Assessment of Tp-Te interval in patients with cardiac AL amyloidosis.

Background: Prolonged Tp-Te interval is strongly associated with fatal ventricular arrhythmias and mortality. This association has been demonstrated in various diseases. However, the current literature does not give any information on Tp-Te interval in cardiac amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis.

Circulating Levels of MicroRNAs in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The Relationship With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Left Atrial Dilatation and Ventricular Depolarisation-Repolarisation Parameters.

Background: MicroRNAs are small, endogenous, non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of many genes. It has recently been shown that circulating microRNAs may be biomarkers of hypertrophy and fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Objective: To determine whether circulating levels of microRNAs involved in HCM are associated with electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters.

Prior angina reduces ıschemic mitral regurgitation in patients with ST-Elevation myocardial ınfarction, role of ıschemic preconditioning.

Mitral regurgitation may develop due to left ventricular (LV) remodeling within 3 months following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and is called ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been reported as the most important mechanism of the association between prior angina and the favorable outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prior angina on the development and severity of IMR at 3rd month in patients with ST elevation MI (STEMI).

The role of Beta-1 receptor gene polymorphism in Beta-Blocker therapy for vasovagal syncope.

Background: Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a common clinical condition involving genetic background. The role of beta-blockers in the treatment is controversial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of beta-1 gene polymorphism on beta-blocker therapy in patients with VVS.

A new electrocardiographic parameter associated with sudden cardiac death in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Introduction: The interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (T-T) may correspond to malignant ventricular arrhythmias. In this study we aimed to assess T-T variability and investigate the transmural dispersion of repolarisation in pulmonary sarcoidosis disease without proofed cardiac involvement.

Material And Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study that included patients who had a pathologic and radiologic diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Association between galectin-3 levels and isolated coronary artery ectasia.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a well-recognised disorder characterised by abnormal dilation of the coronary arteries. Underlying mechanisms associated with abnormal luminal dilation in CAE remain to be elucidated. However, histopathological features resemble those of coronary atherosclerosis.

[Can biomarkers help us to understand the pathogenesis of coronary slow flow? Endocan and omentin-I in slow coronary flow phenomenon].

Objective: The pathophysiology of the slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon is still unclear. The two most frequently cited mechanisms of SCF are endothelial dysfunction and subclinical diffuse atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of SCF to serum endocan levels which is associated with endothelial dysfunction and to serum omentin-I levels which is associated with atherosclerosis.

Predictive value of global and territorial longitudinal strain imaging in detecting significant coronary artery disease in patients with myocardial infarction without persistent ST-segment elevation.

Introduction: Two-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiographic (STE) imaging is frequently performed in the assessment of cardiovascular diseases. We aim to investigate the role of the global and territorial longitudinal strain (GLS and TLS) values assessed via 2D STE imaging to detect significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients without wall-motion abnormalities.

Methods: This study enrolled 150 patients with the diagnosis of NSTEMI.

Galectin-3: A Novel Biomarker Predicts Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a primary cardiac disease characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, myocyte hypertrophy and irregularities and interstitial fibrosis in the absence of any cardiac or systemic diseases and may lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin that has been associated with cardiac fibrosis and inflammation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum galectin-3 levels and the criteria for 5-year sudden death risk, recently defined in the European Society of Cardiology guidelines (2014), in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

T wave peak-to-end interval in COPD.

Introduction: The interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic (ECG) T wave (Tp-Te) can estimate cardiovascular mortality and ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to define a new ECG parameter in patients with COPD.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study that included COPD patients who were diagnosed previously and followed up in the outpatient clinic.

Galectin-3 correlates with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and predicts the risk of ventricular -arrhythmias in patients with implantable defibrillators.

Background Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a heritable disorder characterized by fibro-fatty replacement of right ventricular myocytes, increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Galectin-3 (GAL3) is known to play an important role in a number of fibrotic conditions, including cardiac fibrosis. Many studies have focused on the association between GAL3 levels and cardiac fibrosis in heart failure.

Cardiac calcified amorphous tumors: CT and MRI findings.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of cardiac calcified amorphous tumors (CATs).

Methods: CT and MRI findings of cardiac CATs in 12 patients were included. We retrospectively examined patient demographics, location, size, shape configuration, imaging features, calcification distribution of tumors, and accompanying medical problems.

