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Introduction: Classical risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, pre-diabetes, diabetes and obesity can predict adverse cardiovascular events, but they are less prognostic in patients aged < 60 years. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) can be effective in predicting adverse coronary events in younger and middle-aged patients. Our main aim is to assess the utility of a new PRS created for the Polish population in predicting mortality during an 8-year follow-up in the nationwide LIPIDOGEN2015 population. Material and methods: All DNA samples of 1779 patients were genotyped using Infinium Global Screening Array-24+ v3.0 Kit microarrays. The samples were amplified, fragmented, and hybridized to BeadChips. The BeadChips were scanned using iScan and converted to genotypes using Genome Studio 2.0. Results: We will develop a PRS based on the identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LIPIDOGEN2015 project’s studied population and determine the analyzed group’s risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) based on data obtained from 8 years of patient-follow-up. Using the developed PRS scale and biochemical analyses, we will assess the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy with statins in patients with high and low genetic risk of sudden CVD events (secondary endpoints). Conclusions: The developed PRS scale, combined with clinical covariates, will facilitate the creation of an algorithm to predict long-term mortality. This will enable us to stratify CVD risk more precisely, which may result in earlier implementation of lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments and potentially initiate earlier pharmacotherapy for at-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the relationship between anthropometric and body composition parameters and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers in a group of females who were vaccinated against COVID-19 with two doses of ChAdOx1 vaccine and then boosted with the BNT162b2 vaccine. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 63 women. Basic demographic and clinical data were collected. To assess the anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G titers following the vaccination, five blood draws were performed: 1) before the first dose, 2) before the second dose, 3) 14–21 days after the primary vaccination, 4) before the booster, and 5) 21 days after the booster. Blood samples were analyzed using a two-step enzymatic chemiluminescent assay. Body mass index and body composition were evaluated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. To select the most distinguishing parameters and correlations between anthropometric and body composition parameters and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers, factor analysis using the Principal Component Analysis was conducted. Results: Sixty-three females (mean age: 46.52 years) who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. 40 of them (63.50%) participated in the post-booster follow-up. After receiving two doses of the ChAdOx1 vaccine, the study group's anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers were 67.19 ± 77.44 AU/mL (mean ± SD), whereas after receiving a heterologous mRNA booster, the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers was about three-times higher and amounted to 212.64 ± 146.40 AU/mL (mean ± SD). Our data shows that seropositivity, obesity, non-fat-related, and fat-related body composition parameters all had a significant effect on the level of IgG titer after a two-dose vaccination of ChAdOx1. However, only non-fat-related and fat-related body composition parameters had a significant effect on the IgG titer after booster vaccination. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection before the first dose of vaccination is not related to IgG titer after booster administration. Body composition has a significant effect on the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG after booster vaccination in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Joanna Katarzyna Strzelczyk[sup.1] , Karolina GoÅÄbek[sup.1] , Åukasz Krakowczyk[sup.2] , Aleksander J Owczarek[sup.3] , Martyna Fronczek[sup.1] and Andrzej Wiczkowski[sup.1] In the past years, the number of anew diagnosed patients [...]

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process that leads to narrowing of the arteries due to the accumulation of plaque on the walls of the arteries. Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT) is a marker which provides valuable information on the risk of atherosclerosis. It is an inexpensive tool to monitor arrest, progression or regression of the plaque formation. Vitamin D concentration, despite crucial role and pleiotropic activity of the micronutrient, is often grossly insufficient. The association between vitamin D deficiency and CIMT development has been indicated in multiple research studies. The aim of this study was to collect literature data describing the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and CIMT evolution in various diseases. Original articles for the preparation of this manuscript were extracted from PubMed and Cochrane databases. After careful consideration, 44 original papers from the initial number of 64 articles were included in the analysis. Articles classified as randomized clinical trials, cross-sectional studies, case control studies and cohort studies We observed numerous contradictions in collected results. These contradicting results may be caused by comparing articles that very often are related to populations with different baseline characteristics of the studied populations. Incoherent results have led to the conclusion that further research is required to assess the association between analyzed factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has left a huge mark on everyday lives, introducing restrictions and plunging the global economy. This study aimed to analyze the available epidemiological data from the register of one of the largest laboratories testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the Silesian voivodship of Poland. Methods: This analysis is based upon the epidemiological records collected between 30 March 2020, and 30 April 2021, by the Silesian Park of Medical Technology Kardio-Med Silesia (Zabrze, Poland). In addition, we performed SARS-CoV-2 variant detection in samples from patients reinfected with SARS-CoV-2. Results: Our results confirm that SARS-CoV-2 infections are more common in urban areas. Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases represent 13.21% of all RT-PCR test results during the 13 months of our laboratory diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 infections. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants in samples of potentially reinfected patients showed discrepancies in the results. Conclusions: Due to the higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the Upper Silesian population, the region is at greater risk of deteriorating economic situation and healthcare as compared to other areas of Poland. RT-PCR methods are inexpensive and suitable for large-scale screening, but they can be untrustworthy so detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants in samples should be confirmed by sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]