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One of the main signal transduction pathways that modulate plant growth and stress responses, including drought, is the action of phytohormones. Recent advances in omics approaches have facilitated the exploration of plant genomes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the response in the crown of barley, which plays an essential role in plant performance under stress conditions and regeneration after stress treatment, remain largely unclear. The objective of the present study was the elucidation of drought-induced molecular reactions in the crowns of different barley phytohormone mutants. We verified the hypothesis that defects of gibberellins, brassinosteroids, and strigolactones action affect the transcriptomic, proteomic, and hormonal response of barley crown to the transitory drought influencing plant development under stress. Moreover, we assumed that due to the strong connection between strigolactones and branching the hvdwarf14.d mutant, with dysfunctional receptor of strigolactones, manifests the most abundant alternations in crowns and phenotype under drought. Finally, we expected to identify components underlying the core response to drought which are independent of the genetic background. Large-scale analyses were conducted using gibberellins-biosynthesis, brassinosteroids-signaling, and strigolactones-signaling mutants, as well as reference genotypes. Detailed phenotypic evaluation was also conducted. The obtained results clearly demonstrated that hormonal disorders caused by mutations in the HvGA20ox2 , HvBRI1 , and HvD14 genes affected the multifaceted reaction of crowns to drought, although the expression of these genes was not induced by stress. The study further detected not only genes and proteins that were involved in the drought response and reacted specifically in mutants compared to the reaction of reference genotypes and vice versa , but also the candidates that may underlie the genotype-universal stress response. Furthermore, candidate genes involved in phytohormonal interactions during the drought response were identified. We also found that the interplay between hormones, especially gibberellins and auxins, as well as strigolactones and cytokinins may be associated with the regulation of branching in crowns exposed to drought. Overall, the present study provides novel insights into the molecular drought-induced responses that occur in barley crowns.

Background: Bipolar radiofrequency ablation (B-RFA) is a method used to treat the arrhythmia substrate resistant to unipolar ablation. Few studies have addressed endo-epicardial B-RFA., Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate chronic lesions resulting from endo-epicardial B-RFA and to determine optimal settings for such procedures in an animal model., Methods: In 7 pigs, up to 5 radiofrequency applications per animal were performed with 2 electrodes placed on both sides of the left ventricular free wall. Current was delivered for 60 seconds by a generator dedicated for B-RFA with power settings of 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50 W., Results: At 12 weeks after ablation, 31 lesions were assessed. Their maximal cross-sectional area ranged from 7.2 to 68 mm 2 and correlated with total power delivered (r = 0.53), with temperature increment at the endocardial catheter (r = 0.65), and inversely with temperature decrement at the epicardial catheter (r = 0.54). For power values between 30 and 40 W, the lesion area did not differ significantly (P = .92). Lesion depth ranged from 1.9 to 11 mm and correlated with impedance decrement (r = 0.5). Lesions were transmural in 8 cases. Lesion depth/wall thickness ratio was on average 0.6 ± 0.3, with the smallest value for 25 W (0.5 ± 0.3) and the largest for 50 W (0.8 ± 0.3). Steam pops occurred at a power range of 30-50 W, with an incidence of 1 in 5 applications, with 1 case of fatal tamponade at 40 W. Impedance decrement, endocardial catheter temperature increment, and endocardial electrogram amplitude decrement were greater during applications with steam pops., Conclusion: Chronic lesions resulting from endo-epicardial B-RFA appear smaller and less often transmural compared with acute lesions described in the literature. The incidence of steam pops during endo-epicardial B-RFA is relatively high even at low powers., Competing Interests: Disclosures None of the authors have any conflict of interests related to this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries detected by ultrasound and the occurrence of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries determined by computed tomography (CT) in patients with arterial hypertension (HTA). A total of 83 patients with HTA were qualified for the study (age: 71.3 ± 8.5 years). All subjects underwent carotid arteries ultrasound and coronary arteries CT. The carotid plaque score was assessed using ultrasound. The studied group was divided into two subgroups: a subgroup with the carotid plaque score ≤ 1 (A) and a subgroup with carotid plaque score ≥2 (B). Coronary arteries CT assessed coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and degree of coronary stenosis based on CAD-RADS. In subgroup B, a significantly higher CACS (411.3 ± 70.1 vs. 93.5 ± 31.8) and significantly higher grade in the CAD-RADS classification were demonstrated than in subgroup A (CAD-RADS ≥ 3: 21.8 vs. 6.0%). The regression analysis showed that carotid plaque score and age are independent risk factors for the severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries. In summary, ultrasound assessment of the carotid plaque score in patients with HTA could be considered as surrogate indicator of the risk and severity of atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries, but further studies are necessary to corroborate these results.

