Atrial dyssynchrony and left atrial stiffness are risk markers for cryptogenic stroke in patients with patent foramen ovale.

Objective: The clinical and echocardiographic parameters associated with the risk predictors of cryptogenic stroke (CS) in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) still diverse and with a great debate. We hypothesized that left atrial stiffness (LASt) and atrial dyssynchrony may increase the risk of CS in patients with PFO.

Methods: A total of 129 consecutive patients presented without clinical reasoning of stroke were recruited.

Delayed blood pressure recovery ratio and its relation to endothelial function and left ventricular diastolic function in prediabetics.

Background: Endothelial function plays a key role in determining the clinical manifestations of established atherosclerotic lesions and has shown to be associated with suppressed sympathetic tone. Abnormal heart rate recovery (HRR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) response during recovery has been found to have diagnostic role for detecting cardiovascular risk.

Aim: To investigate whether with abnormal HRR and delayed SBP recovery ratio after exercise could predict endothelial dysfunction in prediabetic subjects.

Associations of fractional pulse pressure to aortic stiffness and their impact on diastolic function and coronary flow reserve in asymptomatic diabetic patients with normal coronary angiography.

Background: We aimed to assess the relation of fractional pulse pressure (PPf) to aortic stiffness index and their impact on coronary flow reserve (CFR) and left ventricular diastolic function in asymptomatic diabetic patients.

Methods: One hundred and thirty five consecutive asymptomatic diabetic patients (aged 48.8 ± 7.