The effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on serum and saliva chitotriosidase activities in patients with periodontitis and coronary artery disease.

Background: Plasma chitotriosidase activity, which is a marker of macrophage activation, has been reported to increase in inflammatory conditions and atherosclerosis. Chronic periodontitis has likely an important role in the development of coronary artery disease. In this study, we aimed to analyze the effect of chronic periodontitis on salivary and plasma chitotriosidase activities in patients with or without coronary atherosclerosis.

Sustained idiopathic ventricular tachycardia originating from the posteroseptal tricuspid annulus.

Tricuspid annular ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a rarely encountered entity. Despite abundant data on idiopathic VTs, the prevalence and clinical characteristics of this infrequent form are not well defined and the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation treatment remains unknown. We report on a case of a 44-year-old male presenting with symptomatic sustained idiopathic VT originating from the posteroseptal tricuspid annulus.

Percutaneous closure of mitral paravalvular leak via retrograde approach: with use of the Amplatzer duct occluder II and without a wire loop.

The gold-standard treatment for prosthetic-valve paravalvular leakage is surgery to repair or replace the valve; however, the morbidity and mortality rates cannot be ignored, and some patients are poor surgical candidates. The percutaneous closure of such defects is possible, and different devices are being used for this purpose. In almost all instances, a femorofemoral or femorojugular wire loop is constructed to deliver the closure device.

In vitro biocompatibility of plasma-aided surface-modified 316L stainless steel for intracoronary stents.

316L-type stainless steel is a raw material mostly used for manufacturing metallic coronary stents. The purpose of this study was to examine the chemical, wettability, cytotoxic and haemocompatibility properties of 316L stainless steel stents which were modified by plasma polymerization. Six different polymeric compounds, polyethylene glycol, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethylenediamine, acrylic acid, hexamethyldisilane and hexamethyldisiloxane, were used in a radio frequency glow discharge plasma polymerization system.

Coronary-subclavian steal syndrome presenting with ventricular tachycardia.

Coronary-subclavian steal through the left internal mammary graft is a rare cause of myocardial ischemia in patients who have had a coronary bypass surgery. We report a 70-year-old man who presented with sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia 5 years after the surgical creation of a left internal mammary to the left anterior descending artery. Cardiac catheterization illustrated that the left subclavian artery was occluded proximally and that the distal course was visualized by retrograde filling through the left internal mammary graft.

Increased platelet activation in patients with slow coronary flow.

We tested the hypothesis that increased platelet activation may be present in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF) and may contribute to the pathogenesis of slow coronary flow phenomenon (SCFP). Fifty patients angiographically proven normal coronary flow (control group; mean age = 61.3 +/- 7.

Coronary myocardial bridge constitutes a risk: But how to manage it?

Myocardial bridges may cause angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, life threatening arrhythmias and even sudden cardiac death but most of them are harmless. Although the exact management is not well known, beta blockers seem to be the first choice. Stenting is controversial and one must think "twice" before stenting the bridged coronary artery.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in acute coronary syndromes: complex vicious interaction.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays a crucial role both in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. MCP-1 is a unique cytokine produced by macrophages, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells within atherosclerotic plaques and seems to be a reliable indicator of atherosclerotic plaque burden. Higher levels of MCP-1 have been associated with a poor prognosis and increased risk for death independent of other risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a patient with Addison disease: is apical ballooning always reversible?

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by acute ventricular dysfunction in the absence of coronary obstruction. Complete improvement of ventricular function is seen in the vast majority of the patients. We describe a 40-year-old woman with Addison disease who experienced Takotsubo cardiomyopathy but with persistent apical dysfunction during 5-month-follow up.

Anomalous high insertion of the inferior vena cava into the right atrium: a case report with review of literature.

Objective: Anomalous high insertion of the inferior vena cava into the right atrium is probably the most infrequent anomaly among the anomalies of the inferior vena cava.

Patients: We present a case of anomalous high insertion of the inferior vena cava into the posterior wall of the right atrium in a 20-year-old asymptomatic man.

Conclusions: This anomaly has unique characteristic because of presenting with an isolated anomaly different from earlier reported cases.

The experience with the Epiclose-T vascular access closure device: a human study.

Objective: The Epiclose-T, a novel closure device for arterial access sites, is designed as a double-balloon device that applies direct pressure on the arteriotomy site, allowing natural coagulation and leaving no artificial material behind. We assessed prospectively the initial safety and efficacy of the Epiclose-T after diagnostic cardiac catheterization, and evaluated patient comfort.

Methods: In our randomized, controlled, prospective study, the study group consisted of 32 patients (17 male, mean age 52.

A case of pneumopericardium following endomyocardial biopsy.

Pneumopericardium is a very rare condition, less common than isolated pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum. Since it can occasionally cause pericardial tamponade, prompt recognition and treatment of this condition is lifesaving. Up to now only one case of isolated pneumopericardium after endomyocardial biopsy has been reported in a two-month boy with a dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown origin.