Genetic architecture of dilated cardiomyopathy in Poland: variant distribution, clinical characteristics and prognosis.

Introduction:  Genetic variants are the leading cause of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Data on genetic testing in DCM from Central European populations are scarce.

Objectives:  We sought to determine the genetic architecture of DCM in Poland and assess its influence on clinical characteristics and prognosis.

Proteomic Analysis of Serum in Cardiac Transthyretin Amyloidosis: Diagnostic and Prognostic Implications for Biomarker Discovery.

Having serum biomarkers available for cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) would be beneficial for diagnosis and prognosis. This study aimed to identify potential ATTR-CA biomarkers through proteomic analysis. Serum proteomic analyses were conducted on 15 ATTR-CA patients before receiving treatment, 11 ATTR-CA patients who had received tafamidis treatment for at least six months, and 13 patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis who were later ruled out.

The Impact of the Yeoh Model's Variability in Contact on Knee Joint Mechanics.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the variability of the Yeoh model when modeling the contact of bones through cartilage in the knee in compression and flexion-extension within a hybrid knee model. Firstly, a Sobol sequence of 64 samples and four variables representing the Yeoh parameters of the cartilage of the femur and tibia was generated. Based on these samples, 2 × 64 finite element contact models of the geometry of the sphere plane were generated and solved for healthy tissue affected by osteoarthritis.

Surgical and non-surgical risk factors affecting the insufficiency of ileocolic anastomosis after first-time surgery in Crohn's disease patients.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) often necessitates surgical intervention, particularly when it manifests in the terminal ileum and ileocecal valve. Despite undergoing radical surgery, a subset of patients experiences recurrent inflammation at the anastomotic site, necessitating further medical attention.

Aim: To investigate the risk factors associated with anastomotic insufficiency following ileocecal resection in CD patients.

Position statement of Polish Cardiac Society experts on cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathies (CMs) are a very broad group of diseases, including genetically determined and acquired, and their classification is based on phenotypic characteristics. There is always a need to search for the etiology (often also to try to identify the genetic cause), which may determine the appropriate choice of clinical management. The geographical distribution of genetic variants varies as does the prevalence across populations, ethnic groups, regions, and countries.

Late gadolinium enhancement in aortic stenosis: Is it an indication for surgical treatment in asymptomatic patients?

Background: It remains a challenge to determine the best time to refer asymptomatic patients for aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Aims: We aimed to determine whether late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) has an independent prognostic significance for adverse postoperative cardiovascular events and changes in left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: Consecutive patients with severe asymptomatic AS were prospectively enrolled in the study.

Assessing the behavior of a hybrid model of the knee with contact surrogate under parameter uncertainties.

Modeling the knee is an important factor in increasing the quality of life of both healthy individuals and patients. Nevertheless, the intricate nature of the knee makes this problem complicated. In this study, an extension to an established planar knee joint model with Hertzian contact pairs is proposed with contact mechanics based on polynomial chaos expansion surrogate.

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Where Hematology and Plastic Surgery Meet.

Breast implant insertion for breast reconstruction or breast augmentation is a developing procedure, with high demand worldwide-being the second most common plastic surgery in the US as of 2022. Breast-implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is T-cell, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, typically CD30+, ALK-, presenting with fluid collection in the inner aspect of the peri-implant capsule in most patients, with the onset exceeding 1-year after implantation. The mean time between breast implant insertion and BIA-ALCL development is 7-10 years.

Impact of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance on the Diagnosis of Left Ventricular Noncompaction-A 15-Year Experience.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) on the diagnosis in patients with known or suspected left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 12,811 consecutive patients who had CMR studies between 2008 and 2022 in a large tertiary center. We included patients referred for CMR because of known or suspected LVNC.

Immunogenetic Aspects of Sarcopenic Obesity.

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a combination of obesity and sarcopenia, with diagnostic criteria defined as impaired skeletal muscle function and altered body composition (e.g., increased fat mass and reduced muscle mass).

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in the course of mixed phenotype acute leukaemia treated with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia-like therapy-a case report.

