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Up to 80% of all ischemic strokes (IS) attributed to internal carotid athero-occlusive artery stenosis (ICAS) are related to a thromboembolic mechanism. One athero-occlusive ischemic event increases the risk for ischemia in another vascular territory, resulting from inflammation within the atherosclerotic plaque induced by cytokines. Thus, ultrasonographic characteristics of vulnerable plaques in ICAS, including plaque echolucency and ulceration might correspond to cytokine activity. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between serum cytokines and atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and the 3-year risk of a major adverse coronary and carotid ischemic event (MACCE) in symptomatic patients treated for ICAS. Plaque characteristics on ultrasonography, serum levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5)/regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), FAS ligand (FASL) and high sensivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were analyzed in 103 symptomatic patients with ICAS prior to carotid revascularization. The incidence of MACCE: cardiovascular death (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI) and recurrent ischemic stroke (IS) were recorded prospectively for up to 5 years (median 37; IQR 21 - 40 months). Echolucent plaques, in comparison to echogenic plaques, displayed lower median levels of RANTES (P = 0.042) but higher median levels of IL-6 (P = 0.039). There was no relationship between plaque characteristics and median levels of MMP-9, TGF b, CXCL16, FASL, or hs-CRP (P = NS). During follow-up, MACCE occurred in 15 (14.6%) patients. Univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis indicated median RANTES levels < 45.5ng/mL (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.95; 95%CI = 1.10 - 14.2; P = 0.035), MMP-9 > 0.6 µg/mL (HR 4.5; 95%CI = 1.4 - 13.9; P = 0.009), renal impairment (HR 3.48; 95%CI = 1.29 - 9.34; P = 0.013) as potential MACCE risk factors. On multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, MMP-9 > 0.6 µg/mL and RANTES < 45.5 ng/ml were associated with a 4.72-fold (95%CI = 1.3 - 17.0; P = 0.017) and a 3.8-fold risk increase (95%CI = 1.07 - 13.89; P = 0.038) of MACCE. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant differences in MACCE-free survival rates depending on RANTES and MMP- 9 median levels. We conclude that serum RANTES, IL-6, and MMP-9 were associated with plaque vulnerability and predicted adverse MACCE in patients treated for ICAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging is a key risk factor for atherosclerosis progression that is associated with increased incidence of ischemic events in supplied organs, including stroke, coronary events, limb ischemia, or renal failure. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults ≥ 75 years of age. Atherosclerotic occlusive disease affects everyday activity, quality of life, and it is associated with reduced life expectancy. As most multicenter randomized trials exclude elderly and very elderly patients, particularly those with severe comorbidities, physical or cognitive dysfunctions, frailty, or residence in a nursing home, there is insufficient data on the management of older patients presenting with atherosclerotic lesions outside coronary territory. This results in serious critical gaps in knowledge and a lack of guidance on the appropriate medical treatment. In addition, due to a variety of severe comorbidities in the elderly, the average daily number of pills taken by octogenarians exceeds nine. Polypharmacy frequently results in drug therapy problems related to interactions, drug toxicity, falls with injury, delirium, and non-adherence. Therefore, we have attempted to gather data on the medical treatment in patients with extra-cardiac atherosclerotic lesions indicating where there is some evidence of the management in elderly patients and where there are gaps in evidence-based medicine. Public PubMed databases were searched to review existing evidence on the effectiveness of lipid-lowering, antithrombotic, and new glucose-lowering medications in patients with extra-cardiac atherosclerotic occlusive disease.

Atherosclerosis is a generalized and progressive disease. Ageing is a key risk factor for atherosclerosis progression that is associated with the increased incidence of ischemic events in supplied organs, including stroke, coronary events, limb ischemia, or renal failure. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults ≥ 75 years of age. Atherosclerotic occlusive disease affects everyday activity and quality of life, and it is associated with reduced life expectancy. Although there is evidence on coronary artery disease management in the elderly, there is insufficient data on the management in older patients presented with atherosclerotic lesions outside the coronary territory. Despite this, trials and observational studies systematically exclude older patients, particularly those with severe comorbidities, physical or cognitive dysfunctions, frailty, or residence in a nursing home. This results in serious critical gaps in knowledge and a lack of guidance on the appropriate medical treatment and referral for endovascular or surgical interventions. Therefore, we attempted to gather data on the prevalence, risk factors, and management strategies in patients with extra-coronary atherosclerotic lesions.

