Úvod: Aortální stenóza je nejčastější chlopenní vadou v dospělosti a katetrizační implantace aortální chlopně (TAVI) je novou, rozvíjející se alternativou ke standardní chirurgické náhradě aortální chlopně (AVR), vhodnou pro pacienty s vysokým operačním rizikem. Shrnujeme první zkušenosti s touto metodou na našem pracovišti.Metodika: Autoexpandibilní chlopeň CoreValve Revalving 18 F 3. generace je tvořena nitinolovým rámem a bioprotézou z prasečího perikardu. Přehledně popisujeme průběh výkonu. V období od dubna 2009 do ledna 2010 jsme TAVI provedli u 17 nemocných se symptomatickou významnou aortální stenózou. Stručná charakteristika souboru (průměrné hodnoty): věk 81 let, logistické EuroSCORE 21 %, plocha aortálního ústí 0,42 cm2/m2, ejekční frakce LK 52 %. Technická úspěšnost výkonu byla 100%. Mortalita do 30 dnů byla 0% a byl jasně patrný příznivý vliv TAVI na symptomatologii nemocných - dušnost se zlepšila alespoň o jeden stupeň NYHA klasifikace u všech nemocných.Závěr: Naše první zkušenosti s TAVI jsou velmi povzbudivé. Úspěch TAVI je podmíněn týmovým přístupem při předoperačním hodnocení, technicky precizním výkonem a pečlivou pooperační péčí. Domníváme se, že opatrný přístup k indikaci TAVI je nutný do potvrzení role této metody v delším sledování, v budoucnosti lze očekávat méně selektovanou aplikaci této metody.
Akutní významná mitrální regurgitace bez včasné chirurgické korekce může rychle vést k městnavému levostrannému srdečnímu selhání a úmrtí. Traumatický mechanismus je jeden z jejích vzácnějších příčin a je popisován v literatuře převážně po tupých poraněních hrudníku při autonehodách. V našich kasuistikách se zabýváme případy pacientů, u kterých byla diagnostikována nově vzniklá významná mitrální regurgitace s rupturou závěsného aparátu chlopně s projevy levostranného srdečního selhání vyžadující kardiochirurgickou operaci. Vnější vyvolávající příčinou byly mechanické události nevelké intenzity.
In this case we present a patient with unruptured non-coronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm associated with diverse clinical findings, caused by acquired degenerative changes of the aortic wall. A previously healthy 36-year-old female was admitted to the neurological clinic of our hospital having suffered from an episode of unconsciousness prior to admission, with accompanying seizures. For the preceding two months she had also been suffering from dyspnoea and palpitation. Neurological examination, computed tomography of the head and electroencephalography were with normal findings. Thereafter, due to paroxysm of supraventricular tachycardia she was referred to cardiology clinic. On routine physical examination a diastolic murmur was detected and the patient was referred for transthoracic echocardiography. This examination revealed a large, unruptured noncoronary sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, which was thereafter confirmed by transoesophageal echocardiography a angiography. The patient was indicated for surgical correction with aortic valve and aortic root replacement by Bentall procedure. Histological examination of the part of resected aneurysm found cystic medial degeneration of the aortic wall, also called cystic medial necrosis.
<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> In patients with heart failure, increased apoptosis, inflammation and activation of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β cytokine system have been documented. The aim of the present study was to establish (i) whether cytokine concentrations decrease in patients who respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and (ii) whether pre-implant values have any prognostic value. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Eighty-one CRT candidates were prospectively studied. The success of CRT was assessed based on clinical and echocardiographic improvement 6 months after implantation. Mortality was assessed 2 years after implantation. Blood samples were drawn before and 6 months after implantation. Serum concentrations of Fas, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, TNF-receptor 1, TGF-β1 and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured using ELISA. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At 6 months, 46 (56.8%) patients were classified as responders and 35 (43.2%) as nonresponders. Neither group differed with respect to baseline characteristics. In responders, the concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1 decreased significantly. In nonresponders, the concentration of TGF-β1 even increased significantly. In multivariate analysis, the concentration of TGF-β1 was a significant predictor of death during follow-up. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The response to CRT implantation was associated with a decrease of TGF-β1, IL-6 and TNF-α. Higher pre-implant concentrations of TGF-1β were independently associated with a poor prognosis in CRT patients.