Sleep research has garnered substantial interest among scientists owing to its correlation with various diseases, particularly elevated blood pressure observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This systematic review aims to identify and analyze publications exploring the associations between sleep architecture and arterial hypertension. A comprehensive search of PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Embase databases yielded 111 reports, of which 7 manuscripts were included in the review. Four of the studies reported a significant reduction in the duration of the N3 phase of sleep in hypertensive patients, while 2 studies found a statistically significant reduction in the duration of the N2 and rapid eye movement (REM) stages of sleep. Three studies indicated increased sleep fragmentation in hypertensive patients. They showed a longer duration of the N1 stage of sleep, shorter duration of overall sleep time, and an increased apnea-hypopnea index in hypertensive patients. These findings underscore the association between the duration of non-REM/REM sleep stages and elevated BP, providing substantial evidence. Moreover, a notable increase in sleep fragmentation was observed among patients with hypertension. However, further research is warranted to expand and deepen our understanding of this intricate relationship. This systematic review serves as a valuable resource, guiding future investigations and contributing to advancements in the field of sleep and arterial hypertension.

The aim of this study was to assess the coronary artery calcium score in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study group (group A) consisted of 62 patients with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (mean age: 59.12 ± 9.09 years, mean AHI index in polysomnography: 20.44 ± 13.22/h), and 62 people without diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (mean age 59.50 ± 10.74 years) constituted the control group (group B). The risk of significant coronary artery disease was assessed in all patients, based on the measurement of the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) using computed tomography. The following cut-off points were used to assess the risk of significant coronary artery disease: CACS = 0-no risk, CACS 1-10-minimal risk, CACS 11-100-low risk, CACS 101-400-moderate risk, and CACS > 400-high risk. Group A was characterized by statistically significantly higher CACS than group B (550.25 ± 817.76 vs. 92.59 ± 164.56, p < 0.05). No risk of significant coronary artery disease was statistically significantly less frequent in group A than in group B (0.0% vs. 51.6%, p < 0.05). A high risk of significant coronary artery disease was statistically significantly more frequent in group A than in group B (40.3% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.05). In group A, patients with severe OSA and patients with moderate OSA had statistically significantly higher CACS than patients with mild OSA (910.04 ± 746.31, 833.35 ± 1129.87, 201.66 ± 192.04, p < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the AHI and CACS (r = 0.34, p < 0.05). The regression analysis showed that OSA, male gender, older age, type 2 diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, and smoking were independent risk factors for higher CACS values. AHI ≥ 14.9 was shown to be a predictor of a high risk of significant coronary artery disease with a sensitivity and specificity of 62.2% and 80.0%, respectively. In summary, obstructive sleep apnea should be considered an independent predictive factor of a high risk of significant coronary artery disease (based on the coronary artery calcium score).

