Diastolic Strain Parameters are Associated with Short Term Mortality and Rehospitalization in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality worldwide and places a great economic burden on healthcare systems. Identification of prognostic factors in HF patients is of great importance to establish optimal management strategies and to avoid unnecessary invasive and costly procedures in end-stage patients.

Objectives: In the current study, we aimed to investigate the association between diastolic strain parameters including E/e' SR, and short-term outcomes in advanced HF patients.

Index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance and the effects of thrombolytic therapy on the electrocardiogram of patients with pulmonary embolism.

Objective: Different parameters on electrocardiograms (ECG) have been investigated to predict arrhythmia and mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). The acute effect of thrombolytic therapy (TT) on these parameters has not been investigated yet.

Methods: We examined the data of 83 patients who were evaluated as high-risk APE and discharged from the hospital after TT.

Predictive value of transmitral A-wave acceleration time for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: It has been shown that transmitral A-wave (TMAW) is affected in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), and decreased left atrial contractions cause a decrease in the TMAW velocity. The relationship between TMAW acceleration time (TMAW-AccT) and PAF is unknown. In this study, the predictive value of TMAW-AccT for PAF was investigated.

Short-term warfarin treatment for apical thrombus in a patient with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCMP) is characterised by a temporary aneurysm of the left ventricular apex in individuals without significant stenosis of the coronary arteries. It is extremely rare to see it combined with a thrombus. In this case report, we present a 57-year-old female patient with TCMP in whom apical thrombus was treated with short-term warfarin use.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio improves the positive predictive value of dobutamine stress echocardiography.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to determine whether NLR improved the positive predictive value (PPV) of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). We conducted a retrospective review of laboratory and DSE data from the medical records of 1,012 patients who were divided into two groups according to the presence of ischemia and further subdivided into three groups according to the extent of ischemia (nonischemic segments, 1-3 ischemic segments, or > 3 ischemic segments).

Prognostic value of Tpeak-Tend interval in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the Tpeak-Tend (Tpe/corrected Tpe) interval, which is an indicator of transmural myocardial repolarization, measured non-invasively via electrocardiogram in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), and to investigate the relationship with 30-day mortality and morbidity.

Methods: The study included 272 patients diagnosed with acute PE, comprising 154 females and 118 males, with a mean age of 63.1 ± 16.

The relationship between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels and subjective sleep quality in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background/aims: Poor sleep quality (SQ) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Additionally, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, no sufficient data regarding the relationship between ADMA levels and SQ have been reported.

Effect of serum uric acid on the positive predictive value of dobutamine stress echocardiography.

There is controversial data regarding the relationship between uric acid (UA) and coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events. Despite the deleterious effects of hyperuricemia on endothelial function, the effect of UA on myocardial ischemia has not been previously studied. We aimed to investigate the relationship between UA and myocardial ischemia that was identified using dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

The relationship between uric acid and erectile dysfunction in hypertensive subjects.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction plays a major role in erectile dysfunction (ED). Uric acid (UA) is a marker of endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that increased UA levels may be associated with ED and aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between, UA and ED in hypertensive patients.

The use of axial diameters and CT obstruction scores for determining echocardiographic right ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of cardiac computed tomography (CT) parameters and pulmonary artery (PA) obstruction (OS) scores in determining the echocardiographic right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in hemodynamically stable patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: A total of 120 patients with acute PE were included in the study. Right ventricle/left ventricle ratio (RV/LV); PA axial diameter; superior vena cava (SVC) axial diameter; and Ghanima, Miller, Qanadli, and Mastora obstruction scores were obtained using CT.

Uric acid level and erectile dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent complaint of elderly subjects and is closely associated with endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Uric acid is also associated with endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and CVD, raising the hypothesis that an increased serum uric acid might predict ED in patients who are at risk for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the association of serum uric acid levels with presence and severity of ED in patients presenting with chest pain of presumed cardiac origin.

The relationship between red blood cell distribution width and myocardial ischemia in dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Objectives: Although elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease, its role in demonstrating the presence and extent of myocardial ischemia for coronary artery disease is not known. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between RDW and myocardial ischemia by using dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

Methods: A total of 917 patients were included in this prospective study.

Gender-related changes of the epicardial fat thickness and leptin in obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Epicardial fat thickness (EFT), an indicator of visceral obesity, and leptin are 2 novel markers for studying the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) population. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gender on leptin levels and EFT, and the relation with OSA severity.

Methods: A total of 149 patients with OSA (female/male 55/94 and mean age 50.

Renal Drug Dosage Adjustment According to Estimated Creatinine Clearance in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure.

It is of clinical importance to determine creatinine clearance and adjust doses of prescribed drugs accordingly in patients with heart failure to prevent untoward effects. There is a scarcity of studies in the literature investigating this issue particularly in patients with heart failure, in whom many have impaired kidney function. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of awareness of medication prescription as to creatinine clearance in patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Normal coronary myocardial infarct is innocent or guilty? A case of ventricular septal rupture secondary to normal coronary myocardial infarction.

Prognosis of cases of myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries (MINCA) is known to be better than acute myocardial infarction cases with obstructive coronary lesions. A MINCA case causing ventricular septal rupture is rare. Herein, we present a 70-year-old female MINCA case which caused ventricular septal rupture which is a fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction.

A new marker for myocardial injury in carbon monoxide poisoning: T peak-T end.

Objectives: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning frequently affects repolarization, resulting in abnormal electrocardiography findings. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of CO poisoning on the novel transmyocardial repolarization parameters T peak-T end (Tp-e), Tp-e dispersion, and Tp-e/QT and the relationship of these parameters to myocardial injury (MI).

Methods: This prospective study included 94 patients with CO poisoning and 40 healthy controls.

Assessment of right ventricular functions in patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock and its prognostic importance: a tissue Doppler study.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the potential contributions of the right ventricle (RV) performance evaluated using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) on the assessment of the severity and prognosis of sepsis.

Methods: The study was completed with 55 patients (male/female 26/29, age 66.9 ± 20.

Prognostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: a restrospective study.

Background: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious clinical condition characterised by a high mortality rate. Previous studies showed that leukocytosis was associated with recurrences of venous thromboemboli, major bleeding and increased mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with acute PE during short term follow-up.

Management of right heart thrombi associated with acute pulmonary embolism: a retrospective, single-center experience.

Objective: The mortality of right heart thrombi (RHT) associated with pulmonary embolism (PE) is increased about three to four times. The most devastating scenario is fragmentation of RHT and occurrence of recurrent PE. The reports regarding the management of RHT complicated with PE are very scarce in the current literature.

The relationship between exercise capacity and masked hypertension in sedentary patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aim: Although exaggerated blood pressure responses (EBPR) to exercise have been related to future hypertension and masked hypertension (MHT), the relationship between exercise capacity and MHT remains unclear. A sedentary life style has been related to increased cardiovascular mortality, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between exercise capacity and MHT in sedentary patients with DM.

Self-reported sleep quality of patients with atrial fibrillation and the effects of cardioversion on sleep quality.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance encountered in clinical practice and is associated with impaired quality of life. Data from the previous studies have shown that sleep quality (SQ), as a component of life quality, may also deteriorate in patients with AF. However, it remains unclear; we do not know whether SQ improves after sinus rhythm is maintained.