Numerous association studies have been involved in studying the angiotensinogen (AGT) variants, AG T plasma levels and relations to cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease. To investigate a role of AGT G(-6)A and M235T genetic variants for chronic heart failure (CHF) and advanced atherosclerosis (AA), a total of 240 patients with CHF and 200 patients with AA of the Czech origin were evaluated for the study. The study shows the role of polymorphism AGT G(-6)A in genetic background among advanced atherosclerosis patients and chronic heart failure patients (Pg=0.001). This difference was also observed in comparison of AA patients with subgroup of CHF with dilated cardiomyopathy (Pg=0.02; Pa=0.009), and ischemic heart disease (Pg=0.007). The greatest difference between triple-vessel disease and chronic heart failure groups was observed in freque ncy of GT haplotype (P<0.001) and GGMT associated genotype (P <0.001). Retrospectively, we found the same trend when the subgroups of CHF were compared to AA group (AA vs. IHD with CHF P<0.001; AA vs. DCM P<0.001). These results suggest AGT genetic variants as a risk factor for chronic heart failure compared to advanced atherosclerosis disease without heart failure, with a strong difference between IHD patients and chronic heart failure patients with ischemic heart disease, especially in haplotypes and associated genotypes., M. Pávková Goldbergová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a monogenic disorder characterized by prolongation of the QT interval on electrocardiogram and syncope or sudden death caused by polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsades de pointes). In general, mutations in cardiac ion channel genes (KCNQ1, KCNH2, SCN5A, KCNE1, KCNE2) have been identified as a cause for LQTS. About 50-60 % of LQTS patients have an identifiable LQTS causing mutation in one of mentioned genes. In a group of 12 LQTS patients with no identified mutations in these genes we have tested a hypothesis that other candidate genes could be involved in LQTS pathophysiology. SCN1B and KCND3 genes encode ion channel proteins, ANK2 gene encodes cytoskeletal protein interacting with ion channels. To screen coding regions of genes SCN1B, KCND3, and 10 exons of ANK2 following methods were used: PCR, SSCP, and DNA sequencing. Five polymorphisms were found in screened candid ate genes, 2 polymorphisms in KCND3 and 3 in SCN1B. None of found polymorphisms has coding effect nor is located close to splice sites or has any similarity to known splicing enhancer motifs. Polymorphism G246T in SCN1B is a novel one. No mutation directly causing LQTS was found. Molecular mechanism of LQTS genesis in these patients remains unclear., M. Raudenská, A. Bittnerová, T. Novotný, A. Floriánová, K. Chroust, R. Gaillyová, B. Semrád, J. Kadlecová, M. Šišáková, O. Toman, J. Špinar., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Beside heart failure and metabolic syndrome, atrial fibrillation is termed the cardiovascular epidemic of the 21st century. Its increased morbidity and mortality is alarming. The present, most effective therapy of atrial fibrillation is catheter ablation. Successful ablation of atrial fibrillation prevents the occurrence and progression of electrical, structural and mechanic myocardium remodelling, improves function of the left ventricle, and prevents the risk of thrombembolism. Onset of sinus rhythm activates the reversal remodelling leading to wall reconstruction and atrium reduction. The paper reviews the technique and presents own experience with catheter ablation., R. Lábrová, J. Špinar, N. Honzíková., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
A high pulse pressure (PP) is a marker of increased artery stiffness and represents a well-e stablished independent predictor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of the research was to determine whether invasively measured central aortic PP was related to the presence and severity of coronary artery disease. In total 1075 consecutive stable male patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography with a preserved left ventricular function were included. Diseased coronary vessel (DCV) was defined by the presence of >50 % stenosis. Men were divided into 3 groups according to the increased value of PP. The average PP in the tertiles was 47.8±7.1 vs. 67.0±4.9 vs. 91.3±12.8 mm Hg (p<0,01). The si gnificant differences of DCV was found among tertiles (1.51±1.11 vs 1.80±1.04 vs. 1.99±0.98 DCV, p<0.01). Aortic PP together with age and hyperlipoproteinemia were found as factors with an independent relationship to DCV according to multivariate linear regression. In conclusions the increased value of aortic PP in the male population is independently connected with more severe atherosclerosis evaluated by the significant number of DCV., J. Pařenica ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy