FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF VEGETABLE OILS AND FATS

The main objective of this work was to identify the fatty acid composition of several vegetable oils and fats. Twenty vegetable oils and fats were analyzed for its fatty acid composition by gas chromatography (gc-fid). Among the evaluated oils the higher contents of saturated fatty acids were found in the coconut and palm fats, that showed above 80% of saturated fatty acids. Except palm fat, that presented about 50% in saturated fatty acids, all other oils showed saturated fatty acids below 25%, being the canola oil that presented the highest unsaturated fatty acid content. Furthermore, canola oil, in the same way soybean oil, showed between 8 and 10% of omega-3 fatty acids. The borage and evening primrose oils differed from the others by presenting appreciable amount of G-linolenic acid, and the linseed oil for presenting more than 50% in linolenic acid. The rice, peanut, cotton and corn oils showed higher content of oleic and linoleic acids.  O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar a composição em ácidos graxos de diversos óleos e gorduras vegetais. Vinte óleos e gorduras vegetais foram avaliados quanto a composição em ácidos graxos por cromatografia a gás (GC-FID). Entre os óleos estudados, os maiores teores em ácidos graxos saturados foram encontrados nas gorduras de coco e de semente de palma, que apresentaram mais de 80% de ácidos graxos saturados. A exceção da gordura de palma, com cerca de 50% em ácidos graxos saturados, todos os outros óleos revelaram percentuais em ácidos graxos saturados abaixo de 25%, sendo o óleo de canola o que apresentou maior percentual em ácidos graxos insaturados. Além disso, o óleo de canola e de soja apresentaram entre 8 e 10% de ácido ômega-3. Os óleos de borragem e prímula diferenciaram-se dos demais pelas quantidades apreciáveis de ácido gama-linolênico, e o óleo de linhaça por apresentar mais de 50% em ácido linolênico. Os óleos de arroz, amendoim, algodão e de milho evidenciaram maiores percentuais dos ácidos graxos oléico e linoléico

Assessment of cardiovascular function following transcatheter aortic valve implantation based on six-minute walk test

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is presently a recognized treatment mo­dality for patients with severe aortic stenosis ineligible for surgery. It reduces mortality as compared to the conservative treatment. It is further expected from this therapy to improve quality of life by improving of the cardiovascular function performance. The aim of this study is to compare patients’ cardiovascular system efficiency in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) made before and after TAVI and at the 6–12-month follow-up. Methods: From January 2009 until February 2012, in the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases in Zabrze, TAVI was performed in 104 patients. Eighty-two patients who underwent 6MWT before surgery were qualified for the analysis. The average age of the patients was 76.0 ± 9.17 years, women made 45.1%. The risk of surgical treatment according to the Logistic Euroscore averaged 22.76 ± 12.63%, and by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons — 5.55 ± 3.34%. The 6MWT was performed within 1 month before the TAVI procedure, up to a month after the procedure and during the 6–12-month follow-up. Results: The 6-minute walk test after TAVI was performed by 64 patients, and after 6–12 month follow-up by 46 patients. The average distance in 6MWT increased from 268.4 ± 89.0 m before treat­ment to 290.0 ± 98.2 m after the procedure (p = 0.008) and 276.1 ± 93.5 m to 343.1 ± 96.7 m after 6–12 months (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures significantly improve function of the cardiovascular system evaluated by the 6MWT in 1- and 6–12-month observations. (Cardiol J 2017; 24, 2: 167–175

Virtual histology to evaluate mechanisms of pulmonary artery lumen enlargement in response to balloon pulmonary angioplasty in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) results from an obstruction of pulmonary arteries (PAs) by organized thrombi. The stenosed PAs are targeted during balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). We aimed to evaluate the mechanism of BPA in inoperable patients with CTEPH. We analyzed stenosed PAs with intravascular grey-scale ultrasound (IVUS) to determine the cross-sectional area (CSA) of arterial lumen and of organized thrombi. The composition of organized thrombi was assessed using virtual histology. We distinguished two mechanisms of BPA: Type A with dominant vessel stretching, and type B with dominant thrombus compression. PAs were assessed before (n = 159) and after (n = 98) BPA in 20 consecutive patients. Organized thrombi were composed of dark-green (57.1 (48.0–64.0)%), light-green (34.0 (21.4–46.4)%), red (6.4 (2.9–11.7)%;) and white (0.2 (0.0–0.9)%) components. The mechanism type depended on vessel diameter (OR = 1.09(1.01–1.17); p = 0.03). In type B mechanism, decrease in the amount of light-green component positively correlated with an increase in lumen area after BPA (r = 0.50; p = 0.001). The mechanism of BPA depends on the diameter of the vessel. Dilation of more proximal PAs depends mainly on stretching of the vessel wall while dilation of smaller PAs depends on compression of the organized thrombi. The composition of the organized thrombi contributes to the effect of BPA

