Orthorhombic-tetragonal phase coexistence and enhanced piezoelectric properties at room temperature in Zn and Ta modified (BaCa)(ZrTi)O ceramics through the synergistic effect of lattice distortion.

This study provides a fundamental understanding of the enhanced piezoelectric properties in ABO perovskite based lead-free piezoelectric materials. For this we synthesized (BaCa)(ZrTi (ZnTa) )O((1 - )BCZT-()ZT) ( = 0.00, 0.

Accuracy of the TIMI and GRACE scores in predicting coronary disease in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: The GRACE and TIMI scores have been well validated for assessment of prognosis in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). However, their value in predicting coronary artery disease (CAD) has been little studied. We aimed to assess the relationship between these scores and the extent of coronary disease.

[Plastic repair of tricuspid valve: Carpentier's ring annuloplasty versus De VEGA technique].

Tricuspid valve disease has been neglected for a long time by cardiologists and surgeons, but for some years now leakage of tricuspid valve has been demonstrated as a prognostic factor in the evolution of patients with left heart valve disease undergoing surgery. Several techniques for plastic repair of tricuspid valve have been developed and the published studies differ on the results of these techniques; we conducted this study to assess the results of plastic repair of tricuspid valve in a population of patients with a high prevalence of rheumatic disease and to compare Carpentier's ring annuloplasty techniques with DEVEGA plasty. We conducted a retrospective study of patients undergoing plastic repair of tricuspid valve in the Department of Cardiology at the Medicine University of Sfax over a period of 25 years.

Characteristics, aetiological spectrum and management of valvular heart disease in a Tunisian cardiovascular centre.

Background: Valvular heart diseases occur frequently in Tunisia, but no precise statistics are available.

Aim: To analyse the characteristics of patients with abnormal valvular structure and function, and to identify the aetiological spectrum, treatment and outcomes of valvular heart disease in a single cardiovascular centre in Tunisia.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with abnormal valvular structure and function, who were screened by transthoracic echocardiography at a single cardiology department between January 2010 and December 2013.

[Statins Use in Elderly Patients].

The risk of cardiovascular disease in elderly is significantly higher than in young subjects; paradoxically some treatments that have proven their efficacy in reducing cardiovascular risk are often under prescribed in this age group. The benefits of statins in secondary cardiovascular prevention are well established in patients <80 years. In primary prevention, these drugs reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, but their effects on cardiovascular mortality remain uncertain.

QT Prolongation Complicated with Torsades de Pointes in Prosthetic Mitral Valve Endocarditis: A Case Report.

We present the case of a 49-year-old male patient with prosthetic mitral valve endocarditis associated with QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. He was asymptomatic until the end of January 2012, when he was admitted to our hospital emergency unit because of syncope, fever, and suspicion of endocarditis. Cardiologic evaluation was requested and the transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiograms revealed vegetations on the prosthetic mitral valve.

Midventricular Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy during Pregnancy Complicated by Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Report.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with midventricular obstruction (MVO) is a rare condition occurring in 1% of HCM patients. It is characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy with MVO and elevated intraventricular pressure gradients. Pulmonary embolism has been associated with mid-ventricular obstructive HCM.

Myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries: the experience of the cardiology department of Sfax, Tunisia.

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to describe our experience with patients who have a transmural myocardial infarction (MI) in the presence of a normal coronary artery. The clinical profile, demographic characteristics and outcomes of these patients are discussed.

Methods: Between January 2006 and August 2011, 21 patients who presented with a Q-wave myocardial infarction were found to have normal coronary arteries.

Intracardiac thrombus in a young man: don't forget Behçet's disease!

Intracardiac thrombosis is an exceptional complication of Behçet's disease. The management of this involvement is difficult due to the risk of recurrence. We present the case of a young man admitted to our hospital for intermittent fever.

A neovascularized left atrial mass.

