Left atrial and ventricular deformation: alterations and predictive value of echocardiography parameters in end-stage renal disease patients after kidney transplantation.

Aims: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are prone to alterations in cardiac haemodynamics specifically on the left ventricle (LV) and left atrial (LA) functions usually due to factors like uraemia, fluid overload, and inflammation. While studies on LV function in ESRD exist, research on LA function is limited. Successful kidney transplant (KTx) is believed to reverse pathological cardiac remodelling, and monitoring changes in cardiac strain before and after transplantation may guide pre- and post-transplant care.

Thirty-three-year follow-up of pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa without surgical treatment: a case report and literature review.

Background: Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (PMAIF) is a rare complication of infective endocarditis or aortic valve surgery. Surgical treatment is suggested, but the long-term follow-up of conservative management remains unclear.

Case Presentation: A 33-year follow-up of a patient who developed PMAIF six years after aortic valve replacement is reported.

The importance of intraoperative echocardiography in the early detection of mitral regurgitation as a postsurgical sequel of aortic valve replacement: a case report.

Background: Mitral leaflet perforation (MLP) can rarely be a consequence of aortic valve replacement (AVR), resulting in mitral regurgitation (MR). Determining the cause and severity of MLP following AVR is crucial in preventing hemodynamic consequences, such as pulmonary hypertension and biventricular remodeling. However, the diagnosis of this rare complication requires detailed echocardiographic evaluations.

Evaluation of Systolic Function using Global Longitudinal Strain in Isolated Obese and Overweight People.

Background: The association of obesity with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is fully understood, but there are few investigations regarding its effect on LV systolic function in the absence of other risk factors. This study aimed to identify the global longitudinal strain (GLS) changes in isolated overweight and obese people in the absence of other risk factors.

Methods: A total of 120 individuals, including 60 obese, 30 overweight, and 30 healthy controls with no underlying disease and no history of hypertension, diabetes, CAD, or CKD were included in the study.

Acute heart failure as an atypical presentation of Takayasu arteritis: The value of multi-modality imaging.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the aorta and the major branch arteries. Here, we describe an atypical presentation of the disease with heart failure.

Large Tricuspid Valve Myxoma in an Asymptomatic Patient with Uterine Myoma: An Uncommon Case.

Tricuspid valve myxomas are very uncommon tumors that could be found after the occurrence of pulmonary thromboembolism, symptomatic tricuspid obstruction, and right-sided heart failure. Herein, we describe a 42-year-old woman evaluated for an abdominal mass. In preoperative consultation, a tricuspid valve mass was detected in echocardiography.

Early prediction of ventricular functional recovery after myocardial infarction by longitudinal strain study.

Background: There are some suggestions that global myocardial strain (GLS) early after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a predictor of improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The goal of this study was to evaluate LV recovery after STEMI intervention based on GLS values.

Methods: The study population consists of 43 patients with acute STEMI and no history of prior coronary intervention treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Spatiotemporal registration and fusion of transthoracic echocardiography and volumetric coronary artery tree.

Purpose: Cardiac multimodal image fusion can offer an image with various types of information in a single image. Many coronary stenosis, which are anatomically clear, are not functionally significant. The treatment of such kind of stenosis can cause irreversible effects on the patient.

Double orifice mitral valve in a patient with bicuspid aortic valve and coarctation of the aorta: A rare presentation.

Double orifice mitral valve is a rare condition and may be accompanied by a bicuspid aortic valve (sometimes normal functioning) and coarctation of the aorta. Echocardiography is valuable in detecting the accompanied anomalies. Management depends on the severity of mitral valve function and the severity of associated anomalies.

Effect of kidney transplantation on right ventricular function, assessment by 2- dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Advanced chronic kidney disease often results in adverse cardiovascular outcomes and is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end stage renal diseases (ESRD). There is much information about the effect of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) on the left ventricle (LV) chamber, but the right ventricle (RV) as a neglected chamber had not been evaluated precisely, in spite of its importance.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of successful kidney transplants on the RV systolic and diastolic function using the advanced method of 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and comparison with the conventional methods.

