Angiographic characteristics of coronary artery fistulas.

Objectives: Coronary artery fistula (CAF) in adults is a rare form of coronary artery anomaly. It is often diagnosed incidentally during coronary angiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and angiographic characteristics of adult patients with CAF.

Relation of inflammatory and oxidative markers to the occurrence and recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: There is increasing evidence linking inflammation and oxidative stress to atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that C-reactive protein (CRP) and oxidative stress markers can predict the recurrence of persistent AF after successful pharmacological cardioversion. A possible relationship with AF occurrence was also investigated.

The effect of antithyroid treatment on atrial conduction times in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Background: Prolonged atrial conduction time measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has been associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation. We aimed to evaluate the effect of subclinical hyperthyroidism (SH) and antithyroid treatment on atrial conduction time.

Methods: A total of 30 patients with SH (26 females; mean age 34.

Beneficial effects of nebivolol treatment on oxidative stress parameters in patients with slow coronary flow.

Objectives: Imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidant defense has been demonstrated in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nebivolol treatment on oxidative stress parameters in SCF patients.

Study Design: The study included 32 patients (10 females, 22 males; mean age 53.

The prevalence and predictors of atrial fibrillation in hemodialysis patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in long-term hemodialysis patients and to identify clinical and echocardiographic risk factors.

Study Design: The study included 183 patients (93 males, 90 females; mean age 52+/-17 years) who had been on long-term hemodialysis treatment (mean 41.6+/-39.

Evaluation of atrial electromechanical delay and left atrial mechanical functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate atrial electromechanical delay measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and left atrial (LA) mechanical functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Study Design: The study included 68 patients (53 females, 15 males; mean age 43.7 years) with RA.

Effects of rosiglitazone on cardiac function in CAPD patients: a tissue Doppler study.

Background: Insulin resistance was an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in uremic patients without diabetes. Rosiglitazone (ROS) improves insulin sensitivity in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. We prospectively investigated the effects of ROS on cardiac functions by standard (SDE) and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDI) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.

Significant stenosis of proximal left subclavian artery presenting with absence of left radial pulse and recurrent angina after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Stenosis of the subclavian artery, before the left internal mammary artery branch, is an important problem for patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting, with an incidence rate of 0.5-1.1%.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical coupling characteristics in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate atrial conduction abnormalities obtained by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) and electrocardiogram analysis in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

Methods: A total of 40 patients with AS (22 males /18 females, 37.82 +/- 10.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay, diastolic functions, and left atrial mechanical functions in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate atrial electromechanical coupling obtained by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), left and right ventricular diastolic functions, and left atrial (LA) mechanical functions in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1).

Methods: A total of 43 patients with DM-1 (age 19.6 +/- 6.

Effects of slow coronary artery flow on P-wave dispersion and atrial electromechanical coupling.

Aim: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is characterized by angiographically normal coronary arteries with delayed opacification of the distal vasculature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate atrial electromechanical couplings and P-wave dispersion (Pd) reflecting intraatrial and interatrial conduction delays in SCF patients and the relationship between these parameters and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with SCF and 40 controls were enrolled.

Assessment of atrial conduction time in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Background: Increased inflammatory activity is known to be a pathophysiologic characteristic of atrial fibrillation. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a disease characterized by recurrent and sustained increased inflammatory activity. Atrial conduction abnormalities in these patients have not been investigated in terms of P-wave duration, P-wave dispersion (Pd), and atrial electromechanical delay measured by tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE).

A case of myocardial bridging of the left circumflex coronary artery.

Myocardial bridge is a cluster of myocardial fibers crossing over the epicardial coronary arteries at a distance. It is most frequently seen on the left anterior descending artery. Involvement of the left circumflex coronary artery is very rare.

Isolated single coronary artery: a series of 10 cases.

Background: Isolated single coronary artery (SCA) is an extremely rare congenital coronary anomaly. Some subgroups of SCA can lead to angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction or even sudden death in the absence of atherosclerosis. Young patients, especially, have the risk of serious clinical events, but middle-aged-to elderly patients have a variable clinical course.

A previously undescribed anomaly of left anterior descending artery: type V dual left anterior descending artery.

Dual left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is a group of rare congenital coronary artery anomalies and exhibits 4 different types. The goal of this article is to define a new, previously undescribed type of dual LAD anomaly.

The influence of ambulatory blood pressure profile on global and regional functions of the left and the right ventricles in orderly treated hypertensive patients.

Background: The association between nondipping profile and adverse cardiovascular outcome is still controversial. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), a new and useful addition to standard echocardiographic imaging techniques, permits a quantitative assessment of both global and regional function and timing of myocardial velocities. In this study, we aimed to assess whether a reduced nocturnal fall in blood pressure (BP) in orderly treated hypertensive patients with satisfactory BP control is related to more prominent structural and functional alterations of the ventricles.

Clinical and angiographic features of large left main coronary artery aneurysms.

Coronary artery aneurysms are defined as coronary dilatations which exceed the diameter of normal adjacent segments by 1.5 times. Left main coronary artery (LMCA) is the least frequently involved artery with a prevalence of 0.

An anomalous left main coronary artery with coronary torsion originating from the right sinus Valsalva.

A 52-year old woman developed inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction and was found to have both an anomalous left coronary artery originating from the right sinus of Valsalva, and total atherosclerotic occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery. Coronary angiography showed the torsion of left main coronary artery. Multislice computed tomography was used to assess the left main coronary artery.