The right ventricle systolic force ratio could predict the severity of the tricuspid regurgitation-RIVIERA ratio.

Purpose: For assessing the severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), there is no gold standard. We developed a parameter, the right ventricular systolic force ratio-RIVIERA, using the continious wave Doppler analysis of TR and pulsed-wave analysis of the right ventricle outflow tract. We hypothesized that the RIVIERA would facilitate the ability to identify severe TR in clinical settings.

Closure of mitral paravalvular defects without performing an arteriovenous loop: a case series of fourteen patients.

Introduction: The arteriovenous (AV) loop is recommended when further support is needed during paravalvular leak (PVL) closure.

Aim: We report the feasibility and safety of mitral PVL closure without constructing an AV loop, based on a single-centre experience.

Material And Methods: Fourteen patients with mitral valve replacement (MVR) who had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV dyspnoea or NYHA class II symptoms with significant haemolytic anaemia caused by severe or moderate-to-severe paravalvular regurgitation and who underwent transcatheter PVL closure (TPVLC) between May 2014 and February 2017 were enrolled.

Increased circulating soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels in patients with slow coronary flow.

Introduction: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is an angiographic phenomenon characterized by delayed opacification of epicardial coronary arteries without an obstructive coronary disease. Serum soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels seem closely related to atherosclerosis due to increased inflammation and prothrombotic state. We studied whether circulating suPAR is related to SCF.

Relationship between left ventricular diastolic function and arterial stiffness in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), one of the most common congenital cardiac abnormalities, is the result of abnormal aortic leaflet formation during valvulogenesis. Recent studies have reported BAV to be associated with abnormal aortic stiffness, which has a negative impact on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. The study aim was to investigate the relationship between LV diastolic function, as measured with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), and arterial stiffness.

Left atrial function by speckle-tracking echocardiography in chronic asymptomatic alcoholic patients.

Although the effects of chronic alcoholism on left ventricular (LV) systolic function are well established, diastolic impairment has been evaluated partially. In addition, there are scarce data available about the relation of LV diastolic function to either or both duration and quantity of drinking among alcoholics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the left atrial (LA) function in chronic asymptomatic alcoholic patients by using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE).

Predictors of coronary artery aneurysm after stent implantation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

The clinical and angiographic predictors of coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) formation in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not clear. This study aims to assess the predictors of CAA formation after primary PCI. 3,428 patients who underwent PCI for STEMI were enrolled.

Effect of increased severity of mitral regurgitation and preprocedural right ventricular systolic dysfunction on biventricular and left atrial mechanical functions following percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.

Background: Severe mitral stenosis (MS) may impair left atrial (LA) pump function, and increase LA and pulmonary venous pressure resulting in right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate biventricular and LA function after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) by tissue Doppler (TDI) and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE).

Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with severe symptomatic rheumatic MS (11 men, mean age: 39 ± 7 years) who were referred for PMBV were included in the study.

Clinical and echocardiographic evaluation of mitral valve aneurysms: a retrospective, single center study.

Mitral valve aneurysms (MVAs) are rarely encountered in echocardiography laboratories. Although they are commonly associated with endocarditis of the aortic valve, various mechanisms have been suggested for the etiopathogenesis of MVAs associated with non-infectious conditions. 5,887 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) between 2007 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively for MVA.

Soluble CD40 ligand release in patients with stable coronary artery disease during elective stent implantation: effect of drug-eluting stent over bare metal stent.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the effect of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation on soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing stent replacement.

Study Design: Eighty-nine consecutive patients (33 women, 56 men; mean age 61±10 years) with stable coronary artery disease undergoing stent replacement were recruited. Pre- and post-procedural blood samples were collected for sCD40L analysis, and differences in plasma levels were calculated and expressed as delta sCD40L.

Drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives and risk of adverse outcomes after myocardial infarction.

Background: The association between oral contraceptives (OC) and myocardial infarction remains controversial. The new generation contraceptive Yasmin (30 µg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone) has a lower estrogen and newer progestin component. To date, there are no data available for the myocardial infarction risk and outcome for drospirenone.

In-hospital prognostic value of admission plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: We assessed in-hospital prognostic value of admission plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Study Design: In a retrospective design, we evaluated 992 patients (801 males, 191 females; mean age 56 ± 12 years) treated with p-PCI for STEMI. The patients were divided into two groups according to the admission BNP levels, taking the cut-off value of BNP as 100 pg/ml; i.

