Biomedical subjects

Andrzej Skrobowski

Publications and source records attributed to Andrzej Skrobowski.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[The influence of weather conditions on the occurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation].

UNLABELLED: The effect of the changing weather conditions on the incidence of the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) has not been documented before. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This analysis retrospectively assessed the influence of the weather conditions on 1153 PAF cases over the period of 10 years. The average age of the studied population was 64.9 +/- 9.2 years. There was 60% males in the group. The majority (84%) had an existing heart disease, the remaining part was diagnosed as the lone PAF. RESULTS: The following factors favoured the FAP occurrence: high air temperature (> 25 Centigrade) for more than 3 days, low temperature (< 8 Centigrade), water vapor pressure > 16.5 kPa, accelerated increase of the air pressure > 8hPa over 2 days. CONCLUSIONS: The following weather conditions such as: temperature, air humidity and pressure have a definite impact on the occurrence of the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation episodes in 87% of patients especially those with co-existing coronary heart disease, hypertension or older age.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

[Clinical and angiographic correlates of coronary calcium scoring in multislice computed tomography (MSCT)].

BACKGROUND: The MSCT calcium scoring allows to identify patients with increased coronary event risk or at early stages of coronary artery disease (CAD). AIM: The aim of the study was to find the correlation of calcium score with various clinical features and degree of coronary stenosis. METHODS: 40 consecutive patients (10 women) with angiographically proven coronary artery disease were assessed for coronary calcium score by means of MSCT not later than 48 hours after the angiography. The acquisition parameters were as follows: 3.2 mm slice thickness, 1.6 mm increment, pitch 1.25, 120 kV, 200 mAs, rotation time of 500 ms, supine patients during single breath-hold. The calcium score was semiautomatically calculated taking into account the size and density higher than 130 Hounsfield units. The clinical features such as the presence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity (body mass index), smoking, CCS angina score, previous myocardial infarction, CAD duration, degree of stenosis and diffused disease were also analysed by means of Spearman's test. RESULTS: The calcium score in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) 271 + 598 showed good correlation with the degree of stenosis in the LAD 69 +/- 37 (r = 0.591, p<0.0001) and angina score (median 2, p<0.001). It was also correlated as well as calcium score in the LMA 55 +/- 147 with the CAD duration of 9 +/- 9 years and diabetes (p<0.01). The CS in the RCA 102 +/- 362 was associated with the diabetes, dyslipidaemia and obesity with the p<0.03. The score in the LCX 282 +/- 797 was correlated with the degree of stenosis in every artery (p<0.001 for the LCX = 56 +/- 39). The total calcium score 675 +/- 1462 was associated with the angina score, CAD duration (p<0.001), diffused disease and the stenosis in the LAD and LCX (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The total and the LAD coronary calcium score may be associated with the severity of symptoms, degree of stenosis in the LAD and disease extent. The calcium deposits in the RCA may be more frequent in patients with metabolic disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Genes and cardiovascular diseases].

In recent years there has been observed a relatively fast progress of explaining genetic mechanisms of development of many cardiovascular system diseases, mainly diseases conditioned by the mutation of single genes. The situation is different when analyzing the dependencies of complex cardiovascular system diseases whose development has many stages depending on exogenous or hereditary factors. The development of those diseases is due to interactions between particular environmental factors, individual differences in response to environmental factors and often complex genetic relations. The complexity of etiopathogenesis and clinical differentiation are the result of superposition of the effects of the action of single genes responsible for the development, predisposing and/or modulating the course. The analysis of genetic causes of cardiovascular system diseases is made on the basis of models and multigene polymorphisms.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2003

[Left ventricular function in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

BACKGROUND: The disproportion between the absence of clinical manifestations of circulatory system involvement and serious lesions in the heart found on post mortem examinations, more frequently diagnosed congestive circulatory failure and also higher mortality rate of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), encouraged the authors to study the subject. THE AIM OF THE STUDY WAS: Echocardiographic assessment of the effect of rheumatoid process on left ventricular structure, and systolic and diastolic function in patients with RA without clinically overt features of heart disease. METHODS: The study was conducted in 50 patients with RA diagnosed on the basis of the ACR criteria and in 50 persons matched with the patients with respect to age, gender, body area and body mass index, heart rate and arterial pressure. Persons with manifestations and/or history of cardiovascular diseases were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The authors found that: in RA, the involvement of the myocardium by the pathological process was manifested as increased wall thickness, increased mass and mass index of the left ventricle with impairment of its diastolic function and normal systolic function. With progressing rheumatoid process, left ventricular systolic function impairment was observed. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the course of rheumatoid arthritis usually was not manifested clinically.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed2002

Autonomic nervous system and left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Patients with essential hypertension (EH) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) have an increased risk of cardio-vascular complications. Alterations in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity may play a role in the development of serious cardiac arrhythmias and mortality in these patients. AIM: To examine the activity of ANS in patients with established EH in relation to the presence of LVH. METHODS: The study group consisted of 70 subjects: 50 patients with untreated EH (mean age 44.4+/-12.7 years, 28 patients without LVH and 22 with LVH), and 20 age-matched healthy volunteers. ANS reactivity was assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) analysed during tilt table testing at 60 degrees. The following 5-min time-periods were analysed: (A) before tilting (supine position), (B) initial period of tilting, (C) last 5 min of tilting, and (D) immediately after completion of tilt test (after return to supine position). RESULTS: Patients with EH without LVH had a higher increase of LF/HF values (period B versus period C) compared with controls (p<0.05). The change from tilt to supine position caused significantly lower change in lnHF values in patients with EH and LVH than in controls (p<0.01) or patients with EH without LVH (p<0.005). In patients with EH and LVH a significant correlation between HF and LVmass/height (r=-0.5, p<0.01) was noted. Compared with healthy controls, patients with EH and LVH had significantly lower HRV parameters [lnLF values were significantly lower in all analysed periods, (p<0.05), and lnHF - during period D, (p<0.01)] whereas LF/HF ratio assessed during period D was significantly higher (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with EH without LVH a relative dominance of sympathetic activity is present. LVH in EH leads to a decrease in vagal drive and progressive inhibition of parasympathetic activity, both of which decrease HRV. These changes may play an important role in the electrical instability of hypertrophied myocardium.

Journal Article↗