Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in patients with slow coronary flow.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to explore potential associations of the intron 4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and E298A polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene with slow coronary flow (SCF). The association between plasma nitrate and nitrite (NO ) concentrations and eNOS gene polymorphisms was also assessed.

Materials And Methods: The intron 4 VNTR and E298A polymorphisms of the eNOS gene were evaluated in the isolated DNA blood samples obtained from the SCF patient group ( = 30) and healthy group consisted of age- and sex-matched controls ( = 61).

Teleconsultation of coronary angiograms using smartphones and an audio/video conferencing application.

Objective: To examine the feasibility and accuracy of teleconsultation of coronary angiograms using iPhone 4 and FaceTime.

Methods: The study was conducted in two stages. Coronary angiograms of 100 patients with single-vessel disease were retrospectively selected by a core laboratory unit and then re-evaluated by a consultant cardiologist on both an iPhone 4 screen via the FaceTime application and on the workstation monitor of the angiography laboratory.

Evaluation of blood rheology in patients with coronary slow flow or non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Coronary slow flow (CSF) has been documented in 25% of patients evaluated for angina or angina-like chest pain, despite the presence of normal epicardial coronary arteries on angiography. The risk for the development of clinical events in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD) is higher than in patients with completely normal coronary arteries. The object of this study was to evaluate changes in blood and plasma viscosity in patients with CSF or NOCAD.

Comparison of fibrinolytic versus surgical therapy in the treatment of obstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis: a single-center experience.

Objective: Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis (PVT) is a rare but severe cardiac condition. There are only a few data regarding comparison of the fibrinolytic and surgical approaches for the treatment of PVT. In this study, we compared the results of fibrinolytic therapy versus surgery in patients who presented to our institution with a diagnosis of obstructive-type PVT.

Short-term effects of fluvastatin therapy on plasma interleukin-10 levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Experimental data demonstrated that inflammatory mediators, such as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors might have important role in the development and the progression of heart failure (HF). Statins were shown to downregulate inflammatory cytokines in HF. Interleukin (IL)-10 is one of the most important anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Coronary lesion type, location, and characteristics of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction in young adults under 35 years of age.

Objective: In the present study, we attempted to analyze the coronary artery lesion characteristics of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in young patients (aged less than 35 years).

Methods: We retrospectively surveyed 25 038 coronary angiography procedures, which were carried out at The Baskent University Adana Hospital from 1998 to present, to discover acute STEMI in young patients. We studied clinical risk factors and angiographic characteristics in 42 consecutive patients who underwent primary coronary angiography for acute STEMI.

An unusual cause of mismanagement in an acute myocardial infarction case: pseudothrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia determined by an automated counter may represent a benign, incidental finding in an asymptomatic patient or a potentially life-threatening disorder. Even if the low platelet count actually is a benign condition itself, in some conditions, any delay resulting from this condition consequently may be seriously hazardous. Low platelet count may alter the decision of heparin administration, which is an essential part of management during acute coronary syndromes.

Short- and long-term effect of simvastatin therapy on the heterogeneity of cardiac repolarization in diabetic patients.

The interlead variability of QT interval in the 12-lead electrocardiogram, QT dispersion (QTd), has been shown to reflect dispersion of ventricular refractoriness and may provide a measure of arrhythmogenic potential in diabetic patients. QTd and heart rate corrected QTd (QTcd) were also proposed to be accurate predictors of cardiac death in patients with diabetes. In recent years, experimental and clinical evidence demonstrates that statins exert antiarrhythmic properties.

Coronary collateral circulation: any effect on P-wave dispersion?

Coronary collateral circulation determines the severity of ischemic myocardial damage. Increased P-wave dispersion is an independent predictor for atrial fibrillation. Consistent evidence is little about the relation between coronary collateral circulation and arrhythmia risk.

Altered autonomic neural control of the cardiovascular system in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is frequently accompanied by the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. It has also been recognized that there is a significant relationship between the autonomic nervous system and adverse cardiac events. Heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise is a marker of parasympathetic activity and attenuation of this parameter has been shown to be associated with increased cardiac mortality.

Intima-media thickness in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.

The aim of the study was to determine carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS). Between January 2001 and December 2003, 112 consecutive patients who had been diagnosed with RMS were screened. Patients with known cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, hyperlipidemia, abnormal laboratory results, smoking, or age over 50 years were excluded.

Comparison of different regression analyses for identifying risk factors in obese and nonobese patients with coronary artery disease.

