Relationship of the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score with peripheral artery disease severity and procedure success in patients who had undergone endovascular treatment.

Objectives: The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) is one type of inflammation-based index; it includes data on elevated C-reactive protein and reduced albumin content. The predictive value of mGPS for outcomes is investigated in various diseases such as cancer, heart failure, myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary embolism, and inflammatory bowel diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the link between mGPS and the severity and complexity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as determined by the Transatlantic Intercommunal Consensus Document (TASC-II) classification and the prediction value of mGPS for procedural success in patients undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT).

Osteoprotegerin is associated with subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in non-dipper hypertensive patients: a 2D speckle tracking echocardiographic study.

Background: Past studies have shown that non-dipper hypertensive patients have more frequent subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction compared to dippers. Many different parameters have been examined to predict subclinical LV dysfunction. The role of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the pathogenesis of heart failure and LV systolic dysfunction through different mechanisms had well described.

Predictors of pulmonary hypertension after atrial septal defect closure: Impact of atrial fibrillation.

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the course of pulmonary artery systolic pressure, to identify factors associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and to determine the impact of atrial septal defect closure on clinical outcomes in long-term follow-up.

Methods: Between March 2008 and August 2020, a total of 547 adult patients (193 males, 354 females; median age: 37 years; range, 27.5 to 47 years) with secundum atrial septal defect were retrospectively analyzed.

Left Atrial Dysfunction as Marker of Arrhythmic Events in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: In this study, we investigated whether left atrial functions evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography , classic echocardiographic and clinic parameters predict appropriate Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) shock in patients who underwent ICD implantation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Totally 87 patients who received ICD implantation for primary or secondary prevention were included in the study. Patients' clinical, electrocardiographic, 2 dimen- sion classic, and speckle tracking echocardiographic data were collected.

Predictors and Prognostic Implications of Myocardial Injury After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Myocardial injury (MI) is not unusual after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). To determine precipitating factors and prognostic outcomes of MI after TAVR, we retrospectively investigated relationships between MI after TAVR and aortic root dimensions, baseline patient characteristics, echocardiographic findings, and procedural features. Of 474 patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR for severe aortic stenosis in our tertiary center from June 2011 through June 2018, 188 (mean age, 77.

Quantitative assessment of left atrial functions by speckle tracking echocardiography in hypertensive patients with and without retinopathy.

Purpose: The association between hypertensive retinopathy and left atrial (LA) impairment is unknown. Accordingly, it was aimed to investigate the possible relationship between hypertensive retinopathy and LA phasic functions by means of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE).

Methods: A total of 124 hypertensive patients and 27 control subjects were included in the study.

Clinical Utility of Left Atrial Asynchrony and Mechanical Function in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine whether left atrial dispersion and left atrial strain as measured by speckle tracking echocardiography and clinical parameters are predictors of the development of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: A total of 151 patients (69% male, mean age 48.9 ± 14.

Electrophysiologic Changes and Their Effects on Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) continue even after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The effect of LVAD on VAs is controversial. We investigated electrophysiologic changes after LVAD and its effects on VAs development.

A case of congenital partial absence of the left pericardium presenting with atypical chest pain.

Congenital absence of the pericardium (CAP) is a rare cardiac malformation and can be defined as the partial or total absence of the fibroelastic sac that surrounds the heart and great vessels. As the patients are often asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms, the diagnosis of this rare congenital anomaly is difficult. Therefore, it is usually diagnosed incidentally during imaging, intraoperatively, or during postmortem examinations.

Myocardial early systolic lengthening predicts mid-term outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In this study, we investigated whether early systolic lengthening (ESL) which reflects subclinical ischemia and other echocardiographic and clinic parameters predict primary outcome [appropriate ICD shock, cardiovascular mortality and ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation] in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). 202 Patients with HCM (68% male, mean age 48 ± 13.9 years) were included in the study.

The relationship between CHA2DS2VASc score and left ventricular apical thrombus formation in patients with acute anterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Left ventricular apical thrombus LVAT) formation is a well-known complication of acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI). The CHA2DS2VASc is a scoring system that has been used to estimate the risk of thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. This score has also been used for other clinical conditions.

Right ventricle early inflow-outflow index may inform about the severity of pneumonia in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Echocardiography is generally used in our daily practice to detect cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients and for etiological research in the case of worsened clinical status. Many echocardiographic parameters have been the subject of investigation in previous studies on COVID-19. Recently, the right ventricle early inflow-outflow (RVEIO) index has been identified as a possible and indirect marker of the severity of tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary embolism.