Abstract Background Patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) can have a substantial myocardial damage despite being asymptomatic. Early surgical strategy might be beneficial. Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart disease present in almost 30% of these patients. Purpose Identify novel imaging predictors of early disease progression. Methods Prospective three-centre study of patients with chronic AR of at least moderate to severe (3+) grade and BAV morphology. Patients without currently recognised indication for surgical treatment were enrolled. Baseline examination included echocardiography (ECHO) with 3-dimensional (3D) vena contracta area and magnetic resonance (MR) with regurgitant fraction measured from flow sequence. All imaging studies were analysed in CoreLab. The primary endpoint was defined as a combination of cardiovascular death, surgical treatment or hospitalization for heart failure. Results A total of 83 patients with BAV and at least 3+ AR were enrolled during 2015–2018. Median follow-up was 759±455 days, primary composite endpoint occurred in 13 patients who met criteria for surgical treatment, no patient died or was hospitalized for heart failure. Baseline parameters were compared between two groups: patients with and without endpoint. Clinical and laboratory data did not differ between the two groups. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was normal in all patients. LV diameters and volumes were significantly larger in patients with primary endpoint. This was most pronounced in MR measured indexed volumes in end-diastole and end-systole, P=0.003 and P=0.003. Non-invasive markers of diffuse myocardial fibrosis (native T1 relaxation time and global longitudinal strain, P=0.614 and P=0.137 respectively) were not different. Novel markers of AR severity were significantly increased in surgically treated patients: 3D vena contracta 0.26±0.10 cm2 versus 0.38±0.11 cm2 (P<0.001), MR regurgitant fraction 33.9±15.4 versus 50.2±12.2% (P=0.001). Both 3D vena contracta with cutoff value ≥0.4 cm2 (sensitivity=85%, specificity=84%, area under the curve=0.85) and MR regurgitant fraction with cutoff value ≥34% (sensitivity=94%, specificity=58%, area under the curve=0.76) showed high accuracy to identify patients who require early surgical intervention. Adding 3D vena contracta and MR regurgitant fraction to indexed LV end-systolic volumetric parameters significantly increases the predictive value for early disease progression with p=0.001 and p=0.006 (Likelihood-ratio test). 3D vena contracta predictive value Conclusions Novel imaging parameters of AR severity such as 3D vena contracta and MR derived regurgitant fraction predict early disease progression in patients with BAV and at least 3+ chronic AR. These values significantly increase the predictive value of traditional parameters based on LV size measures.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is one of the most significant inventions in cardiology, as it provides a viable minimally invasive treatment option for patients with aortic stenosis, the most common valvular disease in the developed world and one with a poor prognosis when left untreated. Using data available to date, this review aims to discuss and identify possible predictors of TAVI valve durability - an essential requirement for the device's wide-spread use, especially in younger patients.
Alzheimerova choroba je onemocněni, ktere se v poslednich desetiletich dostalo do centra zajmu vědeckých pracovniků, zejmena diky vzrůstajicimu poctu pacientů s touto chorobou. To souvisi se starnutim populace obzvlastě ve vyspělých zemich. Tato diplomova prace je rozdělena na tři casti. Prvni teoreticka cast shrnuje soucasne poznatky o tomto onemocněni, diskutovana je epidemiologie, rizikove faktory, anatomicke změny a klinický obraz pacientů s Alzheimerovou chorobou. Dale je rozebrana diagnostika tohoto onemocněni. Teoretickou cast uzavira kapitola věnujici se soucasným lecebným prostředkům pro pacienty s Alzheimerovou nemoci. Druha cast je věnovana samotnemu výzkumu na pacientech. Cilem bylo zjistit změny kognitivnich funkci během jednoho roku u pacientů, kteři jsou leceni. Do výzkumu bylo zařazeno 12 pacientů s Alzheimerovou chorobou, kteři byli sledovani pomoci testů MMSE a ADAS – Cog. Výsledkem pozorovani bylo zjistěni, že během sledovaneho obdobi nedoslo u pacientů k žadným výrazným změnam. Při porovnani s pacienty přijimajicimi placebo byly výsledky lecených pacientů lepsi v testu MMSE, avsak toto tvrzeni nebylo prokazano v testu ADAS – Cog. Posledni casti teto diplomove prace je prezentace pro žaky středni skoly, ktera shrnuje soucasne poznatky o Alzheimerově chorobě ve vhodnem rozsahu.
Abstract Background GDF-15 is emerging as a biomarker of cardiometabolic risk and disease burden. Increased concentrations of circulating GDF-15 are associated with increased mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes or heart failure. Purpose We aimed to describe relation between GDF-15 elevation with stroke severity, myocardial injury and poor clinical outcome in patients after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods Patients after AIS were enrolled in our study. Blood samples were obtained from patients at the time of admission, 24 and 48 hours later to determine the plasma levels of GDF-15 and high-sensitive troponin I (hs-cTnI). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the diagnostic accuracy and optimal elevation cut-off values of GDF-15 on day 1 for the severity of acute stroke defined by NIHSS score. The optimal cut off in our group was 1776 pg/ml (Sensitivity 0,8, Specificity 0,52). Myocardial injury was defined by fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction using hs-cTnI. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, functional outcome, and all-cause mortality at 1 year were compared between groups according to GDF-15 levels. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at the time of admission and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 90 days following the patient’s discharge from the hospital were used to assess stroke severity and clinical outcome. All analyses were performed with SPSS 29.0 (SPSS Inc). Results Between August 2020 and August 2022, 177 patients after AIS were enrolled. Elevated GDF-15 was observed in 71 patients (40,1%). Most common comorbidities included arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 DM and atrial fibrillation. In analysis, we observed a connection between elevated GDF-15 with unfavourable outcome evaluated by mRS at 90 days (HR 2.57, 95% CI 1,44 to 4,57, p=0.001) and with all-cause death at 1 year (HR 4.479, 95% CI 1,81 to 11,09, p=0.001). GDF-15 elevation was associated with myocardial injury (Figure 1C). Moreover, individuals with moderate to severe and severe strokes (NIHSS 16-42) displayed higher GDF-15 levels compared to those with minor to moderate stroke (Figure 1D). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve accentuated a significantly elevated all-cause mortality among patients with increased GDF-15 (p < 0.001) (Figure 2). In multivariate regression analysis elevated GDF-15 was associated with atrial fibrillation and high-sensitive troponin I elevation. Conclusion The conclusions drawn suggest that heightened GDF-15 is associated with increased stroke severity, myocardial injury and unfavourable outcome.
