Assessment of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Dosing Patterns in Turkish Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study with Insights from the ASPECT-NOAC Study.

Objective: We aimed to assess the real-world label adherence of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) dosing patterns, including apixaban, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban, in Turkish patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: This was an observational, prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study. Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were prescribed NOACs within the last 4 months were recruited from 34 cardiology clinics in Türkiye.

Contemporary In-Hospital Outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Interventions: Insights from the MENATA (Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia) Chapter of the PROGRESS-CTO Registry.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been rapidly evolving in different parts of the world. We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of 1,079 consecutive CTO PCIs performed in 1,063 patients at 10 centers in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Asia regions between 2018 and 2022. The mean age was 61 ± 10 years and 82% of the patients were men.

Balloon-assisted subintimal entry (BASE) in chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions.

Background: There is limited data on the use of the balloon-assisted subintimal entry (BASE) technique in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We analyzed the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and outcomes of 155 CTO PCIs that utilized the BASE technique at 31 US and non-US centers between 2016 and 2023.

Results: The BASE technique was used in 155 (7.

"Main Vessel-Oriented" Treatment Strategy Versus "Open Side Branch" Treatment Strategy in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients With Culprit Bifurcation Lesions.

Percutaneous coronary intervention of bifurcation lesions is associated with an increased risk of complications in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The study aimed to evaluate the in-hospital outcomes of patients with ACS with culprit bifurcation lesions who were treated with either a "main vessel-oriented" (MVO) treatment strategy or an "open side branch" (OSB) treatment strategy. This retrospective study included 575 consecutive patients with ACS.

Exploring the role of adult attachment, major depression and childhood trauma in arterial stiffness: A preliminary study.

Objective: Prior research indicates a noteworthy and intricate connection between depression and subclinical atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, the biological and psychological mechanisms that underlie this association are not yet fully understood. To address this gap, this exploratory study aimed to examine the relationship between active clinical depression and arterial stiffness (AS), with a particular focus on the potential mediating roles of attachment security and childhood trauma.

The Impact of Cystic Fibrosis- and Noncystic Fibrosis-Bronchiectasis on Pulmonary Artery Wall Thickness and Right Heart Functions Assessed by Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

Background: Right heart functions are affected in patients with bronchiectasis as a result of pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxemia. Pulmonary artery wall thickness has recently been introduced as a sign of intensive and prolonged inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze right ventricular and right atrial functions and to mea-sure pulmonary artery wall thickness in patients with cystic fibrosis-bronch iecta sis in comparison to those with noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis and healthy individuals.

Bleeding risk with concomitant use of tirofiban and third-generation P2Y12 receptor antagonists in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A real-life data.

Objective: Combination of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors can increase bleeding risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate bleeding complications of different DAPTs with concomitant tirofiban use in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: This retrospective study included 224 consecutive ACS patients (mean age 56.

The evaluation of right ventricle dyssynchrony by speckle tracking echocardiography in systemic sclerosis patients.

Purpose: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with right ventricle (RV) remodeling and dysfunction. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate RV dyssynchrony (RV-Dys) in SSc patients using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE).

Methods: Fifty-five SSc patients with functional class I-II and 45 healthy controls were consecutively included and underwent 2D-STE.

The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on blood pressure, and on left atrial and ventricular functions in hypertensive patients.

Purpose: Hypertension is associated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, impaired LV relaxation, and left atrial (LA) enlargement. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves clinical outcomes in a broad spectrum of cardiac disease. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of CR on blood pressure (BP), and on LA and LV functions in hypertensive patients.

A case of heart failure mimicking COVID-19 pneumonia: The role of clinical and chest computed tomography findings in the differential diagnosis.

Acute heart failure (HF) is one of the most common cardiac emergencies. Pulmonary edema caused by HF may mimic an exudative disease on chest computed tomography scans. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in China in December 2019 and quickly spread around the world.

Ventricular and atrial functions assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

Purpose: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically changed the clinical manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated cardiomyopathy from severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction to a pattern of subclinical cardiac dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) LV, right ventricular (RV), and biatrial functions in HIV-infected patients under different ART combinations.

Methods: We consecutively included 128 HIV-infected patients (mean age 44.

The evaluation of ventricular functions by speckle tracking echocardiography in preeclamptic patients.

