Single dominant right coronary artery with hypoplastic left coronary branch: a rare congenital anomaly: a case report.

Background: A right single coronary artery (SCA) and hypoplastic coronary disease represent a rare coronary artery anomaly, which is associated with sudden cardiac death. The clinical manifestations of these anomalies depend on the distribution of collateral vessels.

Case Summary: A 55-year-old female presented with dyspnoea, mild chest pain during physical activity, and palpitations.

Association between apelin-12 and creatine kinase-MB, depending on success of reperfusion in STEMI patients.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is characterised by an imbalance in the supply and demand of oxygen in the heart. It requires urgent reperfusion, and poor outcomes are attributed to myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We aimed to evaluate the association between apelin-12 levels and creatine kinase-MB activity in predicting the effectiveness of reperfusion therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Influence of apelin-12 on troponin levels and the rate of MACE in STEMI patients.

Background: During acute myocardial infarction, phosphorylated TnI levels, Ca sensitivity and ATPase activity are decreased in the myocardium, and the subsequent elevation in Ca levels activates protease I (caplain I), leading to the proteolytic degradation of troponins. Concurrently, the levels of apelin and APJ expression are increased by limiting myocardial injury.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 100 consecutive patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction were included.

Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction guarded by a common valve consisting of left atrioventricular trifoliate valve.

Introduction: Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction is a rare adult congenital cardiac syndrome. This occurrence with prolonged survival is exceptionally rare.

Case Report: We present the case of a patient who presented with this defect with common atrioventricular junction who survived to the age of 32.

The impact of acute myocardial infarction on left ventricular systolic function.

Background: During acute myocardial infarction left ventricular systolic function is an important prognostic factor whose worsening is still frequent despite the therapeutic approach. We aimed to estimate the incidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction among patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: The study involved 154 consecutive patients admitted at Coronary Care Unit.

Limitations of CHADS2 scoring system in predicting stroke risk--need to change the age criteria.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia with a strong association with age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of stroke in relation to age and anticoagulation status based on CHADS2 risk criteria.

Methods: This study included all patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation admitted to our clinic between 1/11/2007 and 1/11/2009, with minimum one year follow up for patients without stroke.

Cardiac and pulmonary alterations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: cardiac and pulmonary clinical manifestations frequently absent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac and pulmonary alterations in RA among patients without clinical manifestations.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in 169 patients (127 female and 42 male, with mean age 51.

Poststaphylococcal coagulase negative reactive arthritis: a case report.

We report a case of a 49-year-old patient who developed poststaphylococcal coagulase negative reactive arthritis. The woman presented with constitutional symptoms, arthritis, urinary infection and conjunctivitis. The blood culture was positive for the staphylococcal coagulase negative infection.

"Initiate-build-operate-transfer"--a strategy for establishing sustainable telemedicine programs in developing countries: initial lessons from the balkans.

Establishing sustainable telemedicine has become a goal of many developing countries around the world. Yet, despite initiatives from a select few individuals and on occasion from various governments, often these initiatives never mature to become sustainable programs. The introduction of telemedicine and e-learning in Kosova has been a pivotal step in advancing the quality and availability of medical services in a region whose infrastructure and resources have been decimated by wars, neglect, lack of funding, and poor management.

Single ventricle, bicuspid aorta and interatrial wall aneurysm as a rare complex adult congenital heart disease: a case report.

Background: Single ventricle, bicuspid aortic valve and interatrial wall aneurysm in adulthood are a rare and unique case in medical literature. This presented case with congenital heart disease has never been treated surgically and clinical consequences seriously presented in adulthood.

Case Presentation: A 27 year old man with complex congenital heart disease presented.