Marek Postula

Medical University of Warsaw · Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology

SARS-CoV-2 tropism for the ACE2 receptor, along with the multifaceted inflammatory reaction, is likely to drive the generalized hypercoagulable and thrombotic state seen in patients with COVID-19. Using the original bioinformatic workflow and network medicine approaches we reanalysed four coronavirus-related expression datasets and performed co-exp...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system chronic neuroinflammatory disease followed by neurodegeneration. The diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid testing and magnetic resonance imagining. There is still a lack of a diagnostic blood-based biomarker for MS. Due to the cost and difficulty of diagnosis, new and m...

Background: Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), also known as solute carrier family 5 member 2 (SLC5A2), is a promising target for a new class of drugs primarily established as kidney-targeting, effective glucose-lowering agents used in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Increasing evidence indicates that besides renal effects, SGLT2 inhibitors (...

Background MicroRNAs (miRNA, miR) have an undeniable physiological and pathophysiological significance and act as promising novel biomarkers. The aim of the study was to investigate blood-derived miRNAs and their association with long-term all-cause mortality in patients with multivessel disease (MVD) suffering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS)....

Background: In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) an association between severe hypoglycaemic episodes and the risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality has been previously established. Methods: We aimed to investigate the influence of hypoglycaemia on several diabetes-related and platelet-related miRNAs selected based on bi...

Background: Increased inflammation activates blood coagulation system, higher platelet activation plays a key role in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke (IS). During platelet activation and aggregation process, platelets may cause increased release of several proinflammatory, and prothrombotic mediators, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and extrac...

Background Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) prevents ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but is associated with increased risk of bleeding events. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is one of nitric oxide (NO)-related pathway metabolites and stands as a promising biomarker of early chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiov...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs, able to regulate cellular functions by induction of mRNA degradation and post-transcriptional repression of gene expression. Platelets are the major source of circulating miRNAs, with significant regulatory potential on cardiovascular pathophysiology and other diseases. MiRNAs have been shown to modify...

In recent years, numerous prognostic models have been developed to predict VO2max. Nevertheless, their accuracy in endurance athletes (EA) stays mostly unvalidated. This study aimed to compare predicted VO2max (pVO2max) with directly measured VO2max.5,260 healthy adult EA underwent a maximal exertion cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) (84.76% mal...

Background: Plasma concentrations of gut microbial metabolites are associated with cardiomyocytes viability and platelet reactivity. We hypothesised that increased concentrations of gut metabolites may predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We compared plasma concentrations of gut metabo...

Background Despite the positive effects of endurance training on the cardiovascular (CV) system, excessive exercise induces not only physiological adaptations but also adverse changes in CV system, including the heart. We aimed to evaluate the selected miRNAs expression based on bioinformatic analysis and their changes before and after an ultramara...

Background: Despite the positive effects of endurance training on the cardiovascular (CV) system, excessive exercise induces not only physiological adaptations but also adverse changes in CV system, including the heart. We aimed to evaluate the selected miRNAs expression based on bioinformatic analysis and their changes before and after an ultramar...

The vascular system is largely exposed to the effect of changing flow conditions. Vascular cells can sense flow and its changes. Flow sensing is of pivotal importance for vascular remodeling. In fact, it influences the development and progression of atherosclerosis, controls its location and has a major influx on the development of local complicati...

This meta-analysis and systematic review was performed to evaluate the clinical relevance of subclinical leaflet thrombosis (SLT) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement. PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were searched for eligible randomized and nonrandomized studies until November 2020. Risk ratios (RRs) or odds ratios and 95% CIs were...

To investigate the association of liver metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) with cardiovascular disease (CV)-related and all-cause mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Our prospective observational study enrolled 292 patients with ACS. Plasma concentrations of TMAO were meas...

Background and aim Characterized by prolonged, highly dynamic exercise that is low-to-high power in nature, endurance training has proven beneficial in cardiovascular disease prevention. Several miRNAs have been reported to be regulated in response to exercise in healthy humans. Our aim was to determine the miRNA expression changes before and after...

Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an emerging invasive therapeutic strategy for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) significantly enhancing not only quality-of-life measures but also improving short-and long-term survival rates. Purpose For these purposes we aimed to analyze correlation between expression levels of...

Background One of the promising biomarkers in CVD are asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), which are products of L-arginine methylation and are both involved in endothelial dysfunction. ADMA, SDMA and L-homoarginine, have emerged as biomarkers linked to cardiovascular outcomes [1]. Purpose To investigate the as...

