In-hospital and short-term predictors of mortality in patients with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in-hospital and short-term predictive factors of mortality in intermediate-high risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients with right ventricle (RV)dysfunction and myocardial injury. In this retrospective study, the medical records of 187 patients with a diagnosis of intermediate high risk acute PE were evaluated. A contrast-enhanced multi-detector pulmonary angiography was used to confirm diagnosis in all cases.

Agreement between three-dimensional planimetry and mitral navigation method in the assessment of mitral valve area in rheumatic severe mitral stenosis.

Introduction: Rheumatic heart disease predisposes to structural changes in the mitral valve including commissural fusion and calcification with subsequent narrowing of the mitral valve orifice resulting in rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS). To define the best therapeutic strategy, an accurate measurement of mitral valve area (MVA) for RMS is of paramount importance. The propose of the present study was to assess the agreement between the mitral navigation method (MVN) and three-dimensional (3D) planimetry in the assessment of MVA in patients with RMS.

Comparison of fluoro and cine coronary angiography: balancing acceptable outcomes with a reduction in radiation dose.

Unlabelled: Use of last fluoro hold (LFH) mode in fluoroscopy, which enables the last live image to be saved and displayed, could reduce radiation during percutaneous coronary intervention when compared with cine mode. No previous study compared coronary angiography radiation doses and image quality between LFH and conventional cine mode techniques.

Methods: We compared cumulative dose-area product (DAP), cumulative air kerma, fluoroscopy time, contrast use, interobserver variability of visual assessment between LFH angiography, and conventional cine angiography techniques.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: current state of knowledge, new developments and future directions.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy affecting women in late pregnancy or early puerperium. Although initially described in the late 1800s, it has only recently been recognized as a distinct cardiac condition. The reported incidence and prognosis varies according to geography.

Preprocedural red blood cell distribution width predicts bare metal stent restenosis.

Background: It has been shown that increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) predicts adverse outcomes in cardiovascular disease and in patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of the present study was to assess the predictive value of preinterventional RDW on the development of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients undergoing stent implantation.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we compared 131 patients with ISR and 138 patients without ISR who had undergone bare metal stent implantation.

Is left ventricular diastolic dysfunction independent from presence of hypertension in metabolic syndrome? An echocardiographic study.

Background: It has been shown that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) develops in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, there is not sufficient evidence in the literature to determine whether this condition is due to increase in blood pressure, which is frequently encountered in MetS. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis whether LVDD in MetS is independent from the presence of hypertension.

Coronary calcium score, albuminuria and inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetic patients: associations and prognostic implications.

Aims: To investigate the relationship of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores with common carotid artery intima media thickness (CCA-IMT), albuminuria and inflammatory factors in type 2 diabetes.

Methods And Results: 128 asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients, with at least one cardiovascular risk factor in addition to diabetes, were included in the study. CAC scores, carotid arteries plaque formation and CCA-IMT were assessed.

Delayed recovery in peripartum cardiomyopathy: an indication for long-term follow-up and sustained therapy.

Aims: Persistence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after 6 months of diagnosis is believed to be a marker of an irreversible cardiomyopathy in peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). We sought to determine the length of time required for recovery of LV systolic function (LVSF) in patients with PPCM.

Methods And Results: Forty-two consecutive women with PPCM were enrolled in this prospective study.

Predictive value of preoperative electrocardiography for perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing noncardiac, nonvascular surgery.

Background: The utility of routine preoperative electrocardiography (ECG) for assessing perioperative cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing noncardiac, nonvascular surgery (NCNVS) is unclear.

Hypothesis: There would be an association between preoperative ECG and perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing NCNVS.

Methods: A total of 660 patients undergoing NCNVS were prospectively evaluated.

Epicardial fat thickness is associated with non-dipper blood pressure pattern in patients with essential hypertension.

Objective: Epicardial fat tissue reflects visceral adiposity and is a suggested cardiometabolic risk factor. Patients with abdominal obesity have an increased prevalence of the non-dipper blood pressure (BP) pattern, but it is unclear whether the same is true of patients with increased epicardial fat thickness (EFT). The association between EFT and circadian BP changes in patients with recently diagnosed essential hypertension was examined.

The effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy on the cardiovascular system in children.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is a common and important problem in children. OSAS can lead to significant cardiopulmonary complications, poor growth and problems with learning and behavior. Many studies in the literature show that OSAS due to ATH causes pulmonary hypertension, ventricular hypertrophy and systemic hypertension in the pediatric population.

