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The aim of the study was to assess the yield of cones and the quality of six hop varieties (“Iunga”, “Lubelski”, “Sybilla”, “Magnum”, “Lomik”, “Marynka”) in terms of their suitability for beer production, under the conditions of the Małopolska Vistula Gorge Region (21◦53 E; 51◦16 N) (2015–2017). The scope of the research included the determination of the yield of cones and their physicochemical properties, as well as determination of the contents of hop resins and essential oils. In bitter varieties, the ratio of alpha-acids to beta-acids was stable, while, in aromatic varieties, it was variable. In the essential oils of the studied hop varieties, compounds with myrcene and α-humulene were identified and dominated the profiles. “Iunga”, “Sybilla”, “Lubelski”, and “Lomik” were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons, mainly myrcene, while there was a bit more α-humulene in the “Marynka” variety. “Magnum” was characterized by an even distribution of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The “Magnum variety turned out the most useful for the brewing industry in this region. The Małopolska Vistula Gorge Region is a region where hops not only achieve a high yield of cones, but also good-quality. The bitterness and aroma content of the hops in this region is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To quantify heterogeneous tissue at the periphery of areas of fibrosis (gray zone) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with the use of two different techniques. Cardiac magnetic resonance with late gadolinium enhancement analysis was performed in 33 patients with HCM. Gray zone was evaluated with the use of two different techniques previously described in patients after myocardial infarction. LGE was present in 25 (78%) patients. There was no significant difference in total LGE mass at two different cut-off values [53.8 g (interquartile range, IQR 43.5-77.8 g) vs. 53.8 g (IQR 37.8-64.5 g), respectively, P = 0.49]. Significant difference in gray zone mass assessed with the use of two techniques was demonstrated (19.1 +/- 7.3 g vs. 50.8 +/- 47.8 g; P = 0.003). There was a strong correlation between total LGE and gray zone mass (r = 0.789, P = 0.0001 for first method and r = 0.951, P < 0.0001 for the second one, respectively). However, significant variability of gray zone mass (and extent expressed as % of left ventricular mass) in patients with similar LGE size/extent was observed. Moreover, LGE mass varied greatly in patients with similar gray zone size. Neither left ventricular mass, nor with maximal wall thickness correlated with extent of gray zone assessed with both methods. The studied techniques provided similar results with regard to total LGE but significant differences were observed in gray zone mass. Two patients may have similar extent (or absolute mass) of LGE, but strikingly discrepant gray zone size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An OCT-guided watchful-waiting strategy is used to avoid the invasive treatment of the LMCA in a very young patient with massive coronary thrombosis.

Background: Impaired right ventricular (RV) mechanics is a common problem in patients after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Moreover, also impaired left ventricular (LV) systolic function has been demonstrated in this population. There are no studies evaluating patients after TOF repair with impaired both RV and LV ejection fractions (RVEF, LVEF)., Aim: We hypothesized that a considerable group of patients with repaired TOF would demonstrate both RV and LV systolic function impairment. Accordingly, the purpose of our study was to characterize patients with biventricular dysfunction after TOF repair., Methods: Consecutive patients with repaired TOF undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (n=146, mean age 26.4±8.2 years, age range: 13.6-51.3 years, 60.3% males, 54 patients [37.0%] with early correction and 92 [63.0%] with late correction)., Results: There were 31 patients (21.2% of the study population; 90.3% males) with biventricular dysfunction. Normal both RVEF and LVEF were observed in 65 individuals (44.5%). Neither the presence nor the extent of late gadolinium enhancement differed between patients with normal both RVEF and LVEF vs low both RVEF and LVEF. There were no differences in pulmonary regurgitation (PR) fraction, peak right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) gradient, and the incidences of significant PR and RVOT obstruction between these groups (P=NS for all comparisons). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the male sex and RVOT aneurysm/akinesia (only in patients repaired early) were associated with the presence of biventricular dysfunction., Conclusions: In patients with repaired TOF, : Male sex and RVOT aneurysm/akinesia were independently associated with biventricular dysfunction. Impaired both RVEF and LVEF were common in patients with repaired TOF, with the vast majority of males.

