Role of Exercise Testing and Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Paradoxical Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Introduction The clinical behavior and prognosis of patients with asymptomatic paradoxical low-gradient aortic stenosis (PLGAS) still remain controversial. Some authors consider PLGAS as an echocardiographically poorly quantified moderate AS (MAS). We aimed to investigate the clinical behavior of PLGAS by comparing it with that of asymptomatic high-gradient aortic stenosis (HG-AS) and MAS using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with speckle tracking imaging (STI) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Electrocardiogram and left atrial abnormality: Design of an observational study to clarify diagnostic criteria.

Background: The criteria applied for diagnosis of left atrial (LA) abnormality using electrocardiogram (ECG) have high specificity but low sensitivity. In fact, some authors have suggested classifying P-wave anomalies associated with LA abnormality and interatrial block as "atrial abnormalities." The most widely known ECG criteria for LA abnormality include P-wave duration, morphology and voltage of P wave in inferior leads, presence of P-wave terminal force in V (PtfV ), and P-wave axis and area.

Role of echocardiography in a patient with suspected acute pulmonary embolism: a case report.

Background: Approximately half of pulmonary embolism cases are diagnosed in an emergency context. The classic symptoms of pulmonary embolism are absent in intensive care unit patients who are under sedation and on mechanical ventilation. In this scenario, after the development of sudden, severe hypotension, pulmonary embolism must be considered and included in a differential diagnosis according to the cause of admission.

Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation: a review.

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a frequent complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) associated with a worse prognosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms of IMR are not fully understood, but it is known to be a complex process in which ventricular remodelling is the main causal factor. The various imaging techniques in cardiology and echocardiography fundamentally have contributed significantly to clarify the mechanisms that cause and progressively aggravate IMR.

Congenital multiple coronary arteriovenous fistulas.

Coronary arteriovenous fistulas are congenital or acquired abnormalities characterized by abnormal communication between the coronary circulation and cardiac chambers or other vessels. Frequently, patients are asymptomatic and their diagnosis can be carried out incidentally by echocardiography. Knowing the echocardiographic findings characteristic of this malformation will prevent the diagnosis from going unnoticed.

Compression of the right coronary artery by an aortic pseudoaneurysm after infective endocarditis: an unusual case of myocardial ischemia.

A 61-year-old male with a prosthetic St Jude aortic valve size 24 presented with heart failure symptoms and minimal-effort angina. Eleven months earlier, the patient had undergone cardiac surgery because of an aortic root dilatation and bicuspid aortic valve with severe regurgitation secondary to infectious endocarditis by and coronary artery disease in the left circumflex coronary artery. Then, a prosthesis valve and a saphenous bypass graft to the left circumflex coronary artery were placed.

Valve Calcification in Aortic Stenosis: Etiology and Diagnostic Imaging Techniques.

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvulopathy in the Western world. Its prevalence has increased significantly in recent years due to population aging; hence, up to 8% of westerners above the age of 84 now have severe aortic stenosis (Lindroos et al., 1993).

Bayes Syndrome and Imaging Techniques.

Interatrial block (IAB) is due to disruption in the Bachmann region (BR). According to whether interatrial electrical conduction is delayed or completely blocked through the BR, it can be classified as IAB of first, second or third degree. On the surface electrocardiogram, a P wave ≥ 120 ms (partial IAB) is observed or associated to the prolongation of the P wave with a biphasic (positive / negative) morphology in the inferior leads (advanced IAB).

WITHDRAWN: Pulmonary Hemorrhage in a Patient With ST-segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated With Ticagrelor: A Case Report.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the Editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.

Neopterin predicts left ventricular remodeling in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Left ventricle remodeling (LVR) is a relatively common and unfavourable event occurring after acute myocardial infarction. A link exists between inflammation and LVR. Neopterin, a marker of inflammation and macrophage activation, is a predictor of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.