Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the levels of selected markers in patients who underwent planned or emergency coronary angiography and to examine if they correlated with the occurrence of AKI. Methods: The study included 52 patients who underwent planned or emergency coronary angiography and received contrast agent. Serum levels of markers (NGAL, L-FABP, KIM-1, IL-18) were analyzed in all patients using ELISA tests, at baseline, after 24 and 72 h from angiography. Results: 9.62% of patients developed CI-AKI. No significant differences were observed between markers levels in patients who developed CI-AKI and those who did not. After 24 h, serum levels of IL-18 were higher in patients with CI-AKI, however, this difference was on the verge of significance. Increase in serum NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18 was observed after 24 h. Serum levels of biomarkers were insignificantly higher in group with CI-AKI. Significant changes in levels in time (baseline vs. 24 h vs. 72 h) were observed only for NGAL [157.9 (92.4–221.0) vs. 201.8 (156.5–299.9) vs. 118.5 (73.4–198.7); p < 0.0001]. No significant correlations were observed between the decrease in eGFR or the increase in creatinine and biomarkers level. Conclusion: Obtained results do not allow for the indication of efficient AKI biomarkers. Their further validation in large studies of CI-AKI patients is required.

Background: Ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO₂) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases and defines individuals’ responses to exercise. Its characteristics among endurance athletes (EA) remain understudied. In a cohort of EA, we aimed to (1) investigate the relationship between different methods of calculation of VE/VCO₂ and (2) externally validate prediction equations for VE/VCO₂. Methods: In total, 140 EA (55% males; age = 22.7 ± 4.6 yrs; BMI = 22.6 ± 1.7 kg·m⁻²; peak oxygen uptake = 3.86 ± 0.82 L·min⁻¹) underwent an effort-limited cycling cardiopulmonary exercise test. VE/VCO₂ was first calculated to ventilatory threshold (VE/VCO₂-slope), as the lowest 30-s average (VE/VCO₂-Nadir) and from whole exercises (VE/VCO₂-Total). Twelve prediction equations for VE/VCO₂-slope were externally validated. Results: VE/VCO₂-slope was higher in females than males (27.7 ± 2.6 vs. 26.1 ± 2.0, p < 0.001). Measuring methods for VE/VCO₂ differed significantly in males and females. VE/VCO₂ increased in EA with age independently from its type or sex (β = 0.066–0.127). Eleven equations underestimated VE/VCO₂-slope (from −0.5 to −3.6). One equation overestimated VE/VCO₂-slope (+0.2). Predicted and observed measurements differed significantly in nine models. Models explained a low amount of variance in the VE/VCO₂-slope (R² = 0.003–0.031). Conclusions: VE/VCO₂-slope, VE/VCO₂-Nadir, and VE/VCO₂-Total were significantly different in EA. Prediction equations for the VE/VCO₂-slope were inaccurate in EA. Physicians should be acknowledged to properly assess cardiorespiratory fitness in EA.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a progressive autoimmune disease. There are reports suggesting that patients even without overt signs of cardiovascular complications have impaired autonomic function. The aim of this study was to assess autonomic function using heart rate turbulence and heart rate variability parameters indicated in 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring. Twenty-six women with systemic lupus erythematosus and 30 healthy women were included. Twenty-four hour ambulatory ECG-Holter was performed in home conditions. The basic parameters of heart rate turbulence and heart rate variability were calculated. The analyses were performed for the entire day and separately for daytime activity and night time rest. There were no statistically significant differences in the basic anthropometric parameters. The mean duration of disease was 11.52 ± 7.42. There was a statistically significant higher turbulence onset (To) value in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, median To = –0.17% (minimum –1.47, maximum 3.0) versus To = –1.36% (minimum –4.53, maximum –0.41), P < 0.001. There were no such differences for turbulence slope (Ts). In the 24-hour analysis almost all heart rate variability parameters were significantly lower in the systemic lupus erythematosus group than in the healthy controls, including SDANN and r-MSSD and p50NN. Concerning the morning activity and night resting periods, the results were similar as for the whole day. In the control group, higher values in morning activity were noted for parameters that characterise sympathetic activity, especially SDANN, and were significantly lower for parasympathetic parameters, including r-MSSD and p50NN, which prevailed at night. There were no statistically significant changes for systemic lupus erythematosus patients for p50NN and low and very low frequency. There was a positive correlation between disease duration and SDNN, R = 0.417; P < 0.05 and SDANN, R = 0.464; P < 0.05, a negative correlation between low/high frequency ratio and r-MSSD, R = –0.454; P < 0.05; p50NN, R = –0.435; P < 0.05 and high frequency, R = –0.478; P < 0.05. In contrast, there was no statistically significant correlation between heart rate turbulence and other variables evaluated, including disease duration and the type of autoantibodies. Conclusion: Our study confirms the presence of autonomic disorders with respect to both heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence parameters and the presence of diurnal disturbances of sympathetic–parasympathetic balance. Further studies are required.

Introduction Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease manifested by progressive fibrosis of many internal organs including the cardiovascular system and development of autonomic disorders with sympathetic predominance. These abnormalities can increase cardiovascular mortality....