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Background: Hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (HTN LVH) is a key risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF)., Objective: To evaluate the possible role of beta-blockers (BBs) in addition to a renin-angiotensinaldosterone system (RAAS) blocker in AF prevention in patients with HTN LVH., Methods: We performed a PubMed, Elsevier, SAGE, Oxford, and Google Scholar search with the search items 'beta blocker hypertension left ventricular hypertrophy patient' from 2013-2023. In the end, a 'snowball search', based on the references of relevant papers as well as from papers that cited them was performed., Results: HTN LVH is a risk factor for AF. In turn, AF substantially complicates HTN LVH and contributes to the genesis of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The prognosis of HFpEF is comparable with that of HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), and, regardless of the type, HF is associated with five-year mortality of 50-75%. The antiarrhythmic properties of BBs are wellrecognized, and BBs as a class of drugs are - in general - recommended to decrease the incidence of AF in HTN., Conclusion: BBs are recommended (as a class) for AF prevention in several contemporary guidelines for HTN. LVH regression in HTN - used as a single criterion for the choice of antihypertensive medication - does not capture this protective effect. Consequently, it is worth studying how meaningful this antiarrhythmic action (to prevent AF) of BBs is in patients with HTN LVH in addition to a RAAS blocker., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Otomycosis (OM) is a superficial fungal infection of the external auditory canal (EAC) with a worldwide prevalence ranging from 9% to 30%. Commonly, otomycoses are caused by Aspergillus (A.) niger complex and Candida spp. Other causative agents are yeasts of the genera Cryptococcus spp., Rhodotorula spp., Geotrichum candidum , dermatophytes ( Trichophyton mentagrophytes ), and non-dermatophytes molds ( Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Mucorales fungi). The widest range of different species causing OM are found in the territories of Iran, India, China, Egypt, Mexico, and Brazil. Fungal infection of the EAC varies from mild to severe forms. It can be acute, subacute, or chronic, and is often unilateral, while the bilateral form is more common in immunocompromised patients. From an epidemiological point of view, tropical and subtropical climates are the most significant risk factor for the development of otomycosis. Other predisposing conditions include clothing habits, EAC hygiene practices, long-term antibiotic therapy, diabetes, and immunodeficiency. Since it is often difficult to distinguish otomycosis from an infection of a different origin, laboratory-based evidence, including standard procedures (microscopy and cultivation), is essential for diagnosis. For the treatment of this superficial fungal infection, there are no official therapeutic guidelines and protocols. However, many antifungals for local application, such as polyene, imidazoles, and allylamines, can be applied, as well as systemic antimycotics (triazoles) in severe forms of infection.

Background: The important risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population are not always equally important in specific and relatively prevalent diseases., Objective: The main goal of this narrative review is to focus attention on the presence and the relationship of AF with several important diseases, such as cancer or sepsis, in order to: 1) stimulate further research in the field, and 2) draw attention to this relationship and search for AF in clinical practice., Methods: We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, Oxford Journals, Cambridge, SAGE, and Google Scholar for less-known comorbidities of AF. The search was limited to publications in English. No time limits were applied., Results: AF is widely represented in cardiovascular and other important diseases, even in those in which AF is rarely mentioned. In some specific clinical subsets of AF patients (e.g., patients with sepsis or cancer), the general risk factors for AF may not be so important. Patients with new-onset AF have a several-fold increase in relative risk of cancer, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) during the follow-up., Conclusion: AF presence, prognosis, and optimal therapeutic approach are insufficiently recognised in several prevalent diseases, including life-threatening ones. There is a need for a better search for AF in PTE, pulmonary oedema, aortic dissection, sepsis, cancer and several gastrointestinal diseases. Improved AF detection would influence treatment and improve outcomes., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Beta blockers (BBs) have important side effects that contribute to low adherence and persistence. Therefore, the optimal choice of BB is an important mode to prevent BB's side effects, leading to an increase in compliance, which can improve the outcomes in BBs' evidence-based indications, such as acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, etc. The aim of the paper is to suggest an improved method of reporting contraindications for BBs. We used a search of the following indexing databases: SCOPUS and PubMed, and web search engine Google Scholar to identify guidelines on arterial hypertension (HTN). HTN guidelines published during the last 2 decades were analyzed (from 2000 to 2020). Some of the contraindications (e.g., bradycardia, acute heart failure) are true for every BB. However, some contraindications do not belong to the whole BB class. For example, propranolol and carvedilol are contraindicated in chronic obstructive lung disease, but nebivolol and bisoprolol are not. We suggest that contraindications which are specific for some BBs (i.e., not for the whole class) ought to be listed with the exact name(s) of the individual BBs. In this way, we may decrease the number of wrong choices among BBs and consequently increase drug adherence (which is currently worse for the class of BBs than for most of the other antihypertensive drugs). To our knowledge, there is a lack of guidelines citing contraindications for individual BBs, because they vary a lot within-the-class of BBs. This is an approach to improve both basic medical education and guidelines., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