Background. The discovery of a large left atrial mass through echocardiography obliges the clinician to perform a differential diagnosis to distinguish tumor from thrombus. The neovascularization of the mass could be helpful to predict the type of the malformation and whether it is in favour of a vacular tumour rather than a thrombus .

Brucella myocarditis: a rare and life-threatening cardiac complication of brucellosis.

This case report represents the difficulties in diagnosing brucellosis, which is an enigma with unusual cardiovascular complications. A 32-year-old Caucasian man with acute chest pain was examined at Sfax Hedi Chaker's Hospital. He had a night fever, although his cardiac examination was normal.

Infective endocarditis complicated by fatal cerebral hemorrhage revealing an unrepaired univentricular heart in a 19-year-old woman.

Univentricular heart is a complex and rare cyanotic congenital heart disease. When not operated, affected patients exceptionally reach adulthood. We report the unprecedented case of a 19 year-old young woman, admitted to the hospital for a severe deterioration of general status and ultimately diagnosed to have an infective endocarditis with multiple vegetations in a previously undiagnosed univentricular heart of left ventricular morphology, subsequently rapidly complicated by fatal cerebral hemorrhage.

[Chronic kidney disease and myocardial infarction: epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic characteristics (about 231 cases)].

Aims Of The Study: To study the epidemiologic, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic characteristics of the myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To identify the impact of CKD in hospital, mid- and long-term survival after myocardial infarction. To determine the predictive factors of hospital and midterm MACCE in patients with CKD.

Clinical and electrophysiological profile of Brugada syndrome in the Tunisian population.

Background: Most clinical studies of the clinical profile of Brugada syndrome (BS) have been conducted in either Asia, Europe, or America and their applicability to North African populations is largely unknown. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical profile of BS in Tunisian patients.

Methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 24 patients (22 men, mean age: 40.

[Supraventricular tachycardia in infants].

Supraventricular tachycardia in infants are variable. We try to summarize clinical, electrical and treatment particularities of supraventricular arrhythmia in infants. The majority of infants with supraventricular arrhythmia have a good clinical outcome and an excellent prognosis and may not require chronic antiarrhythmic therapy if they had precocious treatment.

Potential danger of ocular compression in paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in patients with latent preexcitation.

The vagal maneuver is the first line of therapeutic available for patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. It increases vagal tone and includes the traditional ocular compression, carotid sinus massage, and Valsalva maneuver. A 40-year-old man was admitted because of 180 beats/min regular narrow QRS-complex tachycardia.

Short- and long-term outcomes of surgery for active infective endocarditis: a Tunisian experience.

From January 1997 to December 2006, all patients with a Duke criteria-based definite diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) operated on during the active phase in a Tunisian high volume tertiary-care centre were included. Among the 186 patients with IE identified during the study period, 88 (48.35%) required surgery in the active phase.

Infective endocarditis in hemodialysis patients: clinical features, echocardiographic data and outcome: a 10-year descriptive analysis.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a dreaded complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients and is strongly associated with morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, microbiological profile, management and outcome of patients on HD in a Tunisian (Tunisia, North Africa) high-volume tertiary-care centre.

Methods: Among 182 patients who fulfilled the modified Duke criteria for infective endocarditis between January 1997 and December 2006, 16 were on chronic HD and were included in the study.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis: management strategies and prognosis: A ten-year analysis in a tertiary care centre in Tunisia.

Background: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a rare and serious complication after heart valve replacement; its optimal management strategy, though, still needs to be defined.

Objective: To study the clinical, microbiological and echocardiographic characteristics of PVE and to analyse the influence of the adopted therapeutic strategy (medical or surgical) on short- and midterm outcome in a tertiary care centre in a developing country (Tunisia).

Methods: All cases of PVE treated in our institution between 1997 and 2006 were retrospectively analysed according to the modified DUKE criteria.

Left ventricular thrombus complicating tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

A 45 day old new-born with arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy complicated by thrombus formation is presented. Drug treatment produced immediate symptomatic relief and subsequent reversion to normal cardiac function. The thrombus disappeared a few days later.