The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) focuses on the assessment of risk factors such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, central adiposity and elevated blood pressure. Evidence suggests that markers of systemic inflammation may also be included in the definition of MetS and play some role in its pathogenesis. The study was designed to evaluate low-grade inflammation status in older adults with MetS in relation to increased body fat tissue and an attempt was made to evaluate new predictors for MetS through the analysis of the ROC Curve. Ninety-six middle-aged (69.2 ± 4.9) individuals from University of Third Age (women n = 75 and men n = 21) were allocated to two groups: without metabolic syndrome (n = 37) and with metabolic syndrome (n = 59) according to International Diabetes Federation criteria in agreement with American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 2009. Participants' current health status was assessed using medical records from a routine follow-up visit to a primary care physician. Statistical analysis was performed using R studio software. Depending on the normal distribution, ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. The optimal threshold value for clinical stratification (cut-off value) was obtained by calculating the Youden index. The AUC was observed to be the highest for a new anthropometric index i.e. lipid accumulation product (0.820). Low-grade inflammation dominated in MetS group (BMI 28.0 ± 4.4 kg/m 2 , WHR 0.9 ± 0.1, FM 24.7 ± 7.9 kg) where significantly higher values of TNF-α (p = 0.027) and HGMB-1 protein (p = 0.011) were recorded.The optimal threshold values for immunological indices assessed as new predictors of the metabolic syndrome were: 93.4 for TNF-α, 88.2 for HGMB-1 protein and 1992.75 for ghrelin. High AUC values for these indices additionally confirmed their high diagnostic usefulness in MetS., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Jaw motor activity (MA) in sleep bruxism (SB) has been demonstrated to accompany lower limb movements. However, it remains unknown whether SB activity coexists with other types of movements and what the possible underlying mechanisms of such temporal coexistence are. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), increased movement activity is also reported, including SB activity; however, no studies have compared MA in apneic and nonapneic SB patients., Aim: This cross-sectional study focused on the phenomenon of "big body movements" in patients with either SB or OSA (or both) and intended to identify the primary factors contributing to their appearance, using polysomnography (PSG) recording., Methods: A whole-night videoPSG was carried out in 287 participants, and 124 apneic and 146 nonapneic participants were selected for the study. In both groups, participants were further divided into no SB, moderate SB, and severe SB (SSB) subgroups based on their bruxism episode index (BEI). MA was recorded using a built-in sensor of the central PSG unit located on the participant's chest during the examination., Results: The presence of SB was related to the higher intensity of MA in both apneic and nonapneic participants, though in general the MA level was higher in apneic participants, with the highest level observed in SSB apneic participants., Conclusions: SB might contribute to MA. The prevalence of SB might be higher in nonapneic patients due to phasic and mixed SB activity, whereas the SB phenotype seems to be less relevant in apneic patients. SB activity is likely to increase MA in non-REM 1 sleep.

Background: Electrocardiography is a method widely applied in diagnosing abnormalities in the functioning of the heart muscle in veterinary medicine. It is a non-invasive and easy to perform test helpful in the general examination and a widely used patient monitoring method during anesthesia. Since the 1980s, pigs have become more and more popular companion animals. Moreover, the pig is a widely used model animal in biomedical research. Therefore, there is need to provide them with higher-quality veterinary services, also in emergency situations. It creates new challenges for veterinarians and the need to expand their knowledge of pigs' treatment as pets. The aim of the planned experiment was to compare the ECG recordings made with two different body positions and determine if any differences occurred. Standard ECG in swine is performed under general anesthesia in the lying position on the left side, for this position of the body have been developed and reported standards in the literature. However, some procedures performed on swine require a different body position, for which there is less data in the literature., Methods: The study was carried out on 29 Polish landrace pigs weighing in the range of 33-44 kg. The tests were performed under general anesthesia with the same protocol for each animal, placing the animals first lying down on their right side, and then on their backs. The anesthesia protocol included medetomidine, midazolam, ketamine, and propofol. During the examination, ECG records were performed and analyzed in a 12-lead system with software support., Results: The results show significant differences in electrocardiogram recordings depending on the animal's body position. Those differences mainly concern the amplitude of the P wave and R wave in the recordings and are even more visible comparing the electrocardiograms of the same specimen. There are also some significant differences in the duration of intervals. Based on the obtained results, reference ranges for the right lateral and dorsal positions were developed., Conclusion: In conclusion, the body position has a significant impact on the ECG recording in swine, therefore performing this examination, chosen normative value tables should be compatible with the position of the examined animal., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The decline in cardiac contractility due to damage or loss of cardiomyocytes is intensified by changes in the extracellular matrix leading to heart remodeling. An excessive matrix response in the ischemic cardiomyopathy may contribute to the elevated fibrotic compartment and diastolic dysfunction. Fibroproliferation is a defense response aimed at quickly closing the damaged area and maintaining tissue integrity. Balance in this process is of paramount importance, as the reduced post-infarction response causes scar thinning and more pronounced left ventricular remodeling, while excessive fibrosis leads to impairment of heart function. Under normal conditions, migration of progenitor cells to the lesion site occurs. These cells have the potential to differentiate into myocytes in vitro, but the changed micro-environment in the heart after infarction does not allow such differentiation. Stem cell transplantation affects the extracellular matrix remodeling and thus may facilitate the improvement of left ventricular function. Studies show that mesenchymal stem cell therapy after infarct reduces fibrosis. However, the authors did not specify whether they meant the reduction of scarring as a result of regeneration or changes in the matrix. Research is also necessary to rule out long-term negative effects of post-acute infarct stem cell therapy.

