Cor et Vasa, 2026 (vol. 68), issue 2

Original research articles

(Assessment of the possible impact of COVID-19 infection on the autonomic nervous system in the pediatric population)

Martina Šišáková, Kateřina Helánová, Irena Andršová, Tomáš Novotný, Jiří Pařenica, Lukáš Homola, Martin Sihlovec

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):137-142 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.107

Objective: Autonomic changes, such as increased sympathetic manifestations, are a common complication of acute viral infections. Our study considered the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to long-term abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system that persist even after the acute and subacute phases of the infection have resolved. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of COVID-19 infection on autonomic nervous system modulation in children. Methods: A total of 165 children (89 girls) 6.7 to 18.6 year old were enrolled. Each participant underwent a postural provocation test (supine and standing positions) during which ECG recording...

Study of the Effect of Telecommunication Follow-Up for Patients on Warfarin During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mohamed A. Abdelwahab, Karim Kamal, Mohamed El-Ramly, Kareem Mahmoud

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):143-149 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.094

Background: Warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant, requires frequent monitoring of the international normalized ratio (INR). Telemedicine has emerged as a crucial tool for facilitating remote health- care access, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the efficacy and safety of this model for managing warfarin patients in Egypt remain unexplored. Aim: This study compared telemedicine with conventional warfarin clinic visits regarding achieving target INR and time in therapeutic range (TTR), while assessing differences in expenses and complications. Methods: Patients receiving warfarin at two tertiary centers in Egypt were...

Association of Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Its Derived Parameters with Metabolic Syndrome in Indonesian Police Officers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yusuf Aji Samudera Nurrobi, Chabib Fachry Albab, Ken Christian Kawilarang, Meity Ardiana

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):150-156 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.092

Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its derivatives, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR, have been linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a number of populations and are known to be surrogate markers for insulin resistance. Their association value, however, can change among various racial and vocational groups. Objective: To assess the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the triglyceride-glucose index and its related characteristics in Indonesian police officers. Methods: 3,600 Indonesian police personnel between the ages of 33 and 70 were evaluated in this cross-sectional study (3,201 men and 399 women). The TyG index...

Clinical Presentation of Cardiac Myxoma at Tertiary Referral Hospital in East Indonesia

Yan Efrata Sembiring, Muhammad Husein Dzikrillah, Ali Mustofa, Oky Revianto Sediono Pribadi, Danang Himawan Limanto, Edwin Yosef Widjaja, Heroe Soebroto, Jeffrey Jeswant Dillon, Pandit Bagus Tri Saputra

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):157-160 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.095

Introduction: Cardiac myxoma is the most common benign cardiac tumor. Despite global data availability, there is a lack of published literature on its clinical characteristics in Indonesia. This study aims to describe the clinical presentation and surgical outcomes of cardiac myxoma cases treated at a tertiary referral hospital in East Indonesia. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent surgical resection for cardiac myxoma between January 2020 and August 2024. Clinical data including demographics, symptoms, tumor characteristics, diagnostic methods, and surgical outcomes were analyzed descriptively. Results:...

Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve in Subjects with High HDL Cholesterol

Ozge Telci Caklili, Fatma Betul Ozcan, Ramazan Cakmak, Tugce Irgi, Oguz Konal, Mustafa Caliskan

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):161-165 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.100

Background: In recent years, it has been debated whether high HDL-C definitely provides cardiovascular protection. We compared coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) of subjects with normal HDL-C levels with subjects who have high HDL-C levels.Methods and results: Subjects who were evaluated for angina with no pathological findings at the Cardiology Department of Istanbul Medeniyet University between 2012–2022 were screened and included to analysis if their HDL-C levels were ≥ 50 mg/dL. They were divided into two groups: (1) patients with HDL-C ≥ 70 mg/dL and (2) patients with HDL-C ≥ 50 and < 70 mg/ dL. Groups were...

Clinical predictors of appropriate electrical storm in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Nawar A. Hamed, Ali Abdul-Ameer Al Mousawi, Kasim Abbas Ismail Al-Iqabby, Adil Hassan Al-Husseiny

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):166-172 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.133

Background: Appropriate electrical storm (ES) in patients with implantable cardioverter-defi brillators (ICDs) is a life-threatening condition characterized by recurrent, appropriate ICD therapies; antitachycardia pacing (ATP) and/or shocks; within a 24-hour period. Some authors defi ne ES as three or more VT/VF episodes separated by at least 5 minutes of sinus rhythm. ICD shocks have signifi cant adverse effects, and available evidence indicates that patients experiencing ES have poorer outcomes. Potential triggers include changes in or non-adherence to medication, worsening heart failure, early postoperative states, emotional stress, alcohol...

