Founder Mutation in N Terminus of Cardiac Troponin I Causes Malignant Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cardiac troponin I () gene mutations account for 3% of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and carriers have a heterogeneous phenotype, with increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Only one mutation (p.Arg21Cys) has been reported in the N terminus of the protein.

Association of waterpipe smoking with myocardial infarction and determinants of metabolic syndrome among catheterized patients.

Background: Waterpipe smoking is a rising global public health epidemic perceived by many users to be less harmful, though its toxicity overlaps or even exceeds that of cigarette smoking. Short-term cardiovascular changes due to waterpipe smoking are well established, but longer-term health impacts are still not fully elucidated.

Objective: We aim to investigate the association of waterpipe smoking with myocardial infarction among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Type II diabetes mellitus and hyperhomocysteinemia: a complex interaction.

Background: Elevated homocysteine (Hc) levels have a well-established and clear causal relationship to epithelial damage leading to coronary artery disease. Furthermore, it is strongly associated with other metabolic syndrome variables, such as hypertension, which is correlated with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Studies on T2DM in relation to Hc levels have shown both positive and negative associations.

Artificial neural network-based model enhances risk stratification and reduces non-invasive cardiac stress imaging compared to Diamond-Forrester and Morise risk assessment models: A prospective study.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for more than half of all cardiovascular events. Stress testing remains the cornerstone for non-invasive assessment of patients with possible or known CAD. Clinical utilization reviews show that most patients presenting for evaluation of stable CAD by stress testing are categorized as low risk prior to the test.

Association of coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease in Lebanese population.

Background: More evidence is emerging on the strong association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease. We assessed the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and renal dysfunction level (RDL) in a group of Lebanese patients.

Methods: A total of 1268 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were sequentially enrolled in a multicenter cross sectional study.

Caffeine Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Components Is Modulated by a CYP1A2 Variant.

Cultural, dietary, and lifestyle factors are the main modulators of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disease risk. Coffee is one of the most popular worldwide beverages, and recent epidemiological studies have showed that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of T2DM. This study investigates the impact of coffee intake on T2DM risk and assesses the effect of CYP variants with caffeine exposures on T2DM.

Isolated Left Ventricular Diastolic Collapse Due to Extra-Thoracic Compression.

Isolated collapse of the left ventricle (LV) in diastole is not a very common finding on two-dimensional echocardiography. Reported cases in the literature were due to either loculated postoperative pericardial effusion/hematoma or left pleural effusion. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of LV diastolic collapse secondary to extra-thoracic compression.

Multivariate epidemiologic analysis of type 2 diabetes mellitus risks in the Lebanese population.

Background: The burden of diabetes in Lebanon requires well-targeted interventions for screening type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes and prevention of risk factors. Newly recruited 998 Lebanese individuals, in addition to 7,292 already available, were studied to investigate the prevalence of diabetes, prediabetes and their associated risk factors.

Methods: Participants had fasting blood sugar and glycohemoglobin tests in addition to a lipid profile.

Circulating lipid levels and risk of coronary artery disease in a large group of patients undergoing coronary angiography.

A main underlying pathology of coronary artery disease is the deposition of cholesterol in the arteries supplying blood to the heart that leads to stenosis and myocardial infarction. We tested if dyslipidemia is a risk factor for coronary artery disease in the Lebanese population, and studied the role of the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio as a biological marker of coronary artery disease. We recruited 6,180 Lebanese patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Genome-wide association study in a Lebanese cohort confirms PHACTR1 as a major determinant of coronary artery stenosis.

The manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD) follows a well-choreographed series of events that includes damage of arterial endothelial cells and deposition of lipids in the sub-endothelial layers. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of multiple populations with distinctive genetic and lifestyle backgrounds are a crucial step in understanding global CAD pathophysiology. In this study, we report a GWAS on the genetic basis of arterial stenosis as measured by cardiac catheterization in a Lebanese population.

Genetic and environmental influences on total plasma homocysteine and its role in coronary artery disease risk.

Background: Elevated levels of total plasma homocysteine are a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease.

Aims: The rationale behind this study is to explore the correlation between degree and site of coronary lesion and hyperhomocysteinemia in Lebanese CAD patients and assess environmental and genetic factors for elevated levels of total plasma homocysteine.

Methods: A total of 2644 patients were analyzed for traditional CAD risk factors.

Bleeding post coronary artery bypass surgery. Clopidogrel--cure or culprit?

Background: Clopidogrel, in addition to aspirin, has become a common treatment of acute coronary syndrome and for stent thrombosis prevention, when given before percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. However, some patients turn out to have surgical coronary artery disease and are sent for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) where the irreversible effect of aspirin and clopidogrel on platelet function becomes a concern. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of preoperative use of clopidogrel in bleeding complications after CABG.

Contrast-enhanced echocardiography for the diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The echocardiographic diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be difficult in patients with poor acoustic windows. However, contrast-enhanced echocardiography can provide better images in these patients and lead to the correct diagnosis. We present a patient with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who was diagnosed using contrast-enhanced echocardiography.

Prevalence of coronary artery calcium among asymptomatic men and women in a developing country: comparison with the USA data.

Background: Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) correlates with atherosclerotic burden and predicts cardiac events. Most of the published data have been derived from the USA population.

Objective: To study the prevalence of coronary calcium in an asymptomatic population from the eastern Mediterranean region and compare it to data obtained from a large population study in the USA.

Pharmacological therapy for myocardial reperfusion injury.

In the ischemic myocardium, reperfusion is necessary for the salvage of cells and cardiac function. However, reperfusion itself causes 'reperfusion injury', leading to the damage of myocardial cells. This is reduced by several interventions, as measured by the limitation of infarct size or reduction of arrhythmias.