Summary. The aim of this study was to investigate antiradical activity of aqueous and ethanolic hawthorn fruit extracts, their flavonoids, and flavonoid combinations.Material and methods. Total amount of phenolic compounds and the constituents of flavonoids were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of Crataegus monogyna extracts and flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, vitexin-2O-rhamnoside, epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidin B 2 ) quantitatively was determined using the method of spectrophotometry Medicina (Kaunas) 2008; 44(9)

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Thermography is a relatively new contact-free method used in experimental and clinical studies and in cardiovascular surgery to investigate the myocardium and coronary artery function. Objects of complex study included mongrel dogs and patients with coronary artery disease who underwent cardiac surgery. For active dynamic thermography, we used a thermovision camera “A20V” (FLIR Systems, USA). Our data indicate that both experimental and clinical study performed on beating hearts could be an important approach to interoperation inspection of autovenous graft function. An infrared camera also can be successfully used to determine the extent of ischemic damage to the myocardium, heart, and blood vessels during surgery as a significant prognostic tool for evaluating outcome after cardiac operation.

Eighty-two patients with ectopic atrial tachycardia (EAT) were subjected to radical closed heart surgery (without cardiopulmonary bypass). The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 51 years. Permanent EAT was present in 19 patients, incessant EAT in 14, and paroxysmal EAT in 49 patients. Preoperative electrophysiological study included computed analysis of the P wave vector. Ectopic foci were established in the right atrium in 34 patients, in the left atrium in 11, in the interatrial septum in 32, and extracardially in 5 patients. For ablation or isolation of the foci, the cryogenic technique was used in 74 patients, cryo- and laser techniques in 4, and the laser technique alone in 1 patient. In 3 patients resection of the atrial auricles including the ectopic focus was undertaken. In 4 patients complete AV block was induced and a cardiac pacemaker implanted. After primary surgery, favourable results were obtained in 71 patients. In 11 patients recurrences were observed; 8 of these patients underwent successful repeat surgery. In 3 patients medical treatment was effective. Finally, the follow-up results have been promising-79 patients (96.4%) (including 4 patients in whom a complete AV block was created) have become arrhythmia-free. When EAT is resistant to medical treatment, closed heart ablation of the ectopic focus has proved to be safe (no mortality or morbidity) and effective. It can therefore be recommended not only for the termination of EAT but also for the prevention of dilated cardiomyopathy.

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