Combined vitamin K2, vitexin, and vitamin D3 (K2VD3) intake in patients with peripheral artery disease

Gianluigi Rosi, Daniele Ceccaroni, Daniela Fruttini

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):173-178 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.102

Objective: This observational study investigates therapeutic efficacy of bioactive compounds (vitexin, vitamin K2, and vitamin D3, K2VD3) in alleviating claudicatio intermittens in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Methods: Patients with PAD stage IIb under best medical cure were treated with life-style therapy and K2VD3 for 12 months. Results: Mean pain-free walking distance, described at baseline as 123 meters (95% CI 17-297), increase as follow: 376 (95% CI 226-527), 794 (95% CI 517-1070), 2 645 (95% CI 1511-3780), and 2 659 (95% CI 1529-3789) meters after 2, 4, 6 and 12 months, respectively (p < 0.001 for each...

Review articles

Techniques for dose reduction in pediatric cardiac CT

Marek Kardoš

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):179-187 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.127

The increased use of CT scans in children over the past decades has raised concerns about the long-term risks of radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging. Children are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of radiation because they have a longer lifespan, allowing more time for radiation-related effects to accumulate. Technological innovations in computed tomography have facilitated significant reductions in radiation exposure for both adult and pediatric patients while preserving diagnostic imaging quality.

Betablokátory v sekundární prevenci infarktu myokardu - poznatky z nových klinických studií

Petr Janský

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):189-194 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2026.042

Beta-blockers have been used in the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction for more than forty years. A number of historical clinical studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in both mortality and morbidity when they are administered. The positive effects of beta-blockers are most pronounced in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction or with symptoms of heart failure. In the past two years, the results of several large randomized prospective studies have been published, clarifying the role of beta-blockers even in patients after myocardial infarction with mildly reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. While...

(The Current Role of Diuretic Therapy in the Treatment of Heart Failure)

Jan Mikula

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):196-200 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.103

Diuretic therapy, particularly with loop diuretics, represents a cornerstone of pharmacological management in patients with symptomatic heart failure. This review article summarizes the effects of diuretic therapy on the cardiovascular system, outlines current clinical recommendations, and discusses the available evidence supporting the use of loop diuretics in both acute and chronic heart failure.

Cardiovascular Bypass Surgery: Contemporary Strategies for Postoperative Cardiac Follow-Up

Gökhan Ceyhun

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):201-205 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.128

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the cornerstone surgical therapy for complex or advanced coronary artery disease. Yet, the long-term success of CABG depends heavily on systematic postoperative cardiac follow-up. Early evaluation focuses on arrhythmia prevention, hemodynamic stability, and detection of perioperative myocardial injury, whereas long-term care integrates graft surveillance, risk-factor modification, and rehabilitation. New data highlight biomarkers such as NT-proBNP, galectin-3, and adropin, together with imaging modalities like strain echocardiography and cardiac CT angiography. A multidisciplinary, patient-centered model...

Selection of Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Based on SAMe-TT2R2 Score

Lutfu Askin, Kazim Ersin Altinsoy, Irfan Yaman, Veysel Ozgur Baris, Okan Tanriverdi

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):206-211 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.097

Clinicians must select between vitamin K antagonists (VKA) like warfarin and non-VKA oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation patients. According to observational studies, VKA patients have had international normalised ratio (INR) values outside the time in therapeutic range (TTR < 60%) for a long period of time. Based on common clinical criteria, the SAMe-TT2R2 score may help evaluate whether a VKA will work for a patient. SAMe-TT2R2 scores of 0-1 should perform well on a VKA, whereas values of 2 may result in inadequate TTR. We will examine how consistent the SAMe-TT2R2 score is in selecting oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrilla- tion patients...

Guidelines

Prenatální kardiologie. Sdílená doporučení České kardiologické společnosti (ČKS) a České gynekologické a porodnické společnosti České lékařské společnosti Jana Evangelisty Purkyně (ČGPS ČLS JEP)

Jan Marek, Radovan Vlk, Viktor Tomek, Patrik Šimják, Hana Jičínská, Eva Klásková, Vladimír Dvořák

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):212-223 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2026.021

Expert consensus statement

(Abnormal electrocardiogram findings in athletes. A consensus statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology of the European Society of Cardiology. Translation prepared by the Sports Cardiology Section of the Czech Association of Preventive Cardiology of CKS)

Eliška Sovová, Libor Jelínek, Jiří Pařenica, Bogna Jiravská-Godula, Otakar Jiravský, Vladimír Tuka

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):224-238 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.138

Athletes commonly exhibit a series of electrical, structural, and functional physiological changes which may overlap with cardiac pathology. The last two decades have witnessed a progressive improvement in understanding what can be considered benign for athletes and what may be deemed as potentially pathological and require further investigations. However, diagnostic uncertainties in the cardiac assessment of athletes are often encountered. In particular, the clinical significance of some electrocardiogram (ECG) findings may be uncertain. While uncommon and suggestive of an underlying cardiac condition, they may be identified among healthy athletes...

Personalities

Odešel profesor Eugene Braunwald – gigant světové kardiologie

Prof. MUDr. Petr Widimský, DrSc., FESC

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(2):240-241 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2026.040