Cor et Vasa, 2002 (vol. 43), issue 10
Original research articles
The role of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation after open-heart surgery
Marek Šetina, Hana Pospíšilová, Aleš Mokráček, Kateřina Popelková, Daniel Čoček, Milan Vambera, František Toušek
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):396-400
Introduction:Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery procedures occurs in 10 to 50%. Possible causative factors include electrolyte imbalance, excess catecholamines, atrial ischemia, pericardial irritation, and inflammatory response. Numerous investigations have examined methods of preventing postoperative AF. The most often tested agents were amiodarone, beta-blockers and magnesium. In our study, we investigated the role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in the prevention of postoperative AF. The rationale for the study was that NSAID could suppress both the body's inflammatory response and pericardial irritation. Methods:Our...
The relationship between QRS amplitude and left ventricular mass in the initial period of left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Ján Klimas, Ljuba Bachárová, Ján Kyselovi
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):401-407
Aim:In this study, we tested the hypothesis of the relative voltage deficit in an experimental model of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in the initial period of an increase in blood pressure. Material and methods:Frank orthogonal electrocardiograms of male SHR aged 12 and 20 weeks were recorded. During this period, systolic blood pressure (sBP) increased from 165 ± 3 mm Hg to 195 ± 1 mm Hg (p < 0.001). Age- and sex-matched WKY rats were used as control groups. The sBP values in WKY normotensive control groups were not changed (122 ± 8 mm Hg and 130 ± 4 mm Hg, respectively). The maximum...
Echocardiographic assessment of changes in AV delay in patients with biventricular pacing
Petr Frídl, Josef Kautzner, Petr Peichl, Kateřina Lefflerová, Jan Bytešník, Vlastimil Vančura, Miroslav Vítovec, Tomáš Marek
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):411-413
Group of patients and methods:The study was performed in a group of 25 patients (22 men and 3 women), with a mean age of 60.4 ± 11.3 years. All patients had significant dysfunction of a dilated left ventricle (mean EF of 22.5 ± 3.2% at an end-diastolic dimension of 75.5 ± 9.2 mm). The underlying cause of left ventricular dysfunction was coronary heart disease in 12 patients, dilated cardiomyopathy in 11 patients while 2 patients had left ventricular dysfunction following aortic valve replacement. At the time of examination, the patients were clinically stable, and all met Class III criteria of the functional classification....
Review articles
Does reperfusion cause myocardial injury?
Petr Ošťádal, David Alan, Jiří Vejvoda, Bohuslav Ošťádal
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):415-421
Enormous effort has been made in cardiovascular research over the past three decades to explain the pathogenic mechanisms occurring during the period of reperfusion of a previously ischemic heart. Although reperfusion is the most efficient treatment strategy for acute myocardial infarction, experimental studies have shown a potentially harmful aspect of reperfusion, i. e., a phenomenon called the "reperfusion injury". It is based on the observation that different types of myocardial injury may occur during reperfusion. There is, however, not enough evidence to demonstrate this injury is caused by reperfusion. Furthermore, clear evidence that reperfusion...
Troponins - the main biochemical markers of myocardial injury. A confrontation of international guidelines with the real potential of clinical laboratories
Bedřich Friedecký
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):422-425
Both international guidelines for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (NACB for biochemistry and ESC/ACC for cardiology) regard troponins as the pivotal biochemical cardiac marker of myocardial injury. This finding is generally recognized as an evidence-based one. Use of troponin I or T is equivalent. The key data of the recommendations are the values of diagnostic cut-off limits, time to response, and the accuracy of measurement accuracy. The paper shows quite clearly that the current status of analytical technology still does not meet the requirements formulated in the data of these recommendations, nor does it provide enough guarantees the...
Modern laboratory-based diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes - a clinician's view
David Stejskal, Bořek Lačnák, Dalimil Horalík, Ivo Oral
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):427-430
The paper presents current recommendations regarding laboratory-based diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In their communication, the authors describe a system used in their department on a routine basis, and comment on some facts ensuing from the recommendations. The paper is a loose extension to a paper discussing analytical characteristics of the above recommendations.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers and the kidney
Jindřich Špinar
Cor Vasa 2002, 43(10):433-436
This topical paper discusses details and differences in the effects of AII blockers and ACE inhibitors on the kidney. Specific AT1 receptor blockade has a beneficial effect by two mechanisms, by inhibiting the effect of angiotensin II on receptor 1, and by stimulating receptor 2 with the same agent (so-called yin-yang effect). In experiments, both ACE inhibitors and AII antagonists have been shown to possess a nephroprotective effect. In patients with microalbuminuria, and with diabetic microalbuminuria in particular, both classes of drugs have been able to reduce the amount of urinary protein. A decrease in the glomerular filtration rate...