Cor et Vasa, 2004 (vol. 45), issue 10
Original research articles
Hypertension and cardiovascular disease following renal transplantation
Vladimír Teplan, Jarmila Stříbrná, Vladimír Hanzal, Marcela Bürgelová, Milena Štollová, Jelena Skibová
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(10):467-471
Aim:Hypertension after renal transplantation is a known independent non-immune risk factor affecting the mortality and morbidity of renal graft recipients. Our 3-year study was designed to determine the prevalence of hypertension, success of its pharmacological management, and the incidence of cardiovascular disease following renal transplantation. Method:A total of 422 renal graft recipients were included into the study. Of this number, 310 individuals completed follow-up with a functioning graft from 3 to 36 months post-transplant. All individuals treated with antihypertensive agents were considered hypertensives while normotension...
The safety and efficacy of fluvastatin following heart transplantation
Lenka Hošková, Mariana Podzimková, Ivan Málek
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(10):475-477
Introduction:Lipid metabolism disorders occur in 60-80% of patients under heart transplantation. The causes are multifactorial, with contributing factors being the use of immunosuppressives, particularly cyclosporin A and corticosteroids. Statin therapy is appropriate ever since the early postoperative period. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fluvastatin 80 mg over a six-month follow-up period. Method:Our group of patients included 40 patients an average 4 years post-transplant (0.9-8 years); they were 31 men and 9 women. The underlying disease prior to transplantation was dilated cardiomyopathy...
Review articles
Current concepts regarding percutaneous epicardial mapping and ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients after a myocardial infarction
Petr Neužil, Miloš Táborský
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(10):479-485
In their paper, the authors address concepts of catheter-based intervention of ventricular tachycardia in patients after a myocardial infarction, discussing also the new technique of epicardial mapping and ablation. Puncture of a non-separated pericardium and introduction of the mapping catheter using the percutaneous technique is a safe method potentially broadening the therapeutic efficacy of catheter-based ablation, to be used not only to terminate ventricular tachycardia.
Atherosclerosis and natural autoantibody. Part 2: Natural autoantibody and C-reactive protein
Pavel Kuneš, Jan Krejsek
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(10):484-491
Natural IgM class antibody and C-reactive protein (CRP) are phylogenetically old effector mechanisms of innate immune response. Their molecules feature a pentameric structure. CRP and IgM class antibody activate the complement in a classic manner. Under physiological circumstances, they are involved in the removal of apoptotic cells. After invasion of the body by pathogenic bacteria, CRP and IgM class antibody mount the first line of defense removal the invading organisms from the circulation. In apoptotic cell membranes, in the cellular membranes of some pathogenic bacteria, and in modified lipoprotein particles, natural antibody and CRP recognize...
Expression of Na+-K+ ATPase isoforms in the myocyte
Petr Ošťádal, Martin Mates
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(10):492-496
Na+-K+ ATPase is a key enzyme of animal cells, responsible for the exchange of Na+ and K+ across the cell membrane. Through maintenance of transmembrane ionic gradient for Na+ and K+, the enzyme is largely involved in calcium metabolism (via the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger), including the role of Ca2+ in myocardial contraction. The energy accumulated in the transmembrane gradient is, however, used also for numerous different processes, including pH regulation (via the Na+-H+ exchanger) and transportation of glucose, amino acids, and vitamins....
Magnetic resonance in detecting the viable myocardium
Miroslav Solař, Jan Žižka, Jaroslav Tintěra, Ľudovít Klzo
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(10):497-502
Determination of myocardial viability is important for identifying the optimal therapeutic procedure in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. A new diagnostic method possibly used for detecting a viable myocardium is magnetic resonance (MR). Using MR, a viable myocardium can be visualized with the help of several methods. Exercise dynamic MR is an analogy of exercise echocardiography. Other procedures are based on visualizing the different various structures of viable versus nonviable myocardium. Irreversible myocardial injury sustained during acute myocardial injury is characterized by an increased intensity of T2 weighted signal. The largest body...
Short communication
Unusual treatment of bleeding from an injured common iliac vein
Petr Štádler, Petr Vitásek, Miroslav Špaček
Cor Vasa 2004, 45(10):503-504
The authors describe unusual treatment of massive bleeding from the common iliac vein, which occurred after preparation of the common iliac artery in an area with abundant cicatrical tissue during ilicofemoral reconstruction. Because of the presence of cicatrical tissue, routine venous reconstruction would have been very complicated and would have led to prolonged surgery with additional loss of blood. The authors report an unusual way of hemostasis using non-absorbable Prolene mesh and Surgicel.®A simple technique of treatment of iatrogenic injury to the common iliac vein enabled the authors to finalize the reconstruction within the time frame...