The Role of Clefts and Cleft-Like Indentations in Mitral Regurgitation Etiology Detected by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a critical determinant in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography has transformed the imaging of the mitral valve by enabling real-time, direct visualization. This study aims to determine the frequency of clefts and cleft-like indentations (CLIs) and assess their contribution to MR in HCM patients.

Optimizing Device Selection in Percutaneous Paravalvular Leak Closure: A Comparative Study of Different Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiographic Techniques.

Background: Clinically significant paravalvular leak (PVL) may complicate both surgical and transcatheter valve implantation. Percutaneous PVL closure (PPVLC) is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to redo surgery, with demonstrated lower mortality and morbidity rates. Echocardiographic techniques are crucial for accurate diagnosis, defect sizing, and determining the appropriate size of the sealing devices.

Incidence and Predictors of Clinical Outcomes in Real-Life Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Treated With Oral Factor Xa Inhibitors: The Follow-Up Results of the ANATOLIA-AF Study.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine the incidence and predictors of clinical outcomes in patients with AF treated with factor Xa inhibitors in a real-world setting.

Methods: The present study was a multicentre and observational study that included patients with AF who were treated with factor Xa inhibitors. The primary outcome was the composite of ischemic stroke, TIA, systemic embolism, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality.

The effect of disopyramide therapy on functional capacity improvement in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), leading to symptoms and adverse outcomes. Disopyramide, with its negative inotropic effects, is commonly used to reduce LVOTO in obstructive HCM (HOCM). This study evaluates the impact of disopyramide on functional capacity in HOCM patients.

Multimodality Imaging in Cardiomyopathies.

Cardiomyopathy, which is shortly defined as a disease of the myocardium, has a broad definition that includes many different diagnoses. Recent advances in cardiac imaging techniques, including basic and advanced echocardiography, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, and cardiac magnetic resonance, allow for a more accurate evaluation of volumes and thickness of cardiac chambers, systolic and diastolic function of the ventricules, and tissue structure. Multimodality imaging often provides the first clinical suspicion for specific etiologies, especially when the medical and family history is unclear, by identification of red flags of underlying systemic diseases.

Pregnancy in a Rare and Acquired Mitral Stenosis Different from Rheumatic Mitral Involvement: Mitral Ring Mismatch.

There is an increasing incidence of diagnosing both congenital and acquired heart valve diseases in women during pregnancy. Factors such as elevated rates of pregnancy, older maternal age, and coexisting conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity contribute significantly to the symptomatic manifestation and detection of valvular heart diseases in women planning for pregnancy. Pregnancy induces cardiovascular changes across the maternal physiology, posing a heightened risk of morbidity and mortality, especially in women afflicted with valvular heart diseases.

Ongoing assertion of two-dimensional measurements on differentiation type of left ventricular hypertrophy: Focus on inferior vena cava.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), including hypertensive LVH, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA), is a commonly encountered condition in cardiology practice, presenting challenges in differential diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the importance of echocardiographic evaluation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in distinguishing LVH subtypes including hypertensive LVH, HCM, and CA.

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with common causes of LVH including hypertensive LVH, HCM, and CA were included.

Digital Technologies in Heart Failure Management.

Heart Failure (HF) is an important public health problem in Turkey and in the world. Hospitalizations due to HF decompensation are associated with increased mortality. The use of digital technologies, especially wearable technologies, is increasing.

Perspectives on the Use of Digital Health Technologies in Cardiology Among Specialists from an ESC Member Country: Results from a Survey.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to identify the reasons for and perceived challenges associated with the use of digital health technologies (DHT) in cardiology.

Method: We distributed an online survey to Turkish Society of Cardiology member cardiologists (n = 2789) between January 10 and March 3, 2022.