All original articles and meta-analysis use the single cut-off value to distinguish high-risk hyperglycemic from other acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. The mortality rate is 3.9 times higher in non-diabetic AMI patients with admission glycemia ≥6.1mmol compared to normoglycemic non-diabetic AMI patients. On the other hand, admission hypoglycemia in AMI is an important predictor of mortality. Because both admission hypo- and hyperglycemia correspond to higher in-hospital mortality, this graph is recognized as "J or U shaped curve". The review suggests two cut-off values for admission glycemia for risk assessment in AMI instead of single one because hypoglycemia as well as hyperglycemia represents a high-risk factor., (Copyright © 2020 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) belongs to the group of enzymes which inhibition have the application in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This study presents QSAR modeling for a set of compounds acting as CETP inhibitors based on the Monte Carlo optimization with SMILES notation and molecular graph-based descriptors, and field-based 3D modeling. A 3D QSAR model was developed for one random split into the training and test sets, whereas conformation independent QSAR models were developed for three random splits, with the results suggesting there is an excellent correlation between them. Various statistical approaches were used to assess the statistical quality of the developed models, including robustness and predictability, and the obtained results were very good. This study used a novel statistical metric known as the index of ideality of correlation for the final assessment of the model, and the results that were obtained suggested that the model was good. Also, molecular fragments which account for the increases and/or decreases of a studied activity were defined and then used for the computer-aided design of new compounds as potential CETP inhibitors. The final assessment of the developed QSAR model and designed inhibitors was done using molecular docking, which revealed an excellent correlation with the results from QSAR modeling.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Rho kinases, one of the best-known members of the serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinase family, can be used as target enzymes for the treatment of many diseases such as cancer or multiple sclerosis, and especially for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This study presents QSAR modeling for a series of 41 chemical compounds as Rho kinase inhibitors based on the Monte Carlo method. QSAR models were developed for three random splits into the training and test set. Molecular descriptors used for QSAR modeling were based on the SMILES notation and local invariants of the molecular graph. The statistical quality of the developed model, including robustness and predictability, was tested with different statistical approaches and satisfying results were obtained. The best calculated QSAR model had the following statistical parameters: r 2  = 0.8825 and q 2  = 0.8626 for the training set and r 2  = 0.9377 and q 2  = 0.9124 for the test set. Novel statistical metric entitled as the index of ideality of correlation was used for the final model assessment, and the obtained results were 0.6631 for the training and 0.9683 for the test set. Molecular fragments responsible for the increases and decreases of the studied activity were defined and they were further used for the computer-aided design of new compounds as potential Rho kinase inhibitors. The final assessment of the developed QSAR model and designed inhibitors was achieved with the application of molecular docking. An excellent correlation between the results from QSAR and molecular docking studies was obtained., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Increased galectin-3 plasma concentration has been linked to an unfavorable outcome in patients with heart failure or atrial fibrillation (AF). There are no published data about the prognostic utility of galectin-3 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) for long-term clinical outcome in the Non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients with preexisting AF. Thirty-two patients with the first acute NSTEMI and preexisting AF and 22 patients without preexisting AF, were prospectively followed for fifteen months. Patients with AF had significantly higher galectin-3 plasma levels (p < 0.05) and hs-CRP concentration (p < 0.01), compared with patients without AF. Galectin-3 plasma concentration was not a significant covariate of the composite outcomes (p = 0.913). Patients with high hs-CRP (above 4.55 mg/L) showed 2.5 times increased risk (p < 0.05) of the composite outcome occurrence (p < 0.05). Besides, three-vessel coronary artery disease, creatinine serum level, and creatinine clearance were significant covariates (p < 0.05; p < 0.05; p < 0.01) of the composite outcome, respectively. Creatinine clearance, solely, has been shown to be an independent predictor of unfavorable prognosis after a 15-month follow-up. Galectin-3 and hs-CRP plasma levels were elevated in NSTEMI patients with AF, but with differential predictive value for an unfavorable clinical outcome. Only hs-CRP was associated with increased risk of composite outcome occurrence.