Cardio-cerebral infarction (CCI) is a term coined to describe concomitant myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke. Acute myocardial infarction and stroke, as separate events, constitute some of the most important causes for disability and mortality in aging societies. Stroke can either occur simultaneously with myocardial infarction or become a serious complication of myocardial infarction and/or its treatment. The frequency of CCI has been reported at a 0.009% incidence rate in stroke patients and is associated with an extremely high mortality. Because of the rare occurrence of CCI, there are currently no guidelines for assessing its diagnosis and optimal treatment. Therefore, currently, the management of CCI cases needs to be individualized. Hopefully, in the future, the results of large clinical trials or prospective registries are expected to enhance our understanding of managing concomitant acute MI and stroke. In this review we have focused on the current literacy in the diagnosis and treatment of CCIs. The paper illustrates potential distinct scenarios of CCI through the analysis of three patient cases (Fig. 5, Ref. 65). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: myocardial infarction, stroke, cardio-cerebral infarction, carotid artery stenting, cardiac surgery.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (DM) is a common comorbidity associated with cardiovascular disease, especially when poor glucose control is present. Extracardiac microcirculatory complications prevalence is well documented, however coronary microcirculatory dysfunction (CMD) seem to be underreported in this group., Methods: The present study analyzed coronary physiology measurements (coronary flow reserve [CFR], index of microcirculatory resistance [IMR], resistance reserve ratio [RRR]) in 47 diabetic patients (21 subjects with poor glycemia control defined as fasting glucose levels > 7.2 mmol/L and 26 with normal fasting glucose), and compared to 54 non-diabetic controls, who had undergone coronary angiography due to symptoms of chronic coronary syndrome. The median age of patients was 65.5 [59.0; 73.0] years old, 74% male, similar in terms of cardiovascular risk factors and prior myocardial infarction. Insulin was used by 19% of diabetic patients with poor glucose control and by 15% of those with DM and low fasting glucose., Results: Prevalence of CMD was 38% in poor glycemia control patients, 27% in DM-patients with proper glucose control and 31% of non-diabetics. Median CFR values were the lowest in poor DM control patients compared to both, normal fasting glucose (1.75 [1.37; 2.32] vs. 2.30 [1.75; 2.85], p = 0.026) and to non-diabetics (1.75 [1.37; 2.32] vs. 2.15 [1.50; 2.95], p = 0.045). Levels of IMR, RRR and MRR did not differ significantly between compared groups (p > 0.05 for all comparisons)., Conclusions: Poor glycemia control in type 2 DM might be associated with a higher prevalence of CMD driven by decreased coronary flow reserve, however, further research in larger groups of patients should be performed to confirm this observation.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding post-translational biomolecules which, when expressed, modify their target genes. It is estimated that microRNAs regulate production of approximately 60% of all human proteins and enzymes that are responsible for major physiological processes. In cardiovascular disease pathophysiology, there are several cells that produce microRNAs, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets, and cardiomyocytes. There is a constant crosstalk between microRNAs derived from various cell sources. Atherosclerosis initiation and progression are driven by many pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic microRNAs. Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the leading cause of cardiovascular death resulting from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and leads to cardiac remodeling and fibrosis following ACS. MicroRNAs are powerful modulators of plaque progression and transformation into a vulnerable state, which can eventually lead to plaque rupture. There is a growing body of evidence which demonstrates that following ACS, microRNAs might inhibit fibroblast proliferation and scarring, as well as harmful apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and stimulate fibroblast reprogramming into induced cardiac progenitor cells. In this review, we focus on the role of cardiomyocyte-derived and cardiac fibroblast-derived microRNAs that are involved in the regulation of genes associated with cardiomyocyte and fibroblast function and in atherosclerosis-related cardiac ischemia. Understanding their mechanisms may lead to the development of microRNA cocktails that can potentially be used in regenerative cardiology., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Termedia & Banach.)

Background: Resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) is an alternative to fractional flow reserve (FFR) for the evaluation of borderline coronary artery lesions. Although FFR and RFR results are discordant in some cases, factors associated with the discordance remain unclear. The role of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is discussed as a potential mechanism to explain these discrepancies., Aim: The study aimed to assess concordance between RFR and FFR in a real-life cohort from a high-volume center regarding the role of CMD., Methods: Consecutive patients with borderline coronary lesions undergoing coronary functional testing for chronic coronary syndromes were included in the study. Measurements of RFR and FFR were performed alongside additional coronary flow reserve (CFR), resistance reserve ratio (RRR), and an index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) measurements. CMD was defined according to the current guideline by either IMR ≥25 or CFR ≤2.0 in vessels with no significant stenosis., Results: Measurements were performed in 157 coronary arteries, in 101 patients, with a median age of 66 y., 74% male, with prior history of arterial hypertension (96%), dyslipidaemia (91%), and diabetes (40%). The median value of vessel diameter stenosis was 45% according to QCA.Overall, FFR and RFR values were significantly correlated ( r = 0.66, p < 0.001), where positive FFR/negative RFR and negative FFR/positive RFR were observed in 6 (3.8%) and 38 (24.2%) of 157 vessels. The RFR/FFR discrepancy was present in 44 (28%) of measurements. CMD was confirmed in 28 (64%) of vessels with discrepant RFR/FFR and in 46 (41%) of vessels with concordant results ( p = 0.01). In discordant RFR/FFR vessels, as compared to concordant ones, significantly lower values of CFR [median 1.95 (IQR: 1.37, 2.30) vs. 2.10 (IQR: 1.50, 3.00), p = 0.030] and RRR [median 2.50 (IQR: 1.60, 3.10) vs. 2.90 IQR (1.90, 3.90), p = 0.048] were observed.Main predictors of RFR/FFR discrepancy in a univariate regression analysis were: higher age of patients [OR = 1.06 (1.01; 1.10), p = 0.010], presence of CMD [OR = 2.51 (1.23; 5.25), p = 0.012], lower CFR [OR = 1.64 (1.12; 2.56), p = 0.018], and lower RRR values [OR = 1.35 (95% CI: 1.03; 1.83), p = 0.038]., Conclusion: In discrepant RFR/FFR vessels, CMD is more prevalent than in concordant RFR/FFR measurements, which can be driven by lower CFR or RRR values. Further research is needed to confirm this observation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Legutko, Niewiara, Guzik, Szolc, Podolec, Nosal, Diachyshyn, Zmudka and Kleczynski.)

