Evaluation of association between obstructive sleep apnea and coronary risk scores predicted by tomographic coronary calcium scoring in asymptomatic patients.

Objective: This cross-sectional observational study is designed to evaluate direct effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) on presence and extent of coronary atherosclerosis by using tomographic coronary calcification scoring on a population asymptomatic for coronary artery disease.

Methods: Ninety-seven consecutive patients (49.17 ± 0.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness predicts descending thoracic aorta atherosclerosis shown by multidetector computed tomography.

Human epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a type of visceral adipose tissue functioning as an endocrine organ by secreting hormones and adipocytokines which have an important role in the atherosclerotic process. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between EAT measured by dual source multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and descending thoracic aorta (DTA) atherosclerosis. A total of 148 patients who underwent MDCT for the evaluation of coronary artery disease were enrolled in this study.

Effects of inspiratory muscle training in patients with heart failure.

Aim: To investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on functional capacity and balance, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, pulmonary function, dyspnea, fatigue, depression, and quality of life in heart failure patients.

Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled, double-blinded study. Thirty patients with heart failure (NYHA II-III, LVEF<40%) were included.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy and arterial blood pressure: a bonus for hemodynamic improvement.

The association between low blood pressure and prognosis in patients with heart failure has been controversial, with some reports suggesting an increased mortality for patients with the lowest blood pressures. Cardiac resynchronization therapy has become an established major therapeutic option for patients with heart failure and left ventricular dyssynchrony. It has been shown to improve functional capacity, left ventricular systolic function and survival in patients with heart failure.

Effectiveness best R-R reconstruction interval determination software for the evaluation of dual-source coronary CT angiography examinations.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of automated best R-R interval determination software for the evaluation of dual-source coronary multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography.

Methods: One hundred and nine consecutive patients who underwent dual-source coronary MDCT angiography are included in the study. The indications were chest pain syndrome of low-intermediate risk and/or nonspecific electrocardiographic changes (n = 91), stenting (n = 9), and bypass grafts (n = 9).

Cardiac hydatid cyst mimicking left ventricular aneurysm and diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Cardiac involvement is an uncommon presentation of hydatid cyst disease, accounting for approximately 0.5-2% of all hydatidosis cases, and mainly occurring as part of a systemic infection. Herein, we report on an isolated cardiac hydatid cyst in a 57-year-old woman.

Percutaneous closure of coronary artery fistulae in adults with intermediate term follow-up results.

Objective: Percutaneous closure of coronary artery fistulae (CAF) has become an alternative method to surgery. But there are limited data about intermediate and long-term results. In this manuscript, we aimed to review our experience about the closure of CAF with several percutaneous methods in our center.

[The prevalence of coronary artery anomalies in patients undergoing multidetector computed tomography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease].

Objectives: Coronary artery anomalies (CAA) can be detected by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with a high accuracy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of CAA in subjects undergoing MSCT coronary angiography for the assessment of coronary artery disease.

Study Design: This retrospective study included 1,056 patients (534 males, 522 females; mean age 58.

Analysis of left atrial appendix by dual-source CT coronary angiography: morphologic classification and imaging by volume rendered CT images.

Aim: We investigated the evaluability of left atrial appendix by dual source coronary CT angiography and analyzed morphologic features.

Materials And Methods: We included 106 consecutive patients who underwent coronary CT angiography for various indications. Technical parameters were slice thickness 0.

Multidetector CT of left atrium.

MDCT angiography has enabled visualization of left atrium in addition to coronary arteries. CT images can be utilized to demonstrate normal anatomy and pathologies. Left atrium variations and pathologies include atrial septal pouch, patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defect, atrial band, lipomatous hypertrophy, cor triatriatum, diverticulum, accessory appendages, atrial thrombus and masses.

Percutaneous extraction of cardiac pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads with evolution mechanical dilator sheath: a single-centre experience.

Aims: The growing problem with endocardial lead infections and lead malfunctions has increased the interest in percutaneous lead removal technology. In this report, we present our initial experience in percutaneous lead extraction with a novel hand-powered sheath, the Evolution mechanical dilator sheath.

Methods And Results: During 13 months between June 2009 and July 2010, 41 leads in 23 patients were removed.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves exercise heart rate recovery in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Heart rate (HR) recovery (HRR), defined as the rate of decline in the HR immediately following the cessation of exercise, is influenced by autonomic function. Heart rate recovery in heart failure (HF) has been shown to correlate with severity of HF. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves cardiac autonomic functions in HF.

Cyanoacrylate for septal ablation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has been shown to be an effective treatment in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) who are refractory to medical treatment. We describe an alternative approach for septal ablation with glue (cyanoacrylate), which is particularly useful in patients with the collateral formation to the right coronary artery in whom ASA is contraindicated.