Effects of Weight Loss on Echocardiographic Parameters 1 Year after Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Bariatric surgery is efficiently associated with the long-term resolution of obesity and its related morbidities. Not only can this surgical modality improve the metabolic profile, diastolic and systolic cardiac functions, and the clinical symptoms of heart failure or cardiomyopathy, but it can also reduce the atherosclerosis risk, ventricular mass, and pericardial fat thickness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of weight loss on echocardiographic parameters 1 year after sleeve gastrectomy.

Subclinical involvement of the heart and its associated factors in patients with sarcoidosis with normal systolic function using 2D speckle tracking.

Background: Cardiac involvement by sarcoidosis may affect any part of the heart such as the pericardium, atriums, ventricles, and papillary muscles. In this regard, the use of two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain has been reported to be valuable in detecting heart sarcoidosis and its distinction from cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate subclinical cardiac involvement using 2D speckle tracking and its associated factors in patients with normal systolic function by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Huge aneurysmal fistula from left main artery to right atrium in a man with atypical chest pain and dyspnea on exertion.

We present a 33-year-old man with atypical chest pain and with no significant past medical history. The patient was finally diagnosed as a case of huge fistula from the left main coronary artery to the right atrium, a very rare condition with challenging diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The majority of cases of coronary artery fistula are small, asymptomatic and clinically undetectable; they frequently do not cause any complications and can spontaneously resolve.

Paradoxical Embolism in a Patient with Patent Foramen Ovale; a Case Report.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is usually asymptomatic; however, it could be quite dangerous for patients with right side clot in which thrombus can transmit the PFO and paradoxically emboli to systemic circulation. Here we present a patient with ankle fracture and paradoxical embolus to the brain, who was successfully treated with emergent thrombectomy, inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and anticoagulation therapy. Despite the high rate of mortality in these patients, fortunately our patient survived with surgical treatment.

Left ventricular sphericity index analysis for the prediction of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is the most effective therapy currently available to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Although LV ejection fraction (LVEF) is an excellent marker of SCD in these patients, determining other predictors might help to identify patients who will be benefit more from device implantation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether abnormal LV sphericity index (SI) in transthoracic echocardiography is associated with appropriate ICD therapy in these patients.

Asymptomatic Giant Lipoma of the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract: A Case Report.

Cardiac lipomas are extremely rare tumors of the heart. They are usually symptomatic and rarely may be found incidentally in autopsies. Here we describe a 23-year-old healthy man, in whose physical examination for employment a murmur was found incidentally.

The change in NT-pro-BNP and post-PTMC echocardiography parameters in patients with mitral stenosis. A pilot study.

Background: The change in the level of NT-pro-BNP (N-terminal-pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide) is now considered as a reflection of the hemodynamic alterations and its circulatory reductions reported early after successful PTMC (percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy). The present study aims to assess the change in the level of NT-pro BNP following PTMC in patients with mitral stenosis and also to determine the association between circulatory NT-pro-BNP reduction and post-PTMC echocardiography parameters.

Methods: Twenty five symptomatic consecutive patients with severe MS undergoing elective PTMC were prospectively enrolled.

The effectiveness of risk management program on pediatric nurses' medication error.

Background: Medication therapy is one of the most complex and high-risk clinical processes that nurses deal with. Medication error is the most common type of error that brings about damage and death to patients, especially pediatric ones. However, these errors are preventable.

Comparison of the response of the right ventricle with endovascular occlusion and surgical closure in adults with atrial septal defect one year after intervention.

Background: Use of the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) for the closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) has recently become the procedure of choice, while earlier the only treatment for ASD was surgical closure. This study compares the right ventricular indices of the ASO group with the surgical closure group one year after intervention in adults.

Methods: From January 2008 to February 2010, 38 patients with isolated atrial septal defect of the secundum type one year after surgical (n = 20, age = 27 ± 4 years, 13 females, 7 males) or Amplatzer septal occluder closure (n = 18, age = 25 ± 4 years, 12 females, 6 males) were studied.