Two-dimensional versus three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion

Background: Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT3D TEE) enablesbetter visualization of the left atrial appendage (LAA) and may be superior to real-time two-dimensionaltransesophageal echocardiography (RT2D TEE) for LAA occlusion (LAAO). The aim of this study wasto assess inter- and intra-observer variability of RT2D TEE and RT3D TEE measurements of LAA,and to assess the accordance of RT2D TEE and RT3D TEE with appropriate occluder selection.Methods: Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 40 patients during LAAO. RT2DTEE and RT3D TEE measurements of the ostium and landing zone were performed independently bytwo echocardiographers. The appropriate choice of occluder was confirmed with fluoroscopic criteria.After the procedures, RT2D TEE and RT3D TEE evaluation were repeated separately by the sameechocardiographers.Results: The mean ostium diameters by RT2D TEE obtained by the two observers were 23.6 ± 4.2 vs.24.8 ± 5.2 (p = 0.04), and the mean landing zone diameters were 17.7 ± 4.4 vs. 19.4 ± 3.9 (p < 0.01).In the case of RT3D TEE, the ostium diameters were 29.6 ± 5.3 vs. 29.4 ± 6.4 (p = not significant[NS]) and the landing zone diameters were 21.4 ± 3.8 vs. 21.6 ± 3.9 (p = NS). Intra-observer differenceswere absent in the case of RT3D TEE. The comparison of RT2D TEE vs. RT3D TEE analysesperformed by the same echocardiographer revealed significant differences in the ostium and landingzone measurements (both p < 0.01). Agreement between the suggested device size was better for RT3DTEE (weighted kappa was 0.62 vs. 0.28, respectively).Conclusions: The results obtained with RT3D TEE showed significantly larger dimensions of theostium and the landing zone. RT3D TEE showed lesser inter- and intra-observer variability and betteragreement with the implanted device

The relationship between breast cancer molecular subtypes and mast cell populations in tumor microenvironment

Mast cells (MCs) are a part of the innate immune system. The MC functions toward cancer are partially based on the release of chymase and tryptase. However, the MC effect on breast cancer is controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of MCs in breast cancer tumors of different molecular subtypes and their relationships with other pathological prognostic factors. Tryptase- and chymase-positive mast cell densities were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 108 primary invasive breast cancer tissue samples. Positive cells were counted within the tumor bed and at the invasive margin. For all analyzed MC subpopulations, we observed statistically significant differences between individual molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The significantly higher numbers of intratumoral chymase- and tryptase-positive mast cells were observed in luminal A and luminal B tumors compared to triple-negative and HER2+ non-luminal lesions. A denser MC infiltration was associated with lower tumor grade, higher ER and PR expression, lower proliferation rate as well as the lack of HER2 overexpression. The results obtained in our study indicate a possible association of chymase- and tryptase-positive MCs with more favorable cancer immunophenotype and with beneficial prognostic indicators in breast cancer

Assessment of right ventriclar function by tissue Doppler in relation to plasma NT-proBNP concentration in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Background: Impairment of right ventricular function is a common finding in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim of the study was to assess the function of the right ventricle by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in relation to NT-proBNP concentration in patients with DCM. Methods: 29 patients with DCM were studied. Group I (n = 21) constituted of subjects with a NT-proBNP concentration > 500 pg/ml and group II (n = 8) constituted of patients with NT-proBNP < 500 pg/ml. In all patients the TDI parameters for the free-wall of the right ventricle were analysed: velocity of myocardium (VEL), strain (&#949;) and strain rate (SR). Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to clinical characteristics, parameters of global and regional left ventricular systolic function or between indicators of global right ventricular function. In group I the maximal values of e in the apical and medial segments of the right ventricular free wall were significantly lower than in group II (-17 &#177; 10 vs. -29 &#177; 7%; p = 0.0168 and -13 &#177; 6 vs. -25 &#177; 5%; p = 0.0023 respectively). Moreover, in group I the maximal SR in the apical and medial segments of the right ventricular free wall were significantly lower than in group II (1.56 &#177; 0.6 &#949;-1 vs. -1.071 &#177; 0.5 &#949;-1; p = 0.0358 and -0.99 &#177; 0.38 &#949;-1 vs. -1.55 &#177; 0.37 &#949;-1; p = 0.0044 respectively). Conclusions: Impairment of right ventricular function is most visible in the apical and medial segments. The maximal values of e and SR for the right ventricle free wall are lower in patients with DCM and NT-proBNP > 500 pg/ml. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 167-173

Ocena prawej komory za pomocą tkankowej echokardiografii doplerowskiej a stężenie NT-proBNP w surowicy u chorych na kardiomiopatię rozstrzeniową