Background: Nonadherence to antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is common, even in clinical trials., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of nonadherence to study protocol regimens in the MASTER DAPT (Management of High Bleeding Risk Patients Post Bioresorbable Polymer Coated Stent Implantation With an Abbreviated Versus Prolonged DAPT Regimen) trial., Methods: At 1-month after PCI, 4,579 high bleeding risk patients were randomized to single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) for 11 months (or 5 months in patients on oral anticoagulation [OAC]) or dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for ≥2 months followed by SAPT. Coprimary outcomes included net adverse clinical events (NACE), major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACE), and major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (MCB) at 335 days. Inverse probability-of-censoring weights were used to correct for nonadherence Academic Research Consortium type 2 or 3., Results: In total, 464 (20.2%) patients in the abbreviated-treatment and 214 (9.4%) in the standard-treatment groups incurred nonadherence Academic Research Consortium type 2 or 3. At inverse probability-of-censoring weights analyses, NACE (HR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.88-1.27) or MACE (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.83-1.40) did not differ, and MCB was lower with abbreviated compared with standard treatment (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.60-0.73) consistently across OAC subgroups; among OAC patients, SAPT discontinuation 6 months after PCI was associated with similar MACE and lower MCB (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.22-0.99) compared with SAPT continuation., Conclusions: In the MASTER DAPT adherent population, 1-month compared with ≥3-month DAPT was associated with similar NACE or MACE and lower MCB. Among OAC patients, SAPT discontinuation after 6 months was associated with similar MACE and lower MCB than SAPT continuation (Management of High Bleeding Risk Patients Post Bioresorbable Polymer Coated Stent Implantation With an Abbreviated Versus Prolonged DAPT Regimen [MASTER DAPT]; NCT03023020)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The MASTER DAPT trial is conducted with support from Terumo. The study sponsor, European Cardiovascular Research Institute (ECRI), Rotterdam, the Netherlands, a nonprofit organization, received grant support from Terumo for the conduct of the MASTER DAPT trial. ECRI outsourced to Clinical trial Unit, Bern, Switzerland all statistical analyses of the present paper under a research contract agreement between the 2 institutions. None of the authors received personal or institutional payment for the present paper. Dr Valgimigli has received grants and personal fees from Terumo; and has received personal fees from AstraZeneca, Alvimedica/CID, Abbott Vascular, Daiichi-Sankyo, Bayer, CoreFLOW, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Universität Basel, Department Klinische Forschung, Vifor, Bristol Myers Squibb SA, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Vesalio, Novartis, Chiesi, and PhaseBio. Dr Heg’s institution, CTU Bern, University of Bern, has a staff policy of not accepting honoraria or consultancy fees; however, CTU Bern is involved in design, conduct, or analysis of clinical studies funded by not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, and in particular, pharmaceutical and medical device companies provide direct funding to some of these studies. Dr Vranckx has received personal fees from Daiichi-Sankyo, Bayer AG, BLS Bering, and AstraZeneca. Dr Ozaki has received grants from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Daiichi-Sankyo Company Ltd, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, and Sanofi. Dr Morice is a shareholder and CEO of CERC and a minor shareholder of Electroducer (a start-up not involved in the MASTER DAPT trial). Dr Chevalier has received personal fees from Terumo and CERC; and holds stock options in Colibri. Dr Windecker has received grants from Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bayer, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Cardinal Health, CadioValve, CSL Behring, Daiichi-Sankyo, Edwards Lifesciences, Guerbet, InfraRedx, Johnson and Johnson, Medicure, Medtronic, Novartis, Polares, OrPha Suisse, Pfizer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Sinomed, Terumo, and V-Wave; serves as unpaid advisory board member and/or unpaid member of the steering/executive group of trials funded by Abbott, Abiomed, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boston Scientific, Biotronik, Cardiovalve, Edwards Lifesciences, MedAlliance, Medtronic, Novartis, Polares, Sinomed, V-Wave, and Xeltis, but has not received personal payments by pharmaceutical companies or device manufacturers; is a member of the steering/executive committee group of several investigator-initiated trials that receive funding by industry without impact on his personal remuneration; is an unpaid member of the Pfizer Research Award selection committee in Switzerland and of the Women as One Awards Committee; is a member of the Clinical Study Group of the Deutsches Zentrum für Herz Kreislauf-Forschung and of the Advisory Board of the Australian Victorian Heart Institute; and is chairperson of the ESC Congress Program Committee, former chairperson of the ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee, and Deputy Editor of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Dr Kala has served as a consultant for Boston Scientific; has received research support from Novartis; and has received honoraria from Bayer, Servier, AstraZeneca, Chiesi, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Schultz has received grants and personal fees from Abbott Vascular. Dr Lopes has received institutional research grants and consulting fees from Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Medtronic PLC, and Sanofi; and has received consulting fees from Amgen, Bayer, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Podolec has received grants and personal fees from Amgen, Terumo, The Medicines Company, AstraZeneca, and Meril. Dr Smits has received personal fees from Terumo and Opsense; has received grants and personal fees from Abbott Vascular, Microport, and Daiichi-Sankyo; and has received grants from SMT and Microport. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS) is the most prevalent growth-up congestive heart valve disease, still little known about relationships between DAS severity, vascular stiffness (VS), echocardiographic parameters, and serum biomarkers in patients undergoing transcatheter (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The objective of this study was to identify biomarkers associated with DAS severity, and those that are associated with cardiovascular death (CVD) and episodes of chronic heart failure (CHF) exacerbation. Methods: A total of 137 patients with initially moderate-to-severe DAS were prospectively evaluated for the relationship between DAS severity, baseline VS, and serum biomarkers (uPAR, GDF-15, Gal-3, IL-6Rα, ET-1, PCSK9, RANTES/CCL5, NT-proBNP, and hs-TnT), and were followed-up for 48 months. The prognostic significance of each variable for CVD and CHF risk was measured by hazard ratio of risk (HR), which was calculated by Cox’s proportional hazard model. Results: DAS severity showed correlations with IL-6Rα (r = 0.306, p < 0.001), uPAR (r = 0.184, p = 0.032), and NT-proBNP (r = −0.389, p < 0.001). Levels of ET-1 and Gal-3 were strongly correlated with VS parameters (r = 0.674, p < 0.001; r = 0.724, p < 0.001). Out of 137 patients, 20 were referred to TAVR, 88 to SAVR, and 29 to OMT. In TAVR patients, the highest levels of ET-1, Gal-3, and VS were found as compared to other patients. The highest incidence of CVD was observed in patients who underwent TAVR (35%), compared to SAVR (8%) and OMT (10.3%) (p = 0.004). In a multivariate analysis, ET-1 occurred predictive of CVD risk (HR 25.1, p = 0.047), while Gal-3 > 11.5 ng/mL increased the risk of CHF exacerbation episodes requiring hospital admission by 12%. Conclusions: Our study indicated that ET-1 and Gal-3 levels may be associated with the outcomes in patients with DAS.

