Effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor on the function and regeneration of myocardium in rats with experimental infarction

To test the reparative capacity of stromal cells in myocardial infarction, rats were injected with granulocyte-monocyte-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (leukomax), a cytokine known by its ability to raise a level of stromal cells in the blood, during first three days after coronary artery ligation. Only 10 of 17 rats (59%) survived 4 weeks in this group compared with 16 of 24 (67%) among rats not treated with leukomax. Echocardiographic and electromanometric studies showed that in both groups ventricular (LV) dilatation which developed during first hours after surgery persisted throughout 6-8 weeks and was combined with decreased ejection fraction and elevated LV end diastolic pressure. These alterations correlated with infarct size which varied from 0 to 28% of left ventricular weight in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in functional and morphometric measurements between groups receiving and not receiving GM-CSF. However this result may be inconclusive due to small number of investigated animals and broad variation of ischemic zone size in each group.     

The diagnosis of renal artery stenosis by the data from ultrasonic study methods

The purpose of the present investigation was to elaborate diagnostic criteria for stenosing of renal arteries according to ultrasonic dopplerography. The investigation included 35 patients suffering from vasorenal hypertension with stenoses of the renal arteries documented by angiography and 63 patients with stage II essential hypertension, who made up the control group. Ultrasonic scanning of the kidneys and dopplerography of the renal arteries were performed with the use of the Acuson-128 ultrasonic system fitted out with a sector transducer operating at a frequency of 3.5 MHz. The authors have devised a method of an ultrasonic study of the renal arteries by means of the posterolateral access. Established criteria for diagnosing stenosis of the renal artery. Among these are a decline of the pulsation index, the resistive index, and the systolic-diastolic velocity ratio as compared to the contralateral artery and nonstenosed renal arteries in the control group patients.     

Potentials of transesophageal echocardiography in cardiology and cardiac surgery

The paper is concerned with some potentialities of transesophageal echocardiography (TE echoCG) in diagnostic and cardiosurgical practice. Four examples are provided (interatrial septal defect, a new growth in the right atrial cavity, vegetation on the cusps of the aortal valve, left atrial thrombus), illustrating that the use of TE echoCG was of help in the establishment of a correct diagnosis. The method is described as holding promise for observation over heart activity in cardiosurgery. In addition, the authors mark difficulties encountered during interpretation of the data obtained.     

Echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension]

The results of examination of patients with primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension by means of the echocardiographic method are presented in the article. Basing on the analysis of their own data and foreign literature the authors have set out the most informative indices of pulmonary hypertension on the echogram of the vulve of the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle. It has been noted that in the left hypertension the form of the echocardiogram of the left cusp of the pulmonary valve is depressed, the amplitude of the precardiac wave "a" increased, and the amplitude and rate of the cusp opening decreased. The anterior-posterior size of the right ventricle is significantly increased and a parodoxal movement of the interventricular septum appears with a relative insufficiency of the tricupsid valve.     

Effect of atorvastatin on endothelial function in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

AIM: To study the influence of treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin on endothelial function in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia type IIa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients (5m/11w, 51-/+3 years) with familial hypercholesterolemia were studied before and after 3 months of therapy with atorvastatin 20 mg/day. EDRF release test (D.Celermajer, 1992) was used to assess flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery in response to reactive hyperemia. Plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels were measured as an indirect index of nitric oxide (NO) production in vivo using HPLC. RESULTS: Atorvastatin treatment resulted in a 32% reduction in total serum cholesterol (CH), 41% reduction in low density lipoprotein (LDL) CH, 16% reduction in triglycerides and a 21% increase in high density lipoprotein CH. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was impaired at baseline (5.8-/+0.9%) and significantly improved up to 9.5-/+0.9% after 3 month atorvastatin therapy (p<0.002). Change in FMD inversely correlated with baseline FMD (r = -0.58, p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between FMD and neither total serum CH nor LDL CH levels at baseline. During atorvastatin therapy significant reduction of plasma NOx levels occurred from 53.4-/+5.1 mcmol/l at baseline (range 42.6-86.2 mcmol/l) to 35.5-/+5.1 mcmol/l (18.4-46.0 mcmol/l) after treatment (p<0.02, n=7). CONCLUSION: In patients with familial hypercholesterolemia atorvastatin produced beneficial effect on endothelial function (increase in flow-mediated dilatation, decrease in NOx).     

Long-Term Therapy With Indirect Anticoagulants in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation (Prospective Follow-Up Study). Part II. Effectiveness and Safety

AIM: To assess efficacy and safety of long-term international normalized ratio (INR) guided therapy with acenocoumarol in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. MATERIAL: Patients (n=100) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and at least 1 risk factor of thromboembolic complications. METHODS: Ischemic strokes, episodes of systemic thromboembolism and hemorrhagic complications were registered during 3 years of treatment with acenocoumarol (target INR 2.0-3.0). RESULTS: Annual rates of ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic complications and major bleeding were 0.7, 14.4 and 1.1%, respectively. No episodes of thromboembolism were registered in patients with history of thromboembolic complications. Basing on data collected predictors of bleeding complications in patients with atrial fibrillation during long term treatment with acenocoumarol were elucidated.