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common causes of death in humans in highly developed countries. Among its most frequent complications affecting the patient's prognosis are cardiac arrhythmias: ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF)., Material and Methods: The study aimed to characterise arrhythmias in 19 pigs subjected to experimentally induced MI obtained by occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery using an angioplasty balloon. The anaesthetic protocol was modified to reduce mortality by including procedures stabilising haemodynamic disorders which develop during episodes of ischaemia and arrhythmia. During 30 min of experimentally induced ischaemia, the heart rhythm was recorded using a 12-lead ECG. The time, frequency, and type of arrhythmias were analysed., Results: Ventricular arrhythmias were found in 94.74% of the treated pigs. The most common were ventricular premature complexes, reported in 88.89% of pigs with arrhythmia. Ventricular tachycardia was recorded in 66.67% and ventricular fibrillation in 50% of pigs with arrhythmias., Conclusion: Myocardial infarction due to proximal LAD occlusion is characterised by a high incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, especially VT and VF. Because of the high survival rate, this MI porcine model may serve as a model for research on acute ischaemic ventricular arrhythmias in humans. Additionally, it reduces the total number of animals required for testing while yielding meaningful results, which is in line with the 3R principle., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article., (© 2022 P. Frydrychowski et al. published by Sciendo.)

Heart failure occurs in increased oxidative stress conditions, which contribute to the progression of pathological changes. Orally or intravenously administered acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) is typically used in human patients with acute myocardial ischemia. The study used an experimental porcine ischemia-reperfusion model to evaluate the potential cardioprotective effect of intracoronary administered ASA on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The cardioprotective effect of ASA was evaluated by measuring selected oxidative stress markers levels in infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium 14 days after the procedure, and three times in serum, before the procedure, during the reperfusion process, and after 14-day recovery. The results showed that intracoronary administrated ASA reduced the oxidative stress. The level of oxidative stress, measured with the non-enzymatic markers total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the enzymatic markers glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), in heart tissue was significantly higher in a control group injected with saline. The level of oxidative stress in serum, measured with TAC, TOS, oxidative stress index (OSI), and lipofuscin (LF), was also higher in the control group than in animals injected with ASA. The confirmed cardioprotective effect of intracoronary administered ASA provides the foundation for further studies on ASA intracoronary application, which may lead to the development of a new therapy for the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion complications in humans.

