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SummaryBackground: When direct-current (DC) cardioversion is used, sinus rhythm can be restored, at least temporarily, in 80-90% of patients with atrial fibrillation. However, there is a small but significant group of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in whom DC cardioversion has failed to restore sinus rhythm. The value ofantiarrhythmic drug pretreatment before DC cardioversion is still controversial.Hypothesis: The aim of our study was to assess (1) the effecti veness of repeat DC cardioversion in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation after pretreatment with amiodarone, and ( 2 ) the efficacy of amiodarone in maintaining sinus rhythm after repeat cardioversion.Methods: Forty-nine patients with chronic atrial fibrillation after ineffective DC cardioversion were included in the study. Repeat DC cardioversion was performed after loading with oral amiodarone, 10-15 mgkg body weighdday for a period necessary to achieve the cumulative dose of over 6.0 g.Results: Spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm during amiodarone pretreatment was achieved in 9 of 49 patients ( 18%). Direct-current cardioversion was performed in 39 patients and sinus rhythm was achieved in 23 of these patients (59%). Mean heart rate decreased from 95 beatdmin before to 68 beatdmin after DC cardioversion (p < 0.001). Systolic blood pressure significantly (p < 0.05) decreased from 126 &

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Cancer of the colon is one of the most common malignant tumours in both genders. Thanks to the development of diagnostic techniques, lesions can be detected early fostering full patient's recovery. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) during chemotherapy. The research tool was a questionnaire of our own design that allows collecting demographic and clinical data and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-Colorectal (FACT-C). The study included 90 patients. The analysis confirmed the difference between Social-Family Well-Being (SWB) and Emotional Well-Being (EWB) and in the overall assessment of quality of life and age. Taking into account the presence of stoma, a statistically significant difference was found only in the Colorectal Cancer Subscale (CCS p = .01321). Regarding the number of cycles of chemotherapy, a statistically significant difference was shown in the overall evaluation (p = .0459) and the SWB (p = .0463) area. In patients with CRC in the general assessment of quality of life, which is at a medium level, non-modifiable factors like age and gender play a minor role when compared with the group of variables related to the process and treatment of the disease.

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