European Society of Cardiology Guidelines cite results of meta-analysis that the use of calcium channel blockers results in fewer angina episodes per week vs. long-acting nitrates. Moreover, we listed 12 reasons more to prefer amlodipine over long-acting nitrates, especially in stable angina pectoris patients with arterial hypertension. It may be the way to decrease polypharmacy without loosing efficacy. Some important advantages of amlodipine versus long-acting nitrate(s) are: amlodipine also treats hypertension, it helps reducing hypertensive target organ damages (e.g. left ventricular hypertrophy) and prevents morning blood pressure surge. Moreover, amlodipine can be given once daily (which improves adherence), it produces neither tolerance nor rebound, it has less side effects.

Introduction: Entrapment and fracture of diagnostic or therapeutic devices within the coronary circulatory system are a rare, but increasing problem., Case Report: A 70-year-old man was admitted in our clinic for coronary angiography before the planned aortic valve replacement. An arterial sheath was inserted in the right common femoral artery. After introducing a J-tip diagnostic coronary guidewire into the aorta and advancing a left Judkins diagnostic catheter over it, suddenly occured peeling off of the wire's hydrophilic coating at the aortic arch level. Very soon, this outer coating of guidewire carried by the blood stream was entered into the left femoral artery, then into the left popliteal artery. This stripped part of guidewire was successfully caught and extracted out by using a goose-neck snare catheter., Conclusion: A sudden stripping of outer coating of a J-tip diagnostic hydrophilic coronary guidewire during coronary angiography is possible to manage quickly and successfully by the use of a simple cathether.

Background: Fabry Disease is a rare, X-chromosomal inherited lysosomal storage disease with a consequent intracellular accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids in various tissues. This can cause skin and ocular lessions, progressive renal, cardiac or cerebrovascular disorders. If a person in a family has Fabry disease, other family members including even extended relatives, may also be at risk., Case Report: We presented three cases pointed out various manifestation of Fabry disease, that illustrate a possible cause for otherwise unexplained cardiac hypertrophy and various rhythm and conduction abnormalities., Conclusion: Although most symptoms begin in childhood, various manifestations often lead to misdiagnosis and clinical diagnosis is frequently delayed for many years, even decades. Enzyme replacement therapy has become available, pointing out the importance of early diagnosis so that treatment can be initiated before irreversible organ damage.

Background: A prolonged coronary artery spasm with interruption of coronary blood flow can lead to myocardial necrosis and increase of cardiospecific enzymes and can be complicated with cardiac rhythm disturbances, syncopc, or even sudden cardiac death., Case Report: A 55-year old male felt a severe retrosternal pain when exposing himself to cold weather. The pain lasted for 20 minutes and was followed by the loss of conscience. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a complete antrioventricular (AV) block with nodal rhythm and marked elevation of ST segment in inferior leads. Electrocardiogram was soon normalized, but serum activities of cardiospecific enzymes were increased. Coronarography showed normal findings for the left coronary artery and a narrowing at the middle part of the right coronary artery, which disappeared after intracoronary application of nitroglycerine. The following therapy was prescribed: Diltiazem, Amlodipin, Isosorbid mononitrate, Molisdomin, Atrovastatin, Aspirin and Nitroglycerine spray. After 7 months medicaments were abandoned and the patient experienced again reccurent chest pain episodes at rest. Transitory ST segment elevation was recorded in inferior leads of ECG, but without increase of cardiospecific enzymes serum activities. After restoration of the medicament therapy anginal episodes ceased., Conclusion: Coronary dilators in maximal doses can prevent attacks of vasospastic angina.