Background Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide [1]. Patients who experienced ACS are at high risk of future cardiovascular events and death [2–4]. Identification of reliable predictive tools could potentially improve the risk stratification [5]. Numerous studies revealed that intestinal microbial organisms (...

Objective Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are an emerging class of glucose lowering drugs, which become increasingly relevant for treatment and prevention of heart failure (HF). Therefore we aimed to investigate various SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with established HF at baseline. Design Extensive search of PubMed and Web of Scie...

Intermittent claudication is a typical sign of peripheral vascular disease, which results from limited arterial blood flow due to atherosclerosis, appears during exercises and is relieved after a short break. Intermittent claudication often presents as a pain in the calf muscle after walking a particular distance. Physical examination, detailed int...

In recent years, the therapy for patients with metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular complications, has become a challenge. Doxazosin – a selective α-adrenergic receptor antagonist, has emerged as a promising research target in the context of metabolic syndrome. It is pleiotropic action contributes to the reduction of metabo...

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors present a class of antidiabetic drugs, which inhibit renal glucose reabsorption resulting in the elevation of urinary glucose levels. Within the past years, SGLT2 inhibitors have become increasingly relevant due to their effects beyond glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Althou...

Purpose: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Damage to the endothelium is the earliest event in atherothrombosis, including AMI. Nitric oxide (NO), an endothelium-derived compound, protects the vasculature from damage. This study evaluated whether an association exists between plasma concent...

The impact of long-term training on cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not clear. Carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) test is recommended as a useful measure to diagnose the early stages of atherosclerosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are altered due to endurance exercise and can be promising biomarkers of pathophysiological changes. We aimed to evaluate the...

Background: Sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are an emerging class of glucose-lowering drugs that have become increasingly relevant for the treatment and prevention of heart failure (HF). Therefore, we aimed to investigate various SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with established HF at baseline and focused on the different types of HF...

Maximal heart rate (HRmax) is associated mostly with age, but age alone explains the variance in HRmax to a limited degree and may not be adequate to predict HRmax in certain groups. The present study was carried out on 3374 healthy Caucasian, Polish men and women, clients of a sports clinic, mostly sportspeople, with a mean age of 36.57 years, bod...

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of adipokines (resistin, leptin and adiponectin) with obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 284 patients with T2DM were included. Concentrations of resistin, leptin, adiponectin, and inflammatory markers [high sensitivity C-reactive pr...

MicroRNAs are endogenous non-coding RNAs that are involved in numerous biological processes through regulation of gene expression. The aim of our study was to determine the ability of several miRNAs to predict mortality and response to antiplatelet treatment among T2DM patients. Two hundred fifty-two patients with diabetes were enrolled in the stud...

In recent years, ischemic stroke (IS) has been one of the major causes of disability and mortality worldwide. The general mechanism of IS is based on reduced blood supply to neuronal tissue, resulting in neuronal cell damage by various pathological reactions. One of the main techniques for acute IS treatment entails advanced surgical approaches for...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs, able to regulate cellular functions by specific gene modifications. Platelets are the major source for circulating miRNAs, with significant regulatory potential on cardiovascular pathophysiology. MiRNAs have been shown to modify the expression of platelet proteins influencing platelet reactivity. Circu...

Diclofenac is one of the most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the World, eagerly chosen for the therapy of skeletal, joint and muscle pain. However, the use of diclofenac is associated with side effects common for the entire class of drugs, including enhancement of cardiovascular risk. It has been shown that B vitamins are in...

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Data regarding the influence of extremely intensive training on CVD are scarce. We compared EAT volume among ultra-marathon runners and in the sedentary control group, and assessed the correlations between EAT and risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). E...

The foundations of sports cardiology include promoting physical activity and an ability to provide a safe environment for training and competition for all athletes at all levels, from professional to recreational [...]

(1) Background: Prostacyclin analogues (epoprostenol, treprostinil, and iloprost) induce vasodilation in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) but also inhibit platelet function. (2) Objectives: We assessed platelet function in PAH patients treated with prostacyclin analogues and not receiving prostacyclin analogues. (3) Methods: Venous blood was c...

Introduction The ideal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still unknown. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to compare very short-term (1–3 months), short-term (6 months), standard-term (12 months) and long-term (>12 months) DAPT durations for efficacy and safety. Methods Overall DAPT co...