In-hospital prognostic value of hemoglobin levels on admission in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty.

Purpose: Anemia is a common comorbidity in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to investigate the in-hospital prognostic value of admission hemoglobin (Hb) levels in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 1,625 patients with STEMI stratified by quartiles of admission Hb concentration (Q1 ≤12.

Primary angioplasty in a high-volume tertiary center in Turkey: in-hospital clinical outcomes of 1625 patients.

Objectives: We evaluated in-hospital results of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a high-volume tertiary center.

Study Design: We retrospectively evaluated 1625 patients (1323 males, 302 females; mean age 56.0 ± 11.

Intracoronary bolus-only compared with intravenous bolus plus infusion of tirofiban application in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to compare intracoronary bolus-only with standard intravenous bolus plus maintenance infusion of tirofiban with respect to improvement in myocardial reperfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI).

Background: Changes in clinical practice may obviate the need for a maintenance infusion of small molecule glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in current practice.

Methods: Forty-nine patients undergoing p-PCI were randomized to either intracoronary bolus-only (n = 25) or intravenous bolus plus infusion (n = 24) of tirofiban.

The prevalence of echocardiographic accretions on the leads of patients with permanent pacemakers.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of echocardiographic "accretions" on intracardiac leads in patients with permanent pacemakers.

Methods: Two hundred eleven patients with permanent cardiac pacemakers implanted between 1988 and 2005 were called by telephone to participate in this study. The cohort was identified retrospectively and followed prospectively after recruitment.

A failed case of percutaneous septal closure of fenestrated atrial septal defect.

A patient presenting with a history of palpitation and exertional dyspnea was initially diagnosed with two separate secundum-type atrial septal defects by transesophageal echocardiography. Subsequent transesophageal echocardiography, after failure of closure with two separate closure devices, showed another defect and an ongoing left to right shunt. During surgery, more defects were observed.

Relation of circulating osteoprotegerin levels on admission to microvascular obstruction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, has recently been linked to atherosclerosis and development of postinfarction heart failure. This study was designed to assess the association between admission OPG levels and microvascular obstruction (MVO) in patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI). Plasma samples for OPG analysis were obtained <30 minutes after admission in 47 patients who underwent p-PCI.

Serum levels of angiopoietin-1 in patients with pulmonary hypertension due to mitral stenosis.

The molecular basis and pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH) are rapidly evolving areas. Recently discovered angiopoietins (Ang) constitute a family of growth factors, and whether they play a causal or protective role in pulmonary hypertension has not been fully elucidated. Since left heart disease probably represents the most frequent cause of PH, we sought to determine whether there was a relationship between serum Ang-1 levels and pulmonary hypertension caused by mitral stenosis (MS).

Impact of chronic pre-treatment of statins on the level of systemic inflammation and myocardial perfusion in patients undergoing primary angioplasty.

Statins have many favorable pleiotropic effects beyond their lipid-lowering properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of long-term statin pretreatment on the level of systemic inflammation and myocardial perfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarctions. This was a retrospective study of 1,617 patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention <12 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Clinical and procedural predictors of no-reflow phenomenon after primary percutaneous coronary interventions: experience at a single center.

Background: The aim of the study was to identify clinical factors, angiographic findings, and procedural features that predict no-reflow phenomenon (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade < or =2) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: A series of 382 consecutive patients with AMI underwent primary PCI within 12 h of symptom onset. Patients with ischemic symptoms continuing for more than 12 h were also included.

Predictors and clinical significance of angiographically detected distal embolization after primary percutaneous coronary interventions.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical, angiographic and procedural predictors of distal embolization (DE) on angiography after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The impact of DE on outcome in the first 30 days was also assessed.

Methods: Between January 2004 and April 2006, primary PCI was performed in 212 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) of < or = 12-h duration.

Prognostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with active infective endocarditis.

Our aim was to determine whether N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels are valuable for predicting prognosis in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). We analyzed measured plasma NT-pro-BNP levels at admission in 45 patients with definite IE. The primary end point was early surgery or in-hospital death.

Relationship between endothelial function and coronary risk factors in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Results of experimental and clinical studies suggest that both coronary artery disease (CAD) itself and its traditional risk factors lead to endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to determine which CAD risk factors sustain their contribution to endothelial dysfunction despite the presence of established CAD.

Methods And Results: The study group comprised 150 patients with CAD.