• Publication type
• Meeting Abstract MeSH

BACKGROUND: Acquired calcified aortic valve stenosis is the most common valve disease in adulthood. In the etiopathogenesis of this complex pathology, the importance of inflammation is mentioned, in which non-infectious influences represented by the biological effects of metal pollutants may participate. The main goal of the study was to determine the concentration of 21 metals and trace elements-aluminium (Al), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), calcium (Ca), chrome (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), gold (Au), lead (Pb), magnesium (Mg), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn)-in the tissue of calcified aortic valves and to compare them with the concentrations of the same elements in the tissue of healthy aortic valves in the control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 49 patients (25 men, mean age: 74) with acquired, severe, calcified aortic valve stenosis with indicated heart surgery. The control group included 34 deceased (20 men, median age: 53) with no evidence of heart disease. Calcified valves were explanted during cardiac surgery and deep frozen. Similarly, the valves of the control group were removed. All valves were lyophilized and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The concentrations of selected elements were compared by means of standard statistical methods. RESULTS: Calcified aortic valves contained significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Mg, P, Pb, Se, Sn, Sr and Zn and-in contrast-lower concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mo, S and V than valves of the control group. Significant positive correlations of concentrations between the pairs Ca-P, Cu-S and Se-S and strong negative correlations between the elements Mg-Se, P-S and Ca-S were found in the affected valves. CONCLUSION: Aortic valve calcification is associated with increased tissue accumulation of the majority of the analyzed elements, including metal pollutants. Some exposure factors may increase their accumulation in the valve tissue. A relationship between exposure to environmental burden and the aortic valve calcification process cannot be ruled out. Advances in histochemical and imaging techniques allowing imaging of metal pollutants directly in valve tissue may represent an important future perspective.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Indirect evidences in reviews and case reports on Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) support the fact that the existence of oxidative stress (OS) might be its common feature in the pre-acute stage. The sources of OS are exogenous (environmental factors including pharmacological and toxic influences) and endogenous, the combination of both may be present, and they are being discussed in detail. OS is associated with several pathological conditions representing TTS comorbidities and triggers. The dominant source of OS electrones are mitochondria. Our analysis of drug therapy related to acute TTS shows many interactions, e.g., cytostatics and glucocorticoids with mitochondrial cytochrome P450 and other enzymes important for OS. One of the most frequently discussed mechanisms in TTS is the effect of catecholamines on myocardium. Yet, their metabolic influence is neglected. OS is associated with the oxidation of catecholamines leading to the synthesis of their oxidized forms - aminochromes. Under pathological conditions, this pathway may dominate. There are evidences of interference between OS, catecholamine/aminochrome effects, their metabolism and antioxidant protection. The OS offensive may cause fast depletion of antioxidant protection including the homocystein-methionine system, whose activity decreases with age. The alteration of effector subcellular structures (mitochondria, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum) and subsequent changes in cellular energetics and calcium turnover may also occur and lead to the disruption of cellular function, including neurons and cardiomyocytes. On the organ level (nervous system and heart), neurocardiogenic stunning may occur. The effects of OS correspond to the effect of high doses of catecholamines in the experiment. Intensive OS might represent "conditio sine qua non" for this acute clinical condition. TTS might be significantly more complex pathology than currently perceived so far.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The causes of nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy are classified as genetic or nongenetic, but environmental factors such as metal pollutants may interact with genetic susceptibility. The presence of metal particles has been detected in the myocardium, including in those patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. It is also known that hypersensitivity reactions can induce inflammation in tissue. The present study aimed to verify if metal-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity is present in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. The patient group consisted of 30 patients with newly diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy; the control group comprised 41 healthy subjects. All patients and control subjects provided blood samples for lymphocyte transformation testing (MELISA®) to assess possible hypersensitivity to seven common metals. Specific exposure to metals was based on interview data. Results showed that exposure to cadmium and lead (p = 0.0002), aluminum (p = 0.0006), nickel (p = 0.0012), and chromium (p = 0.0065) was more often reported by patients than controls. The patients also had significantly more frequent hypersensitivity reactions to mercury (26.7% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.014624), nickel (40% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.02341), and silver (20% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.025468) than the control group. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy had greater exposure to certain metals compared with healthy controls. Hypersensitivity to metals was more frequent in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, suggesting a possible association that warrants further investigation.

