Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by abnormal action of the immune system and a state of chronic inflammation. The disease can cause life-threatening complications. Neoepitopes arising from interdependent glycation and oxidation processes might be an element of SLE pathology. The groups included in the study were 31 female SLE patients and 26 healthy female volunteers (the control group). Blood serum samples were obtained to evaluate concentrations of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), carboxymethyllysine (CML), carboxyethyllysine (CEL), pentosidine, and a soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE). Compared to a healthy control group, the SLE patients exhibited a higher concentration of AGEs and a lower concentration of sRAGE in serum. There were no statistically significant differences in serum CML, CEL, and pentosidine concentrations between the groups. Therefore, SLE patients could be at risk of intensified glycation process and activation of the proinflammatory receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), which could potentially worsen the disease course; however, it is not clear which compounds contribute to the increased concentration of AGEs in the blood. Additionally, information about the cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption of the study participants was obtained.

Cardiac output is one of the most valuable hemodynamic parameter. It is measured commonly with intravascular pressures by pulmonary artery catheterization technique. The cardiac output itself is measured by dilution of thermal marker method (thermodilution), which is not resistant for various disturbances. In this paper the influence of blood temperature on metrological properties of thermal dilution method was described.

One of the most fundamental examination in intensive care medicine is cardiac output measurement, realized by pulmonary artery catherization. The thermodilution cardiac output estimation method is not resistant to various kinds of disturbances, which significantly decreases its sensitivity and specificity. The paper depicts investigations related to analysis of presumable new source of unreliability -asymmetric blood flow through pulmonary vessels. The investigations consisted of two phases: clinical examination (to obtain anatomical data) and computer modeling (to simulate the flow symmetry).

Among the viruses studied, CMV and CVB were the most frequently found. Nine out of 42 patients achieved the predefined study end point. No statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of a persistent viral genome and study end point. No statistically significant relationship between viral genomes studied and immunohistology results was detected. Conclusions: High prevalence of a viral genome in the myocardium of patients with DCM did not have an influence on their long-term clinical outcome.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare autoimmune disease. It leads to an increased production of proinflammatory molecules that accelerates atherogenesis and could cause an endothelium dysfunction. The aim of the study was to assess cardiovascular risk factors such as BMI and lipid profile as well as left ventricular ejection fraction among patients with SLE, and a correlation of these factors with duration of the disease. Materials and Methods. The researched group consisted of patients with SLE, being under control of the outpatient clinic of cardiology. This group included 38 patients among whom 34 were women (56.17 ± 11.05 years) and 4 were men (65.50 ± 9.22 years). The control group consisted of 19 healthy women (53.31 ± 11.94 years) and 2 healthy men (38.51 ± 7.53 years). Measurements were taken in the same conditions by trained medical staff. Results. Excessive body weight (BMI >25 kg/m2) was more frequent in the SLE group, but it was not statistically significant (55.26% vs. 52.38%, p = 0.6159 ). LVEF values were lower in their searched group, and this factor showed statistical significance (53.92% ± 6.46 vs. 58.67% ± 4.69, p = 0.0044 ). Thickness of the IMT was higher and statistically important among patients with SLE, both in left (1.22 ± 0.27 mm vs. 0.7 ± 0.21 mm, p = 0.0001 ) and right common carotid artery (1.16 ± 0.26 mm vs. 0.59 ± 0.15 mm, p = 0.0001 ), compared to the controls. Conclusions. Patients with SLE are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases as the illness progresses. The activity of the disease according to the SLEDAI-2K scale may have an impact on the LVEF values which was significantly decreased in the group with active disease, but further thorough investigation is required to fully evaluate the impact of individual components of the disease and its treatment on the CVD development and mortality.

Background In patients admitted with chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), it is crucial to early identify those who are at higher risk of adverse events. The study aim was to assess the predictive value of copeptin in patients admitted to the emergency department with chest pain and nonconclusive ECG. Methods Consecutive patients suspected for an ACS were enrolled prospectively. Copeptin and high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) were measured at admission. Patients were followed up at six and 12 months for the occurrence of death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Results Among 154 patients, 11 patients died and 26 experienced MACCE. Mortality was higher in copeptin-positive than copeptin-negative patients with no difference in the rate of MACCE. Copeptin reached the AUC 0.86 (0.75–0.97) for prognosis of mortality at six and 0.77 (0.65–0.88) at 12 months. It was higher than for hs-TnT and their combination at both time points. Copeptin was a strong predictor of mortality in the Cox analysis (HR14.1 at six and HR4.3 at 12 months). Conclusions Copeptin appears to be an independent predictor of long-term mortality in a selected population of patients suspected for an ACS. The study registration number is ISRCTN14112941.

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We analyzed the transport of KCl solutions through the bacterial cellulose membrane and concentration boundary layers (CBLs) near membrane with pressure differences on the membrane. The membrane was located in horizontal-plane between two chambers with different KCL solutions. The membrane was located in horizontal-plane between two chambers with different KCL solutions. As results from the elaborated model, gradient of KCL concentration in CBLs is maximal at membrane surfaces in the case when pressure difference on the membrane equals zero. The amplitude of this maximum decreases with time of CBLs buildup. Application of mechanical pressure gradient in the direction of gradient of osmotic pressure on the membrane causes a shift of this maximum into the chamber with lower concentration. In turn, application of mechanical pressure gradient directed opposite to the gradient of osmotic pressure causes the appearance of maximum of concentration gradient in chamber with higher concentration. Besides, the increase of time of CBLs buildup entails a decrease of peak height and shift of this peak further from the membrane. Similar behavior is observed for distribution of energy dissipation in CBLs but for pressure difference on the membrane equal to zero the maximum of energy dissipation is observed in the chamber with lower concentration. We also measured time characteristics of voltage in the membrane system with greater KCl concentrations over the membrane. We can state that mechanical pressure difference on the membrane can suppress or strengthen hydrodynamic instabilities visible as pulsations of measured voltage. Additionally, time of appearance of voltage pulsations, its amplitude, and frequency depend on mechanical pressure differences on the membrane and initial quotient of KCl concentrations in chambers.