Animal nutrition plays an important role in the therapy of many diseases, including heart failure. The aim was to assess whether 6 months of feeding an AEP + ADH enriched diet (from fish meat) in dogs suffering from heart failure due to mitral degeneration impacts the dogs' metabolic profile and clinical status. Twenty small breed dogs were included: 50% were in stage B2 of MMVD and 50%, in stage C according to ACVIM. Dogs were randomly divided into two groups. One group receiving a standard diet, the second one a diet enriched with EPA + DHA (from fish meat). All dogs continued to receive appropriate therapy throughout the study. Control examinations were performed at the start of the study, after 3 and 6 months of appropriate feeding. Examinations included ECG, ECHO, blood hemathology and biochemistry, morphometric measurements, body fat index and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness. Serum samples were analyzed with a high-performance liquid chromatography system. Data were analyzed using the Progenesis QI (PQI, Non-linear Dynamics). The results showed no differences in clinical, cardiological, haematological and biochemical parameters between the two study groups. An effect on the metabolomic profile following a continued diet enriched in DHA + EPA (from fish meat) was more pronounced with time. After 6 months of feeding the diete enriched with DHA + EPA (from fish meat), there was a favorable reduction in glycerophosphocholine and xanthine levels, but an adverse increase in lactate and furvan and a decrease in alanine was not stopped.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation may potentially contribute to oxidative stress to a greater extent than chronic heart failure. The aim of the study was to compare the serum total antioxidant capacity and enzymatic antioxidant defence of dogs with chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation with those of subjects with chronic heart failure and sinus rhythm and healthy controls., Material and Methods: A total of 33 dogs were divided into three groups: dogs with chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation (CHF + AF; n = 12), chronic heart failure and sinus rhythm (CHF + SR; n = 9), and healthy controls (n = 12). Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), serum CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were determined., Results: SOD activity and serum TAC were significantly lower in the study groups than in control animals. Catalase activity was significantly higher and plasma GPx activity significantly lower in dogs with CHF + AF compared with the CHF + SR and control dogs., Conclusion: The results suggest that chronic heart failure in dogs significantly impacts the serum TAC and the antioxidant enzymatic defence, while plasma GPx activity is markedly lower in dogs with chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The role of that imbalance needs further investigation., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article., (© 2020 M. Michałek et al., published by Sciendo.)

Introduction: Although peripheral blood analysis has become increasingly automated, microscopy is the only available method for the diagnosis of anisocytosis and poikilocytosis. The aims of the study were to compare RBC volume data obtained with two different analysers and by manual assessment of smears and to compare this data between dogs in various stages of heart failure secondary to degenerative mitral valvular (DMV) disease. The impact of diuretic administration on RBC morphology was also assessed., Material and Methods: Sixty-eight dogs, 56 in different stages of DMV disease and 12 as healthy controls, were studied. Impedance and flow cytometry haematological analyses were performed for each animal. Additionally, two smears were prepared for manual analysis. RBC structure, staining, and size differences were recorded., Results: There were no significant differences between the blood morphological parameters assessed using haematological analysers nor between dogs receiving diuretic treatment and those not treated. Based on the manual smear, significantly higher erythrocyte anisocytosis was observed in the dogs with symptomatic DMV disease than in the control group., Conclusion: Haematological analysers based on impedance and flow cytometry provide reliable and comparable morphological results in dogs with heart failure. However, microscopic assessment of blood smears is a more reliable tool to detect erythrocyte anisocytosis., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article., (© 2020 E. Kumiega et al. published by Sciendo.)