Introduction: Pericarditis is a condition with inflammation of the pericardium; however, most of these conditions are not infective and many of them are not even inflammatory. Pericarditis by its development can be acute, sub-acute and chronic, and later, recurring or relapsing. Apart from idiopathic, the causes of pericarditis are numerous, very often inflammatory, most frequently caused by viruses, or tumours and neoplasms, diseases of connective tissue, vasculitis, different allergic reactions, radiation, thyroid gland diseases, uraemia, dissection of aorta etc., Clinical Picture: Accumulation of fluid in the pericardium in the amount sufficient to cause significant obstruction of blood inflow in chambers can cause cardiac tamponade. If it is not treated immediately, the outcome may be fatal. The most common causes are tumours, viruses or uraemia. Cardiac tamponade should be suspected in patients with a decrease in systemic arterial pressure or presence of hypotension, tachycardia, silent and discreet heart beats, increase in systemic venous pressure (Beck triad). Electrocardiogram may result in tachycardia, QRS complex is of smaller voltage, often of reversed polarity. The amount of effusion is estimated by echocardiography, Conclusion: The cause of pericarditis should always be searched for. On the other hand, during monitoring or treatment of numerous conditions which could be a frequent cause of pericarditis, the presence of pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade should be suspected and detected in due time. A timely intervention--pericardiocentesis, can prevent the fatal outcome. Besides non-steroid anti-inflammatory medication, many prospective randomised studies propose colchicine as addition to the standard therapy. When opting for the proper treatment for pericarditis always keep in mind the current diagnosis and cause of this condition.

Background: Ebstein's anomaly is characterized by a displacement of the tricuspid valve toward apex, because of anomalous attachment of the tricuspid leaflets. There are type B of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome and paroxysmal arrhythmias in more than a half of all patients., Case Report: We presented a female, 32-year old, with frequent paroxysms of atrial fibrillation. After conversion of rhythm an ECG showed WPW syndrome. Echocardiographic examination discovered normal size of the left cardiac chambers with paradoxical ventricular septal motion. The right ventricle was very small because of its atrialization. The origin of the tricuspid valve was 20 mm closer to apex of the right ventricle than the origin of the mitral valve. Electrophysiological examination showed a posterolateral right accesorial pathway. Atrial fibrillation was induced very easily in electrophysiological laboratory and a successful ablation of accessorial pathway was made. There were no WPW syndrome and paroxysms of atrial fibrillation after that., Conclusion: Ebstein's anomaly is one of the reasons of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, especially in young persons with WPW syndrome.

Introduction: Modern pharmacological reperfusion in ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction means the application of fibrin specific thrombolytics combined with modern antiplatelets therapy--dual antiplateles therapy, acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel, and enoxaparin. The contribution of each agent has been widely examined in large clinical studies, but not sufficiently has been known about the effects of a combined approach, where the early angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention is added during hospitalization, if necessary., Objective: The aim of the paper is to compare the effects of streptokinase and alteplase, together with the standard modern adjuvant antiplatelets and anticoagulation therapy (aspirin, clopidogrel, enoxaparin) in patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction, on electrocardiographic and angiographic signs of the achieved myocardial reperfusion., Method: The prospective study included 127 patients with the first ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction who were treated with a fibrinolytic agent in the first 6 hours from the chest pain onset. The examined group included 40 patients on the alteplase reperfusion therapy, while the control 87 patients were on the streptokinase therapy. All the patients received the same adjuvant therapy and all were examined by coronary angiography on the 3rd to 10th day of hospitalization. Reperfusion effects were estimated on the basis of the following: ST segment resolution at 60, 90 and 120 minutes, the appearance of reperfusion arrhythmias at the electrocardiogram, percentage of residual stenosis at the "culprit" artery, TIMI coronary flow at the "culprit" artery and the appearance of new major adverse coronary events in the 6-month-follow-up period., Results: By analysing the resolution of the sum of ST segment elevation in infarction leading 60 minutes after the beginning of the medication application, we received a statistically significantly higher resolution of ST segment in the group of patients who received alteplase (p < 0.05). 60 minutes after the application of thrombolytics, 64% of patients at streptokinase showed the absence of ST segment resolution (<30%), and 32% of patients at alteplase (p < 0.0001). Reperfusion arrhythmias as the sign of successful myocardial reperfusion were present in 62.5% of patients at alteplase and in 57.4% of patients at streptokinase, but the difference is not statistically significant.There was no statistically significant difference in the degree of residual stenosis at the,culprit" artery in the compared groups of patients. TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 75% of patients at alteplase and in 38% of patients at streptokinase (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of major adverse coronary events in the 6-month-follow-up period after acute myocardial infarction., Conclusion: Alteplase with modern adjuvant therapy of ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction shows the earlier achievement of coronary perfusion as well as better coronary flow compared to streptokinase. There is no statistically significant difference in the frequency of reperfusion arrhythmias, degree of residual stenosis at the"culprit"artery and the frequency of new coronary events in the 6-month-follow-up period after acute myocardial infarction.

