The Correlation between Elevated HDL-Cholesterol, Body Mass Index, and Presence of Thyroid Nodules: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Elevated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) levels have been linked to unfavorable outcomes in various clinical settings, but the association with thyroid nodules remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the correlation between elevated HDL-cholesterol and the presence of thyroid nodules along with certain demographic and clinical findings.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the patients were divided into three groups based on their body mass index (BMI): <25, 25-29, and >30 and evaluated.

Can high-sensitive troponin levels within the normal range predict positivity in treadmill test?

Background: This study aimed to determine whether a high level of high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) predicts a positive treadmill test in patients with suspected stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD).

Methods: In all, 366 patients with suspected SIHD were included in the study. We measured the serum hsTnT levels before the treadmill test.

Relationship between the infarct localization and left ventricular rotation parameters following acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: This study was an investigation of the role of left ventricular (LV) apical rotation seen in the early period after myocardial infarction (MI) in predicting infarct localization.

Methods: A total of 124 patients with a ST-Segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) diagnosis who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 50 healthy volunteers with similar demographic characteristics were included in the study. The relationship between 2-dimenstional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)-guided LV apical rotation angle measurements and technetium-99m sestamibi-single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-guided infarct localization was evaluated.

Late Versus Early Myocardial Remodeling After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Comparative Review on Mechanistic Insights and Clinical Implications.

In the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), adverse myocardial remodeling (AMR) has been universally regarded as an early-onset phenomenon generally arising within the first few weeks (usually within days in the infarct zone) following myocardial injury. On the other hand, onset of cardiac morphological changes in this setting may potentially extend far beyond this time frame (usually beyond several months after the index AMI), suggesting a prolonged latent period in certain cases. In clinical practice, this delayed form of post-AMI remodeling, namely late AMR, has emerged as an interesting and underrecognized phenomenon with poorly understood mechanisms.

Natriuretic Peptides in Clinical Practice.

Natriuretic peptides have long been introduced into clinical practice. These biomarkers have certainly been shown to provide useful information in the diagnosis, prognosis and risk stratification in heart failure and also may have a role in the guidance of heart failure therapy. Although, there are some limitations in using of these markers such as lack of specificity, aging, renal dysfunction or obesity, among the huge number of candidates for heart failure biomarkers, only natriuretic peptides are currently widely used in daily clinical practice in heart failure.

Late coronary ischemıc syndromes assocıated wıth transcatheter aortıc valve ımplantatıon: A revıew of mechanıstıc and clınıcal aspects.

In the past years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a promising option for the treatment of aortic valve pathologies particularly in the the presence of surgically high-risk situations. Importantly, a variety of specific procedural complications including acute coronary osteal occlusion, though very rare, has been reported in major clinical studies. However, little is known about the late impact of TAVI on coronary system at the macro and microvascular levels.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction in the Setting of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Review of Clinical Patterns and Practical Implications.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is primarily regarded as a form of acute and transient myocardial disease with a variety of characteristic wall-motion abnormalities. Importantly, a significant portion of TTC cases generally present with variable degrees of acute left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with or without clinical HF. On the other hand, LV dysfunction in the setting of TTC has been universally and exclusively considered as a synonym for systolic dysfunction, potentially overlooking other forms of myocardial pathologies, including transient diastolic dysfunction, in this setting.

Speckle-tracking strain assessment of left ventricular dysfunction in synthetic cannabinoid and heroin users.

Objective: There is growing evidence regarding the numerous adverse effects of synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) on the cardiovascular system; however, no studies have shown the cardiovascular effects of opioids using strain echocardiography. This study examines the cardiac structure and function using echocardiographic strain imaging in heroin and synthetic cannabinoid users.

Methods: This double-blind study included patients who were admitted or referred to a rehabilitation center for heroin (n=31) and synthetic cannabinoid users (n=30).

Patient characteristics and statin discontinuation-related factors during treatment of hypercholesterolemia: an observational non-interventional study in patients with statin discontinuation (STAY study).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify patient characteristics and statin discontinuation-related factors in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: A total of 532 patients (age mean±SD: 57.4±11.

Coronary slow flow phenomenon associated with high serum levels of soluble CD40 ligand and urotensin II: a multi-marker approach.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels, serum uroten- sin II levels, and serum leptin levels as an indirect indicator of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and atherosclerosis at the microvascular level, and the comparison of those values with those of the control group with a nor- mal coronary flow pattern.

Methods: The study included 35 consecutive patients (17 women, 18 men; average age: 51.20 ± 10.

Angiographic outcomes with early eptifibatide therapy in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (from the EARLY ACS Trial).

Early administration of glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibitors results in improved angiographic parameters, including thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade, corrected TIMI frame count, and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Whether the same is true in the setting of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome is unknown. The goal of the early glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibition in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (EARLY ACS) angiographic substudy was to compare angiographic outcomes among patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome who were administered early routine versus delayed provisional eptifibatide.

Angiographic outcomes in the PLATO Trial (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes).

Objectives: The PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) angiographic substudy sought to compare the efficacy of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel with respect to angiographic outcomes before and after PCI in the setting of acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Greater platelet inhibition has been associated with improved angiographic outcomes before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, it was hypothesized that treatment with ticagrelor, which achieves more rapid, higher, and more consistent platelet inhibition, would be associated with improved angiographic outcomes when compared with those of clopidogrel treatment.

Elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure in patients with mild-to-moderate mitral stenosis: a useful predictor of worsening renal functions?

Objective: Renal dysfunction commonly accompanies the course of cardiac disorders and strongly associates with increased morbidity and mortality. Elevated central venous pressure is related to worsening renal function in patients with heart failure. However, predictors of worsening renal function in mitral stenosis-whose pathophysiologic process is similar to heart failure with regard to right heart dysfunction-are unknown.

Determinants of coronary collateral circulation in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: This study aims to identify possible determinants of coronary collaterals in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Methods: The current study has a retrospective cohort design. Seventy four patients with ≥90% stenosis or total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) were enrolled; coronary collateral grades, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, protein C and S, lipids, uric acid levels and medications applied before coronary angiography were noted and compared.

Newer Pharmaceutical Agents for STEMI Interventions.

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) causes 12.6% of deaths worldwide. Treatment strategies involve early revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention and/or fibrinolytics, with adjunctive pharmacologic therapy.

Association between angiographic complications and clinical outcomes among patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: an EARLY ACS (Early Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibition in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome) angiographic substudy.

Objectives: The goal of this analysis was to determine the association between intraprocedural complications and clinical outcomes among patients with high-risk non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Among patients undergoing PCI for NSTEACS, the relationship between intraprocedural complications and clinical outcomes, independent of epicardial and myocardial perfusion, has not been well characterized.

Methods: The EARLY ACS (Early Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibition in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome) trial enrolled 9,406 patients with high-risk NSTEACS undergoing an early invasive strategy.