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New Radiological, Electrocardiographic and Biochemical Cardiovascular Risk Factors

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A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2021) | Viewed by 11884

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paweł Gać

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
2. Centre for Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: imaging diagnostics; environmental health; occupational medicine; cardiovascular system; cardiovascular prevention; risk factors and pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases; hypertension; sleep disturbance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Natalia Pawlas

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Chair and Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, School of Medicine with Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, 41 808 Zabrze, Poland
Interests: pharmacology; toxicology; epidemiology; genetic epidemiology; metabolic profiling of individuals with classic and genetic risk factors of coronary artery disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the latest statistics on the structure of deaths in the world, in 2016, cardiovascular diseases were the main cause of death (34.2% of all recorded deaths). Moreover, diseases of the cardiovascular system are characterized by a rapid increase in epidemiological importance, practically since the 1950s, which was partially stopped at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Radiology and imaging diagnostics, electrophysiology, and biochemistry are currently recognized diagnostic methods of cardiovascular diseases. They have experienced a further increase in clinical importance in recent years. It is already impossible to imagine modern medicine without the aforementioned diagnostic methods, and the perspective of the next few years will only strengthen this tendency.

We invite you to publish original article and review papers on the significance and predictive value of new radiological, electrocardiographic, and biochemical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Paweł Gać
Dr. Natalia Pawlas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Cardiovascular medicine
Risk factors
Heart and vascular biology
Imaging diagnostics
Electrocardiogram
Biochemistry
Toxicology
Experimental medicine

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 4071 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Correlation between Volumes Determined by Echocardiography and Cardiac MRI in Controls and Atrial Fibrillation Patients

by Simona Manole, Claudia Budurea, Sorin Pop, Alin M. Iliescu, Cristiana A. Ciortea, Stefania D. Iancu, Loredana Popa, Mihaela Coman, László Szabó, Vasile Coman and Zoltán Bálint

Life 2021, 11(12), 1362; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11121362 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2218

Abstract

Aims: We aimed to compare cardiac volumes measured with echocardiography (echo) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a mixed cohort of healthy controls (controls) and patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Materials and methods: In total, 123 subjects were included in our study; 99 full datasets were analyzed. All the participants underwent clinical evaluation, EKG, echo, and cardiac MRI acquisition. Participants with full clinical data were grouped into 63 AF patients and 36 controls for calculation of left atrial volume (LA Vol) and 51 AF patients and 30 controls for calculation of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LV EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), and LV ejection fraction (LV EF). Results: No significant differences in LA Vol were observed (p > 0.05) when measured by either echo or MRI. However, echo provided significantly lower values for left ventricular volume (p < 0.0001). The echo LA Vol of all the subjects correlated well with that measured by MRI (Spearmen correlation coefficient r = 0.83, p < 0.0001). When comparing the two methods, significant positive correlations of EDV (all subjects: r = 0.55; Controls: r = 0.71; and AF patients: r = 0.51) and ESV (all subjects: r = 0.62; Controls: r = 0.47; and AF patients: r = 0.66) were found, with a negative bias for values determined using echo. For a subgroup of participants with ventricular volumes smaller than 49.50 mL, this bias was missing, thus in this case echocardiography could be used as an alternative for MRI. Conclusion: Good correlation and reduced bias were observed for LA Vol and EF determined by echo as compared to cardiac MRI in a mixed cohort of patients with AF and healthy volunteers. For the determination of volume values below 49.50 mL, an excellent correlation was observed between values obtained using echo and MRI, with comparatively reduced bias for the volumes determined by echo. Therefore, in certain cases, echocardiography could be used as a less expensive, less time-consuming, and contraindication free alternative to MRI for cardiac volume determination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Radiological, Electrocardiographic and Biochemical Cardiovascular Risk Factors)

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14 pages, 1156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Obesity Phenotype with Markers Related to Obesity, Diabetes among Young, Healthy Adult Men. Analysis of MAGNETIC Study

by Mateusz Lejawa, Kamila Osadnik, Zenon Czuba, Tadeusz Osadnik and Natalia Pawlas

Life 2021, 11(12), 1350; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11121350 - 07 Dec 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2646

Abstract

Adipose tissue secretes many regulatory factors called adipokines. Adipokines affect the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates. They also influence the regulation of the immune system and inflammation. The current study aimed to evaluate the association between markers related to obesity, diabesity and adipokines and metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity in young men. The study included 98 healthy participants. We divided participants into three subgroups based on body mass index and metabolic health definition: 49 metabolically healthy normal-weight patients, 27 metabolically healthy obese patients and 22 metabolically unhealthy obese patients. The 14 metabolic markers selected were measured in serum or plasma. The analysis showed associations between markers related to obesity, diabesity and adipokines in metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese participants. The decreased level of adipsin (p < 0.05) was only associated with metabolically healthy obesity, not with metabolically unhealthy obesity. The decreased level of ghrelin (p < 0.001) and increased level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (p < 0.01) were only associated with metabolically unhealthy obesity, not with metabolically healthy obesity. The decreased level of adiponectin and increased levels of leptin, c-peptide, insulin and angiopoietin-like 3 protein were associated with metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity. In conclusion, our data show that metabolically healthy obesity was more similar to metabolically unhealthy obesity in terms of the analyzed markers related to obesity and diabesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Radiological, Electrocardiographic and Biochemical Cardiovascular Risk Factors)