Background/aim: The inhibition of factor Xa (FX) by the use of low-molecular heparin (LMH) is important clinical procedure in patients with moderate and high risk for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of this study was to determine the level of inhibition of FXa by the use of prophylactic doses of LMH nadroparin-calcium and reviparine-sodium which were applied in urological patients with moderate risk for VTE and PE., Methods: The examination included 80 urological patients divided into 4 groups after urological, uroradiological and anesthesiological preoperative preparation and categorization of anesthesiological risk according to the ASA III classification. The first two groups, of 20 patients each, received the recommended doses of LMH in accordance with the preoperative risk, and an inhibition of FXa 48 hours after the surgical operation and four hours after the administration of LMH was determined. Heptest and homogenous anti-Xa test were used for monitoring of FXa inhibition. Since the obtained anti Xa values were not satisfactory, two more groups were formed and given double the recommended doses. In these new groups, inhibition of FXa was in recommended range. Standard descriptive statistical parameters were used for describing the characteristics of the people from the formed groups., Results: All the patients examined were clinically estimated as patients of moderate risk, for VTE and PE. There were no statistically significant difference in body weight of the patients who received nadroparin-calcium 0.3 ml and reviparine sodium 0.25 ml and those who received their double doses, respectively. The level of FXa inhibition in the group in which the dose of nadroparin-calcium of 0.6 ml was applied was statistically significantly higher than in the group which received the dose of 0.3 ml (Mann-Whitney U test: Z = 5.416; p < 0.0001). The level of FXa in the group given reviparine-sodium 0.5 ml was significantly higher than in the group which received the half of this dose (Mann Whitney U test: Z = 5.416; p < 0.0001). This research did not confirm a statistically significant difference in the levels of FXa inhibition in patients who received nadroparincalcium as VTE and PE prophylaxis in the dose of 0.6 ml and those who received reviparin-sodium 0.5 ml (in two doses of 0.25 ml) (Mann-Whitney U test: Z = 0.163; p > 0.05)., Conclusion: According to biochemical monitoring, the recommended doses of LMH are insufficient for the prophylactic inhibition of FXa in urological patients with moderate risk for VTE and PE, so the higher doses which inhibit FXa are recommended.

Background: Primary malignant cardiac tumors are rare entities and rhabdomyosarcoma accounts 20% of these lesions., Case Report: We presented a female patient with loss of appetite and loss of weight. She also had symptoms of heart failure and bilateral pleural effusions. A mobile tumor in the left heart with the entrance from the left atrium to left ventricle during diastole was seen by transthoracic echocardiography. The tumor was extirpated in total, histologic diagnosis was rhabdomyosarcoma, and the patient died after 6 months., Conclusion: Primary malignant cardiac tumors can simulate heart failure or systemic disorders. Cardiac rhabdomyosarcomas have a poor prognosis with the average survival of 6 months after the occurrence of symptoms and making a diagnosis. In cardiac insufficiency, differential diagnostics should be used to consider cardiac tumors that could be with certainty confirmed or excluded by echocardiography.