Preeclampsia is a maternal disorder of pregnancy characterized by concomitant increase in preload and afterload with end organ dysfunction. The aim of our study is to evaluate left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) functions with speckle tracking echocardiography in preeclamptic patients. Fifty-five preeclamptic (mean age: 30.

Subacute aortic prosthetic mechanical valve thrombosis complicated with acute coronary syndrome.

A prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT), which is a potentially fatal complication, refers to the presence of non-infective thrombotic material on a prosthetic valve apparatus, interfering with its function. Possible complications of a PVT include transient neurologic embolic events, cardiac arrest due to a stuck valve prosthesis, and cardio-embolic myocardial infarction (MI). The choice of treatments, including a redo surgery, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and a fibrinolysis with PVT or MI dosages, depends on the patient's clinical and hemodynamic status and thrombotic burden involving the prosthetic valve and surrounding tissues.

The impact of right ventricular function assessed by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography on early mortality in patients with inferior myocardial infarction.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) involvement in inferior myocardial infarction (MI) increases in-hospital morbidity and mortality.

Hypothesis: RV systolic dysfunction assessed by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) might be a predictor of early mortality in patients with acute inferior MI.

Methods: Eighty-one consecutive patients with acute inferior MI (mean age, 60.

Assessment of Time and Frequency Domain Parameters of Heart Rate Variability and Interictal Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities in Drug-naïve Patients with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy.

Background And Purpose: Epilepsy is a disease known to occur with autonomous phenomenons. Earlier studies indicate decreased heart rate variability (HRV) during ictal and interictal periods among epilepsy patients. In this study, we aim to investigate cardiac rhythm abnormalities and HRV during interictal period between drug-naïve patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and healthy control group.

Arterial stiffness parameters associated with vitamin D deficiency and supplementation in patients with normal cardiac functions.

Objective: Arterial stiffness parameters including pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A close relationship has been demonstrated between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of vitamin D deficiency and supplementation on arterial stiffness parameters in patients with normal cardiac functions.

Heart Failure and Mortality in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Started on Novel Oral Anticoagulant Therapy: A Single-Center Experience.

Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of in-hospital morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Coexistence of HF and atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of thromboembolic events. Oral anticoagulant therapy reduces the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with AF.

Evaluation of left atrial volume and function in systemic sclerosis patients using speckle tracking and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate left atrial (LA) volume and functions using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and speckle tracking in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional observational study. We studied 41 consecutive SSc patients (38 females, mean age: 49.

Successful Treatment of Massive Pulmonary Embolism With Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in a Patient With Lymphocele: A Rare Cause of Thromboembolism.

Pulmonary embolism is a frequent and mortal situation especially in high-risk patients. Although thrombolytics and anticoagulants are the main options in treatment, substantial portion of patients also have high bleeding risk. Therefore, new catheter-directed treatment strategies, such as ultrasound-assisted transcatheter thrombolysis, gain importance in treatment options for intermediate and high-risk patients.

Right ventricular and atrial functions in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the right ventricular and right atrial functions in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy by novel echocardiographic measures.

Methods: In all, 40 patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and 26 healthy subjects were consecutively included. Left ventricular, right ventricular, and right atrial functions were assessed by tissue Doppler imaging and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Assessment of left atrial volume and function in patients with psoriasis by using real time three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: Left atrial (LA) volume has been identified as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, both in the general population and in selected clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of psoriasis on LA volume and mechanical function.

Methods: A total of 40 consecutive normotensive psoriasis patients free of any cardiovascular disease and 39 healthy volunteers were included.

A Case of Iatrogenic Chordal Rupture after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Procedure Requiring a Second Valve.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a therapeutic option for high-risk aortic stenosis. Malposition of the prosthesis and severe residual aortic regurgitation are known complications of the procedure, which might require a second valve implantation. Although the implantation of a second valve seems to be an effective method, very few data are available describing this technique.

Effect of acute sleep deprivation on left atrial mechanics assessed by three-dimensional echocardiography.

Background: Although sleep deprivation (SD) affects cardiovascular system in many ways, physio-pathological changes in cardiac chamber volume and function have not been described well. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of SD on left atrial (LA) and ventricular function with three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography.

Methods: Thirty-two healthy individuals (12 females, mean age 33.