Background: The resistive (RI) and pulsatile (PI) indices are markers of vascular stiffness (VS) which are associated with outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. We aimed to assess whether VS might predict incidence of cardiovascular death (CVD) and heart failure (HF) episodes following intervention on degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS)., Methods: The distribution of increased VS (RI ≥ 0.7 and PI ≥ 1.3) from supra-aortic arteries was assessed in patients with symptomatic DAS who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR, n = 127) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI, n = 119). During a 3-year follow-up period (FU), incidences of composite endpoint (CVD and HF) were recorded., Results: Increased VS was found in 100% of TAVI patients with adverse event vs. 88.9% event-free TAVI patients ( p = 0.116), and in 93.3% of AVR patients with event vs. 70.5% event-free ( p = 0.061). Kaplan-Mayer free-survival curves at 1-year and 3-year FU were 90.5% vs. 97.1 % and 78% vs. 97.1% for patients with increased vs. lower VS. ( p = 0.014). In univariate Cox analysis, elevated VS (HR 7.97, p = 0.04) and age (HR 1.05, p = 0.024) were associated with risk of adverse outcomes; however, both failed in Cox multivariable analysis., Conclusions: Vascular stiffness is associated with outcome after DAS intervention. However, it cannot be used as an independent outcome predictor.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of heart failure (HF) and major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE)., Objective: To evaluate impact of vascular resistance on HF and MACCE incidence in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) and degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS)., Methods: From January 2016 to December 2018, in 404 patients with cardiovascular disease, including 267 patients with moderate-to-severe DAS and 137 patients with CRF, mean values of resistive index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI) were obtained from carotid and vertebral arteries. Patients were followed-up for 2.5 years, for primary outcome of HF and MACCE episodes., Results: RI and PI values in patients with DAS compared to CRF were significantly higher, with optimal cut-offs discriminating arterial resistance of ≥0.7 for RI (sensitivity: 80.5%, specificity: 78.8%) and ≥1.3 for PI (sensitivity: 81.3%, specificity: 79.6%). Age, female gender, diabetes, and DAS were all independently associated with increased resistance. During the follow-up period, 68 (16.8%) episodes of HF-MACCE occurred. High RI (odds ratio 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.37) and PI (odds ratio 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.34) were associated with risk of HF-MACCE., Conclusions: An accurate assessment of vascular resistance may be used for HF-MACCE risk stratification in patients with DAS.

Telemedicine involves diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services being offered remotely by healthcare professionals to exchange crucial clinical information. It is a rapidly developing form of medical activity and part of medical industry, with advanced technologies already available in Poland. Cardiology is one of the fields in which telemedicine methods were pioneered and introduced into everyday practice. Some of these methods have already become standard procedures for diagnosis and treatment in some Polish centers, with other soon to follow. Clinical study results not only demonstrate reliability and usefulness of telemedicine technologies but also show that their use in clinical practice improves the patients' prognoses and quality of life. Moreover, study results in highly developed countries show a potential cost-effectiveness of telemedicine from the perspective of healthcare systems. There is an unquestionable need to establish clear rules for telemedicine use in Poland, which would ensure their high quality and adequate clinical application. This paper is a summary of the current status of telemedicine solutions used in cardiology, with a particular focus on the Polish healthcare system, and presents both the commonly available solutions and those that are expected to develop rapidly in the near future.

Background: Degenerative aortic stenosis (DAS) and cognitive function deterioration frequently coexist in elderly patients, which affects the prognosis., Aims: We aimed to evaluate the Willis circle intracranial blood flow parameters and cognitive status in patients with DAS., Methods: Ultrasonography of the Willis circle and the assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) volume, acceleration time (AT), pulsatile and resistive indexes (PI, RI), as well as cognition tests (Mini‑Mental Status Examination [MMSE] and Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]) were performed in group 1-41 patients with severe DAS (aortic valve area indexed to the body surface area [AVAi] <0.5 cm2/m2) and group 2-41 patients with moderate DAS (AVAi [range], 0.51-0.99 cm2/m2). The control group comprised 52 patients without DAS., Results: Compared with controls, mean (SD) CBF volume ingroups 1 and 2 was lower (1.37 [0.32] l/min vs 1.5 [0.44] l/min vs 1.71 [0.21] l/min, respectively; P <0.001), while AT (212 [20] ms vs 161 [33] ms vs 86 [21] ms, respectively; P <0.001), RI (0.64 [0.07] vs 0.65 [0.06] vs 0.59 [0.05], respectively; P <0.001), and PI (1.13 [0.21] vs 1.16 [0.17] vs 0.99 [0.12]; P <0.001) were higher. Both MMSE and MoCA scores did not differ according to CBF, RI, PI, and AT. In multivariable regression analysis, age, renal failure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and diabetes, yet not CBF parameters, were independently associated with cognitive function., Conclusions: Patients with DAS had significantly reduced CBF volume and increased arterial stiffness. However, cognitive impairment may be attributed to concomitant comorbidities rather than CBF parameters.

