The role of exercise test in stratifying the risk of asymptomatic patients with moderate/severe aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: The role of exercise test in risk stratifying of asymptomatic patients with moderate and severe aortic stenosis (AS) in recent literature is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of exercise test in stratifying the risk of patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis. METHODS: At the Internal Medicine Clinic, Department of Cardiology in Tuzla, in the period from January 2008 until January 2010 was followed 33 patients with clinical and echocardiographic parameters of moderate to severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis (mean effective orifice area EOA 0.9 +/- 0.34 cm2). In statistical analysis we used descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier life table for predictive values, sensitivity and specificity. A significance level of 0.05 was used. RESULTS: Two patients were excluded due to exclusion criteria, so 31 patient was followed up during 12 months period. Eighteen patients (58%) with EOA pounds sterling 0.8 cm2 had limiting symptoms during the test. During follow-up period, 11 patients developed serious spontaneous symptoms, and out of them 8 patients underwent surgical valve replacement, one patient died (sudden cardiac death), and 2 patients had serious complications (ischemic cerebral stroke). Twenty patients remained asymptomatic. The highest positive predictive accuracy had EOA pounds sterling 0.8 cm2 with limiting symptoms and it was 85%. The highest negative predictive accuracy had ST depression. CONCLUSION: only limiting symptoms along with EOA pounds sterling 0.8 cm2 had positive predictive accuracy.

Correlation between interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 in acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to analyze (i) ratios between pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable angina pectoris (ii) as well as correlation between IL-6 and IL-10 in AMI and (iii) correlation between IL-6 and lipoproteins in AMI.The total of 71 patients were enrolled in this study, 41 of them with AMI (study group) and 30 with stable angina pectoris (control group). The concentrations of cytokines and lipoproteins were measured from blood samples. Pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory cytokine ratios were calculated by dividing concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines with IL-10. In statistical analyses we used descriptive statistics, normality tests and analysis of correlation.IL-6: IL-10 ratio is significantly higher in AMI than in stable angina (P < 0,001), TNF-alpha: IL-10 is also higher in study group but the difference is not significant. We found positive linear correlation between IL-6 and IL-10 (r =0,43; p = 0,015) and negative linear correlation between IL-6 and high density lipoprotein HDL (r = -0,47; p= 0,008) in AMI.IL-6: IL-10 ratio is higher in AMI than in stable angina. There is linear correlation between IL-6 and IL-10 and IL-6 and HDL in AMI.

Effects of nebivolol on artery hypertension--multicentre study Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases; drugs that reduce blood pressure and simultaneously improve or reverse endothelian dysfunction, as nebivolol, may be advantageous in terms of cardiovascular protection. The objective of this study is to show the anti-hypertensive efficacy and safety of nebivolol (5 mg once a day) given to patients with arterial hypertension for 3 months. It should also provide information about drug's influence on laboratory tests--fasting blood glucose and serum cholesterol, triglyceride and creatinine concentrations. Six centers--Tuzla, Sarajevo, Mostar, Bihac, Zenica and Banja Luka participated in this prospective study with follow-up period of 3 months that included 3 visits. The study group consisted of 328 hypertensic patients. Results showed a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate at the end of the study. Fasting blood glucose level and serum cholesterol, triglyceride and creatinine changed significantly during the study, with lower levels of all the tests. Nebivolol seems to be free from some of the problems that generally accompany not only the classical beta- blockers but sometimes also newer classes of antihypertensive drugs. With its high anti-hypertensive efficiency and safety, and presence of statically significant difference in laboratory tests and beneficial effects, absence of adverse interaction with glucose and lipid metabolism, patients treated with Nebivolol may show an optimal adherence to therapy.

[Arrhythmia and left ventricle remodeling in acute myocardial infarct: recommendations for drug therapy]. / Aritmije i remodeliranje lijevog ventrikula u akutnom infarktu miokarda: preporuke za medikamentozni tretman.

Occurrences of arrhythmias during the acute myocardial infarction is explained with local ischaemia, but mechanism of later occurrences is unclear. Our study had for the aim to examine relationship between postinfarction left ventricle dilatation and appearance of arrhythhmias, and to show drug effects on remodelling. Patients who developed progressive left ventricle dilatation had higher mortality then patients without changes of left ventricle volume, and mortality is due of sudden cardiac death. Drugs who had preventive effects or reverse remodelling can help in prevention of malignant arrhythhmias and sudden cardiac death. It is showed that ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and aldosterone antagonists had preventive effects on left ventricle remodelling. The combined therapy with ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and aldosterone antagonists is showed as the most-effective in prevention of remodelling, appearaance of arrhythhmias and sudden cardiac death.

[Statins in dyslipidemia associated with acute myocardial infarct]. / Statini kod dislipidemije u akutnom infarktu miokarda.

Long time ago lipids increased in blood have been known as risk factor for atherosclerosis that causes coronary heart disease among which myocardial infarction is the most complicated. Aim were to present the lipids status structure in patients with acute myocardial infarction and on the basis of that to suggest corresponding statin in treatment. Our research involved 202 patients with acute myocardial infarction, patients were both gender and from 37 to 89 year. Out of total number of patients, 100 of them were with anterior myocardial infarction (group I) and 102 with inferior myocardial infarction (group II). Whole cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, high density lipoproteins and triglycerides were followed. Hi square test and variance analysis were used to prove statistically significant difference. In the sample of group I increased LDL was found in 92 patients and increased TGL in 46 patients while decreased HDL was found in 61 patients. In the sample of group II increased LDL was found in 64 patients, increased TGL in 44 patients, while decreased HDL was found in 51 patients. We analysed the next combinations in both groups: LDL > with HDL <; LDL > with TGL >; HDL < with TGL >; LDL >, TGL > with HDL <. Combination decreased HDL with increased TGL was found in group I in 5 patients, and in group II in 12 patients. Other combinations in both groups were similarly values. On the basis of the obtained results we found statistically significant difference between the two groups of patients. Patients in group I have more frequently increased values of LDL in comparison to patients in group II (p < 0.00005). In patients in group II who had decreased HDL and increased TGL statistically significant difference was found in comparison to the patients in group I (p < 0.02). On the basis of the obtained results and up to now studies on statins effects we suggest Atorvastatin for treatment the patients with anterior myocardial infarction, increased LDL with normal values of HDL and Simvastatin for treatment the patients with inferior myocardial infarction, decreased HDL.