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Introduction: Women with IHD demonstrate lower quality of life and higher tendency to IHD related depression. Current CR programs are not as well suited to women's as men's needs. Men expect practical while women social and emotional assistance. Objectives: Use of Tai Chi exercises in outpatient CR of women with IHD increases its effectiveness leading to essential improvement of mental state. Aims: Valuation of effectiveness of different CR programs in quality of life (QoL) and depression level (DL) in women with IHD. Methods: Randomized, clinical trial included 68 women between 50 to 71 (average 62,07±6,00) with IHD confirmed by angiography and/or at least 1-2 months after myocardial infarction in stable disease, 24 MMSE points, EF>45%, no pharmacologically treated mental disorders. Patients participated in 12 weeks' CR program, in three groups: C-classical CR, P-classical CR and cognitive behavior psychotherapy, T-Tai Chi training. Stages: I-1-4 week-trainings 3 times/week, II-5-12 week-therapy in previous form, 2 times/week and 1 time/week cycloergometer. Evaluation of QoL and DL before the intervention, after 4 th and 12 th week, using Beck Depression Inventory and SF36 test examining physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary of QoL. Results: In all valuations no statistical differences between the groups in DL and QoL. Only in T group confirmed improvement in both tests. MCS improved after 1 st and PCS after 2 nd CR stage. Conclusions: Supplementation of cardiac rehabilitation programs with Tai Chi elements has positive impact on QoL and depression level in women with IHD.

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Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) (Cardiol J 2015; 22, 3: 247-252)

Background. The number of patients with chronic kidney failure requiring cardiac surgery is continuously increasing. Additionally, significant worsening in the overall risk profile of this group of patients is noted. Objectives. To investigate the effect of chronic renal dysfunction both in non-dialysis-dependent renal failure and end-stage renal failure patients, on early mortality -morbidity and late survival in a series of cardiac surgery patients at our institution. Material and Methods. 1344 patients who had open heart surgery at our university hospital between 2010 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Chronic renal dysfunction was defined according to preoperative glomerular filtration rate. Patients selection (n = 80). Group 1 mild -(GRF 59-30 mL/min), Group 2 moderate -(GFR 29-15 mL/min), Group 3 end stage -(GFR < 15 mL/min) renal failure. Results. Chronic renal dysfunction was present in 5.95 % of all patients studied. Group 1 -55 (68.75%), Group 2 -16 (20%), Group 3 -9 (11.25%). No difference between the groups in the need for heart inotropic support was noted; however the use of these medications was necessary in 60.6% of all studied patients. Forty nine percent in Group 1, 87.5% in Group 2 and 77% in Group 3, respectively. Renal replacement therapy in the early postoperative period was needed in 12 patients, with significance between the groups (p = 0.001). The overall hospital mortality was 2.5%. Follow-up was completed with a mean of 1.4 years (range 2 months to 4 years). There were 6 (7.5%) late deaths. Conclusions. Our observations do not exhibit large variations in postoperative complications and deaths in patients with chronic renal failure, depending on the degree of preoperative renal function impairment. It seems that renal failure regardless of the degree of impairment is a factor aggravating the intra and post-operative course in cardiac surgery patients (Adv Clin Exp Med 2015, 24, 5, 845-850).