Background: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with LARIAT has emerged as one of the alternatives to oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim was to study long-term outcomes in patients undergoing LARIAT procedure., Methods: We analyzed patients screened for LARIAT device in four centers between December 2009 and June 2012. Out of these, patients who didn't undergo LAAC with the LARIAT device due to unfavorable LAA morphology and other preprocedural contraindications were included in control group. We analyzed thromboembolism, bleeding events, and mortality between LAA and control group., Results: About 153 patients were screened. Out of these, 108 (70.6%) patients underwent LARIAT placement (LAA arm) and 45 (29.4%) excluded patients were included in control arm. There were no differences in CHADS 2 and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Mean HAS-BLED score was significantly higher in the LARIAT group (3.5 ± 1.06 vs 3.09 ± 1.22, P = .04). Mean follow-up time (in years) was 6.56 ± 0.84 in LAA and 6.5 ± 1.26 in control arm. During follow-up period, the LARIAT group was associated with significantly less thromboembolic events (1.9% vs 24%, P < .001), bleeding events (9.2% vs 24.4%, P = .03), and mortality (5.6% vs 20%, P = .01) as compared with the control group., Conclusions: Long-term data from routine clinical practice from our study suggests that LAA exclusion with LARIAT device is an effective treatment in management of nonvalvular AF patients with high risk of stroke, bleeding, and mortality. Further randomized trials, such as aMAZE, will provide more insight in this expanding field., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Coronary artery fistula is defined as a connection between one or more coronary artery and a heart chamber., Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the overall incidence of coronary artery fistulas in Polish patients undergoing diagnostic coronary artery angiography as well as the frequency of particular origin and draining sites., Methods: The data were obtained from the Polish National Registry of Invasive Cardiology Procedures among patients hospitalized between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016 in invasive cardiology departments in Poland., Results: The study included 298 558 patients. A coronary artery fistula was present in 261 patients (0.087%). There were 131 women (50.19%) and 130 men (49.81%). The most frequent origin of a coronary artery fistula was the left anterior descending artery (167 cases, 59.22%). The pulmonary artery was the most frequent drainage site for fistulas originating from the left anterior descending artery and the right coronary artery (84 cases, 50.30% and 25 cases, 31.65%, respectively). Fistulas originating from the circumflex artery most frequently drained into another artery (10 cases, 27.78%)., Conclusions: The left anterior descending coronary artery was the origin site for more than half of all detected coronary artery fistulas. The pulmonary artery was the most frequent origin and drainage site for coronary artery fistulas.

INTRODUCTION It is debatable whether the rate of change in carotid intima‑media thickness (CIMT) may be used as a risk indicator of major adverse cerebral and coronary events (MACCEs) in patients with either coronary (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). OBJECTIVES This prospective study aimed to evaluate the association between CIMT changes and the incidence of MACCEs, in patients with symptomatic CAD and PAD. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study comprised 466 patients admitted with steno‑occlusive disease, in whom revascularization was performed for an index lesion. Group 1 included 305 subjects with CAD, and group 2, 161 patients with PAD. CIMT was measured at baseline and at a median of 21 and 41 months afterwards. The incidence of MACCE, cardiovascular death (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemic stroke was recorded prospectively during 5 years. RESULTS CIMT increased with a mean (SD) progression rate of 0.027 (0.16) mm/y in group 1 and 0.026 (0.17) mm/y in group 2 (P = 0.89). CIMT regression was recorded in 112 patients (36.7%) and 61 patients (37.9%) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, at baseline (P = 0.80), and 82 patients (26.9%) and 42 patients (26.1%) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, in follow‑up (P = 0.85). Maintained CIMT regression was independently associated with a reduced risk of MACCEs (hazard ratio [HR], 0.25; 95% CI, 0.15-0.42), MI (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.20-0.51), ischemic stroke (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.18-0.45), and CVD (HR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.15-0.40), while the CIMT progression rate of 0.056 mm/y was associated with an increased risk of MACCEs (sensitivity, 53.2%; specificity, 72.2%; area under the receiver operating curve, 0.65). CONCLUSIONS Maintained CIMT regression is associated with 68% to 75% reduction in the risk of a cardiovascular event. However, a long‑term maintained CIMT regression is achieved in one‑fourth of patients with either CAD or PAD.

