An Analysis of Myocardial Efficiency in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: It is difficult to determine left ventricular systolic performance in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) since left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) could be preserved until the end stages of the disease. Myocardial efficiency (MEf) describes the amount of external work (EW) done by the left ventricle per unit of oxygen consumed (mVO₂). In the present study, we aimed to investigate MEf in patients with asymptomatic severe MR using a novel echocardiographic method.

Comparison of long-term prognostic value of baseline SYNTAX and clinical SYNTAX scores in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with multivessel disease.

Background: The prognostic value of baseline SYNTAX (SS) and clinical SYNTAX (cSS) scores has been shown in different populations with coronary artery disease. However, their prognostic value has not been compared in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease.

Methods: Patients who had undergone a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI and had at least one critical lesion other than the culprit artery were recruited retrospectively.

Higher CHADS-VASc Score Is Associated With Increased Mortality in Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: CHADS-VASc score has been validated in risk prediction for stroke and thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Association of CHADS-VASc score with higher risk of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism (PE) has also been shown. In this study, we investigated the long-term prognostic value of CHADS-VASc score in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Increased Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated with In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Aortic Dissection.

Background: i ne prognostic relevance of hematological parameters in cardiovascular diseases has been well demonstrated. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association between the hematological parameters, particularly neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and outcomes of aortic dissection (AD).

Methods: Two hundred patients diagnosed with AD were retrospectively recruited and compared with 76 subjects with ascending aortic dilatation (AAD) and 92 subjects with normal aortic diameters.

Infective endocarditis in Turkey: aetiology, clinical features, and analysis of risk factors for mortality in 325 cases.

Objective: In order to define the current characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) in Turkey, we evaluated IE cases over a 14-year period in a tertiary referral hospital.

Methods: All adult patients who were hospitalized in our hospital with a diagnosis of IE between 2000 and 2013 were included in the study. Modified Duke criteria were used for diagnosis.

Association between Glycosylated Haemoglobin Level and Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: There are several reports suggesting that admission hyperglycaemia increases the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). However, it is not clear whether there has been an association between long-standing poor glycaemic control and the incidence of CI-AKI. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of poor glycaemic control or elevated glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) on the incidence of CI-AKI in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

The Role of Statins in Preventing Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: A Narrative Review.

The incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is rising due to increased use of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. Many agents, including statins, have been evaluated in several studies for the prevention of CI-AKI. To date, there have been 14 prospective randomized studies regarding the efficacy of statins on the patient.

Metabolic syndrome is a predictor for an ECG sign of no-reflow after primary PCI in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background And Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate both the predictive value of metabolic syndrome (MS) on no-reflow phenomenon and 30-day clinical outcomes on patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods And Results: One hundred and twelve consecutive patients (mean age 57+/-11 years, 94 male) with acute STEMI treated with primary PCI were analysed prospectively. Sum of ST-segment elevation was obtained immediately before and 60 min after the restoration of TIMI-3 flow.

The role of paraoxonase (PON) enzyme in the extent and severity of the coronary artery disease in type-2 diabetic patients.

Increased coronary artery disease (CAD) risk is well established in diabetes mellitus (DM). Paraoxonase (PON) enzyme is known to have protective effects on lipid peroxidation. This study aimed to investigate the changes in PON activity levels with duration of DM as well as the role of PON activity in progression of CAD.

A review of levosimendan in the treatment of heart failure.

Heart failure is a relatively important public health problem due to its increasing incidence, poor prognosis, and frequent need of re-hospitalization. Intravenous positive inotropic agents play an important role in treating acute decompensation of patients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Although frequently used, the inotropic agents beta-adrenergic agonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors seem effective for improving symptoms in the short term; it has been shown that they increase morbidity and mortality by elevating intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium levels.

Do calcium sensitizers affect right ventricular functions in patients with chronic heart failure?

Calcium sensitizers also improve cardiac function by increasing the contraction of the myocardium without significantly increasing intracellular calcium levels. Although right ventricular function is an important role for better cardiac global function, there is no study about effects of levosimendan on right ventricular function measured by tissue Doppler imaging. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes of myocardial properties in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler imaging after levosimendan infusion.