Mixed phenotype acute leukaemia (MPAL) is associated with worse overall survival, compared with other acute leukaemias in adults. Lack of clear treatment guidelines makes the therapy challenging. ALL-like induction and consolidation treatment followed by allo-HSCT is the preferred first-line treatment.

Clinical features, etiology, and survival in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy: A single-center experience.

Background: Numerous prognostic factors have been proposed for cardiac amyloidosis (CA). The knowledge about other subtypes of restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is scant.

Aims: This study aimed to elucidate the etiology and prognostic factors of RCM as well as assess cardiac biomarkers: high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2, as mortality predictors in RCM.

Diagnosis and treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy: A position statement of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Considering the rare incidence of transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in Poland, patients encounter difficulties at the stages of diagnosis and treatment. For successful diagnosis, it is vital to raise the suspicion of ATTR-CM, that is, to identify typical clinical scenarios such as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction or the red flags of amyloidosis. In most cases, it is possible to establish the diagnosis on the basis of noninvasive tests.

C-Reactive Protein and Albumin Levels as Useful Tools for Predicting In-Hospital Outcomes in Polish Nonagenarians.

Purpose: The admissions of nonagenarians to internal medicine wards are rising. The aim of this study was to analyse the causes of ward admission and blood and renal parameters as potential mortality predictors in this age group.

Patients And Methods: Out of 1140 patients, 111 nonagenarians aged 90+ admitted to the Internal Medicine Ward in one general hospital in Poznan in 2019 were studied.

Positive antiphospholipid antibodies: observation or treatment?

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) are  primarily directed toward phospholipid-binding proteins and are responsible for thrombotic events. APLAs include anti-β2Glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI), anticardiolipin (anti-CL) antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant. These antibodies are typical markers of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and are a part of its diagnostic criteria.

Emicizumab: a novel drug in hemophilia A prophylaxis - a narrative review.

Introduction: Hemophilia A is a genetically conditioned disease leading to hemostatic disorders due to factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency. The treatment of hemophilia has evolved throughout the past years and has significantly changed. One of the newest drugs for prophylactic treatment is the humanized bispecific IgG antibody - emicizumab, which binds with factor IXa and factor X, bridging those factors and thus mimicking the activity of factor VIII.

Correlation of Bone Material Model Using Voxel Mesh and Parametric Optimization.

The authors present an algorithm for determining the stiffness of the bone tissue for individual ranges of bone density. The paper begins with the preparation and appropriate mechanical processing of samples from the bovine femur and their imaging using computed tomography and then processing DICOM files in the MIMICS system. During the processing of DICOM files, particular emphasis was placed on defining basic planes along the sides of the samples, which improved the representation of sample geometry in the models.

Imaging Features of Pediatric Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy in Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a distinct cardiomyopathy characterized by the presence of a two-layer myocardium with prominent trabeculation and deep intertrabecular recesses. The diagnosis of LVNC can be challenging because the diagnostic criteria are not uniform. The aim of our study was to evaluate echocardiographic and CMR findings in a group of children with isolated LVNC.

Identification of muscle movements and activity by experimental methods for selected cases - stage#1.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the position where the most activated and isolated individual muscles were. In the next steps, the selected limb positions will be used to determine the maximum values of isometric forces of the individual muscle heads based on the Hill model.

Methods: In order to determine the sought muscle activation, an electromyograph was used.

Identification of muscle movements and activity by experimental methods for selected cases - stage #2.

Purpose: The aim of the performed tests and static measurements was to determine the torque and to determine the activity curve for individual muscle heads during the flexion-extension movement in the elbow joint.

Methods: Both heads of the biceps branchial muscle and the triceps muscle of the arm - long head and lateral head - were examined. Static measurements were carried out for four selected positions of the upper limb.

Role of cardiac magnetic resonance in heart failure of initially unknown etiology: A 10-year observational study.

Background: The heart failure (HF) population is estimated to be 64.3 million people worldwide and continues to grow. Identifying the underlying cause of HF is crucial for patient management and prognosis.