Introduction: Long lesions contribute to a significant number of percutaneous coronary interventions., Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of a novel long-tapered drug-eluting stent (DES) at a 12-month follow-up (FU) in patients with long coronary atherosclerotic lesions., Material and Methods: A prospective clinical cohort study was conducted in 32 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention using a BioMime Morph tapered stent (Meril Life Sciences, India). The patients were followed for 3, 6, and 12 months. The safety endpoints were death, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and MACE and/or major bleeding., Results: Mean lesion length was 48 mm (range: 35-70 mm) measured via quantitative coronary analysis (QCA). In most cases, the target lesion was located in the LAD (68.75%). A GuideLiner catheter (Vascular Solutions Inc., MN, USA) was used in 12.5% of procedures; buddy-wire technique in 9.4% of cases. Bifurcation lesions were treated in 40.6% of cases. Additional stent implantation was needed in 56% of the procedures (25% of cases due to proximal or distal dissection, or due to insufficient stent length in 31% of cases). On 12-month FU we observed 1 TLR (3.1%), 1 TVR (3.1%), and 1 non-cardiovascular death., Conclusions: The long sirolimus-eluting stent with tapered structure was characterized by good deliverability in long coronary lesions, although in some cases "buddy wire" or extension microcatheter use was necessary. Follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months showed no significant major adverse cardiovascular events related to the device., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Introduction: CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β, which regulate the immune response, may have an impact on survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)., Aim: To evaluate levels of CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β in patients with ACS complicated by SCA, treated with coronary angioplasty (PCI) and mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH), and these chemokines' impact on the 30- and 180-day survival., Material and Methods: Thirty-three unconscious patients admitted after SCA with ACS underwent PCI and MTH treatment. CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β were evaluated on admission (T0), at 12-24 h (T1) and at 48-72 h (T2). All-cause mortality was recorded at 30 and 180 days., Results: We observed a statistically significant decrease in median levels of CCL/RANTES at T0, T1 and T2 (24.69 ng/ml vs. 3.89 ng/ml vs. 2.71 ng/ml; p < 0.001), and significant differences in median levels of IL-1β (0.196 pg/ml vs. 0.171 pg/ml vs. 0.214 pg/ml; p = 0.034). Initial levels of CCL5/RANTES and IL-1β correlated significantly ( r = -0.360; p = 0.045). At T2, CCL5/RANTES correlated with the maximum levels of hs-TnT and CK-MB ( r = -0.594; p < 0.001 and r = -0.389; p = 0.030), and at T0 with BNP ( r = -0.521; p = 0.003). Mortality rate at 30 days and 180 days was 18.2% and 45.5%, respectively. At 30 days, we observed a trend to significance for IL-1β at T0 and T1 ( p = 0.078 and p = 0.079), but not for CCL5/RANTES ( p = 0.284 and p = 0.351). For 180-day survival curves, only the IL-1β level at T1 was associated with mortality ( p = 0.028)., Conclusions: Although CCL5/RANTES levels correlate with cardiac injury and heart failure markers and they decrease during MTH, they failed to predict early and late mortality. In contrast, IL-1β level was associated with 180-day survival., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Introduction: Despite percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), patients after their first myocardial infarction (MI) are at high risk of ischemic event recurrence. Therefore, there is a need for objective markers of adequate atherosclerosis control, independent of prescribed pharmacotherapy and patients' compliance. Such a potential indicator of major adverse cerebral and coronary event (MACCE) risk might be change in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), which indicates atherosclerosis growth., Aim: To evaluate the potential associations between CIMT changes and the incidence of MACCE and recurrent MI., Material and Methods: The CIMT assessments at baseline and during 2 follow-up visits were performed in 215 patients admitted with MI, in whom PCI was performed for an index lesion, followed by best medical treatment. The incidences of MACCE (cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, ischemic stroke) and new onset angina were recorded prospectively., Results: The MACCE were recorded in 65 (30.2%) patients and angina due to coronary lesion progression (CLP) in 27 (12.5%) patients. Although initial CIMT values were similar in patients who suffered MACCE vs. MACCE-free patients (1.43 ±0.40 vs. 1.45 ±0.44 mm; p = 0.486), patients in whom MACCE occurred had greater annual CIMT growth as assessed at the first (0.024 ±0.12 vs. 0.009 ±0.16 mm/year; p < 0.001) and subsequent follow-up visit (0.050 ±0.1 vs. 0.001 ±0.1 mm/year; p < 0.001), in mean 36.5 ±29.3 and 53.3 ±37.1 months, respectively. An optimal cut-off value for annual CIMT change of > 0.003 mm/year (sensitivity: 84.5%, specificity: 49.3%) for MI plus CLP (AUC = 0.673) occurred an independent indicator of MACCE (HR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.496-6.016), recurrent MI (HR = 4.59, 95% CI: 1.591-13.217), and MI plus CLP (HR = 3.50, 95% CI: 1.759-6.964)., Conclusions: Annual CIMT change might be a potentially valuable marker of atherosclerosis response to post-MI treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

BACKGROUND A myocardial bridge (MB) is defined as a congenital anomaly, in which a segment of an epicardial coronary artery takes an intramuscular course. AIMS The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of MB in coronary arteries among patients who were diagnosed using coronary angiography. METHODS Data were obtained from the National Polish Percutaneous Interventions Registry for patients hospitalized between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, in invasive cardiology departments in Poland and divided into groups with and without MB. RESULTS The study included 298 558 patients. The non‑MB group comprised 296 133 patients (99.19%; women, 38.01%), while the MB group included 2425 patients (0.81%; women, 39.98%). The most frequent location of MB was the left anterior descending artery (n = 2355; 97.11% of patients). The MB group less often had diabetes (14.68% vs 21.63%), previous stroke (1.61% vs 2.96%), previous myocardial infarction (10.97% vs 21.97%), kidney disease (2.8% vs 5.04%), previous coronary artery bypass graft (1.03% vs 5.64%), previous percutaneous coronary intervention (13.20% vs 25.86%) than the non‑MB group (P <0.0001). The incidence of acute coronary syndromes was lower in the MB group (P <0.0001), while smoking was more common (18.76% vs 16.87%, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Patients with MB were younger and had fewer comorbidities and risk factors for atherosclerosis than patients without MB. The condition was more common among patients with stable coronary artery disease. Smoking and female sex appeared to be associated with a more clinically symptomatic presentation of MB.

