Management of radio-contrast allergy in radio-contrast allergic patients undergoing coronary angiography and intervention.

Objectives Radiocontrast agents (RCA) allergy occurs in 0.04 % - 0.22 % of patients.

Gemcitabine-induced coronary vasospasm: A case report.

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug. It is a nucleoside analogue that is usually well tolerated by patients, with myelosuppression (especially thrombocytopenia) as dose-limiting side effect. Other mild to moderate side effects include alopecia, vomiting, nausea, rash, and fever.

Recanalization of total aortoiliac occlusion via contralateral aortofemoral bypass graft.

Severe aortoiliac disease is traditionally treated with aortofemoral bypass (AFB). However, certain recurrent problems typically follow this type of treatment, problems which often require surgical intervention. Presently described is the endovascular recanalization of the native aortoiliac arteries in 2 patients who had undergone AFB.

Efficacy of allopurinol pretreatment for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) remains a common complication of radiographic procedures. Radiocontrast agents can cause a reduction in renal function that may be due to reactive oxygen species. Conflicting evidence suggests that administration of antioxidants prevents CIN.

Short-term effects of fluvastatin therapy on plasma interleukin-10 levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Experimental data demonstrated that inflammatory mediators, such as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors might have important role in the development and the progression of heart failure (HF). Statins were shown to downregulate inflammatory cytokines in HF. Interleukin (IL)-10 is one of the most important anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Effects of short-term propylthiouracil treatment on p wave duration and p wave dispersion in patients with overt hypertyroidism.

Background: P-wave duration is defined as the time measured from the onset to the offset of the P-wave in surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Prolonged P wave duration and increased P wave dispersion (PWD) have been reported to carry an increased risk for atrial fibrillation.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the role of hyperthyroidism on P wave duration and dispersion, to investigate the effect of anti-thyroid therapy on P wave duration and dispersion.

Effect of female gender on the outcome of coronary artery bypass surgery for left main coronary artery disease.

Objective: Early mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting is generally higher in women than in men. This study analyzes the effect of female gender on early mortality of coronary artery bypass grafting particularly for left main coronary artery disease.

Methods: Study population consisted of 144 consecutive patients (33 women, 111 men) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting for left main coronary artery disease.

Association of metabolic syndrome with impaired heart rate recovery and low exercise capacity in young male adults.

Background: Impaired heart rate recovery (HRR) is a powerful predictor of overall mortality.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess HRR in young adult males with metabolic syndrome and to compare HRR with those of obese patients who do not meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-four newly diagnosed and untreated young male subjects (24 +/- 3 years) with metabolic syndrome and 40 age and sex matched obese or overweight control subjects (ages 23 +/- 3 years) were enrolled in the study.

Decreased heart rate recovery in patients with heart failure: effect of fluvastatin therapy.

Heart rate recovery is the difference in heart rate at peak exercise and at a specific time interval following the onset of recovery. Attenuated heart rate recovery is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with a history of coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a statin on heart rate recovery, particularly in patients with ischemic heart failure and hyperlipidemia.

FX minirail balloon angioplasty for the treatment of patients with in-stent restenosis: a matched comparison of 6 months' outcome with conventional balloon angioplasty.

The optimal treatment for in-stent restenosis (ISR) is a subject of controversy. Recently, FX minirail balloon angioplasty (BA) has emerged as a management tool for ISR. We assessed the hypothesis that the FX minirail BA has advantages over conventional percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTCA) in the treatment of ISR.

Impact of invasive strategy for the management of patients with cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: This study evaluates the influence of early revascularization (with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary surgery) on short- and long-term survival in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: In-hospital and 6-month survival were retrospectively determined on day 193 (65-270, median +/- 25th and 75th percentiles) in 87 patients who either underwent early invasive reperfusion (group A, n=60) or those who were treated conservatively (group B, n=27). In-hospital mortality was 37% in group A and 56% in group B (P=0.

Elevated plasma endothelin-1 levels in coronary sinus during rapid right atrial pacing in patients with slow coronary flow.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether there was an imbalance between endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NOx) release and diffuse atherosclerotic changes existed in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF). Baseline and post-atrial pacing coronary sinus ET-1 and NOx levels were measured in 19 patients with SCF (11 female, 56 +/- 9 years) and in 14 control subjects (nine female, 54 +/- 7 years). All patients underwent subsequent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) investigation at the same setting with right atrial pacing.

[Femoral vascular complications after percutaneous coronary interventions].

Objective: We aimed to investigate peripheral vascular complications and their relation with treatment and clinical parameters in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) patients.

Methods: We included into the study 321 patients (aged 57+/-11 years) underwent PTCA between November 2001-August 2002. The age, gender, glycoprotein 2b/3a use, thrombolytic use, intraaortic balloon treatment, transient pacemaker treatment, reintervention history, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, family history and the correlations of these parameters with local vascular complications were assessed in all patients.

The relationship between plasma endothelin-1, nitric oxide levels, and heart rate variability in patients with coronary slow flow.

Background: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is characterized by delayed opacification of coronary arteries in the absence of epicardial occlusive disease. In this study, we aimed to determine endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NOx) levels and time domain heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in patients with CSF and relationship among these parameters.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with CSF detected in the coronary angiography (17 females; mean age 55 +/- 7) and 19 patients with normal coronary flow (10 females; mean age 54 +/- 11) as a control group were enrolled in the study.