Wstęp: W przebiegu kardiomiopatii rozstrzeniowej (DCM) często dochodzi do upośledzenia funkcji prawej komory. Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena czynności prawej komory z użyciem tkankowej echokardiografii doplerowskiej (TDI) oraz analiza związku między stężeniem N-końcowego mózgowego peptydu natriuretycznego (NT-proBNP) w surowicy krwi a parametrami mechanicznymi prawej komory u chorych na DCM. Metody: Badaniem objęto 29 osób z DCM. W zależności od stężenia NT-proBNP chorych podzielono na grupę I (n = 21), ze stężeniem NT-proBNP powyżej 500 pg/ml, i grupę II (n = 8) ze stężeniem NT-proBNP poniżej 500 pg/ml. Porównywano parametry uzyskane w trakcie badania za pomocą TDI: prędkości miokardium (VEL), odkształcenie ( e) i tempo odkształcania (SR) dla wolnej ściany prawej komory. Wyniki: Analizowane grupy nie różniły się charakterystyką kliniczną, parametrami globalnej i regionalnej funkcji skurczowej lewej komory, a także globalnymi wskaźnikami czynności prawej komory. W grupie I stwierdzono statystycznie znamiennie niższe warto&#339;ci maksymalnego e w segmencie koniuszkowym (-17 &#177; 10% vs. -29 &#177; 7%; p = 0,0168) i środkowym (-13 &#177; 6% vs. -25 &#177; 5%; p = 0,0023) wolnej ściany prawej komory. Ponadto w grupie I stwierdzono istotnie niższe wartości maksymalnego SR w segmencie koniuszkowym (-1,56 &#177; 0,6 s-1 vs. -1,071 &#177; 0,5 s-1; p = 0,0358) i środkowym (-0,99 &#177; 0,38 s-1 vs. -1,55 &#177; 0,37 s-1; p = 0,0044) wolnej ściany prawej komory. Wnioski: Zaburzenia funkcji prawej komory są najwyraźniej zaznaczone w segmencie środkowym i koniuszkowym. Wartości maksymalnego e i SR dla wolnej ściany prawej komory są niższe u chorych na DCM ze stężeniem NT-proBNP powyżej 500 pg/ml w porównaniu z pacjentami z DCM i NT-proBNP poniżej 500 pg/ml. (Folia Cardiologica Excerpta 2007; 2: 194-200

Polyoxometalate‐Ionic Liquids (POM‐ILs) as anticorrosion and antibacterial coatings for natural stones

Resumen del póster presentado al RSC Chemical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Early Careers Virtual Meeting, celebrado el 24 de marzo de 2021.Peer reviewe

Działania opiekuńcze w profilaktyce i terapii

Praca recenzowana / Peer-reviewed paperOpieka jest potrzebna wszystkim, zarówno dzieciom, jak i dorosłym, a w sposób szczególny osobom starszym, w tym terminalnie chorym. Prezentowane w niniejszej monografi i teksty uwzględniają właśnie tę wieloczynnikową aktywność opiekuńczą. Autorami poszczególnych rozdziałów są pracownicy naukowi zaangażowani w proces edukacyjny w zakresie nauk o zdrowiu, pracujący w Krakowskiej Akademii im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego, ale także studenci PWSZ w Tarnowie. W różnorodnym zakresie przedstawili i omówili oni główne tezy monografii

Anticoagulant selection in relation to the SAMe-TT2R2 score in patients with atrial fibrillation. the GLORIA-AF registry

Aim: The SAMe-TT2R2 score helps identify patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) likely to have poor anticoagulation control during anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and those with scores &gt;2 might be better managed with a target-specific oral anticoagulant (NOAC). We hypothesized that in clinical practice, VKAs may be prescribed less frequently to patients with AF and SAMe-TT2R2 scores &gt;2 than to patients with lower scores. Methods and results: We analyzed the Phase III dataset of the Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (GLORIA-AF), a large, global, prospective global registry of patients with newly diagnosed AF and ≥1 stroke risk factor. We compared baseline clinical characteristics and antithrombotic prescriptions to determine the probability of the VKA prescription among anticoagulated patients with the baseline SAMe-TT2R2 score &gt;2 and ≤ 2. Among 17,465 anticoagulated patients with AF, 4,828 (27.6%) patients were prescribed VKA and 12,637 (72.4%) patients an NOAC: 11,884 (68.0%) patients had SAMe-TT2R2 scores 0-2 and 5,581 (32.0%) patients had scores &gt;2. The proportion of patients prescribed VKA was 28.0% among patients with SAMe-TT2R2 scores &gt;2 and 27.5% in those with scores ≤2. Conclusions: The lack of a clear association between the SAMe-TT2R2 score and anticoagulant selection may be attributed to the relative efficacy and safety profiles between NOACs and VKAs as well as to the absence of trial evidence that an SAMe-TT2R2-guided strategy for the selection of the type of anticoagulation in NVAF patients has an impact on clinical outcomes of efficacy and safety. The latter hypothesis is currently being tested in a randomized controlled trial. Clinical trial registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov//Unique identifier: NCT01937377, NCT01468701, and NCT01671007