The epidemic of diabetes mellitus (DM) necessitates the development of novel therapeutic and preventative strategies to attenuate complications of this debilitating disease. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a frequent disorder affecting individuals diagnosed with DM characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic and systolic dysfunction a...

A better understanding of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) functioning would help with the differentiation between athlete's heart and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We aimed to analyse deformation parameters in endurance athletes relative to patients with DCM using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT). The study incl...

Liver fibrosis results from an imbalance between extracellular matrix formation and degradation. The background of liver fibrosis is chronic inflammation and subsequent microcirculation disturbance including microthrombosis. Platelets actively participate in liver fibrosis not only as a part of the clotting system but also by releasing granules con...

Background, the mechanisms underlying left ventricular remodelling (LVR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain obscure. In the course of AMI, blood cells and endothelial cells release extracellular vesicles (EVs). We hypothesized that changes in EV concentrations after AMI may underlie LVR. Methods, plasma concentrations of EVs from endoth...

Background: Most respiratory viruses show pronounced seasonality, but for SARS-CoV-2, this still needs to be documented. Methods: We examined the disease progression of COVID-19 in 6,914 patients admitted to hospitals in Europe and China. In addition, we evaluated progress of disease symptoms in 37,187 individuals reporting symptoms into the COVID...

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are the major cause of mortality world- wide. Despite the continuous progress in ASCVD therapy, the residual risk persists beyond the management of traditional risk factors. Several infections including Helicobacter pylori infection, periodontal disease, and viral infections are associated with the in...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors that plays a crucial role in the development of the nervous system while supporting the survival of existing neurons and instigating neurogenesis. Altered levels of BDNF, both in the circulation and in the central nervous system (CNS), have been report...

Appropriate selection and correct use of inhalation devices is an integral component in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is well known that there are many challenges with the use of inhalers, and no one device suits all patients. Importantly, education and support is crucial, not only to enable patients to reco...

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex condition and serious health problem, with growing occurrence of DM-associated complications occurring globally. Persistent hyperglycemia is confirmed as promoting neurovascular dysfunction leading to irreversible endothelial cell dysfunction, increased neuronal cell apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation....

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (coronavirus disease 2019; COVID-19) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the study was to characterize the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) functional networks with a...

Introduction Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization data, they are responsible for approximately 31% of deaths annually. It is estimated that nearly 80% of premature CVDs are preventable by modification of lifestyle including regular physical activity. Endurance training can be d...

Background Cardiovacular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Platelet play a key role in the pathophysiology of multiple CVD. LincRNAs are long non-coding RNAs transcribed from intergenic DNA segments. Some members of this class were recently associated with human disease. Linc-223 is co-transcribed together with mir-223 and wa...

Background Endurance training can be described as long-time activity characterized by high dynamic and low to high power and was proven beneficial in CVD prevention. Nevertheless, studies reported that excessive endurance training can act as double-edged sword inducing the inflammatory response and cell apoptosis. This negative effect can be the re...

Background: The interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway has a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the main cause of cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to characterize the predictive value of inflammatory biomarkers on long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary interventio...

Endurance sports have an unarguably beneficial influence on cardiovascular health and general fitness. Regular physical activity is considered one of the most powerful tools in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. MicroRNAs are small particles that regulate the post-transcription gene expression. Previous studies have shown that miRNAs might b...

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs, play an important role in coronary artery disease onset and progression. The ability of ncRNAs to simultaneously regulate many target genes allows them to modulate various key processes involved in atherosclerosis, including lipid metabolism, smooth muscle cell proliferation, aut...

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common disease worldwide. There is a strong association between DM and neurovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. The first group mainly consists of diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy and stroke, whereas, the second group includes Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, mild cognitive impairment and dementia...

Platelet extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are potential new biomarkers of platelet activation which may allow us to predict and/or diagnose developing coronary thrombosis before myocardial necrosis occurs. The P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptors play a key role in platelet activation and aggregation. Whereas the P2Y1 antagonists are at the preclinical stage, at...

Background Most respiratory viruses show pronounced seasonality, but for SARS-CoV-2 this still needs to be documented. Methods We examined the disease progression of COVID-19 in 6,911 patients admitted to hospitals in Europe and China. In addition, we evaluated progress of disease symptoms in 37,187 individuals reporting symptoms into the COVID Sym...

Inflammation leads to atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We performed a prospective, observational study to assess association between the concentrations of inflammatory markers (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, hsCRP; high sensitivity interleukin6, hsIL-6; soluble CD40 ligand, sCD40 L) and platelet reactivity in 338 patients w...