quartiles of MPV in both study groups.

Certain issues require further consideration when testing for antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs), particularly, when the tests are to be carried out during autopsy [1–3]. First and foremost, laboratory tests must be positive on at least two different occasions, at least 12 weeks apart [4]. We have to keep in mind that APLAs may appear (transiently or persistently) in a wide variety of clinical conditions and even in healthy individuals [5]. Testing for APLAs on only one occasion may lead to false conclusions [1]. Positive results often cause unjustified concern and, conversely, a negative test may provide false reassurance [2]. Furthermore, an appropriate time of testing is one of the most important variables that should always be considered because the acute phase of thrombosis and anticoagulant therapy may considerably affect the results of many assays, making interpretation of the results difficult and unreliable [6, 7]. As a general rule, tests should be postponed for 3–6 months after the acute phase of thrombosis [4–6, 8]. Given that the presence of lupus anticoagulant is determined via a coagulometric assay, there are strict guidelines for its detection. Numerous variables can affect assays used for lupus anticoagulant detection [9, 10]. Optimal laboratory detection of lupus anticoagulant includes proper blood sample collection, the use of appropriate screening, mixing, and confirmatory tests, and proper expression of the obtained results [9]. As the pre-analytical phase (blood collection, double centrifugation, quick sample freezing) is pivotal, we are unaware whether the assays used for lupus anticoagulant detection have been validated for postmortem blood collection and analysis. Since APS is an acquired condition, testing for APLAs at autopsy for presumed implications for family members seems futile. The condition has scarcely been reported to run in families; however, it does not have a clear pattern of inheritance. Multiple factors (environmental and perhaps genetic) are likely to play a part in the risk of developing APS [5, 11]. There are some reports implicating APLAs in the formation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions [5]. Notwithstanding, as more is learned about the natural history of the development of atherosclerosis, it is clear that the process that results in morbidity and mortality in adults has its origins in childhood and adolescence [12]. So the presence of atherosclerosis in young adults should not be considered as a manifestation of APS, since it is one of the least specific APS clinical pictures. Rather, it would appear that the increasing prevalence of traditional risk factors, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and diabetes mellitus are important in the early stages of the process. Finally, thrombophilia screening is expensive and time-consuming in clinical practice. It is natural for clinicians to want to look for the cause of thrombosis. However, it is only generally recommended that thrombophilia testing is performed where the management of the patient will be altered by the results, thereby calling into question the ancillary benefits of APS testing at autopsy [2, 13].