Background/Objectives: Both hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We aim to investigate the synergistic effects of hypertension and carotid plaques on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Methods: A follow-up study was conducted at the Preventive Cardiology Department of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos between 2012 and 2021. The study recruited participants aged 40–65 who did not have overt cardiovascular disease (CVD) and were part of the Lithuanian High Cardiovascular Risk primary preventive program. The study collected demographic and clinical data, including an ultrasound assessment of carotid plaque. Results: The participants were monitored for 4–10 years for CVD events and all-cause mortality. Among 6138 participants, 954 (16%) experienced CVD events. The presence of carotid plaque on both sides was significantly associated with CVD events, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality. However, the combination of hypertension and carotid plaque did not significantly increase the risk for CVD events or all-cause mortality. Conclusions: The risk of CVD events or all-cause mortality was not significantly increased by the combination of hypertension and carotid plaque. Cardiovascular events depend on the extent of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries.

Facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) surgery enhances the quality of life (QoL) but leaves patients with inferior QoL, presumably caused by scarring, emphasizing the need to understand post-surgery aesthetic satisfaction. This study aimed to validate the Lithuanian version of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) 2.0 and utilise it to identify scar evaluation differences and correlations among POSAS scores and specific aesthetic facial regions, age, gender, surgery types, and short- and long-term QoL. Employing a prospective longitudinal design, 100 patients with facial scars after surgical BCC removal were enrolled. The validation phase confirmed the translated POSAS 2.0 psychometric properties, while the pilot phase used statistical analyses to compare scores among demographic and clinical groups and evaluate correlations between scar assessment and QoL. The findings indicate that the translated Lithuanian version of POSAS 2.0 exhibits good psychometric properties, revealing insights into aesthetic satisfaction with post-surgical facial scars and their impact on QoL. The Lithuanian version of the POSAS 2.0 was established as a valid instrument for measuring post-surgical linear scars. QoL with scar assessment statistically significantly correlates, 6 months after surgery, with worse scores, particularly notable among women, younger patients, and those with tumours in the cheek region.

Background: Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a rare cardiac disorder caused by repolarization abnormalities in the myocardium that predisposes to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Potassium channel-mediated LQT1 and LQT2 are the most common types of channelopathy. Recently, LQTS has been acknowledged as an electromechanical disease. Methods: A total of 87 genotyped LQT1/LQT2 patients underwent cardiac evaluation. A comparison between LQT1 and LQT2 electrical and mechanical parameters was performed. Results: LQT2 patients had worse electrical parameters at rest: a longer QTc interval (p = 0.007), a longer T_pe in lead V2 (p = 0.028) and in lead V5 (p < 0.001), and a higher T_pe/QT ratio in lead V2 (p = 0.011) and in lead V5 (p = 0.005). T_pe and T_pe/QT remained significantly higher in the LQT2 group after brisk standing. T_pe was longer in LQT2 patients compared with LQT1 patients during peak exercise (p = 0.007) and almost all recovery periods in lead V2 during EST. The mid-cavity myocardium mean radial contraction duration (CD) was longer in LQT2 patients (p = 0.02). LQT2 patients had a longer mean radial CD in mid-septal (p = 0.015), mid-inferior (p = 0.034), and mid-posterior (p = 0.044) segments. Conclusions: Potassium channel-mediated LQTS has different effects on cardiac electromechanics with a more pronounced impact on LQT2 patients. T_pe was more prominent in the LQT2 cohort, not only at rest and brisk standing but also during EST exercise and at recovery phases. The altered mean radial CD in the mid-cavity myocardium was also specific for LQT2 patients.

Background/Objectives: In 2024, Lithuania developed a national lung cancer screening program (the Program), targeting individuals aged 50 to 70 years, regardless of their smoking history, with screenings conducted once every three years. The Program aims not only to actively detect lung nodules (lung cancer) but also to identify clinically significant concomitant findings. The pilot study aimed to evaluate the screening process’s feasibility and organizational efficiency of the screening process, as well as its potential clinical effectiveness. Methods: Three family medicine centers were selected for participation. The Coordinating Center contacted individuals aged 50 to 70 sequentially and invited them to participate, regardless of smoking status. In total, 1014 individuals were prospectively enrolled and underwent low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) screening between 26 September 2024 and 14 February 2025. Results: Of the individuals invited, 76.1% agreed to participate. Lung-RADS v2022 category 4 nodules were identified in 1.4% of participants (n = 14), including six smokers and eight non-smokers. Additionally, one participant with a Lung-RADS category 2 nodule was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma originating from peripheral lung changes. Newly identified significant incidental findings were detected in 25.9% of participants: 5.1% had pulmonary or mediastinal findings (most commonly emphysema, interstitial lung changes, and bronchiectasis), 18.7% had cardiovascular findings (usually coronary artery calcification, aortic valve calcification, and aorta dilation), and 2.1% had other clinically relevant conditions (e.g., thyroid nodules, diaphragmatic changes). Following assessment by family physicians, 17.6% of all participants were referred to medical specialists, including pulmonologists, cardiologists, and others. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated that the Lithuanian lung cancer screening model is feasible, well-organized, and clinically valuable. The findings support the Program’s readiness for broader implementation at the national level.

Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and carotid atherosclerosis are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, their relative and combined prognostic significance in individuals without known CVD remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the independent and combined associations of carotid plaques and DM with cardiovascular events and mortality in a high-cardiometabolic-risk primary prevention cohort. Methods: This prospective cohort study followed 6138 participants (3571 men [57%] and 2567 women [43%]; median age 53 years, IQR 48–58) enrolled in the Lithuanian High Cardiovascular Risk (LitHiR) primary prevention program from 2006 to 2023. All individuals underwent clinical assessment and carotid ultrasonography. Participants were stratified by DM status and the presence of carotid plaques. Associations with cardiovascular events, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, including non-fatal ischaemic stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death), and all-cause mortality were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: During follow-up (median 6.5 years, IQR 4.5–9.0), 954 participants (16%) experienced composite cardiovascular events (MACE, including non-fatal ischaemic stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death). Bilateral carotid plaques were more common in individuals with cardiovascular events (23.3% vs. 19.4%; p = 0.007). Individuals with both DM and carotid plaques had the highest risk of MACE (HR = 1.696; 95% CI: 1.346–2.136; p < 0.001), myocardial infarction (MI; HR = 4.089; 95% CI: 1.590–10.516; p = 0.003), and all-cause mortality (HR = 1.802; p = 0.015). The presence of carotid plaques without DM was independently associated with increased risk of MACE (HR = 1.234; 95% CI: 1.062–1.433; p = 0.006) and MI (HR = 2.492; 95% CI: 1.176–5.278; p = 0.017), but not all-cause mortality (HR = 0.986; 95% CI: 0.689–1.413; p = 0.941). In contrast, DM without carotid plaques was not significantly associated with any outcome examined. Conclusions: In this high-cardiometabolic-risk primary prevention cohort, carotid plaques were independently and more strongly associated with cardiovascular outcomes than diabetes alone. Individuals with both carotid plaques and diabetes showed the highest observed risk of adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. These findings are associational and apply to a high-risk metabolic syndrome cohort; extrapolation to the general population requires further study. The results support the prognostic value of carotid plaque assessment as an adjunctive tool in cardiovascular risk evaluation.

Purpose: Facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) poses significant challenges due to its potential for local destruction and impact on quality of life (QoL). Continuous research is necessary to identify novel factors influencing the quality of life within this demographic across diverse cultural settings. The aims of this study were to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Lithuanian version of Skin Cancer Index, subsequently utilizing this questionnaire in the pilot phase of the study to achieve the following: (1) identify the differences in short- and long-term QoL, (2) establish empirical correlations between SCI scores and aesthetic facial regions, evaluate the potential differences between age, gender, and tumor size groups. Patients and Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted with 100 consecutive patients. The SCI was translated into Lithuanian language, with a rigorous assessment of its psychometric properties to confirm validity. Alongside hypothesis testing, a detailed analysis of variables was conducted. Statistical techniques, including t-tests and ANOVA, were employed to compare scores across demographic and clinical groups, with effect size calculations for further interpretation. Results: Our findings demonstrate that the Lithuanian SCI successfully fulfills the criteria established by the COSMIN checklist. Surgical treatment for facial BCC notably enhances QoL, particularly evident six months post-surgery. Analysis of SCI scores identified demographic and clinical factors associated with lower QoL, including female gender, treatment with skin plasty, and tumor sites in aesthetically sensitive areas like the cheek, nose, and eyelid. Conclusion: The Lithuanian version of the SCI is a reliable and valid tool for assessing QoL in facial BCC patients. Our findings underscore the global relevance of understanding the multifactorial influences on QoL in BCC patients. Early diagnosis, less invasive treatment approaches, and tailored post-operative care are crucial in minimizing the psychological, social, and appearance-related burdens of facial BCC.