Introduction: The most commonly occurring diseases among the elderly people are cardiovascular system ones and among them the coronary artery disease (CAD). It is considered that the age and insufficient level of physical activity (PA) are the crucial risk factors of CAD. The key barrier which prevents elderly people from undertaking physical activity may be the fear of activity, called kinesiophobia. Aim: The aim of this project was to examine the frequency of kinesiophobia among Polish elderly patients with CAD and its potential conditions: sex, age, CAD duration, other diseases and chosen socio-demographic variables. Reference and methods: There have been 135 people examined: 59 women and 76 men in the 65–88 age range (average =71.88 years, SD=4.82). They were people diagnosed with stable CAD. The questionnaire form which was used collected information concerning the socio-demographical and physical activity data. And for kinesiophobia, there was Tampa Scale used, which is dedicated to examine cardiac patients – TSK heart. Results: Over 76% of examined patients had a high level of kinesiophobia (TSK>37 pt). Sex, age, BMI, CAD duration and the number of other diseases did not have any connection with neither PA nor TSK. Education was the only one, among the socio-demographic variables, which differentiated the kinesiophobia. Better educated people had a lower level of it. Conclusion: Kinesiophobia is a common problem among the elderly people suffering from CAD. It is caused by a lack of physical activity which adversely predicts the progression of the disease. People with higher education are more rarely affected by kinesiophobia. CAD patients should be provided with knowledge and training concerning PA and there should be conditions created to enhance it.

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...

About 10% of patients with Lyme disease continue to experience musculoskeletal pain and cognitive dysfunction after recommended antibiotic treatment. This condition is called post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS) or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. These two terms are used interchangeably. The pathogenesis of PLDS has been controversial. The hypothesis that patients with PLDS may harbor hidden reservoirs of Borrelia burgdorferi after their initial antibiotic treatment is difficult to accept. The prospective, double-blind studies contradict this point of view. Also, recently published research applying xenodiagnosis to PLDS supports the opinion that PLDS most likely has an autoimmune background. Lengthy courses of antibiotics are not justified in patients with PLDS because of the lack of benefit, and they are fraught with hazards. Most patients with PLDS recover from persistent symptoms with time. However, it can take months before they feel completely well.

The most common cause of heart failure (HF) is coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the transcriptional activity of the metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) genes in a study group of patients with HF due to CAD and in the control group, as well as assess the transcriptional activity of the examined genes, taking into account the number of affected coronary arteries and the severity of heart failure. The study group consisted of a total of 150 (100%) patients. The material for the study was peripheral blood, and molecular tests were performed using the quantitative QRT-PCR technique. The transcriptional activity of the MMP-9 gene was significantly higher in the group of patients with CAD and HF. It was also significantly higher with the progression of heart failure. TIMP-1 gene transcriptional activity was significantly lower with the advancement of heart failure. The transcriptional activity of the MMP-9 and TIMP-1 genes differentiated the examined patients. The severity of HF, and a significant increase in the QRT-PCR transcriptional activity of the MMP-9 gene with a simultaneous decrease in the activity of the TIMP-1 gene, makes them useful diagnostic and prognostic markers in clinical practice.

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are a consequence of coronary vessel atherosclerosis and they are a leading cause of death in industrialized countries. One of the ACS causative factors is the deranged ratio equilibrium of the matrix metalloproteinase/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (MMPs/TIMPs). Aims: Assessment of transcriptional activity of metalloproteinase genes using Human Genome-U133A oligonucleotide microarrays and selection of candidate genes differentiating ACS patients from healthy subjects and finally, QRT-PCR (quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction) confirmation of the results. Settings and Design: The study involved 67 ACS patients, admitted on a consecutive basis, to the Cardiology Clinic as well as 24 healthy subjects (control). Materials and Methods: Ribonucleic acid isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells was analyzed by QRT-PCR. Transcriptional activity of the analyzed gene was assessed with TaqMan gene expression assays. Statistical Analysis: U Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the results. Results: Homogeneity of the investigated group was assessed through hierarchical clusterization whereas the nine genes differentiating ACS patients from healthy persons were selected using the Bland-Altman technique. Among these genes three (platelet derived growth factor D, NUAK family SNF1-like kinase 1 and peroxisomal biogenesis factor 1) showed decreased transcriptional activity whereas the remaining six genes (MMP-2 and MMP-9, CDK5RAP3, transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif containing 1, adenylate cyclase-associated protein 1 and TIMP-2) were increased. MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 were further characterized by QRT-PCR. Conclusions: The obtained results permit to conclude that the increased expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2) is responsible for disturbed equilibrium of the metalloproteinase/tissue inhibitors system and as a consequence, for destabilization of atherosclerotic plaque and occurrence of the acute coronary syndrome in the investigated group of patients.