• MeSH
• Lymphocyte Activation MeSH
• Biopsy MeSH
• Cardiomyopathy, Dilated complications   diagnosis   physiopathology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Metals adverse effects   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Pilot Projects MeSH
• Hypersensitivity, Delayed diagnosis   etiology   immunology   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Aims: To evaluate whether patients with late complications of pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators have hypersensitivity reactions to some of the materials used in generators or in electrodes, or to environmental metal burden. Methods and results: The cohort consisted of 20 men and 4 women (mean age: 62.3 ± 17.2 years) who had a history of late complications of implanted devices. The control group involved 25 men and 8 women (mean age: 64.6 ± 14.0 years) who had comparable devices, but no history of late complications. Lymphocyte transformation test was used to evaluate hypersensitivity to eight metal pollutants (antimony, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, platinum, tin, and titanium) selected by results of questionnaires on environmental burden, and by material analysis of generators and electrode surfaces. Exposures to metal pollutants were approximately the same in patients and in controls. Titanium alloy used in generators contained at least 99.32% of titanium and trace levels of other metals; higher levels of tin and platinum were detected in electrode surfaces. Hypersensitivity reactions to mercury and tin were significantly more frequent in patients than in controls (patients and controls: mercury: 68.2 and 31.1%, respectively; P = 0.022; tin: 25.0 and 3.2%, respectively; P = 0.035). In contrast, hypersensitivity to manganese was significantly more frequent in controls than in patients (patients and controls: 13.6 and 50.0%, respectively; P = 0.008). Conclusion: Our findings suggest a possible relation between hypersensitivity to metals used in implantable devices or to environmental metal burden and the occurrence of their late complications.

• MeSH
• Lymphocyte Activation MeSH
• Hypersensitivity epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Antimony adverse effects   MeSH
• Tin adverse effects   MeSH
• Defibrillators, Implantable adverse effects   MeSH
• Prosthesis Implantation * MeSH
• Prosthesis-Related Infections epidemiology   MeSH
• Metals adverse effects   MeSH
• Skin Diseases epidemiology   MeSH
• Environmental Pollutants adverse effects   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Manganese adverse effects   MeSH
• Molybdenum adverse effects   MeSH
• Nickel adverse effects   MeSH
• Platinum adverse effects   MeSH
• Pain, Postoperative epidemiology   MeSH
• Postoperative Complications epidemiology   MeSH
• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices adverse effects   MeSH
• Mercury adverse effects   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Alloys MeSH
• Titanium adverse effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The influence of polymorphisms in the large group of MMP and TIMP genes on clinical outcomes in patients after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI was analysed. In total, 550 consecutive Caucasian patients with STEMI were included in the present study, with a median of 32 months. We analysed 19 polymorphisms in the genes coding MMP and TIMP genes. The MMP-1 -519A/G and -422A/T polymorphisms are associated with combined endpoint after myocardial infarction. The hazard ratio for AT variant of MMP-1 -422A/T was 1.75 (p < 0.001); the variants with at least one A allele of MMP-1 -519A/G have less risk of combined endpoint. The TT variants of -1562C/T MMP-9 and at least one T allele of +92C/T MMP-13 were considered in a trend to affect disease progression and long-term survival after myocardial infarction. According to reclassification analysis NRI and IDI, long-term risk stratification using MMP-1 -422A/T and -519A/G polymorphisms gives additional information to the commonly used GRACE risk score. Patient stratification after myocardial infraction (MI) according to risk genotypes of MMP-1 polymorphisms could have important clinical implications for identification of patients at risk and therapeutic strategies.

• MeSH
• Alleles MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction diagnosis   genetics   MeSH
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 genetics   MeSH
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 genetics   MeSH
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 genetics   MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases genetics   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

OBJECTIVE: Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is a heart condition characterised by a sudden transient left ventricular dysfunction; its pathophysiology is probably associated with elevated levels of catecholamines but the exact mechanism is not known as yet. Literature and clinical experience suggest that TS affects persons with various comorbidities. This pilot work aims to evaluate the frequency of comorbidities with potential pathological immune reactivity, and to evaluate the potential association between TS and hypersensitivity to metals assessed by LTT-MELISA®. METHODOLOGY, RESULTS: A total of 24 patients (23 women, 1 man) with a history of TS attack and 27 healthy controls were evaluated. Hypersensitivity was evaluated by a lymphocyte transformation test (LTT-MELISA®); a questionnaire of environmental burden was used to select evaluated metals. A total of 19 patients (79%) had at least one condition that might potentially be associated with pathological immune reactivity (autoimmune thyroid disease, drug allergy, bronchial asthma, cancer, contact dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis). Hypersensitivity to metals was identified significantly more frequently in TS patients than in healthy controls (positive reaction to at least one metal was identified in 95.8% of TS patients and in 59.3% of controls; p = 0.003); the difference was statistically significant for mercury (45.8% and 14.8%, respectively; p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Our work shows that conditions with pathological immune reactivity occur frequently in TS patients, and our data suggest a possible association between TS and hypersensitivity to metals (mercury in particular) evaluated by LTT-MELISA®. We also suggest that apart from the triggering stress factor, potential existence of other serious conditions should be considered when taking medical history of TS patients.