Increased aortic stiffness can predict perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing noncardiac, nonvascular surgery.

Background: Aortic stiffness is an early marker of arteriosclerosis and associated with cardiovascular mortality. However, the impact of aortic stiffness on perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery is unknown.

Methods: The study population was composed of 660 consecutive adults aged 18 years and over (mean age = 65.

Effect of adenotonsillectomy on endothelin-1 and C-reactive protein levels in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of adenotonsillectomy on the plasma concentration of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The relationship between quality of life and ET-1 levels was also evaluated.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Impaired fasting glucose is associated with increased perioperative cardiovascular event rates in patients undergoing major non-cardiothoracic surgery.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-established risk factor for perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, the impact of preoperative glucose levels on perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing nonemergent, major noncardiothoracic surgery is unclear.

Methods And Results: A total of 680 patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery were prospectively evaluated.

Inappropriate use of digoxin in elderly patients presenting to an outpatient cardiology clinic of a tertiary hospital in Turkey.

Objectives: We investigated the prevalence and indications of digoxin use in elderly patients presenting to a cardiology outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Turkey.

Study Design: On a prospective basis, the study included 800 consecutive patients aged 70 or over (mean age 77 ± 6 years) who presented to our cardiology outpatient clinic. There were 124 patients (15.

The association of epicardial fat thickness with blunted heart rate recovery in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Epicardial fat tissue has unique endocrine and paracrine functions that affect the cardiac autonomic system. Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and blunted heart rate recovery (HRR) are newly identified cardiovascular risk factors in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between EFT and HRR in patients with MS.

Attenuated cardiovascular response to sympathetic system activation during exercise in patients with dialysis-induced hypotension.

Background: We wished to investigate potential causes of dialysis-induced hypotension (DIH), including the attenuated cardiovascular response to sympathetic system activation during exercise and myocardial dysfunction.

Methods: This study included 26 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with DIH, 30 ESRD patients without DIH (Non-DIH), and 30 control subjects. Each patient was evaluated with echocardiography and a symptom-limited treadmill stress test.

Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness is related to altered blood pressure responses to exercise stress testing.

Objective: Hypertensive response at peak exercise and blunted blood pressure (BP) recovery, altered BP responses obtained from exercise stress testing, have been suggested as risk factors for future onset of hypertension in previous studies. Epicardial fat, a new cardiometabolic risk factor, has been linked to hypertension in some recent studies. In this study, we tested the primary hypothesis suggesting that the epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is related to altered BP responses to treadmill exercise testing.

Impairment of the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the liver component of the metabolic syndrome. We investigated the diastolic and systolic functional parameters of patients with NAFLD and the impact of metabolic syndrome on these parameters.

Methods: Thirty-five non-diabetic, normotensive NAFLD patients, and 30 controls, were included in this study.

Aortic elastic properties in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Recent studies have shown that patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Aortic stiffness, an early marker of arteriosclerosis, is associated with cardiovascular mortality. In this study, the aortic elastic properties of nondiabetic, normotensive NAFLD patients were evaluated.

A promising new inotrope: levosimendan.

Intravenous positive inotropic agents are commonly used to treat the patients with acute decompensated heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Although these agents seem to be beneficial for improving symptoms of heart failure in the short-term; it has been reported that they are associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Levosimendan is a new calcium sensitizer and K-ATP channel opener, has emerged as an alternative option of pharmacologic inotropic support in patients with decompensated heart failure.

Serum myeloperoxidase level predicts reperfusion in patients with myocardial infarction receiving thrombolytic therapy.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes play a central role in all stages of the atherothrombotic inflammatory process. The atherothrombotic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is exerted by mediators such as myeloperoxidase (MPO). Although the role of MPO has been studied with respect to the development of adverse cardiac events in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the association of this molecule with effectiveness of reperfusion in patients receiving thrombolysis is not yet known.

Plasma hyaluronidase activity as an indicator of atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background And Objective: Recent information has highlightened the impact of HA metabolism alterations in vascular permeability through its actions on endothelial glycocalyx and the importance of HA-cell interactions in cell behavior of arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Therefore hyaluronan is thought to involve in pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of plasma hyaluronidase activity with atherosclerosis in non-diabetic patients with stable coronary artery disease.