This study was designed to assess conventional and novel risk factors in obese and nonobese patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) by using multivariate forward and univariate logistic regression analysis and to find the best model of analysis for identifying these risk factors. The study group consisted of 398 patients who consecutively underwent coronary angiography for the investigation of chest pain, except overweight patients. In univariate logistic regression analysis, high C-reactive protein and cigarette smoking were found to be the strongest variables in obese and nonobese patients with CAD, respectively.

Value of preoperative echocardiography in the prediction of postoperative atrial fibrillation following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

The value of echocardiography, especially tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), in the assessment of risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is not clear. One hundred two consecutive patients (80 men; mean age 61 +/- 10 years) who underwent elective isolated CABG were included in the study. All patients underwent conventional transthoracic echocardiography and TDI of the left and right heart before surgery.

Right ventricular penetration and cardiac tamponade as a late complication of Kirschner wire placement in the sternoclavicular joint.

A 44-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency service with dyspnea, chest pain, and vomiting. Cardiac tamponade due to right ventricular penetration of a Kirschner wire was detected as a late complication of wire placement in the sternoclavicular joint. Clinicians should be aware of wire migration with cardiac penetration as a late complication of Kirschner wire placed in any part of the body.

Increased high sensitive CRP level and its significance in pathogenesis of slow coronary flow.

Previous studies have suggested that microvascular abnormalities cause slow coronary flow (SCF). The role of inflammation has not been investigated, to date. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of inflammation in pathogenesis of SCF.

Effect of slow coronary flow on electrocardiographic parameters reflecting ventricular heterogeneity.

QT interval dispersion reflects regional variations in ventricular repolarization and cardiac electrical instability. Previous studies have showed that QT interval dispersion changes during episodes of myocardial ischemia. Slow coronary flow (SCF) in epicardial coronary arteries is a rare and unique angiographic finding.

Assessing coronary blood flow with TIMI frame count method in isolated myocardial bridging.

Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital anomaly of coronary arteries and its functional significance remains controversial. Using the TIMI frame count (TFC) method, the authors investigated whether the coronary blood flow velocity is decreased in MB. The study included 18 patients (group 1; 12 men and 6 women; mean age 50 +/-6 years) who had angiographically proven MB and otherwise normal coronary arteries and 20 subjects (group 2; 13 men and 7 women; mean age 50 +/-7 years) with normal-appearing coronary arteriograms.

Echocardiographic features of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: There are several risk factors for the initiation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and the underlying mechanisms are multifactorial. Our study aims to explore the echocardiographic parameters that can identify in patients with PAF compared to normal subjects.

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients who were with PAF detected by 24-h Holter monitoring (HM) were assigned in our study.

Coronary and systemic stent embolization during percutaneous coronary interventions: a single center experience.

Objective: In this study, we attempted to analyze the incidence and outcomes of systemic and coronary stent embolizations during percutaneous coronary interventions and have described the treatment and retrieval methods used.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 24,038 consecutive coronary angiography procedures carried out at The Baskent University Adana Hospital from 1998 to present to determine the total number of stent embolization events.

Results: Among them, 4,797 were consecutive coronary stent operations and embolization was encountered in 14 cases (0.

Rheumatic mitral valve stenosis is associated with impaired flow-mediated dilatation.

It has been demonstrated that rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (RMVS) is associated with an increase in markers of endothelial dysfunction. It is not known whether this association indicates an impairment of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the vascular endothelium. Thirty patients with RMVS and 30 healthy subjects were studied.

Contribution of plasma lipid disturbances to vascular endothelial function in patients with slow coronary flow.

Previous studies have suggested that microcirculatory abnormalities cause slow coronary flow (SCF). However, the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon has not yet been well documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the role of plasma lipid disturbances in pathogenesis of slow coronary flow (SCF).

Value of prolonged QRS duration as a predictor of low cardiac output syndrome in patients with impaired left ventricular systolic function who undergo isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

This study determined whether prolonged QRS duration (QRSd; > or =120 ms) is an independent predictor of low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in patients with low left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Abnormal LV systolic function places patients at greater risk for developing LCOS after isolated CABG. In patients with this form of ventricular function impairment, prolonged QRSd is associated with adverse hemodynamic effects.

Simvastatin improves the attenuated heart rate recovery of type 2 diabetics.

Heart rate recovery at 1min (HRR1) is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality. The effects of statins on the autonomic nervous system may account for their beneficial effects in survival. Our aim was to determine if statin therapy improves heart rate recovery in hypercholesterolemic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.