Regulated on Activation Normal T Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) chemokine is involved in the initiation of inflammation and immune-cell recruitment. Interleukin -6 (IL-6) is used as a general index of severity of the chronic inflammatory process. Finally, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is an immune biomarker potentially involved in the regulation of valve fibrosis and calcification. The aim of this study was to analyze selected biomarkers associated with the different stages of immune-pathogenesis in aortic stenosis. Forty consecutive patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis (AS) and without previous myocardial infarction history were included in the study and divided into two groups. Two imaging techniques, echocardiography and magnetic resonance, were used to estimate the degree of AS and left ventricular muscle function. Inflammatory biomarker serum levels including CCL5/RANTES, IL-6, and TGF-β1 were determined based on ELISA measurements. Mean levels of RANTES, IL-6, and TGF-β1 did not significantly differ between both groups. A negative correlation was found between RANTES serum level and left ventricle (LV) mass as assessed by MRI (r = -0.3358, P = 0.0341). A positive correlation (r = 0.3283, P = 0.0387) was found between IL-6 serum levels and LV mass as measured by MRI. In addition, a positive correlation (r = 0.6803, P = 0.01) was seen between IL-6 serum levels and LV muscle mass with positive late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). There was a positive correlation between TGF-β1 serum level and ejection fraction as measured by echocardiography (r = 0.3217, P = 0.043). The relationship between selected inflammatory biomarkers, LV ejection fraction, LV mass, and LV muscle mass with LGE appeared to be independent of valvular pathobiologic process severity, as we did not observe differences in IL-6, RANTES, or TGF-β1 between groups differing in severity. On the contrary, these markers appear to be linked to myocardial function and remodeling, which may provide valuable insights into the pathobiology of AS and provide a basis for future detection strategies of AS.

Introduction: Currently, Cardiology Centres are overfilled with patients with degenerative aortic valve stenosis (DAS), usually eldery, with severe concommittant comorbidities, who are referred for further decisions and possible intervention., Aim: To evaluate changes in the risk profile of patients with severe DAS admitted to the cardiology department a decade ago compared with patients currently being admitted., Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all patients admitted with confirmed severe DAS, hospitalized during 2005-2006 (group I: 140 patients) and in 2016 (group II: 152 patients), admitted for aortic valve intervention. A standard transthoracic echocardiogram, cardiovascular symptom and risk factor distribution, perioperative risk with the logistic EuroSCORE II and STS mortality scores were obtained., Results: Patients in group II were significantly older ( p < 0.001), had more cardiovascular risk factors, and more often presented with atrial fibrillation (27% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.001), renal impairment (34.9% vs. 22.8%; p = 0.024), severe lung disease (17.1% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), and extracardiac arteriopathy (40.1% vs. 17.8%, p < 0.001). The aortic valve area (AVA) ( p = 0.356), mean-transvalvular pressure gradient ( p = 0.215), and left ventricular ejection fraction ( p = 0.768) were similar in both groups. However, the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension, severe mitral regurgitation, and low-flow, low-gradient DAS were 3.1-, 8.4- and 1.84-fold more frequent in group II than group I. The percentages of subjects with EuroSCORE II and STS scores ≥ 4% in 2005-2006 were 7.1% and 6.4%, as compared to 27% and 26.3% in 2016 (both p < 0.001). 22% of patients in 2016, as compared to 31% in 2005/2006, were considered ineligible for DAS intervention., Conclusions: In just a decade, the risk profile of patients admitted with DAS has increased hugely, mainly due to older age, accumulation of comorbidities and more advanced disease at presentation. Although transcatheter aortic valve intervention has expanded the indications for intervention in high-risk patients, the number of patients disqualified from interventional treatment remains high., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For several years, we have observed the dynamic development of technologies that allow patients to access medical care from the comfort of their homes, without direct contact with the doctor. Innovative solutions based on telemedicine improve care coordination and communication among clinicians, patients, and their families, as well as increases patients' security and gives them greater independence, thus eliminating health care inequalities. The rapidly growth of telemedicine and the adoption of new technologies in clinical practice is also observed in Poland. Crucial moment for the telemedicine facilitation process in our country was Baltic Declaration approved by Minister of Health in 2015, as well as the Medical Profession Amendment Act and remote medical care admission. Since then, as part of the work of the Information Technology and Telemedicine Committee of the Polish Cardiac Society and the Telemedical Working Group, important steps have been taken to implement a telemedicine solutions in the Polish healthcare system, resulting in improved quality and efficiency of this system. The presented document reflects the above actions and encompasses following issues: available telemedicine solutions in the world, analysis of their effectiveness based on clinical trials, funding opportunities, legal status and development prospects telecardiology in Poland.

INTRODUCTION The current guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in clinical practice emphasizes the importance of education in the media for population-‑based approaches. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between knowledge of CVD risk factors and watching educational television materials in the adult population. PATIENTS AND METHODS After 22 months of repeated broadcasting of educational television materials, which addressed problems related to CVD, a postal survey was conducted on a random sample of 5000 persons aged 18 years or older. The questionnaire included information on demographics, personal and family history of CVD, educational materials, and knowledge of the risk factors. A multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the knowledge of each risk factor and watching educational materials. RESULTS A total of 1129 questionnaires were sent back and used for the analysis. There were 208 participants (18%) who watched the educational materials. The median number of the risk factors listed was 4 (interquartile range, 2-5) for persons who watched the materials and 2 (interquartile range, 0-4) for those who did not watch them. After adjustment for age, sex, education, place of residence, and personal and family history of CVD, the participants who watched the educational materials were 2 to 5 times more likely to have knowledge on particular risk factors, with the exception of hypercholesterolemia for which the relationship was not significant. CONCLUSIONS A strong, plausible relationship revealed by our study supports the idea that in the adult population, better knowledge of CVD risk factors was the effect of watching educational materials.