The clinical course and risk in patients with pseudo-Mahaim fibers

Background: Pseudo-Mahaim (AP-M) fibers are a rare variant of atrioventricular (AV) accessory pathways. Atriofascicular and atrioventricular accessory connections are characterized by slow conduction and decremental properties. Dual physiological AV node pathways, slow and fast, are observed in a large number of patients with AP-M. Therefore, there is substrate for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) in addition to antidromic AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) with left bundle branch block (LBBB)-like morphology. Other arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are also observed. We analysed the occurrence of arrhythmias in a group of patients with AP-M treated in our department. Methods: We evaluated 27 patients (12 women) aged 14-53 years (mean age 25.6 years) with AP-M. The clinical course in these patients, in particular with regard to the occurrence of arrhythmias, was analysed. Patients with dual AV node properties were compared to patients without such findings. Results: We found dual AV node properties in 18 patients (Group 1), while 9 patients had fast pathway only (Group 2). Twenty-six patients presented with AVRT, 2 patients with AVNRT, 3 patients with AF, 1 patient with AT, 2 patients with AFL, and 3 patients with VF. In 2 patients, AP-M were seen in an atypical area. In one patient, the pathway connected the right atrium with the left ventricle (septal region), and in the other patient it connected the left atrium with the left ventricle (left anterior region). Conclusions: The majority of AP-M was right-sided. Two thirds of patients with AP-M had anatomical substrate for AVNRT (fast/slow pathway AV node). VF or asystole occurred in 10% of patients

Long term results of pediatric heart transplantations — single center experiences

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is characterized by significant mortality in both adults and children. Characteristic of paediatric HF are feeding problems, poor weight gain, exercise intolerance or dyspnoea. These changes are often accompanied by endocrine disorders. The main causes of HF are congenital heart defects (CHD) cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, myocarditis or heart failure secondary to oncological treatment. Heart transplantation (HTx) is the method of choice for treatment of end-stage HF  in paediatric patients. AIMS: The aim is to summarize single center experience in heart transplantation in children. METHODS: Between 1988 and 2021 in the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases in Zabrze 122 pediatric cardiac transplantations were performed. In the group of recipients with falling Fontan circulation HTx was performed in 5 children. The study group was evaluated for postoperative course: rejection episodes depending on the medical treatment scheme, coinfections and mortality. RESULTS: 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rate between 1988 and 2001 were 53%, 53% and 50%, respectively. 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rate between 2002 and 2011 was 97%, 90% and 87%; between 2012 and 2021 1-year observation with survival rate 92%. The main cause of mortality both in early and in late period after transplantation was graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac transplantation in children remains the main method of treatment of end-stage heart failure. Our results at both early and long-term posttransplant period, are comparable to those obtained in the most experienced foreign centers

Impact of CoreValve size selection based on multi-slice computed tomography on paravalvular leak after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Background: Paravalvular leak (PVL) has significant impact on long-term outcomes in patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study sought to determine whether multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT)-guided valve selection reduces PVL after CoreValve implantation. Methods: The analysis encompassed 69 patients implanted with CoreValve and were divided into two groups. In Group I (30 patients), valve selection was based on standard procedures, in Group II (39 patients), on MSCT measurements. Paravalvular leak was assessed with angiography and echocardiography. Results: Multi-slice computed tomography results influenced a change of decision as to the size of the implanted valve in 12 (30.9%) patients in Group II and would have caused the decision to change in 9 (37.5%) patients in Group I. The degree of oversizing in Group I and II was 12.8% ± ± 7.6% vs. 18.6% ± 5.1% (p = 0.0006), respectively. The oversizing among the patients with leak degree of 0–1 and ≥ 2 was 18.1% ± 6.0% and 12.8% ± 7.4% (p = 0.0036). Angiographic assessment indicated post-procedural PVL ≥ 2 in 50% of patients in Group I and 20.5% in Group II (p = 0.01), while echocardiographic assessment indicated the same in 73.3% of patients in Group I and 45.6% in Group II (p = 0.0136). The composite endpoint occurred in 26.6% (8/30) patients in Group I vs. 5.1% (2/39) patients in Group II (p = 0.0118). Conclusions: Selecting the CoreValve device based on MSCT resulted in smaller rates of PVL and less frequent composite endpoint. In 1/3 of patients MSCT led to a change of the valve size. The degree of oversizing had a significant impact on PVL