Occult cardiac dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome revealed by tissue Doppler imaging.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has been linked to cardiovascular complications. The diagnosis of effects of sleep apnea on heart may be difficult before apparent examination findings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes of myocardial contractile properties in patients affected by sleep apnea showing tissue Doppler imaging, in the face of quite normal myocardial contractility on standard echocardiography.

Metabolic syndrome as a predictor of non-dipping hypertension.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) and non-dipping hypertension both increase cardiovascular mortality. Although both clinical modalities share common pathophysiologic factors in their etiologies, previous studies did not find any association between them. We aimed to investigate the association between MS and non-dipping blood pressure by comparing different definitions of MS.

Level of Selvester QRS score is predictive of ST-segment resolution and 30-day outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary intervention.

Background: The presence of Q waves at presentation with a first acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) reflects a more advanced stage of the infarction. Resolution of ST-segment elevation indicating successful myocyte reperfusion may differ according to how far the infarction process has progressed. The Selvester QRS score measures infarct size.

Influence of weight loss on myocardial performance index.

Obese patients may have a phase of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. A combined myocardial performance index (MPI) has been demonstrated to be a useful index to estimate left ventricular function and to predict the prognosis of patients with heart failure. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of weight loss on MPI.

Effect of tirofiban therapy on ST segment resolution and clinical outcomes in patients with ST segment elevated acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty.

Background: In our study, we assessed the effect of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition on microvascular flow after acute coronary occlusion using the early sum of ST segment resolution in electrocardiography. Platelets may play a major role in the dissociation of epicardial artery recanalization and tissue level reperfusion, referred to as the 'no-reflow phenomenon'. Therefore, GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition might improve myocardial reperfusion, distinct from its effects on epicardial patency.

Aortic elastic properties in athletes using anabolic-androgenic steroids.

The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has been linked to acute cardiovascular events in athletes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the aortic elastic properties in athletes who had been self-administering AAS compared with a group of athletes not using these drugs. Fourteen male bodybuilders using AAS and 27 male wrestlers (non-users) volunteered to the study.

Aortic elastic properties and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Although the responsible mechanisms are not yet fully known, obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and events. The aorta is not only a conduit delivering blood to the tissues but is also an important modulator of the entire cardiovascular system, its elastic properties also affecting left ventricular function and coronary blood flow. The aim of this study was to determine left ventricular diastolic function and aortic elastic properties in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

QT dispersion in sarcoidosis.

Study Objectives: QT dispersion (QTd) is the maximal interlead difference in QT interval on surface 12-lead ECG. An increase in QTd is found in various cardiac diseases. Sarcoidosis augments inhomogeneity in ventricular repolarization by sarcoid granuloma, which significantly correlates with ventricular fibrillation.

Influence of angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism on long-term total graft occlusion after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: The renin-angiotensin system has a very important role in coronary thrombosis and restenosis. Plasma angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity is associated with an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the gene coding for ACE. It is known that there is a strong correlation between ACE DD and atherosclerosis.

Anxiety and P wave dispersion in a healthy young population.

Background: P wave dispersion (P(d)), defined as the difference between the maximum (P(max)) and the minimum P wave duration (P(min)), and P(max) are electrocardiographic (ECG) markers that have been used to evaluate the discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses and the prolongation of atrial conduction time. P(d) in normal subjects has been reported to be influenced by the autonomic tone, which induces changes in atrial size and the velocity of impulse propagation. However, the association between P(d) and anxiety has not been studied in normal subjects.

Discrimination between physiologic and pathologic left ventricular dilatation.

The identification of certain cardiovascular disease in athletes may constitute the basis for disqualification from competition in an effort to minimize the risk of sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study was to assess diastolic and systolic parameters measured by tissue Doppler imaging in endurance veteran athletes who had prominent cardiac dilatation and patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in order to determine whether these variables might differentiate each other.