Despite advances in diagnosis, imaging methods, and medical and surgical interventions, prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) remains an extremely serious and potentially fatal complication of heart valve surgery. Characteristic changes of PVE are more difficult to detect by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) than those involving the native valve. We reviewed advances in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the diagnosis of PVE. Three-dimensional (3D) TEE is becoming an increasingly available imaging method combined with two-dimensional TEE. It contributes to faster and more accurate diagnosis of PVE, assessment of PVE-related complications, monitoring effectiveness of antibiotic treatment, and determining optimal time for surgery, sometimes even before or without previous TTE. In this article, we present advances in the treatment of patients with mitral PVE due to 3D TEE application.

Background/Aim. The FINish Diabetes RIsk SCore (FINDRISC) which includes age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, physical (in) activity, diet, arterial hypertension, history of high glucose levels, and family history of diabetes, is of a great significance in identifying patients with impaired glucose tolerance and a 10-year risk assessment of developing type 2 diabetes in adults. Due to the fact that the FINDRISC score includes parameters which are risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), our aim was to determine a correlation between this score, and some of its parameters respectively, with the severity of angiographically verified CAD in patients with stable angina in two ways: according to the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score and the number of diseased coronary arteries. Methods. The study included 70 patients with stable angina consecutively admitted to the Clinic of Cardiology, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade. The FINDRISC score was calculated in all the patients immediately prior to angiography. Venous blood samples were collected and inflammatory markers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leucocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose] determined. Coronary angiography was performed in order to determine the severity of coronary artery disease according to the SYNTAX score and the number of affected coronary vessels: 1-vessel, 2-vessel or 3-vessel disease (hemodynamically significant stenoses: more than 70% of the blood vessel lumen). The patients were divided into three groups regarding the FINDRISC score: group I: 5-11 points; group II: 12-16 points; group III: 17-22 points. Results. Out of 70 patients (52 men and 18 women) enrolled in this study, 14 had normal coronary angiogram. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the FINDRISC score and its parameters respectively (age, body mass index-BMI, waist circumference) and the severity of CAD according to the SYNTAX score (p < 0.001) and the number of diseased coronary arteries (p < 0.001). The patients with higher FINDRISC score (groups II and III) had more severe and extensive CAD according to the SYNTAX score than the group I. The odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CI) between the group III and the group I was 5.143 (95% CI 1.299-20.360, p = 0.002) and between the group II and the group I 5.867 (95% CI 1.590- 21.525, p = 0.007). There were no differences in odds ratio for multivessel disease according to FINDRISC score between the group II and the group III [1.141; (95% CI 0.348-3.734). In the group I mean SYNTAX score was 5.18, and more than 70% of patients had normal coronary angiogram. In the group II mean SYNTAX score was 17.06, and more than 70% of patients had 2-vessel disease and 3- vessel disease, and in the group III mean SYNTAX score was 18.89, and 2-vessel and 3-vessel disease had 36.36% and 31.82% patients, respectively. In multiple regression analysis, where SYNTAX score was dependent variable, and age, BMI, waist circumference, FINDRISC score were independent variables, we found that only FINDRISC score was independent predictor of SYNTAX score. Conclusion. The obtained results suggest a statistically significant correlation between the FINDRISC score and its parameters (age, BMI, waist circumference) and the severity of CAD according to the SYNTAX score and the number of diseased coronary arteries. The FINDRISC score may be useful in identifying patients at the high risk for coronary artery disease.