• MeSH
• Lymphocyte Activation immunology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Metals immunology   MeSH
• Drug Hypersensitivity immunology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Pilot Projects MeSH
• Hypersensitivity, Delayed immunology   MeSH
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid immunology   MeSH
• Mercury immunology   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy immunology   MeSH
• Environment MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: We compared the prognostic capacity of conventional and novel invasive parameters derived from the slope of the preload recruitable stroke work relationship (PRSW) in STEMI patients and assessed their contribution to the TIMI risk score. METHODS: Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (EDP), ejection fraction (EF), pressure adjusted maximum rate of pressure change in the left ventricle (dP/dt/P), aortic systolic pressure to EDP ratio (SBP/EDP) and end-diastolic volume adjusted stroke work (EW), derived from the slope of the PRSW relationship, were obtained during the emergency cardiac catheterization in 523 STEMI patients. The predictive power of the analyzed parameters for 30-day and 1-year mortality was evaluated using C-statistics and reclassification analysis was adopted to assess the improvement in TIMI score. RESULTS: The highest area under the curve (AUC) values for 30-day mortality were observed for EW (0.872(95% confidence interval 0.801-0.943)), SBP/EDP (0.843(0.758-0.928)) and EF (0.833(0.735-0.931)); p<0.001 for all values. For 1-year mortality the best predictive value was found for EW (0.806(0.724-0.887) and EF (0.793(0.703-0.883)); p<0.001 for both. The addition of EDP, SBP/EDP ratio and EW to TIMI score significantly increased the AUC according to De Long's test. For 30-day mortality, increased discriminative power following addition to the TIMI score was observed for EW and SBP/EDP (Integrated Discrimination Improvement was 0.086(0.033-0.140), p=0.002 and 0.078(0.028-0.128), p=0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: EW and SBP/EDP are prognostic markers with high predictive value for 30-day and 1-year mortality. Both parameters, easily obtained during emergency catheterization, improve the discriminatory capacity of the TIMI score for 30-day mortality.

• MeSH
• Hemodynamics MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction diagnosis   mortality   physiopathology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Predictive Value of Tests MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Stroke Volume physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH

Úvod: Takotsubo kardiomyopatie (takotsubo cardiomyopathy – TCM) je vzácné srdeční onemocnění charakterizované v akutní fázi přechodnou dysfunkcí levé komory, které může být komplikováno fibrilací komor nebo srdečním selháním. V diferenciální diagnostice musí být vždy vyloučen akutní infarkt myokardu. Cílem práce je prezentovat charakteristiku pacientů s TCM, jejich jednoletou prognózu a přínos magnetické rezonance k diagnostice těchto pacientů v klinické praxi. Metodika: Vyhodnoceno bylo celkem 47 pacientů s prokázanou TCM. U všech pacientů byla vyloučena významná ateroskleróza koronárních tepen pomocí selektivní koronární angiografie. Celkem u 10 pacientů (21,3 %) bylo provedeno vyšetření magnetickou rezonancí (MRI) srdce. Pacienti byli prospektivně sledováni minimálně 12 měsíců. Výsledky: Soubor pacientů s TCM tvořily z 89,4 % ženy, průměrný věk pacientů byl 62,3 ? 11,1 let. Třicet devět pacientů (83,0 %) mělo apikální a 8 midventrikulární formu TCM. Zjevný provokující stresový faktor jsme identifikovali u 18 pacientů (38,3 %). Časté byly další komorbidity, zejména onemocnění štítnice, psychiatrická, plicní nebo alergická onemocnění. U 42 pacientů (89,4 %) byla přítomna dysfunkce levé komory, 4 pacienti (8,5 %) byli v kardiogenním šoku. Čtyři pacienti (8,5 %) prodělali během hospitalizace fibrilaci komor. Roční mortalita v našem souboru činila 14,9 %, jedna pacientka (2,1 %) prodělala v průběhu sledování recidivu ataky TCM. Závěr: Přestože u pacientů s TCM dochází k úpravě funkce levé komory, akutní fáze může být komplikována rozvojem kardiogenního šoku nebo fibrilací komor. U části pacientů je indikováno vyšetření MRI k vyloučení ischemické nebo zánětlivé etiologie.

Introduction: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a rare cardiac disease. In the acute phase it may imitate acute myocardial infarction of the anterior wall with ST elevations. This can be complicated by ventricular fibrilation or heart failure. The aim of this study is to show the characteristics of patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, the one year outcome and the application of magnetic resonance imaging of the heart in the diagnosis of this disease. Methods: Forty seven patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy were enrolled in this study. Severe stenosis of coronary arteries was excluded by selective coronarography. In twelve patients the magnetic resonance imaging of the myocardium was performed. The patients were observed for at least 12 months. Results: 89.4 % of takotsubo patients were women. Average of age was 62.3 ? 11.1 years. We found obvious stress factors in 18 patients (38.3 %). Many patients suffered from thyroid disorders, psychiatric, lung or allergic diseases. Thirty nine patients (83.0 %) had the apical and eight the midventricular type of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. In 42 patients (89.4 %) developed systolic left ventricular dysfunction and four patients (8.5 %) were in cardiogenic shock. Four patients (8.5 %) manifested ventricle fibrilation. One patient (2.1 %) had recurring takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: Left ventricle function is mostly recovered in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but the acute phase can be complicated by cardiogenic shock or ventricular fibrilation. Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart is indicated in some patients to differentiate this cardiomyopathy from ischemic or inflammatory etiology.

• MeSH
• Diagnosis, Differential MeSH
• Electrocardiography MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging * MeSH
• Survival Rate MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy * diagnosis   mortality   physiopathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH