Epicardial adipose tissue and pericoronary fat thickness measured with 64-multidetector computed tomography: potential predictors of the severity of coronary artery disease.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between pericoronary fat and the severity and extent of atherosclerosis, quantified using 64-multidetector computed tomography, in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Methods: The study population consisted of 131 patients who were clinically referred for noninvasive multislice computed tomography coronary angiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. Patients were classified as follows: no atherosclerosis, Group 1; nonobstructive atherosclerosis (luminal narrowing <50% in diameter), Group 2; and obstructive atherosclerosis (luminal narrowing ≥ 50%) in a single vessel or obstructive atherosclerosis in the left main coronary artery and/or multiple vessels, Group 3.

Sudden unilateral vision loss arising from calcified amorphous tumor of the left ventricle.

Calcified amorphous tumor of the heart is a very rare non-neoplastic intracavitary mass. The clinical presentation is similar to that of other cardiac masses. The precise cause and best approach to treatment remain unclear.

Is there any relationship between coronary artery disease and postprandial triglyceride levels?

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between postprandial triglyceride (PPTG) levels and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: A total of 80 patients were included in this prospective cohort study. Oral lipid loading was used in order to measure PPTG levels.

Effects of metoprolol therapy on cardiac troponin-I levels after elective percutaneous coronary interventions.

Aims: Beta-blockers (BBs) have been shown to improve survival and reduce the risk of re-infarction in patients following myocardial infarction. There are conflicting data about the effects of BB therapy on cardiac biomarkers after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of BB use on cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) levels in patients who had undergone elective PCI.

Beta blocker effects on plasma homocysteine levels in patients with hypertension.

Recent studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinemia might play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The effects of antihypertensive agents on plasma homocysteine levels have not been tested extensively. We investigated the effects of beta-blocker therapy on homocysteine levels in patients with hypertension.

An unusual case of right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia.

In this report, we describe an unusual case of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia with episodes of repetitive monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), paroxysmal sustained VT and incessant monomorphic VT of the same morphology. Diltiazem, adenosine, or metoprolol failed to interrupt these arrhythmias. However, administration of intravenous propafenone completely eliminated all ventricular ectopic activity.