The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 3‐week n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) supplementation on serum nitric oxide (NO), asymmetric dimethyloarginine (ADMA), ultrasound indices of endothelial function and maximal oxygen uptake () of elite cyclists. The effects of dietary supplementation (n‐3 PUFA at a dose of 1.3 g twice daily for 3 weeks) and placebo administration on flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD), pulse wave velocity, serum markers (NO, ADMA), lipid profile, and were analysed in 13 cyclists both before and after dietary protocols. Significant differences between pre‐ and post‐intervention baseline NO levels were observed after n‐3 PUFA dietary protocol (13.9 ± 4.2 vs. 23.5 ± 3.6 µmol·l⁻¹; P < 0.001). Higher post‐intervention baseline NO level was observed after n‐3 PUFA diet compared with placebo (23.5 ± 3.6 vs. 15.3 ± 3.0 µmol·l ⁻¹; P < 0.01, respectively). The n‐3 PUFA increased baseline NO concentration (ΔNO) by 6.7 ± 3.8 µmol·l⁻¹ and placebo by 1.6 ± 4.4 µmol·l⁻¹. The positive correlation was observed between baseline post‐intervention NO concentration and maximal oxygen uptake (r = 0.72; P < 0.01) and also between ΔNO and (r = 0.54; P < 0.05) in response to omega‐3 fatty acids supplementation. There was an association between a 5.25% higher FMD (P < 0.05) and higher (P < 0.001) after n‐3 PUFA diet compared with lower values of placebo (r = 0.68; P < 0.05). These findings suggest that an increase in NO release in response to n‐3 PUFA supplementation may play a central role in cardiovascular adaptive mechanisms and enhanced exercise performance in cyclists.

Dynamic instability of coronary atherosclerotic plaque results in the development of both unstable angina and myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of serum concentrations of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-2 in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and unstable angina (UA) as compared to stable angina (SA) patients and healthy volunteers. A total of 189 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were studied: 100 patients with SA (class II/III according to CCS), 57 patients with UA (Braunwald class IIIB; determinations at 6, 24, and 48 h after chest pain), and 32 patients with MI (determinations at admission, on the 7th and 30th days after MI). Twenty healthy volunteers acted as controls. Serum TNFalpha levels were elevated in all CAD groups (SA: 17.3+/-4; UA: 18.7+/-4; MI: 22.0+/-3 pg/ml; p<0.001) in comparison to the controls (8.3+/-1.4 pg/ml). However, the highest values were characteristic of MI patients, especially values obtained at admission (p<0.01 versus SA and UA). Mean serum concentrations of IL-2 were significantly higher in patients with MI and UA (89.6+/-40; 87.0+/-24 pg/ml, respectively; p<0.01) when compared to SA and the control group (58.3+/-49; and 51.5+/-39, respectively). Serum IL-10 levels were also higher in MI and UA patients. Levels of IL-2 and IL-10 measured following chest pain in unstable patients, as well as their consecutive determinations in MI patients did not show any change dynamics, that is, they were persistently elevated. When compared to stable CAD and healthy subjects, acute coronary syndromes are associated with long-term increase of serum concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. It seems likely that sudden CAD progression leading to acute coronary syndromes is triggered/accompanied by prolonged immune activation.

Aim: To examine the effect of the beta1-selective beta-blocker nebivolol, administered as add-on therapy, on left ventricular function in 260 elderly patients (>65 years) with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: The principal inclusion criteria were (1) NYHA class II–IV CHF and (2) a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%. The primary end-point was the change in LVEF in response to nebivolol treatment for 8 months. Results: Baseline LVEF values in the two groups were as follows: nebivolol 25.41±7.09% and control 26.41±5.55%. LVEF improved significantly (p=0.027) more in the nebivolol group (6.51±9.15%) than in the control group (3.97±9.20%), the relative improvement (percentage increase in the initial value) being 35.70±57.62% in the nebivolol group and 19.19±40.96% (p=0.008) in the placebo group. Examination of different subgroups did not reveal any heterogeneity in the effects of nebivolol treatment vs. placebo treatment. There were no significant differences between the nebivolol and placebo groups as concerns the changes in clinical status, quality of life, or safety parameters. Conclusion: The findings of the ENECA study confirmed that nebivolol significantly improved cardiac function and proved to be safe and well tolerated in elderly patients with signs of CHF and an impaired LVEF.

Introduction: The importance of the problem of reduced motor activity in the prophylaxis and treatment of many diseases has resulted in numerous adaptations of a diagnostic tool, both for the disease and for linguistic and cultural versions. This also applies to cardiovascular diseases. The...

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has opened new horizons for intravascular coronary imaging. It utilizes near-infrared light to provide a microscopic insight into the pathology of coronary arteries in vivo . Optical coherence tomography is also capable of identifying the chemical composition...