Cardiology Journal 2013, tom 20, nr 3

The receptor activator of nuclear factor-Kb ligand (RANKL) is recently known as an important factor in osteoclastogenesis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a member of the tumor necrotic factor receptor family and a decoy receptor for RANKL plays its role in bone remodeling by blocking RANKL-ligand [1]. Actually it is the indirect inhibitor of the osteoclasts...

Despite great progress in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) still remain a group at the greatest risk of death. Simple, easily measurable prognostic factors are sought to distinguish those patients who are at risk of death despite successful recanalization of infarct related artery in CS group...

Implantation of drug eluting stents (DES) has become a standard method of treatment of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Although DES reduced rates of restenosis compared with bare metal stents (BMS), late thrombosis, a life-threatening complication has emerged as a major concern. Incomplete strut coverage observed in follow-up period has been currently identified as a potential risk factor leading to the occurrence of late stent thrombosis (LST) [1, 2]...

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common type of tachyarrhythmia seen in pediatric patients, and accounts for more than 90% of pediatric arrhythmias [1]. Symptoms vary according to age, duration of tachycardia and heart rate; neonates and infants can be admitted with congestive heart failure findings [1]. Although SVT in infants can be managed medically in most cases and tends to spontaneously resolve within 1 or 2 years, there is occasionally need for ablative therapy [1–3]...

Percutaneous mitral annuloplasty (PMA) can be an alternative method of treatment for patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation [1, 2]. In this method, the circumference of the mitral annulus is reduced in the antero-posterior diameter by a dedicated device such as e.g. a CARILLON (Cardiac Dimensions, USA). Devices are implanted percutaneously via the coronary sinus (CS) ostium from the right atrium and finally into the CS and great cardiac vein...

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited autosomal-dominant disease of the connective tissue [1]. In most cases, mutation of fibrillin 1 gene (FBN1) can be identifi ed [2]. This gene produces fi brillin 1 protein, which is the main constituent of microfi brils in the extracellular matrix. These fibres play an important role in incorporating elastin into elastic fi bres [3]...

Dysfunctions of both ventricles often coexist in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Left ventricular (LV) failure can lead to right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Occurrence of RV failure worsens prognosis in patients with dysfunctional LV. The aim of this paper is to reflect current reference on RV performance as a consequence of developing CHF and atrial fibrillation (AF). Existing dysfunction or exposure to RV overload can be a substrate for AF occurrence as well...

In their recent study, Ozdogru et al. [1] concluded that the pulse wave velocity was impaired and was improved after successful percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in patients with mitral stenosis, which reveal that mitral stenosis is a factor related to impaired arterial stiffness. However, there is an uncertainty in interpreting the results of this study...