Cor et Vasa, 2000 (vol. 41), issue 6
Aortic root replacement in children with aortic regurgitation
Bohumil Hučín, Martin Kostelka, Roman Gebauer st., Ivana Černá, Otto Gabriel, Václav Chaloupecký, Jan Marek, Helena Bartáková, Jan ©kovránek
Cor Vasa 2000, 41(6):280-285
Aim:The indications for aortic root replacement in pediatric patients include (1) ascending aorta aneurysm with a congenital aortic wall defect combined with annuloectasy and aortic valve regurgitation, and (2) acquired severe aortic valve regurgitation following valvuloplasty of a critical aortic stenosis with a hypoplastic aortic annulus making implantation of the smallest valve prosthesis impossible. The study reports the authors own experience with aortic valve replacement in children with human aortic homografts or pulmonary autografts using the Ross procedure. Material and methods:In the 1992-1999 period, aortic valve...
Combined intervention on the mitral valve and coronary arteries
Michal Paďour, Miroslav Erbrt, Pavel Jebavý, Jan ©kvařil
Cor Vasa 2000, 41(6):286-289
Aim of study:To document - using 4 brief case reports - the efficacy of a combined procedure of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Method:In the period between March 1990 and August 1999, we performed a combined PBMV and PTCA procedure in 4 patients with symptomatic severe mitral stenosis and asymptomatic (1 patient had myocardial infarction /MI/, but no angina pectoris after MI) coronary artery disease.All 4 patients were indicated for PBMV on the basis of the commonly accepted clinical and echocardiographic criteria. The indication for PTCA was...
Current concepts on the role of copper in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease
Filip Málek
Cor Vasa 2000, 41(6):290-293
Although dietary copper deficiency is regarded as a cause of the high prevalence of coronary heart disease in the industrialized nations, prospective epidemiological studies have shown that increased serum copper levels are a significant and independent predictor of the risk of myocardial infarction and are associated with increased coronary mortality. The results of these studies have turned the attention to the involvement and role of copper in atherogenesis and pathogenesis of coronary heart disease.Copper ions, making part of some metallic enzymes, are involved in several processes occurring in the development of atherosclerosis: have an effect...
Does a new pharmaceutical presentation of nifedipine herald its renaissance?
Renata Cífková
Cor Vasa 2000, 41(6):295-297
Short-acting nifedipine, developed more than 25 years ago, is associated with a relatively high incidence of side effects. Currently, controlled-release (CR) nifedipine with pharmacokinetic properties allowing for once-daily administration is available on the Czech market. The new formulation of nifedipine CR features numerous benefits enhancing patient compliance. A multicentric, randomized, double-blind parallel study designed to compare the efficacy and safety of nifedipine XL (Cordipin XL, Krka, Slovenia) and amlodipine (Norvasc, Pfizer, USA) in patients with arterial hypertension was conducted in the Czech Republic. Both drugs significantly reduced...
Antibiotics in the treatment of the acute coronary syndrome
Petr Oą»ádal, David Alan
Cor Vasa 2000, 41(6):299-301
The formulation of the infectious theory of the development of atherosclerosis was associated with efforts to treat acute forms of coronary artery disease with antibiotics targeted against the most probable pathogens, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori. Whereas experimental studies showed promising results, recent clinical trials have failed to provide a satisfactory answer. More valuable information is expected to be furnished by randomized double-blind placebo-controlled studies just under way.