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16 pages, 815 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Aortic Valve Calcium Score Based on Angiographic Phase Versus Reduction of Ionizing Radiation Dose in Computed Tomography

by Paweł Gać, Bartłomiej Kędzierski, Piotr Macek, Krystyna Pawlas and Rafał Poręba

Life 2021, 11(7), 604; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11070604 - 23 Jun 2021

Viewed by 1574

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the estimation efficacy of aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) based on the multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiographic phase. The evaluation of the reduced amount of ionizing radiation dose was performed because of this estimation. The study included 51 consecutive patients who qualified for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) (78.59 ± 5.72 years). All subjects underwent MSCT: in the native phase dedicated to AVCS as well as angiographic phases aimed to morphologically assess the aortic ostium and arterial accesses for TAVI. Based on the native phase, an AVCS assessment was performed for axial reconstructions at 3.0 mm and 2.0 mm slice thickness (AVCS_native3.0 and AVCS_native2.0). Based on the angiographic phase AVCS was estimated for axial reconstruction at 0.6 mm slice thickness with increased values of lesion density in aortic valve cusps/aortic valve annulus, which is considered a calcification, from a typical value of 130 HU to 500 HU and 600 HU (AVCS_{CTA0.6 500 HU} and AVCS_{CTA0.6 600 HU}). Mathematical formulations were developed, allowing for AVCS native calculation based on AVCS values estimated based on the angiographic phase: AVCS_native3.0 = 813.920 + 1.510 AVCS_{CTA0.6 500 HU}; AVCS_native3.0 = 1235.863 + 1.817 AVCS_{CTA0.6 600 HU}; AVCS_native2.0 = 797.471 + 1.393 AVCS_{CTA0.6 500 HU}; AVCS_native2.0 = 1228.310 + 1.650 AVCS_{CTA0.6 600 HU}. The amount of a potential reduction in dose length product (DLP) in the case of AVCS estimation was 4.45 ± 1.54%. In summary, relying solely on the angiographic phase of MSCT examination before TAVI, it is possible to conclusively estimate AVCS. This estimation results in a marked reduction in radiation dose in MSCT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Radiological, Electrocardiographic and Biochemical Cardiovascular Risk Factors)

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9 pages, 246 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor of Insulin Resistance in Nondiabetic Adults

by Monika Michalek-Zrabkowska, Piotr Macek, Helena Martynowicz, Pawel Gac, Grzegorz Mazur, Magda Grzeda and Rafal Poreba

Life 2021, 11(1), 50; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11010050 - 13 Jan 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2343

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insulin resistance among patients with increased risk of OSA without diabetes mellitus. Method and materials: our study group involved 102 individuals with suspected OSA, mean age 53.02 ± 12.37 years. Data on medical history, medication usage, sleep habits, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, were obtained using questionnaires. All patients underwent standardized full night polysomnography. Serum fasting insulin and glucose concentration were analyzed, the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated. Results: polysomnographic study indicated that in the group with OSA mean values of apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), duration of SpO₂ < 90% and average desaturation drop were significantly higher compared to the group without OSA, while the minimum SpO2 was significantly lower. The carbohydrate metabolism parameters did not differ within those groups. Significantly higher fasting insulin concentration and HOMA-IR index were found in the group with AHI ≥ 15 compared to the group with AHI < 15 and in the group with AHI ≥ 30 compared to the group with AHI < 30. Higher AHI and ODI were independent risk factors for higher fasting insulin concentration and higher HOMA-IR index. Increased duration of SpO2 < 90% was an independent risk factor for higher fasting glucose concentration. Conclusions: Individuals with moderate to severe OSA without diabetes mellitus had a higher prevalence of insulin resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Radiological, Electrocardiographic and Biochemical Cardiovascular Risk Factors)

Review

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10 pages, 581 KiB

Open AccessReview

Endogenous Mammalian Cardiotonic Steroids—A New Cardiovascular Risk Factor?—A Mini-Review

by Natalia Słabiak-Błaż and Grzegorz Piecha

Life 2021, 11(8), 727; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/life11080727 - 22 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

The role of endogenous mammalian cardiotonic steroids (CTS) in the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system and the kidneys has interested researchers for more than 20 years. Cardiotonic steroids extracted from toads or plants, such as digitalis, have been used to treat heart disease since ancient times. CTS, also called endogenous digitalis-like factors, take part in the regulation of blood pressure and sodium homeostasis through their effects on the transport enzyme called sodium–potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na/K-ATPase) in renal and cardiovascular tissue. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence showing deleterious effects of CTS on the structure and function of the heart, vasculature and kidneys. Understanding the role of CTS may be useful in the development of potential new therapeutic strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Radiological, Electrocardiographic and Biochemical Cardiovascular Risk Factors)

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