Results: A total of 308 subjects responded (27.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Despite all the advancements in science, medical knowledge, healthcare, and the healthcare industry, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The main reasons are the inadequacy of preventive health services and delays in diagnosis due to the increasing population, the failure of physicians to apply guide-based treatments, the lack of continuous patient follow-up, and the low compliance of patients with doctors' recommendations. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) are systems that support complex decision-making processes by using AI techniques such as data analysis, foresight, and optimization.

The relationship between hyperpolypharmacy and one-year outcomes in patients with critical limb ischemia undergoing below-knee endovascular therapy.

Background: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients take too many medications because they are elderly and frail patients with multiple comorbidities. Polypharmacy is associated with frailty, although its prognostic significance in CLI patients is unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of hyperpolypharmacy among adults with CLI and its effect on 1-year amputation and mortality.

Long-Term Evaluation of Revascularization Strategies for Medina 0.1.0 Left Main Bifurcation Lesions: The LM-CROSSOVER Registry.

The present study aimed to compare long-term outcomes of patients with Medina 0.1.0 left main (LM) bifurcation lesions treated by crossover stenting (COS) versus accurate ostial stenting (AOS).

Evaluation of Ischemic Modified Albumin Levels in Coronavirus Disease 2019-Positive and -Negative Patients with Acute Cardiac Injury.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the source of the global pandemic known as coronavirus disease 2019, and the disease prognosis is also linked to the prevalence of cardiac problems. In our study, we aimed to contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac complications by evaluating ischemic modified albumin levels in adults with coronavirus disease 2019 disease.

Methods: Our study was conducted with a total of 176 cases: group 1 (n = 70) with cardiac injury and coronavirus disease 2019 (+), group 2 (n = 57) with cardiac injury and coronavirus disease (-), and group 3 (n = 49) with healthy volunteers.

The Predictive Role of Small Airway Dysfunction in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The relationship between impaired lung function and atrial fibrillation has been described previously. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic influence of small airway function on predicting postoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

The relationship between plasma atherogenic index and long-term outcomes after endovascular intervention in superficial femoral artery lesions.

Objectives: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) results from the systemic atherosclerotic process. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between plasma atherogenic index (AIP), a ratio of molar concentrations of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol, and long-term outcomes after endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenosis.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 673 patients who underwent EVT for PAD in our tertiary center between January 2015 and December 2020.

The relation of right ventricular outflow tract measurements with in-hospital clinical outcomes after tricuspid valve surgery.

Right ventricular (RV) function is a determining factor for clinical outcomes in patients undergoing tricuspid valve surgery (TVS). Our aim was to investigate the importance of the function of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), which is an important anatomical region of the RV, in patients underwent TVS. 104 patients who underwent TVS were analyzed retrospectively.

Influence of cardiac biomarkers on predicting significant coronary artery disease in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.

Background: In this study, our aim was to investigate the role of cardiac biomarkers in predicting the presence of significant coronary artery disease in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients.

Methods: The study population was composed of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients who underwent coronary angiography at a single center between June 2021 and March 2023, and whose cardiac biomarkers were evaluated before the procedure. HCM patients were screened retrospectively.

Bioprosthetic aortic valve thrombosis under effective direct oral anticoagulant therapy.

With the increase in transcatheter procedures, the use of bioprosthetic valves has become more frequent in clinical practice. However, the optimal antithrombotic management of patients with bioprosthetic valves remains controversial. In this case report, we describe a patient with a bioprosthetic aortic valve who developed a thrombus while receiving effective dose direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy.

Relationship between myocardial bridging and fatal ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the HCM-MB study.

Background: Myocardial bridging (MB) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are associated with the risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). The goal of the study was to determine the relationship between MB and fatal VAs in HCM patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD).

Methods: A total of 108 HCM patients (mean age: 46.

The association of left atrial mechanics with left ventricular morphology in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Purpose: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is related with structural and pathologic changes in the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). The aim of this study was to explore the association between LA mechanics and LV characteristics in patients with HCM using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT).

Material And Methods: A total of 76 patients with HCM and 26 healthy controls were included in the study.