Aortic properties and atrial electrophysiology in the young and old football players.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between P wave dispersion, aortic elastic properties and transthoracic echocardiographic findings in the young and old football players compared to control groups in order to asses the influence of regular sportive activity on aortic distensibility and its potential effect on atrial electrophysiology.

Methods: We recruited 42 young football players with a training history of many years. The control group was formed by 27 healthy sedentary men.

Assessment of the p wave dispersion and duration in elite women basketball players.

Background: P wave dispersion is an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation. P wave dispersion is associated with inhomogeneous and discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses. The purpose of this study was to investigate P wave dispersion and transthoracic echocardiographic findings in elite women basketball players.

Carotid intima-media thickness in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.

Objective: Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is now widely used as a surrogate marker for atherosclerotic disease. Carotid IMT measured by ultrasound has been shown to be correlated with coronary artery disease as defined by angiography. However, the relation between carotid IMT and isolated coronary artery ectasia (CAE) has not been investigated.

Evaluation of left ventricular function using Tei index in patients with preinfarction angina.

Objective: The study investigated whether preinfarction angina influences left ventricular functions assessed using Tei index, which is an independent predictor for left ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: We studied 96 patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (80 men, 16 women; mean age 57.5+/-9.

Assessment of mitral annular velocities by Doppler tissue imaging in predicting left ventricular thrombus formation after first anterior acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to determine whether early assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions by pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging predicts LV thrombus formation after acute anterior myocardial infarction. Echocardiography was performed in 87 consecutive patients with first acute anterior myocardial infarction within 24 hours after arrival to the coronary care department. Mitral inflow velocities and early diastolic (Em), late diastolic (Am), and peak systolic (SM) mitral annular velocities were measured.

Assessment of left ventricular function by Doppler tissue imaging in patients with atrial fibrillation following acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: We studied tissue Doppler parameters in patients with atrial fibrillation following acute myocardial infarction, and their relation to P wave durations and P dispersion.

Methods: Echocardiographic examination was performed in 84 consecutive patients with first anterior acute myocardial infarction. In addition to other conventional echocardiographic parameters, the peak systolic (Sm), early diastolic (Em) and late diastolic (Am) velocities were obtained at the lateral corner of the mitral annulus by pulsed wave tissue Doppler.

Pulsed wave tissue Doppler-derived myocardial performance index for the assessment of left ventricular thrombus formation risk after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Assessment of left ventricular (LV) thrombosis risk after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is important because of potential embolic sequelae that are reduced by oral anticoagulant agents. The goal of this study was to investigate whether early assessment of LV systolic and diastolic performance with pulsed wave tissue Doppler ultrasound scanning (PWTD) predicts LV thrombosis after AMI.

Methods: Two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound scanning echocardiographic examinations were performed in 92 consecutive patients (age, 58 +/- 10 years; 11 women) with first anterior AMI within 24 hours after arrival to the coronary care unit.

Association of Doppler-derived myocardial performance index with albuminuria in patients with diabetes.

Albuminuria is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. In this study, the relationship of albuminuria with left ventricular function by using myocardial performance (Tei) index together with conventional function parameters was aimed to be examined. We studied 123 patients with diabetes but without obvious coronary artery disease and heart failure.

Association of stage of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with P wave dispersion and occurrence of atrial fibrillation after first acute anterior myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of stage of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with P maximum, P dispersion, and atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence rate.

Background: The occurrence of AF following AMI is frequently associated with a left ventricle restrictive filling pattern. Increased P dispersion is also associated with the occurrence of AF after AMI.

Left ventricular diastolic function assessment by tissue Doppler echocardiography in relation to hormonal replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with diastolic dysfunction.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimens on left ventricular diastolic function by using mitral pulsed wave Doppler (MPWD) and tissue Doppler velocities (TDE). Seventy-eight postmenopausal women with normotensive and impaired diastolic left ventricular filling were included in the study. All the patients began a six-cycle HRT course.

Inflammation and immune system response against unstable angina and its relationship with coronary angiographic findings.

The aim of this study was to assess the relations between inflammation, immune response, and coronary angiographic findings in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Recent studies suggest a role for inflammation in the pathophysiology of UAP. Although activation of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes has been shown in UAP, no studies have correlated the activation findings with clinical and angiographic features of patients with UAP.

Cannulation of a LIMA graft via the right brachial arterial route using a MANI catheter: an alternative approach.

Some different revascularization methods including coronary artery bypass surgery can be performed in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Saphenous vein grafts and/or arterial grafts including left internal mammary artery (LIMA) can be implanted during coronary bypass surgery. It is necessary to perform cannulation of the LIMA, in order to diagnose and treat these patients.