Uric Acid-to-Albumin Ratio: A Novel Marker for the Extent of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Non-ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the predictive value of the uric acid-to-serum albumin ratio (UAR) in establishing the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.

Methods: A total of 402 patients (mean age 63.5 ± 11.

Pulsation of catheter during coronary angiography: Is it a sign of severe aortic regurgitation?

A 48-year-old male patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic with complaints of shortness of breath. He also had a holo-diastolic murmur at the right sternal border and an apical impulse being displaced laterally and inferiorly. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a severe aortic regurgitation without aortic valve stenosis and a mildly dilated left ventricle accompanied by an ejection fraction of 55%.

Crochetage sign may predict late atrial arrhythmias in patients with secundum atrial septal defect undergoing transcatheter closure.

Background: Atrial arrhythmias are well-known complications of atrial septal defect (ASD), and associated with substantial morbidity. After ASD closure, right atrial and ventricular enlargement regresses, however, the risk of atrial arrhythmia development continues. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the Crochetage sign, which is a possible reflection of heterogeneous ventricular depolarization due to long-term hemodynamic overload, and the development of late atrial arrhythmia after ASD closure.

Anxiety Disorder Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic Causes Deterioration of Blood Pressure Control in Primary Hypertensive Patients.

Objective: The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread rapidly all over the world and caused anxiety disorders. Recent studies have also shown that the prevalence of depression and anxiety increased during the COVID-19 outbreak. We aimed to evaluate the anxiety and depression levels during the pandemic and identify the effect of pandemic-related stress on blood pressure (BP) control in primary hypertensive patients.

Predictive value of post-procedural hyponatremia on contrast-induced nephropathy in patients who underwent coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Hyponatremia is a prognostic marker for specific pathologies. However, the association between contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and post-procedural hyponatremia has not been explored. Our study aims to evaluate the association between hyponatremia developing after contrast media administration and CIN.

The relationship between dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) score and saphenous venous grafts patency after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the gold standard treatment for mutivessel and left main coronary artery disease (CAD). Saphenous vein graft (SVG) patency is still a problem in CAD patients after CABG surgery. The Dual Antiplatelet Treatment (DAPT) score is a clinical prediction tool that predicts ischaemic and bleeding risk in CAD patients.

The usefulness of morphology-voltage-P wave duration ECG score for predicting early left atrial dysfunction in hypertensive patients.

Objective: Left atrial (LA) function is an important predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with hypertension (HT). Therefore, recognition of subtle LA dysfunction in the early stages of HT is essential for controlling modifiable variables. Several electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters have been studied to show early LA dysfunction.

The effect of moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia on short-term right ventricular functions: a prospective observational single pandemic center analysis.

It has been reported that myocardial damage and heart failure are more common in COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms. The aim of our study was to measure the right ventricular functions of COVID-19 patients 30 days after their discharge, and compare them to the right ventricular functions of healthy volunteers. Fifty one patients with COVID-19 and 32 healthy volunteers who underwent echocardiographic examinations were enrolled in our study.

Midterm Outcomes on Primary Endovascular Treatment of 395 Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

We report the results of endovascular treatment of Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC) A&B, TASC C, and TASC D aortoiliac lesions in a single vascular center. In this retrospective, observational cohort study, we analyzed 395 patients (mean age 61.2 ± 9.

Presence of fragmented QRS is associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction after surgery in patients with severe aortic regurgitation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Chronic severe aortic regurgitation (AR) is associated with progressive accumulation of interstitial fibrosis and disruption of myocardial structure. After aortic valve replacement (AVR), the negative remodeling process reverses, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improves but not in all patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of fragmented QRS (F-QRS), which is a possible marker of myocardial fibrosis, with postoperative left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction.

Right ventricular free wall perforation during pericardiocentesis, and an inappropriate device selection for percutaneous treatment.

Right ventricular (RV) perforation is a rare but life-threatening complication of pericardiocentesis and is usually treated surgically. We presented a case of RV free wall perforation, which occurred during pericardiocentesis and tried to be closed percutaneously with the Amplatzer vascular plug-III (AVP-III) device. The occluder device sealed the perforation, but it was in an insecure position; therefore, the patient underwent surgical repair.

Presence of ear lobe crease may predict intermediate and high-risk patients with acute non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Ear lobe crease (ELC) was first described in 1973 as a physical examination finding indicating significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Several studies have been carried out in relation to this finding, and it has been shown that it is a marker of intima-media thickness, carotid artery disease, and CAD. We aimed to investigate the relationship between earlobe crease, which is a simple physical examination finding, and GRACE score as a risk estimation index in acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) patients.