In clinical practice, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in humans and it may lead to numerous complications, including central nervous system embolism. The electrical activity of the heart in AF is rapid and chaotic, while the atrioventricular conduction leads to irregular ventricular contraction. Consequently, the stroke volume is reduced, which may lead to symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure is one of the causes of AF as well. Numerous in vivo and in vitro models are used to study the pathophysiology of AF. Animal models play a key role in understanding the mechanisms of arrhythmias as well as in developing treatment regimens. The models of AF include large animals (goats, sheep, pigs, dogs) as well as small laboratory animals. This study reviews the large animal models of AF, which enhance our understanding of numerous mechanisms responsible for the development of AF, but we must be aware that the pathomechanism of AF in humans is complex and is affected by numerous factors, including environmental and congenital ones.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cardiovascular cause of death in cats. Although the majority of cats remain asymptomatic, some may develop signs of chronic heart failure due to diastolic failure, arterial thromboembolism (ATE) or sudden cardiac death. Therefore, it is crucial to identify individuals that are in high risk of developing cardiac complications before the onset of life-threatening signs. Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the production and neutralisation of reactive oxygen species. Uncontrolled reactive oxygen species overproduction leads to protein and lipid peroxidation and damages the DNA strands, injuring the cells and leading to their death. The aim of the study was to evaluate the oxidative state in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and healthy controls., Results: In total, 30 cats divided into three groups were assessed: animals with clinically evident hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM; n = 8), subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (SUB-HCM; n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 11). The activity of superoxide dismutase was statistically significantly lower in animals with symptomatic and asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM 0.99 ± 0.35 U/mL; SUB-HCM 1.39 ± 0.4 U/mL) compared to healthy cats (2.07 ± 0.76 U/mL, p < 0.01). The activity of catalase was significantly lower in the SUB-HCM group (19.4 ± 4.2 nmol/min/mL) compared to the HCM (23.6 ± 5.9 nmol/min/mL) and the control (30 ± 7.5 nmol/min/mL, p < 0.01) group. The activity of glutathione peroxidase was 4196 ± 353 nmol/min/mL in the HCM group, 4331 ± 451 nmol/min/mL in the SUB-HCM group and 4037 ± 341 nmol/min/mL in the control group and did not differ significantly between groups. The total antioxidant capacity of plasma was 602 ± 65.5 copper reducing equivalents (CRE) in the HCM group, 605.9 ± 39.9 CRE in the SUB-HCM group and 629 ± 77.5 CRE in the healthy cats and did not differ significantly between the groups., Conclusions: Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase differed in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, however the activity of the latter was only significantly lower in asymptomatic stage of the disease. The potentially beneficial effect of antioxidative substances on the disease progression in the asymptomatic and symptomatic stage of this disease should also be examined.

This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidative status of serum by measuring its total antioxidant capacity, as well as the antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase), in dogs with various stages of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) compared to healthy controls. In total, 71 client-owned dogs in different stages of DMVD, which included healthy controls, took part in the study. Following an anamnesis, clinical examination, standard transthoracic echocardiograpic examination, chest X-ray, complete blood (cell) count, and serum biochemistry, dogs were divided into 2 study groups. Blood was drawn from each dog once at the time of presentation and selected antioxidant parameters were measured using commercially available assay kits. The activity of superoxide dismutase gradually decreased in the more advanced stages of DMVD, while the activity of catalase was significantly higher in the group of dogs with asymptomatic DMVD compared to healthy controls and dogs with symptomatic DMVD. No significant changes were noted in total antioxidant capacity and the activity of glutathione reductase. Results suggested that DMVD has a significant impact on the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the serum of the tested dogs. Knowledge of changes in the activity of antioxidative enzymes may warrant further studies, possibly to evaluate the potential role of compounds with antioxidative properties in the clinical outcome of dogs with DMVD., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

