Our study provides novel and preliminary observations--n-3 PUFA supplementation reveals additional decreasing effects on depressive and anxiety symptoms in early post-MI patients.

Standard-dose anthracycline chemotherapy is associated with LV dilatation and diastolic dysfunction, regardless of the preserved global systolic function. It coexists with negative structural arterial remodelling.

Males and postmenopausal females with CAD show differences in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation that seem to secondarily result from differences in the BAd. Objective comparison of %FMD is only possible between patients with the same brachial artery size.

Copeptin is a new biomarker of cardiovascular diseases. Its diagnostic value in degenerative aortic valve stenosis (AS) with preserved left ventricle systolic function is unknown. We aimed to assess the association of serum copeptin levels with AS severity and coexistence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Sixty-four patients with AS and preserved left ventricle systolic function including 40 with severe degenerative AS (group sAS, effective orifice area EOA = 0.67 cm(2)) and 24 with moderate degenerative AS (group mAS, EOA = 1.40 cm(2)) were enrolled into the study. Twenty-three patients without AS and heart failure, matched for age, sex, and CAD occurrence served as the control group (group C). Serum levels of copeptin and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean serum copeptin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with AS: sAS (405 pg/ml) and mAS (351 pg/ml; sAS vs mAS P< 0.05), compared with group C (302 pg/ml, P < 0.05). Serum copeptin levels correlated inversely with EOA (r = -0.55; P < 0.001) in AS patients. There was no correlation between copeptin and NT-proBNP or association with the coexisting CAD. Receiver-operating characteristics analysis showed that copeptin was a good marker of severe/moderate AS (sensitivity 71 %; specificity 87 %), with the optimized cut-off value of 354 pg/ml. Serum copeptin concentration constitutes a novel biomarker of degenerative AS. Coexisting CAD does not interfere with copeptin level.

IntroductIon There is an ongoing debate regarding aortic valve degenerative processes. Some markers of calcification and atherosclerosis may be potentially useful in establishing their etiology.objEctIvEs The aim of the study was to assess the bio chemical markers of calcification and atherosclerosis in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) in relation to the aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) and concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). PAtIEnts And mEthodsThe study involved 88 patients: 68 patients with degenerative AS (group A), including 44 patients with severe AS (A1; 25 patients with CAD) and 24 patients with moderate AS (A2; 13 patients with CAD) and 20 matched subjects as controls (18 patients with CAD). In all patients, clinical data were assessed, laboratory tests were done (including the analysis of serum inter leukin 4 [IL -4], osteoprotegerin [OPG], and fetuin -A levels), coronary angiography was performed, and the AVCS was measured.rEsuLts Study groups and subgroups had comparable serum IL -4, OPG, and fetuin -A levels. There were significant differences in the AVCS between patients with severe AS, moderate AS, and controls (3605 ±2542 Agatston units [AU], 1390 ±1143 AU, 100 ±194 AU, respectively; P <0.001). There were no significant correlations between the AVCS and serum IL -4, OPG, or fetuin -A levels. In moderate AS, serum OPG levels were higher in subjects with concomitant CAD (5.84 ±1.4 vs. 4.03 ±1.3 pmol/l, P = 0.036). In severe AS, the mean AVCS was similar in patients with and without CAD. Higher AVCS was observed only in patients with moderate AS and coexisting CAD compared with patients without CAD (1644 ±1285 vs. 902 ±789 AU, P = 0.038).concLusIons There were no significant differences between patients with and without degenerative AS in selected bio chemical markers. The presence of CAD in moderate AS was associated with increased AVCS and serum OPG levels suggesting the effect of atherosclerosis on early valve calcification. In patients with severe AS, there were no correlations between calcification and atherosclerotic markers.