Expert opinion on the creating and operating of the regional Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT). Polish PERT Initiative

Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) is a multidisciplinary team established to stratify riskand choose optimal treatment in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Established for thefirst time at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2013, PERT is based on a concept combining a RapidResponse Team and a Heart Team. The growing role of PERTs in making individual therapeutic decisionsis identified, especially in hemodynamically unstable patients with contraindications to thrombolysis orwith co-morbidities, as well as in patients with intermediate-high risk in whom a therapeutic decisionmay be difficult. The purpose of this document is to define the standards of PERT under Polish conditions,based on the experience of teams already operating in Poland, which formed an agreement calledthe Polish PERT Initiative. The goals of Polish PERT Initiative are: improving the treatment of patientswith PE at local, regional and national levels, gathering, assessing and sharing data on the effectivenessof PE treatment (including various types of catheter-directed therapy), education on optimal treatmentof PE, creating expert documents and supporting scientific research, as well as cooperation with othercommunities and scientific societies

Odległe wyniki chirurgicznej rewaskularyzacji serca u chorych z kardiomiopatią niedokrwienną

Wstęp: Zachowawcze leczenie kardiomiopatii niedokrwiennej obarczone jest dużą śmiertelnością. Uznaną metodą leczenia choroby wieńcowej jest chirurgiczna rewaskularyzacja serca. Celem pracy była ocena odległych wyników pomostowania naczyń wieńcowych (CABG) u pacjentów z kardiomiopatią niedokrwienną. Materiał i metody: Badaniem objęto 61 chorych operowanych z powodu choroby wieńcowej z frakcją wyrzutową lewej komory (LVEF) mniejszą lub równą 25%. Wśród 61 chorych było 8 (13,1%) kobiet i 52 (86,9%) mężczyzn, średnia wieku wynosiła 58,1 ± 7,7 roku. Przynajmniej jeden zawał serca przebyło przed zabiegiem 59 (96,7%) chorych. Trzecią lub IV klasę dolegliwości według klasyfikacji CCS stwierdzono u 52 (85,2%) pacjentów, a u 47 (77,1%) odnotowano III lub IV stopień dolegliwości według klasyfikacji NYHA. Zabieg z wykorzystaniem tylko pomostów żylnych przeprowadzono u 6 (9,8%) chorych, u 3 (4,9%) zastosowano wyłącznie zespolenia tętnicze, a u 52 (85,2%) wykonano rewaskularyzację z użyciem pomostów tętniczych i żylnych. Wyniki: W średnim okresie obserwacji (52,8 ± 30,6 miesiąca) u 37 (60,6%) nie występowały dolegliwości, u 7 (11,5%) stwierdzono nawrót dolegliwości wieńcowych lub niewydolności serca, 17 (27,9%) osób zmarło. Odnotowano istotne zmniejszenie skali dolegliwości według klasyfikacji CCS z 3,3 ± 0,8 przed zabiegiem do 1,4 ± 0,7 w okresie obserwacji (p = 0,0001). Znamienną różnicę stwierdzono także w średnich wartościach dolegliwości związanych z niewydolnością serca: 3,2 ± 0,8 vs. 1.8 ± 0,9 (p = 0,0001). Odnotowano istotny wzrost średniej wartości LVEF przed operacją w porównaniu z okresem obserwacji (odpowiednio: 23,3 ± 2,7% vs. 32,5 ± 7,2%; p = 0,0001). Wnioski: Chorzy z ciężką kardiomiopatią niedokrwienną odnoszą istotne korzyści (zmniejszenie dolegliwości wieńcowych, poprawa wydolności) po zabiegu CABG w okresie obserwacji odległej. Pomostowanie aortalno-wieńcowe prowadzi w tej grupie chorych do poprawy czynności lewej komory serca. (Folia Cardiol. 2003; 10: 751–758