Introduction: Catheter‑based renal denervation (RD) is an effective treatment leading to a significant reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant hypertension., Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the BP-lowering and pulse pressure (PP)- lowering effects in patients with accessory and bilateral single renal arteries after catheter‑based RD during a 3‑year follow‑up., Patients and Methods: The study included 31 patients with diagnosed resistant hypertension. Patients were classified into 2 groups: group 1 included patients with accessory renal arteries, and group 2, with bilateral single renal arteries. The BP and PP reduction levels were measured before the procedure and at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after the procedure., Results: All procedures were successful. In group 1, mean systolic BP, diastolic BP, and PP at baseline were 172.7 mm Hg, 98.9 mm Hg, and 74.4 mm Hg, respectively. Systolic BP, diastolic BP, and PP reduction levels were, respectively, -26.9, 19.2, and 7.5 at 6 months; -33.3, 16.1, and 16.4 at 12 months; -29.2, 14, and 18.2 at 24 months; and -28.6, 13.6, and 13.7 at 36 months. In group 2, mean systolic BP, diastolic BP, and PP at baseline were 175.6 mm Hg, 100.1 mm Hg, and 75.5 mm Hg, respectively. Systolic BP, diastolic BP, and PP reduction levels were, respectively, -26, 10.5, and 15.5 at 6 months; -22, 8.9, and 13 at 12 months; -28, 12.4, and 15.6 at 24 months; and -24.6, 14.97, and 9.2 at 36 months. Significant reductions were observed for systolic BP in group 1 and for PP and systolic and diastolic BP in group 2., Conclusions: RD successfully reduced systolic BP in patients with resistant hypertension and accessory renal arteries. PP reduction after RD in patients with accessory renal arteries was less pronounced than in patients with bilateral single renal arteries.

[b]Introduction.[/b] Education is a key tool in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Education programmes require monitoring of their effectiveness. [b]Objectives. [/b]1) to introduce postal screening for the assessment of knowledge on CVD risk factors (RFs) for the Polish population, 2) to assess this knowledge in adult residents of Małopolska Voivodeship, and 3) to assess whether knowledge on RFs is related to age, gender, place of residence, level of education and family history of CVD. [b]Materials and method.[/b] Anonymous questionnaires were posted to a random sample of 5,000 residents of Małopolska Voivodeship in Poland. Results were presented as proportions of participants who listed RFs correctly. A series of multiple logistic regression models was used to assess the associations of knowledge on RFs with the potential determinants. [b]Results.[/b] 1,126 completed questionnaires were returned. Over 35% of respondents could not list a single RF and 14 % listed only 1-2 RFs. About 40% named 3-5 and only 12% listed 6 or more RFs. About a half of the respondents listed incorrectly from 1-8 characteristics as being associated with higher risk of CVD. In the multivariate analysis, knowledge on RFs was not significantly associated with age. Level of education was the strongest determinant of knowledge. Male rural and small town residents had less knowledge, whereas women with a family history of CVD had more knowledge on some CVD RFs. [b]Conclusions.[/b] Using a postal questionnaire for the assessment of knowledge of CVD RFs in the population of Małopolska Voivodeship appeared to have serious limitations due to low participation in the study. Despite this, the results of the study indicate that knowledge on CVD RFs is insufficient. Female gender and higher education were related to more prevalent knowledge on RFs. Family history of CVD was related to better knowledge in women only. Male residents of rural areas and small towns had slightly less knowledge on CVD RFs.

Background Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly which requires surgical treatment, which improves left ventricular function and clinical outcomes. The definitive diagnosis of ALCAPA is based on coronary angiography, however, noninvasive visualization of the origin of the coronary artery is often helpful in the diagnosis of ALCAPA. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate noninvasive techniques for the diagnosis of ALCAPA, and present the clinical outcomes in adults after surgical correction of ALCAPA. Methods Medical charts of five patients with ALCAPA treated at the John Paul II Hospital in Cracow between 2004 and 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Noninvasive imaging techniques were used to visualize coronary vessels preoperatively. Patients were followed one year after the operation with echocardiograms and assessment of the New York Heart Association functional class. Results Computed tomography showed ALCAPA in four patients. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal left ventricle remodeling suggestive of ischemia of the anterior cardiac wall. Myocardial perfusion imaging revealed ischemia of the middle and periapical segments of the anterior and anterolateral wall of the left ventricle in two patients. Postoperatively, patients had symptomatic improvement, but there was no statistically significant difference in mean ejection fraction. Conclusions Noninvasive techniques can be used to visualize the origin of the coronary arteries and characterize their morphology. Long-term follow-up of adult patients after surgical correction of ALCAPA is not well documented in the literature, but surgical treatment revealed beneficial short-term effects and symptoms relief.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure is an alternative treatment for stroke and systemic thromboembolism risk reduction in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the neurohormonal impact of epicardial exclusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) with the LARIAT procedure is unknown. Evaluation of changes in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in AF patients underwent percutaneous LAA suture ligation. Sixty six patients underwent successfully percutaneous LAA suture ligation using LARIAT device. The level of ANP and BNP was measured before and 3 months after procedure. Mean ANP level before procedure was 249 ± 77 pg/mL (range from 95 pg/mL to 503 pg/mL) and mean BNP level was 481 ± 517 pg/mL (range from 34 pg/mL to 2508 pg/mL). Three months after procedure mean ANP level was 249 ± 79 pg/mL (range from 98 pg/mL to 492 pg/mL) and mean BNP level was 495 ± 526 pg/mL (range from 52 pg/mL to 2420 pg/mL). At 3 months follow up after percutaneous LAA suture ligation there were no significant differences in ANP and BNP levels.

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.