Introduction: Pacemaker implantation is the only effective symptomatic treatment for life-threatening bradyarrhythmias. Major complications observed after implantation of cardiac pacemakers include lead dislocation, loss of pulse generator function, and inadequate stimulation. The aim of this retrospective single-centre study was to analyse the indications for pacemaker implantation and the incidence and types of complications associated with this procedure in dogs treated for symptomatic bradyarrhythmia., Material and Methods: The retrospective analysis included 31 dogs with symptomatic bradyarrhythmia, implanted with permanent cardiac pacemakers in 1992-2017. The list of analysed variables included patient age, breed, sex, indication for pacemaker implantation, comorbidities, and the incidence of procedure-related complications along with the type thereof., Results: The most common indication for pacemaker implantation was 3 rd degree AVB, followed by SSS, advanced 2 nd degree AVB, and PAS. Pacemaker implantation was associated with a 35% overall complication rate and 6.45% periprocedural mortality. There were no significant differences in terms of procedure-related complications with regard to age, sex, breed, indications for pacemaker implantation, or comorbidities., Conclusions: Cardiac pacing is the only effective treatment of symptomatic bradycardia, but as an invasive procedure, may pose a risk of various complications, including death., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Introduction: Ventricular rhythm disturbances are a common pathology in human and veterinary medicine. In humans, the algorithmic approach is used to differentiate wide QRS complex tachycardia. The most commonly used are the aVR and Brugada algorithms as well as the ventricular tachycardia (VT) score developed by Jastrzębski and coworkers. In veterinary medicine, no such algorithms are available and the only parameter used to describe VT abnormalities is the duration of the QRS complexes. The aim of this analysis was determining whether human medicine algorithms for VT are applicable in veterinary medicine to differentiate wide QRS complex tachycardia in dogs., Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 11 dogs of both sexes and various breeds and age diagnosed with VT. The diagnosis was based on ambulatory ECG, further established based on the reaction to lidocaine or adenosine or an invasive electrophysiological study., Results: Of the 11 tracings passed through the aVR algorithm, 10 met the VT criteria. The most common criterion was the Vi/Vt ratio (8 out of 11 tracings). Based on the VT score, seven out of eight dogs had a high probability of VT., Conclusion: Retrospective analysis of ECGs by aVR and VT score indicates that the applied algorithms may be useful in differentiating wide QRS complex tachycardia as a quick, easy, and non-invasive alternative to cardiac electrophysiology., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Introduction: In recent years, the high sensitivity and specificity of novel miRNA biomarkers have been utilised for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of various diseases. Previous reports showed that abnormal expression of miR-208 in mice resulted in the development of an aberrant cardiac conduction system and consecutive arrhythmias. On the other hand, a study on infarcted human heart tissue showed upregulation of miR-208a in subjects with ventricular tachyarrhythmias compared to healthy controls. We prospectively investigated the expression of miR-208a and -208b in the serum of dogs presenting different cardiac arrhythmias., Material and Methods: A total of 28 dogs with atrial fibrillation (n = 8), ventricular premature contractions (n=6), conduction system disturbances (n = 7), and free of heart conditions (as controls) (n = 7) were enrolled in the study. Total RNA was extracted from serum samples and miR-208a and -b, miR-16 as well as a cel-miR-39-5p spike-in were analysed with qPCR and ddPCR., Results: miR-208a and miR-208b were not expressed in any of the samples. The calculated ddPCR miR-16 relative expression (normalised with cel-miR-39 spike-in) showed a good correlation (r = 0.82; P < 0.001) with the qPCR results., Conclusion: This outcome warrants further investigation, possibly focusing on tissue expression of miR-208 in the canine heart., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Introduction: Electrical cardioversion is a therapeutic procedure used to convert various types of arrhythmias back to sinus rhythm. It is used to restore the sinus rhythm in dogs with atrial fibrillation. The effect of the electrical energy used during cardioversion on red blood cells (RBC) is not fully understood. Studies on humans reported lysis of RBC following electrical cardioversion. Similar studies have not been carried out on dogs. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of electrical cardioversion on chosen RBC parameters., Material and Methods: The study was carried out on 14 large and giant breed dogs weighing from 30 to 84 kg with lone atrial fibrillation (lone AF). Electrical cardioversion was carried out under general anaesthesia by biphasic shock with 70-360 J of energy. Blood was collected at T0 - during atrial fibrillation, prior to cardioversion, and at T1 - 30 min after electrical cardioversion. Complete blood counts as well as total and direct bilirubin concentrations were evaluated. A maximum output of 360 J was used., Results: In all cases, electrical cardioversion was effective, and no significant changes in the number of RBC and RBC indices were noted. Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences in the levels of total and direct bilirubin., Conclusion: Electrical cardioversion in dogs led neither to statistically nor clinically significant RBC lysis., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Introduction: The prevalence of arrhythmias in dogs and the influence of sex, breed, age, and body weight were analysed over a seven-year span., Material and Methods: In total, 1189 referrals for cardiological examination by electrocardiography were received at one academic centre in Poland between 2008 and 2014. The largest proportion of the examined dogs were cross-breeds with body weight below 25 kg (n = 153, 12.87%), followed by German Shepherds (n = 122, 10.26%), Labrador Retrievers (n = 68, 5.72%), Yorkshire Terriers (n = 63, 5.3%), and Boxers (n = 60, 5.05%). Retrospective analysis was made of 1201 standing or right recumbent electrocardiograms without pharmacological sedation. The prevalence of arrhythmias was examined in terms of sex, age, body weight, and breed of the dogs., Results: A total of 630 (52.46%) electrocardiograms showed no signs of arrhythmia, but 96 (7.99%) and 475 (39.55%) pointed to physiological and pathological arrhythmias respectively. The most commonly diagnosed type was atrial fibrillation with 33.68% incidence, followed by ventricular arrhythmias (28%), sinus pauses (27.58%), supraventricular arrhythmias (24%), and atrioventricular blocks (22.95%). Pathological arrhythmias were most commonly found in male dogs and in German Shepherds., Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation predominated, followed by premature ventricular complexes. Male dogs were generally more prone to heart rhythm disturbances., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

In this paper we propose sliding mode control strategies for the point-to-point motion control of a hoisting crane. The strategies employ time-varying switching lines (characterized by a constant angle of inclination) which move either with a constant deceleration or a constant velocity to the origin of the error state space. An appropriate design of these switching lines results in non-oscillatory convergence of the regulation error in the closed-loop system. Parameters of the lines are selected optimally in the sense of two criteria, i.e. integral absolute error (IAE) and integral of the time multiplied by the absolute error (ITAE). Furthermore, the velocity and acceleration constraints are explicitly taken into account in the optimization process. Theoretical considerations are verified by experimental tests conducted on a laboratory scale hoisting crane., (Copyright © 2012 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Atherosclerosis and vascular calcifications are common causes of morbidity and mortality in maintenance haemodialysis patients. In addition to the well-known traditional risk factors, uraemia-specific factors appear to enhance dramatically the progression of the pathological processes involved. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the degree of atherosclerosis and vascular calcifications in chronic haemodialysis patients using non-invasive imaging methods, and to identify potentially involved factors., Methods: The study included 73 patients (36 females, 37 males), aged 25-75 years, who were on haemodialysis treatment for 12-275 months (mean dialysis vintage 73.8 months). We assessed the following circulating parameters: calcium (Ca), phosphorus, 'intact' parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 25OH vitamin D, lipids, oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), Lp(a), homocysteine, leptin, IL-1-beta, IL-6, CRP, TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, (PDGF), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Coronary artery calcification score (CACS) was assessed using multi-row spiral CT (MSCT). Intima-media thickness index of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and presence of cervical artery atherosclerotic plaques were evaluated by ultrasonography., Results: Coronary artery calcifications were observed in 79.5% of the patients, with CACS ranging from 0 to 4987. In univariate analysis, a positive correlation was observed between CACS and age, BMI, iPTH, CRP, IL-6 and CCA-IMT, whereas an inverse correlation existed with 25OH vitamin D, TGF-beta and PDGF. CCA-IMT ranged from 0.4 to 1.1 mm. It was positively correlated, in univariate analysis, with age, CACS, CRP and Il-6, and negatively with 25OH vitamin D, TGF-beta and PDGF. Only CACS remained as independent predictive factor of CCA-IMT in multivariate analysis. Atherosclerotic plaques were found in the carotid arteries of 53 patients (72%). The number of plaques was positively correlated with age, CACS, phosphorus, MPO, CRP and IL-6, and inversely with 25OH vitamin D in univariate analysis. In multivariate regression analysis, only age and CACS remained as independent variables., Conclusion: In addition to classic risk factors, the degree of atherosclerosis and vascular calcification in our dialysis patient population were associated with several factors that are frequently abnormal in advanced chronic renal failure, but except age, all of them were interdependent. Notably, as in the general population, CACS was an independent predictor of the degree of atherosclerosis in haemodialysis patients.