Endocan: a novel biomarker associated with well-developed coronary collateral circulation in patients with stable angina and chronic total occlusion.

Angiogenesis and arteriogenesis have a crucial role in the formation of coronary collateral vessels. It has been shown that endocan and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are potential angiogenetic factors. We investigated the relationship between serum endocan levels and grade of coronary collaterals, and also the correlation of endocan levels with serum VCAM-1 levels.

The utility of cardiac MRI in diagnosis of infective endocarditis: preliminary results.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the utility of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods: Sixteen patients with a preliminary diagnosis of IE (10 women and six men; age range, 4-66 years) were referred for cardiac MRI. MRI sequences were as follows: echo-planar cine true fast imaging with steady-state precession (true-FISP), dark-blood fast spin echo T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, dark-blood half-Fourier single shot turbo spin echo (HASTE), and early contrast-enhanced first-pass fast low-angle shot (FLASH).

Evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus infection-related left ventricular systolic dysfunction by tissue Doppler strain echocardiography.

Objective: Cardiovascular involvement causes significant morbidity and mortality among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), subtle changes in left ventricular (LV) function, which may be clinically silent, have become more pronounced in HIV patients. Echocardiographic strain imaging (SI) may detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction at an earlier stage compared with conventional echocardiography.

Serum omentin 1 level is associated with coronary artery disease and its severity in postmenopausal women.

We evaluated whether serum omentin levels are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and its severity among postmenopausal women. We enrolled 193 consecutive postmenopausal women who had undergone coronary angiography for suspected stable CAD. The study population was divided into 2 groups based on the results of coronary angiography (CAD group, n=110 and control group, n=83).

Effect of cigarette smoking on platelet aggregation.

Background: Cigarette smoking may increase platelet aggregation and cause atherothrombotic cardiovascular events. We aimed to investigate the impact of cigarette smoking on platelet function in patients with ischemic coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Twenty patients with ischemic stable CHD under aspirin therapy (300 mg/d), who continue to smoking despite all warnings, and 20 nonsmokers with CHD are enrolled in the study.

Homocysteine levels in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Objectives: Increased homocysteine (HCY) levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Plasma HCY is increased in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, and previous studies suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia causes adverse cardiac remodeling and affects pump function. We aimed to evaluate the HCY levels in patients with diastolic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Assessment of longitudinal left ventricular systolic function by different echocardiographic modalities in patients with newly diagnosed mild-to-moderate hypertension.

Objective: Standard echocardiographic methods reflect chamber dynamics and do not provide a direct measure of myocardial fiber shortening. Therefore we evaluated longitudinal left ventricular myocardial function by tissue Doppler echocardiography; strain (S), strain rate (SR), tissue Doppler velocity (TDV) in newly diagnosed mild to moderate hypertensive patients.

Methods: Our cross-sectional and observational study population consisted of 57 patients and 48 normotensive control subjects.

Relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertensive retinopathy, microalbuminuria and echocardiographic modalities in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

Longitudinal myocardial function (LMF) may be impaired while systolic function is still normal. We investigated relationship between LMF and hypertensive organ damage in newly diagnosed stage I hypertensive patients. A total of 57 patient with never treated stage I hypertension and 48 matched healthy control subject were enrolled in the study.

Impact of genetic polymorphisms on platelet function and aspirin resistance.

Genetic polymorphisms may affect platelets' responses to the antiplatelet therapy. Our aim was to determine the role of genetic polymorphisms on aspirin resistance in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 126 consecutive patients (35-85 years old, 32% women) with chronic stable CHD was enrolled in the study.

MR imaging features of ventricular noncompaction: emphasis on distribution and pattern of fibrosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe morphologic features and delayed contrast-enhancement pattern of the noncompaction of the left ventricle in cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed morphological cardiac MR imaging findings of ventricular noncompaction in 15 patients (eight men, seven women, and ages 6 months to 73 years old, mean 22 year). In 10 patients delayed contrast enhanced images were obtained after the morphological examination.

[The relationship between aspirin resistance and endothelial dysfunction in patients with stable coronary artery disease].

Objectives: Endothelial dysfunction may enhance platelet aggregation despite regular aspirin therapy. We investigated the relationship between aspirin-resistant platelet aggregation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Study Design: The study included 98 patients (60 males, 38 females; mean age 62+/-8 years) receiving medical treatment for stable coronary artery disease.