AIMS: Liver pathology caused by cardiac dysfunction is relatively well recognized, however, its clinical importance has not been fully evaluated. TheAIM of this study was to assess the prevalence of liver function tests (LFTs) abnormalities and to identify associated factors mediating hepatic impairment in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). METHODS: The AHEAD (Acute Heart Failure Database) registry is a database conducted in 9 university hospitals and 5 regional health care facilities in the Czech Republic. From December 2004 to October 2012, the data of 8818 patients were included. The inclusion criteria for the database followed the European guidelines for AHF. Serum activities of all LFTs and total bilirubin were available in 1473 patients at the baseline. RESULTS: In patients with AHF, abnormal LFTs were seen in 76% patients (total bilirubin in 34%, γ-glutamyltransferase in 44%, alkaline phosphatase in 20%, aspartate aminotransferase in 42%, alanine aminotransferase in 35%). Patients with cardiogenic shock were more likely to have LFTs abnormalities compared to mild AHF and pulmonary oedema. LFTs abnormalities were strongly associated with AHF severity (left ventricular ejection fraction and NYHA functional class) and clinical manifestation. While hepatocellular LFTs pattern predominated in left sided forward AHF, cholestatic profile occurred mainly in bilateral and right sided AHF. Additionally, patients with moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation had significantly higher prevalence of abnormalities in cholestatic LFTs. CONCLUSIONS: Defining the LFTs profile typical for AHF plays an important role in management of AHF patients, since it may avoid redundant hepatic investigations and diagnostic misinterpretations.

• MeSH
• akutní nemoc MeSH
• alkalická fosfatasa krev   MeSH
• aspartátaminotransferasy krev   MeSH
• gama-glutamyltransferasa krev   MeSH
• jaterní testy MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci jater epidemiologie   etiologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční selhání komplikace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Refractory angina is characterized by repeated attacks of chest pain in patients on maximal anti-anginal pharmacotherapy, with a professional conscensus that further surgical or radiological revascularization would be futile. Refractory angina is a serious but relatively uncommon health problem, with a reported incidence of approximately 30 patients per million people/year. In this condition simply treating the associated pain alone is important as this can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. METHODS: An extensive literature search using five different medical databases was performed and from this, eighty-three papers were considered appropriate to include within this review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Available literature highlights several methods of interventional pain treatment, including spinal cord stimulation and video-assisted upper thoracic sympathectomy which can provide good analgesia whilst improving physical activities and quality of life. The positive effect of spinal cord stimulation on the intensity of pain and quality of life has been confirmed in nine randomized controlled trials. Other potential treatment methods include stellate ganglion blocks, insertion of thoracic epidural or spinal catheters and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. These approaches however appear more useful for diagnostic purposes and perhaps as short-term treatment measures.

• MeSH
• angina pectoris terapie   MeSH
• kvalita života MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• management bolesti metody   MeSH
• míšní stimulace metody   MeSH
• nervová blokáda metody   MeSH
• sympatektomie metody   MeSH
• transkutánní elektrická neurostimulace metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

• Publikační typ
• abstrakt z konference MeSH

Chronic hypoxia induces an increased production of nitric oxide (NO) in pulmonary prealveolar arterioles. Bioavailability of the NO in the pulmonary vessels correlates with concentration of L-arginine as well as activity of phosphodiesterase-5 enzyme (PDE-5). We tested a hypothesis whether a combination of L-arginine and PDE-5 inhibitor sildenafil has an additive effect in reduction of the hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) in rats. Animals were exposed to chronic normobaric hypoxia for 3 weeks. In the AH group, rats were administered L-arginine during chronic hypoxic exposure. In the SH group, rats were administered sildenafil during chronic hypoxic exposure. In the SAH group, rats were treated by the combination of L-arginine as well as sildenafil during exposure to chronic hypoxia. Mean PAP, structural remodeling of peripheral pulmonary arterioles (%DL) and RV/LV+S ratio was significantly decreased in the SAH group compared to hypoxic controls even decreased compared to the AH and the SH groups in first two measured parameters. Plasmatic concentration of cGMP and NOx were significantly lower in the SAH group compared to hypoxic controls. We demonstrate that NO synthase substrate L-arginine and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil administered in combination are more potent in attenuation of the HPH compared to a treatment by substances given alone.

• MeSH
• arginin aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• hypoxie komplikace   farmakoterapie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• kombinovaná farmakoterapie MeSH
• krevní tlak účinky léků   MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• piperaziny aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• plicní hypertenze farmakoterapie   etiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• puriny aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• sulfony aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• synergismus léků MeSH
• vazodilatancia aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• výměna plynů v plicích účinky léků   MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there are gender differences in total cholesterol levels in patients with acute heart failure and if there is an association of this parameter with short and long time mortality. Methods. The AHEAD MAIN registry is a database conducted in 7 university hospitals, all with 24 h cath lab service, in 4 cities in the Czech Republic. The database included 4 153 patients hospitalised for acute heart failure in the period 2006–2009. 2 384 patients had a complete record of their total cholesterol levels. 946 females and 1437 males were included in this analysis. According to the admission total cholesterol levels, patients were divided into 5 groups: < 4.50 mmol/l (group A), 4.50–4.99 mmol/l (group B), 5.0–5.49 mmol/l (group C), 5.50–5.99 mmol/l (group D) and > 6.0 mmol/l (group E). The median total cholesterol levels were 4.24 in males and 4.60 in females (P<0.001). There were differences in the distribution of total cholesterol levels between men and women: group A 57.6 vs 45.0%, group B 13.8 vs 16.3%, group C 9.8 vs 12.5%, group D 7.7 vs 11.4%, group E 11.1 vs 14.8% respectively (all P<0.001). The median age of men was 68.7 vs 77.3 years in women (P<0.001). In all total cholesterol categories women were older than men: group A 77.7 vs 69.5 years, group B 78.6 vs 69.1 years, group C 77.3 vs 68.8 years, group D 76.8 vs 64.2 years, group E 75.6 vs 64.4 years (all P<0.001). For the calculation of long term mortality, the cohort was divided into three groups: total cholesterol levels below 4.50 mmol/l, 4.50-5.49 mmol/l and above 5.50 mmol/l. The log rank test was used for the analysis. Results. There were no differences in hospital mortality between male and female in general (9.2 vs 10.8%, P<0.202), or in total cholesterol levels in subgroups. Total cholesterol levels were associated with in-hospital mortality (P<0.002). In the long-term follow up (78 months) patients with total cholesterol levels below 4.5 mmol/l had the worst prognosis (P<0.001). An independent influence of total cholesterol level on mortality and survival was confirmed in the multivariate model as well. Conclusions. Women with acute heart failure had higher total cholesterol levels than men in all ages. There was a higher percentage of women with total cholesterol levels above 6 mmol/l and lower percentage in the group below 4.5 mmol/l than in men. In all, total cholesterol categories women were older than men. Total cholesterol levels are important for in- hospital mortality and long term survival of patients admitted for acute heart failure.

• MeSH
• cholesterol krev   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• míra přežití MeSH
• mortalita v nemocnicích MeSH
• pohlavní dimorfismus MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční selhání komplikace   krev   mortalita   patofyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH