Atherosclerosis is a inflammatory-immunological-degenerative process. Cardiovascular diseases account for 42% of premature deaths among men and 52% of premature deaths among woman. Identification of classical biomarkers of atherosclerosis, such as LDL, HDL and triglycerides may not be helpful in patients with moderate or unusual cardiovascular risk. Non-classical indicators of atherosclerosis include markers of the inflammatory process, markers of atherosclerotic plaque injury, acute phase proteins, ischemic markers, markers of tissue necrosis, markers of myocardial dysfunction. The identification of CVD biomarkers enables the classification of patients to appropriate cardiovascular risk groups. Knowledge about the CVD risk group makes it possible to take rapid therapeutic intervention aimed at limiting this risk. Pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular diseases is primarily based on lowering cholesterol's level in the blood. Additional properties of statins (the most important lipid-lowering drugs) enable their pleiotropic effect by limiting the progression of atherosclerotic lesions by reducing the volume of atherosclerotic plaque. Further research on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis will allow learning new risk factors and new biomarkers of this disease.

Background Protective vaccinations are one of the basic means of infectious disease prevention. The aim of the study was to assess the implementation of compulsory and additional protective vaccinations among adult Poles, their knowledge about the purpose of introducing a vaccination schedule and adverse events following immunization. Opinions about and support for anti-vaccination movements were also examined. Materials and methods A total of 700 (100%) people aged 18 to 80 (x̅  = 32,16 ± 16,46) took part in the study, conducted using the proprietary questionnaire. All the participants selected randomly from patients of the Department of Cardiology, their visitors, doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical students, and authors’ acquaintances gave their informed consent to participate in the study. Results About 10% of the respondents did not complete the compulsory vaccination schedule. Almost 80% of respondents believed that the main reason for vaccinations schedule occurrence was the desire to completely exclude certain diseases and their complications from the population. More than half of the respondents have never had any additional vaccination. A statistically significant correlation was found between intake of at least one additional vaccination and age (χ2=22.262, p = 0.002) and education level (χ2= 11.074, p = 0.004). Among the respondents, there was a group that classified autism as one of the adverse events following immunization. About 95% of respondents never experienced any adverse events following immunizationand as many as 30 respondents declared their support for anti-vaccination movements. Conclusion The degree of the implementation of compulsory protective vaccinations in the study group was high, while additional vaccinations were insufficient. The purposefulness of introducing a vaccination schedule was correctly identified by the majority of the respondents, but the knowledge about adverse events following immunisation and their types was incomplete. Among participants were individuals who declared their support for anti-vaccination movements, so society should be constantly educated about vaccinations benefits.

Aortic aneurysm is defined as a pathologically dilated segment of the main artery. There are three main types of aortic aneurysms: real, pseudo and dissecting. The most common aneurysms are abdominal aortic aneurysms defined as vasodilatation equal to or above 30 mm. Abdominal aortic aneurysm development is usually asymptomatic. Many various risk factors have been linked to AAA development. The pathophysiology of AAA is associated with inflammation, smooth muscle cells apoptosis and matrix degradation. The changes always result from imbalance between active matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors -TIMPs. Abdominal aorta is the most common location for the aneurysm. The risk of developing AAA increases with age. It is more common in men. Its rupture is associated with a high risk of death. The pathogenesis of AAA is complex and still not fully understood. In pathophysiological processes, aortic wall degeneration and atherosclerosis dominate. The factors involved in the pathogenesis of AAA and TAA are not quite the same. Important factors involved in the formation of AAA and increasing the risk of its rupture are MMPs. Also, polymorphisms of numerous genes have been associated with the risk of developing AAA. The two groups of factors related to AAA formation and development are presented and discussed in this work.

Objectives Protective vaccinations are important in maintaining health and reducing suffering from infectious diseases. Also, vaccine-preventable infectious diseases are associated with the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Aim The study aimed to test adults' knowledge of the role of protective vaccinations in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and their opinions on the quantity of the information provided by doctors in this regard. Methods A total of 700 adults participated in the study, most of whom were women (500; 71.43%). The study used an original questionnaire containing questions covering vaccinations and cardiovascular diseases, and the general characteristics of the participants. The inclusion criteria for the study were 18 years of age and written informed consent to participate in the study. Results Over 60% of the participants did not know of, or denied the possibility of, developing cardiovascular diseases as a result of avoiding required preventive vaccinations. More than half of the participants stated that there is no need to recommend influenza vaccination to patients with cardiovascular diseases. Over 70% of participants stated that family doctors did not provide sufficient information about protective vaccinations. Conclusion In these adults, knowledge of the role of preventive vaccinations in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases was low, and the quantity of the information provided by doctors about preventive vaccinations were considered to be insufficient. Public awareness of the effects of avoiding preventive vaccinations should be raised especially among people with CVD.

Background The vaccine is a preparation of biological origin containing antigens that stimulate the body’s immune system to produce acquired immunity. Vaccines can contain killed or “live” (attenuated) microorganisms as well as fragments of these (antigens). Although many vaccines are used routinely in pregnancy to provide a seroprotective immune response for mother, fetus and neonate there is much controversy over their use during this unique time. The aim of the study was to find out about the knowledge of adult Poles on the use of preventive vaccinations during pregnancy. Methods The study involved 700 people (100%) aged 18 to 80 years ($$ \overline{x} $$ x ¯ = 32.16 ± 16.46). Most of the respondents were women (511; 73%). The study consisted of 9 questions about preventive vaccinations of pregnant women and 5 questions about members of the studied group. The aforementioned questions formed the basis of the preparation of the presented article. Results A significant part of respondents (322; 46%) did not have knowledge on the topic of safeness of using preventive vaccinations during pregnancy, 196 (28%) respondents believed that such procedure is not safe. Most of the respondents (371; 53%) did not know about the possibility of using “live” vaccines during pregnancy. 14 (2%) of respondents believed that pregnancy should be terminated in case of administration of a “live” vaccine to a pregnant woman. According to 294 (42%) respondents, vaccinations with “live” vaccines should be completed at least 3 months before the planned pregnancy. The subjects were not aware of the issue of post-exposure vaccination against tetanus and rabies among pregnant women. The respondents’ responses were divided on the issue of the safest trimester of pregnancy for vaccine administration. Almost 1/3 of the respondents (203; 29%) indicated the third trimester as the safest for their performance. Conclusion The knowledge of the surveyed group, the majority of whom were women, about the use of vaccinations before and during pregnancy was unsatisfactory. There is a need to educate the public about the benefits and risks of performing or avoiding preventive vaccinations during pregnancy.