Frailty Significantly Associated with a Risk for Mid-term Outcomes in Elderly Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients: a Prospective Study.

Introduction: Frailty is a condition of elderly characterized by increased vulnerability to stressful events. Frail patients are more likely to have adverse events. The purposes of this study were to define frailty in patients aged ≥ 70 years with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and to evaluate mortality and prognostic significance of frailty in these patients.

Prognostic performance of copeptin among patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: In heart failure (HF), various biomarkers have been established for prognosis. However, little is known about the relevance of copeptin measurements to HF. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of copeptin for predicting cardiovascular (CV) death or HF-related re-hospitalisation in patients with acute decompensated HF.

Determination of the effects of cryoablation for atrial fibrillation on esophageal functions.

Objective: Periesophageal vagal plexus injury is a complication of cryoablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cryoablation on esophageal functions and to determine the relationship between esophageal temperature and esophageal motility.

Methods: Twenty patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF who underwent cryoablation were included in this study.

Predictors of the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation recurrence following cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation: Assessment of left atrial volume, left atrial volume index, galectin-3 level and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Background: Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a treatment option for atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial volume (LAV) and left atrial volume index (LAVi) are important parameters for long term success of PVI. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) are biomarkers to demonstrate the cardiac fibrosis and remodelling.

Clinical practices of the management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and outcome of treatment: A representative prospective survey in tertiary healthcare centers across Turkey.

Objective: The goal of this study was to define clinical practice patterns for assessing stroke and bleeding risks and thromboprophylaxis in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and to evaluate treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.

Methods: A clinical surveillance study was conducted in 10 tertiary healthcare centers across Turkey. Therapeutic approaches and persistence with initial treatment were recorded at baseline, the 6th month, and the 12th month in NVAF patients.

Association among tenascin-C and NT-proBNP levels and arrhythmia prevalence in heart failure.

Purpose: Tenascin-C (TN-C) and amino-terminal fragment of the B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are the important predictors in prognosis of heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of TN-C and NT-proBNP levels with the frequency and severity of ventricular arrhythmia.

Materials And Methods: Our study included 107 HF patients with EF < 45%.

Ultrasound Accelerated Thrombolysis May Be an Effective and Safe Treatment Modality for Intermediate Risk/Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition and the fact that 90% of PE originate from lower limb veins highlights the significance of early detection and treatment of deep vein thrombosis. Massive/high risk PE involving circulatory collapse or systemic arterial hypotension is associated with an early mortality rate of approximately 50%, in part from right ventricular (RV) failure. Intermediate risk/submassive PE, on the other hand, is defined as PE-related RV dysfunction, troponin and/or B-type natriuretic peptide elevation despite normal arterial pressure.

The Incidence and the Risk Factors of Silent Embolic Cerebral Infarction After Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions.

Silent embolic cerebral infarction (SECI) is a major complication of coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CAG with or without PCI were recruited. Cerebral diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed for SECI within 24 hours.

Electrocardiographic markers of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with left bundle branch block.

Background: Although some patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) have structural heart diseases, some patients with LBBB have "normal hearts". The electrocardiography (ECG) criteria of LBBB in reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have not been defined completely.

Aim: The main purpose of this study was to differentiate patients with reduced LVEF from patients with normal left ventricular systolic function simply by analysing 12-lead ECG.

Elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein and uric acid levels in coronary artery ectasia.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine uric asid (UA) and high sensitive C-Reactive protein (Hs-CRP) levels in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE).

Materials And Methods: Ninety-eight patients with isolated CAE (mean age 57.5±10.

Comparison of single-dose and repeated levosimendan infusion in patients with acute exacerbation of advanced heart failure.

Background: Levosimendan (LS) is a novel inodilator that improves cardiac performance, central hemodynamics, and symptoms of patients with decompensated chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of single and repeated LS infusion on left ventricular performance, biomarkers, and neurohormonal activation in patients with acute heart failure.

Material And Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive patients with acute exacerbation of advanced heart failure were included in this study.

[Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia during the ajmaline test].

A 44-year-old male patient admitted with palpitations was diagnosed with tachycardia with wide QRS, but recovered after being treated with amiodarone. The patient's coronary angiography was normal. As the patient's resting ECG was compatible with Brugada type 2, an ajmaline challenge test was scheduled.

[Isolated right ventricular myocardial infarction misdiagnosed as anteroseptal myocardial infarction on ECG: a case report].

In this article, we present a case with isolated right ventricular myocardial infarction (MI) who underwent coronary angiography on suspicion of acute anteroseptal MI detected on ECG; however, occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) was detected. A female patient aged 65 years was brought to the emergency room due to loss of consciousness 1 hour before. From the patient's history, it was understood that she had undergone stent placement to her proximal RCA 5 days before.

The atrial fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER).

Background: AFTER (Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry) is a prospective, multicenter study designed with the aim of describing the prevalence and epidemiology of AF practice in Turkey. This study aims to evaluate stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and anticoagulant drug utilization within conformity to AF guidelines.

Methods: Patients were recruited in 17 referral hospitals reflecting all the population of 7 geographical regions of Turkey.

Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in Turkey: preliminary results of the multicenter AFTER study.

Objectives: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common rhythm disorders observed in clinical practice, a multicenter epidemiological study has not been conducted in our country. This study aimed to assess our clinical approach to AF based upon the records of the first multicenter prospective Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER) study.

Study Design: Taking into consideration the distribution of the population in our country, 2242 consecutive patients with at least one AF attack determined by electrocardiographic examination in 17 different tertiary health care centers were included in the study.

Conduction characteristics in atrial fibrillation. Predictive value of tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias observed in clinical practice. The frequency of AF is increased in patients with impaired interatrial conduction. We aimed to investigate whether tissue Doppler echocardiography could be used for the evaluation of atrial conduction characteristics instead of an electrophysiological study, and to examine the predictive accuracy of tissue Doppler echocardiography for the inducibility of sustained AF.

Aortic isthmic atresia and aorta-right atrial communication: a case report.

The development of an aorta-right atrial fistula is a very rare complication of aortic isthmic atresia. We described a case of aorta-right atrial communication associated with isthmic atresia.

[The frequency of aspirin resistance by a modified thrombelastography method and its relationship with clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with stable coronary artery disease].

Objectives: Aspirin is the cornerstone of antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular medicine. However, aspirin resistance has been demonstrated in 0.4% to 83.

The distribution of circulating microRNA and their relation to coronary disease.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate gene expression by suppressing protein translation and may influence RNA expression. MicroRNAs are detected in extracellular locations such as plasma; however, the extent of miRNA expression in plasma its relation to cardiovascular disease is not clear and many clinical studies have utilized array-based platforms with poor reproducibility.

Methods And Results: Initially, to define distribution of miRNA in human blood; whole blood, platelets, mononuclear cells, plasma, and serum from 5 normal individuals were screened for 852 miRNAs using high-throughput micro-fluidic quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR).

The effect of different atrioventricular delays on left atrium and left atrial appendage function in patients with DDD pacemaker.

Background: Although it has been known that optimization of atrioventricular delay (AVD) has favorable effect on the left ventricular functions in patients with DDD pacemaker, the effect of different AVDs on left atrium (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) functions has not been exactly evaluated. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of different AVDs on LA and LAA functions in DDD pacemaker implanted patients with atrioventricular block.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with DDD pacemaker were enrolled into the study.