• Special Issue Topic

    Common cardiovascular target for a wide gamut of contemporary health problems – thrombotic and arrhythmic sides of an inflammatory coin

    Submission Deadline: September 30, 2023

    Guest Editor

    Karina Wierzbowska-Drabik E-Mail

    Department of Internal Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Research Keywords: echocardiography; diastolic function; strain echocardiography; stress tests; coronary artery disease


    About the Special Issue

    We are honored and delighted to present to our readers the first special issue of the new open-access scientific journal entitled “Exploration of Cardiology”. We strongly believe that it will become a special forum for sharing knowledge, data, and hypotheses concerning contemporary, significant as well as emerging aspects of both experimental and clinical cardiology.

    The aim of our journal is not only to assist researchers and clinicians in propagating new results of original, valuable studies but also to share clinical experiences from the frontline of the battle for patients’ health optimization in a wide spectrum of diseases that aim at common targets of the cardiovascular system. In order not to stop at just presenting new findings in original papers and case reports we will encourage also wider and deeper discussion of pathophysiology and possibilities of its modification and treatment within the framework of our review articles.

    This newly launched special issue of EC journal provides insight into contemporary infectious conditions that plague the global society such as the most recent COVID-19 pandemia awaiting thorough examination of its long thrombotic tail, as well as variegated cardiovascular HIV/AIDS complications, which, in our period of dynamically improving treatment of the underlying infection has become main players in these patients. Similarly, the current large-scale social problem is related to the overuse of alcohol, which in many regions of our planet is still increasing and affecting yet younger and more vulnerable persons. The question is whether some its antiatherosclerosis actions may overcome the strong proarrhythmic and widespread cytotoxic effect of this ancient but double-edged ingredient of the human diet. The proarrhythmic actions have returned in this issue in the aspect of the common but still mysterious mitral valve prolapse and also in one of the most prevalent genetic-based disorders, namely hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

    In the pursuit of a solution, we focused on the underused diagnostic potential of noninvasive assessment of coronary flow reserve, and in the final attempt to establish optimal treatment, we dedicated space to the ubiquitous statins as well as to never-harmful patient-tailored cardiovascular rehabilitation.

    Please peruse and share your experiences on the pages of the Exploration of Cardiology journal!

    Associate Editor

    Karina Wierzbowska-Drabik  

    Keywords: alcohol; coronary flow reserve; COVID-19; HIV/AIDS; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; left atrium and myocardial hypertrophy; mitral valve prolapse and arrhythmia; psoriasis and atherosclerosis; rehabilitation; statins and inflammation

    Call for Papers

    Published Articles

    Open Access
    Review
    Why and when should be lipoprotein(a) level measured?
    Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is composed of a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and glycoprotein (a)—apo(a). The size and concentration of Lp(a) in serum can vary among individuals and is determined by gene [...] Read more.
    Miłosz Broncel, Marlena Broncel
    Published: December 29, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:180–192
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ec.2023.00015
    View:384
    Download:20
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Review
    Mitral valve prolapse—arrhythmic faces of the valve disease
    Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a relatively common mitral valvulopathy and the most common cause of isolated primary mitral regurgitation (MR) requiring surgical repair. It affects about 1–3% of t [...] Read more.
    Maria Możdżan ... Karina Wierzbowska-Drabik
    Published: October 31, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:72–87
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ec.2023.00009
    View:948
    Download:47
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Review
    Echocardiographic predictors of outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
    The use of echocardiography, a straightforward and widely available technique, allows for a comprehensive assessment of the patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) under both resting and stre [...] Read more.
    Annamaria Del Franco ... Iacopo Olivotto
    Published: October 31, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:88–102
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ec.2023.00010
    View:635
    Download:23
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Original Article
    Left ventricular systolic function and initial exercise capacity—their importance for results of cardiac rehabilitation after acute coronary syndrome
    Aim: The aim of this study was to compare initial and final exercise tolerance and to evaluate the determinants of exercise capacity improvement—after three weeks of inpatient cardiac rehabilit [...] Read more.
    Barbara Uznańska-Loch ... Tomasz Rechciński
    Published: August 30, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:26–34
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ec.2023.00004
    View:459
    Download:11
    Times Cited: 0
    Open Access
    Review
    Alcohol—dose question and the weakest link in a chemical interplay
    The deleterious consequences of alcohol consumption are extensively documented across various dimensions of human health, encompassing somatic disorders such as nervous system impairments, digestive [...] Read more.
    Piotr Hamala, Karina Wierzbowska-Drabik
    Published: August 18, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:15–25
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ec.2023.00003
    Open Access
    Original Article
    In search of heart barometer—advantage of left atrial dimension over electrocardiographic indices of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension
    Aim: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) is a common and relevant complication of arterial hypertension (AH) and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is widely used for its preliminary assessment. [...] Read more.
    Bogusława Nowak ... Karina Wierzbowska-Drabik
    Published: July 14, 2023 Explor Cardiol. 2023;1:4–14
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ec.2023.00002
    View:536
    Download:17
    Times Cited: 0