Methods: In our method left coronary ostium was cannulated with 6-8F guiding catheter.

The effects on cardiac functions and arterial blood gases of totally occluding nasal packs and nasal packs with airway.

Objective: To evaluate the effects on cardiac functions and blood arterial gases of totally occluding nasal packs and nasal packs with airway.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized trial.

Methods: Thirty-nine adults without any comorbidities underwent septoplasty or septorhinoplasty and had nasal packs placed postoperatively; 19 nasal packs with airways and 20 totally occluding nasal packs.

[Fatty infiltration surrounding the whole heart, infiltrating into the myocardium, and causing pulmonary stenosis].

A 33-year-old male patient presented with complaints of atypical chest pain and exertional dyspnea of two-month history. Examinations to uncover these symptoms (physical examination, blood tests, electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, coronary angiography, right heart catheterization) showed no abnormality, except for echocardiographic appearance of hypoechogenic areas suggesting widespread pericardial effusion involving the anterior and posterior cardiac walls and mild pulmonary stenosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed for further evaluation of the pulmonary gradient revealed fatty infiltration surrounding the whole heart, infiltration into the myocardium, and causing indentation of the proximal pulmonary artery.

Improvement in right ventricular systolic function after cardiac resynchronization therapy correlates with left ventricular reverse remodeling.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves left ventricular (LV) systolic function in heart failure (HF). However, the effects of CRT on right ventricular (RV) systolic function are not fully understood.

Objective: We aimed to determine echocardiographic correlates of improvement in RV systolic function after CRT.

Brugada syndrome with aborted sudden cardiac death related to liquorice-induced hypokalemia.

Objective: It was the aim of this study to report an aborted cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and electrocardiographic changes consistent with Brugada syndrome due to liquorice-induced hypokalemia.

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: Ventricular fibrillation was witnessed in a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to our emergency department with a history of liquorice ingestion, a herbal product. After stopping liquorice ingestion, the Brugada-like electrocardiographic pattern changed progressively with potassium replacement.

Serum uric acid levels predict the severity and morphology of coronary atherosclerosis detected by multidetector computed tomography.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether serum uric acid (UA) was associated with the severity and morphology of coronary atherosclerotic plaques (CAP) shown by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). The study population consisted of 982 patients (58% men) who underwent dual-source 64 slice MDCT for the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary arteries were evaluated on 16 segment basis and critical coronary plaque was described as luminal narrowing >50%, whereas plaque morphology was assessed on per segment basis.

Relationship between atrial septal aneurysms and atrial electromechanical delay.

Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a saccular deformity located in the atrial septum. Atrial arrhythmias are common in patients with ASA. Atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) can be used to evaluate development of atrial arrhythmias in various settings.

Permanent pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator infections: seven years of diagnostic and therapeutic experience of a single center.

Background: Increasing evidence-based indications for the implantation of permanent pacemakers (PMs) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have led to an increase in the rate of device infections. The aim of the present study was to evaluate infection frequency, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and microbiologic and therapeutic features in patients with PM/ICD infections.

Hypothesis: Clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients can affect the PM/ICD infections.

Potential biomarkers for vascular damage in Alzheimer's disease: thrombomodulin and von Willebrand factor.

Objectives: Evidence regarding the vascular basis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is growing. In vascular damage thrombomodulin tears of the cell wall and its level increases in the plasma. von Willebrand factor (vWF) is also thought to be a biomarker for vascular damage.

Relationship between exercise heart rate recovery and circadian blood pressure pattern.

The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate heart rate recovery (HRR) in normotensive and hypertensive individuals with either nondipper or dipper type circadian rhythm of blood pressure. Eighty-five patients were divided into 4 groups according to the presence of hypertension and pattern of circadian blood pressure as follows: (1) normotensive/dipper, n=20; (2) normotensive/nondipper, n=21; (3) hypertensive/dipper, n=22; and (4) hypertensive/nondipper, n=22. HRR indices were calculated by subtracting first, second, and third minute heart rates from the maximal heart rate obtained during stress testing and designated as HRR1, HRR2, and HRR3.

Evaluation of cardiac autonomic functions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis via heart rate recovery and heart rate variability.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HRR) in otherwise healthy ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and control subjects.

Methods: A total of 28 patients with AS and 30 volunteers matched for age and sex were enrolled. All subjects underwent HRV analysis, exercise testing (ET), and transthoracic echocardiography.

The association between serum uric acid level and coronary artery disease.

Objective: This study was designed to determine the relationship between serum uric acid level and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: A total of 1012 patients who underwent coronary angiography were included in this study. All patients were assessed for the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and ongoing medications.