Background: Current indications for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) are limited to patients who had their outflow tracts repaired with the use of a "full" condui-homograft. Patients after a patch repair are believed to have an unfavorable anatomy for PPVI., Objectives: To evaluate a novel use of Edwards SAPIEN(TM) valve for percutaneous treatment of moderate and severe pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of Fallot (TF) repair with a right ventricular outflow (RVOT) patch., Methods: PPVI was intended in 10 patients (age 21-39 years, 2 ♂) with regurgitant fraction of 30-59%, measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) 16-30 years after repair with a RVOT patch. Balloon test-inflations were used for definitive measurements and location of the landing site for the valve. All RVOTs were prestented., Results: Successful valve implantation was achieved in nine patients. In one patient a bare-metal stent used for prestenting embolized into pulmonary artery. A 26-mm valve was implanted in seven and a 23-mm in two patients. CMRI at 1-2 month follow-up (n = 8) demonstrated both, sustained relief of pulmonary incompetence (regurgitant fraction = 0-14%) and significant decrease of the right ventricular end-diastolic volume indexes (from 169.9 ± 43.8 to 140.0 ± 40.3 ml/m(2) , P < 0.001). At that follow-up no adverse event occurred. No stent fractures were observed., Conclusions: We report the first case series of patients with significant PR after a RVOT patch repair, successfully treated with a percutaneous Edwards SAPIEN(TM) valve implantation. The procedure is technically feasible and may be offered to patients with the outflow tracts larger than those limited by the Melody(®) system available currently., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: In patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), various pathologies of the vascular system (both arterial and venous) may be present as a result of the previous therapeutic procedures or due to the congenital disease itself. Because of the limited diagnostic capabilities in the past, lacking surgical reports of patients operated on several decades ago and/or a long time since a corrective procedure, some of these pathologies/anomalies may remain unknown., Aim: To identify selected vascular pathologies with the use of cardiac magnetic resonance in patients after TOF repair., Material and Methods: We included 208 consecutive patients (median age 24.9 years, interquartile range 20.5-36.7; 126 (60.6%) males) with repaired TOF undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging., Results: Significant unexpected vascular pathologies/anomalies were found in 30 patients (14.4%) and included: uni- or bilateral occlusion of the subclavian artery (n = 20), persistent left superior vena cava (n = 7, in 1 case draining into the left atrium), occluded subclavian vein (n = 1), and interruption of the inferior vena cava (n = 2). Additionally, 1 patient with the left subclavian artery occluded had an occlusion of the brachiocephalic vein. In none of the patients was the information about the uncovered pathology/anomaly present either in the referral information or in the present medical history., Conclusions: The CMR in patients with repaired TOF may uncover some pathologies/anomalies which were unknown or forgotten at the time of patients' referral for the study, and which may have a significant impact on patient management.

Introduction: Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a diagnostic method used for exclusion of coronary artery disease. However, lower accuracy of CTCA in assessment of calcified lesions is a significant factor impeding applicability of CTCA for assessment of coronary atherosclerosis., Aim: To provide insight into lumen and calcium characteristics assessed with CTCA, we compared these parameters to the reference of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)., Material and Methods: Two hundred and fifty-two calcified lesions within 97 arteries of 60 patients (19 women, age 63 ±10 years) underwent assessment with both 2 × 64 slice CT (Somatom Definition, Siemens) and IVUS (s5, Volcano Corp.). Coronary lumen and calcium dimensions within calcified lesions were assessed with CTCA and compared to the reference measurements made with IVUS., Results: On average CTCA underestimated mean lumen diameter (2.8 ±0.7 mm vs. 2.9 ±0.8 mm for IVUS), lumen area (6.4 ±3.4 mm(2) vs. 7.0 ±3.7 mm(2) for IVUS, p < 0.001) and total calcium arc (52 ±35° vs. 83 ±54°). However, analysis of tertiles of the examined parameters revealed that the mean lumen diameter, lumen area and calcium arc did not significantly differ between CTCA and IVUS within the smallest lumens (1(st) tertile of mean lumen diameter at 2.1 mm, and 1(st) tertile of lumen area at 3.7 mm(2)) and lowest calcium arc (mean of 40°)., Conclusions: Although, on average, CTCA underestimates lumen diameter and area as well as calcium arc within calcified lesions, the differences are not significant within the smallest vessels and calcium arcs. The low diagnostic accuracy of CTCA within calcified lesions may be attributed to high variance and not to systematic error of measurements.