Background/Aim. Previous studies have confirmed a positive correlation between homocysteine levels and a greater risk for acute coronary syndrome and stroke, but there are no available data to support an association between homo-cysteine and inflammatory markers and the severity of coronary artery disease according to the clinical SYNTAX score in patients with stable angina. The aim was to determine the association between homocysteine and inflammatory biomarker levels: interleukin (IL)-6, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the severity of coronary artery disease according to clinical SYNTAX score. Methods. Eighty-two patients with stable angina pectoris (average age 65 ? 8 years, 28.9% females) underwent coronary angiography and were divided into three groups according to the clinical SYNTAX score: the group I < 22 (39 patients), the group II 23?32 (16 patients), the group III > 33 (27 patients). The severity and complexity of coronary artery disease were calculated by clinical SYNTAX score, multiplying the SYN-TAX score with the modified ACEF score, based on the patients? left ventricular ejection fraction, age and creatinine clearance (derived with Cockcroft?Gault equation). Results. Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with high clinical SYNTAX score [the group I: median (interquartile range ? IQR): 10.20 (3.97), the group II: 10.45 (5.77), the group III: 14.70 (7.50), p = 0.005]. Patients in the group III had significantly higher homocysteine levels compared to the group I (p = 0.001). We also found a posi-tive association between inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, hsCRP, fibrinogen, ESR) and the severity of coronary artery disease according to the clinical SYNTAX score (p = 0.017, 0.001, 0.032, 0.049 respectively). We detected significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin B12 in the group III and group II in comparison with the group I (the group I: median (IQR): 238 (160), the group II: 171 (160), the group III: 172 (102), p = 0.022), which indicates its important role in homocysteine metabolism. Conclusion. The elevated plasma levels of homocysteine, IL-6, hsCRP, fibrinogen, ESR were detected in patients with high clinical SYNTAX score (> 33). Our results showed that hyperhomocysteinemia and some inflammatory biomarkers can predict more severe and extensive coronary artery disease in stable angina patients.

Introduction. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a very rare disease with poor prognosis. It mainly affects young women free of risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and women during the peripartum period. The prognosis for myocardial infarction caused by SCAD is poor, management is often difficult and guidelines still missing. Case report. We presented a woman with acute myocardial infarction of anterior wall of the left ventricle, caused by spontaneous dissection of medial segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery. We treated the patient with thrombolytic therapy and performed coronary angiography after that. Finally we decided to do nothing more. Two years later we performed coronary angiography again and founded the coronary artery normal. We also analyzed 19 cases publiched from 1996 to 2012 when coronary artery dissection had been treated with thrombolytic agent. Analysis revealed only one case of 19, with complication after treating SCAD with thrombolysis. Conclusion. Sometimes, regarding myocardial infarction in young women with no risk factors for CAD, especially in young women in peripartum, we should think about SCAD. The presented case, like eight others, demonstrates that good clinical outcomes can be achieved with thrombolysis. In spite of all this, we still need more data to verify that thrombolysis does not have to harm the therapy for SCAD. For the time being thrombolytic therapy could be an option.

Background/Objectives: It is unknown how early exercise therapy combined with acupuncture (AP) affects the speed of recovery in patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who are hospitalized due to worsening HF. Methods: A prospective, sham-procedure-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial with three patient groups was conducted. The study included patients with HFrEF who were hospitalized for worsening HF. After initial stabilization, patients were randomly assigned to three groups, the controls (C) treated with optimal drug therapy (ODT); E1 received ODT with kinesitherapy, and sham AP; E2 received ODT, kinesitherapy, and needle AP aiming to enhance compensation. Improvement in physical activity was measured by the modified Barthel index (A test), 2 or 6 min walking tests, an endurance walking test, and decrease of blood brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Results: A total of 120 patients completed the study. The average age was 74 years, 73.3% were male, median EF was 32%, and 83.3% were New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III. After the fifth day of therapy, the E2 group showed the greatest improvement in the A test compared to other groups (p = 0.022). After 5 days, 80%, 50%, and 10% achieved an A test score of 30 or higher, demonstrating functional independence, (p < 0.01) in the E2, E1, and C groups, respectively. At hospital discharge, the E2 group showed significantly better walking endurance compared to the E1 and C groups (p < 0.001). At discharge, BNP decreased significantly more in both E groups, compared to the C group. Conclusions: Short-term early rehabilitation with AP and kinesitherapy significantly improves the functional status of HFrEF decompensated patients when compared to kinesitherapy alone and ODT.