Percutaneous Balloon Pericardiotomy: A Safe and Effective Approach for Managing Recurrent Massive Pericardial Effusion.

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy (PBP) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to surgical interventions for recurrent severe pericardial effusion (PE), particularly in patients with malignancies. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of PBP in patients with recurrent severe PE. A total of 42 patients with recurrent severe PE underwent PBP between March 2008 and July 2024.

The Association Between Left Ventricular Global Function Index and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Linked to Systemic Inflammation in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

We aimed to investigate the association between systemic inflammation and the left ventricular global function index (LVGFI) and evaluate the diagnostic performance of LVGFI for MACEs across the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) spectrum. A total of 1697 patients (794 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and 903 with non-STEMI [NSTEMI]) were evaluated. The LVGFI was calculated using echocardiography.

An Uncommon Coronary Anomaly: A Single Right Coronary Artery With a Conus Branch Supplying the Left Anterior Descending Artery.

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are usually asymptomatic and have a good prognosis. Single coronary artery anomaly (SCA) is a very rare CAA. Its true incidence is unknown.

Higher C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio Portends Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction.

: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) for all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). : In total, 404 chronic HFrEF patients were included in this observational and retrospective study. The CAR value of each patient included in this analysis was calculated.

Percutaneous interventions of coronary artery fistulas: a single-center experience.

Introduction: Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is a congenital communication between the coronary artery and other vascular structures or cardiac chambers. Percutaneous CAF closure is an emerging alternative to surgery, but long-term outcome data are limited.

Aim: To review our center's experience with percutaneous CAF closure methods.

The Relationship Between Echocardiographic Calcification Score and Grade of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background and objective It has been suggested that knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is associated with the development of calcification and an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, while the contribution of KOA grade is not clearly known enough. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the grade of KOA, the echocardiographic calcification score (echo-CCS), and CV risk assessment. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 204 patients diagnosed with KOA and classified according to the Kellgren-Lawrence staging criteria.

Predictive Performance of Triglyceride-Glucose Index on Asymptomatic Multiple Organ Damage in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Hypertension.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) contributes to the development of hypertension and mediated organ damage (HMOD) through various mechanisms.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate marker of IR, in predicting the presence and severity of HMOD in newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients from an academic training and research hospital

Methods: The study included 438 patients with newly diagnosed, untreated hypertension. The control group comprised normotensive individuals matched on a 1:1 ratio based on age, gender, body mass index, and smoking using the nearest neighbor method.

Unlocking Promising Therapies: Drug-Eluting Stents in Medically Refractory Angina Patients With Myocardial Bridging.

Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital variation in which a coronary artery segment tunnels through the myocardium instead of following its usual epicardial route. Although MB is usually diagnosed incidentally and has a good long-term prognosis, it can lead to complications such as angina, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and sudden death. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with MB and medically refractory angina.

Relationship between systemic inflammation indices and time of symptom onset in cardiac remodeling after first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Circadian variations play a pivotal role in both leukocyte trafficking and inflammatory response. This may affect the course of cardiac healing after myocardial infarction (MI).

Aims: The present study investigated the relationship between the systemic immune inflammation (SII) index and the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), two new inflammation indices integrating white blood cell subsets and platelets, and the time of onset of symptoms in left ventricular adverse remodeling (LVAR) after ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI).

Evaluation of left ventricle systolic functions with 2D strain echocardiography after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objective: There is deterioration in global left ventricular (LV) longitudinal function in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, and the decrease in LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) is associated with worsening prognosis. The aim of the study is to examine LV mechanical changes with LV strain imaging in addition to routine examination in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: Fifty patients who had been scheduled for the TAVR procedure between 2016 and 2018 were enrolled.

Short-term effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on retinal vessel diameter in patients with systemic hypertension.

Purpose: To determine the retinal vessel diameter changes after angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor treatment in a group of hypertensive patients.

Methods: This study included 60 treatment-naive hypertensive patients who were treated with ACE inhibitor. Sixty healthy volunteers served as control group.

Short-term effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on choroidal vascularity.

Purpose: To determine the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on choroidal vascularity using the binarization method in a group of treatment-naïve hypertensive patients.

Methods: There were 48 treatment-naive hypertensive patients who were diagnosed according to the "2013 European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology" guideline and started angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril (Coversyl) in the study. As a control group, 48 healthy volunteers were randomly selected among people who attended the outpatient clinic for routine ophthalmological examination.

Choroidal structural changes and choroidal vascularity index in patients with systemic hypertension.

Purpose: To assess the impact of systemic hypertension on the choroidal structure and choroidal vascularity index (CVI).

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study comprised 50 eyes of 50 treatment-naive hypertensive patients and 50 eyes of 50 healthy subjects. Choroidal thickness (CT) was measured in the subfoveal region, 1500 µm nasal to the fovea, and 1500 µm temporal to the fovea.

Incidental Findings Diagnosed during Preprocedural Evaluation of TAVR.

Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is an important therapeutic option for aortic stenosis (AS) patients who have high surgical risk. TAVR is a complex procedure. Proper preparation of the patient is of significant importance for the final success and affects the morbidity and mortality of the TAVR directly.