Management of Cardiac Involvement in Becker Muscular Dystrophy: A Case Report.

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. Cardiac involvement is a frequent finding in BMD, and manifestations may vary from asymptomatic cardiac involvement to developing symptoms of heart failure and severe cardiomyopathy. We presented the case of a 32-year-old wheelchair-dependent BMD patient who came to our cardiology clinic with a two-month history of heart palpitations, rest and nocturnal dyspnea, fatigue, and generalized muscular weakness.

Congenital Anomalies of the Left Main Coronary Artery: A Case Series.

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are rare congenital defects. The most frequent congenital anomaly is the origin of the left circumflex artery (LCX) from the right coronary sinus, followed by the common origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) and left anterior descending artery (LAD) from the right coronary sinus, as well as LAD originating from the right coronary sinus. The rarest anomaly is the left coronary artery or left main (LM) originating from the right coronary sinus.

Role of Intracoronary Adrenaline in the Treatment of No-Reflow Phenomenon in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The no-reflow phenomenon is defined as the failure to restore coronary flow demonstrated by the reduced or missing flow in angiography despite the patent artery. There are pharmacological strategies proposed and studied to manage the no-reflow phenomenon. The medication groups used are purine nucleoside (adenosine), calcium channel blockers (verapamil, nicardipine), beta 2 receptor agonists (adrenaline, nitroprusside), fibrinolytic agents (streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activators), glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (abciximab, tirofiban).

A Rare Case of Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Cardiac Sarcoma.

We present a case of a patient with a four-month history of gradual-onset dyspnea and generalized body weakness. During the clinical evaluation, a mass was found in the left atrium. Coronary angiography was performed and showed normal coronary arteries.

Hepatic Hydatid Cyst Presenting as Right-Sided Heart Failure: A Case Report.

Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by . The transmission of the parasite to dogs occurs when organs of animals that harbor hydatid cysts are consumed. We present the case of a patient presented in the cardiology outpatient clinic with the signs and symptoms of predominant right-sided heart failure.

Impact of Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure on Hospitalizations of Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Aim:  This study aims to investigate the impact of temperature and atmospheric pressure on hospitalizations of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, analytical study conducted in a single center, University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa," Tirana, Albania, in the period January-December 2018. This study included 1,165 patients with ACS, who performed urgent coronary angiography, from January 2018 to December 2018.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in a Patient Presenting With Inferior Myocardial Infarction and an Anomalous Left Main Artery Originating From the Right Coronary Sinus.

We present a case of a patient with inferior myocardial infarction (MI) and anomalous left main artery originating from the right coronary sinus. The left main artery and right coronary artery originated from the right coronary sinus but with separate ostia. The patient underwent revascularization of the right coronary artery with balloon angioplasty and a drug-eluting stent.

Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Interventional Cardiology: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Identification of High-Risk Patients.

Aim: This study aimed to study contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) or more recent nomenclature contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures, evaluating CIN incidence, risk factors (RFs), and high-risk patients with CIN.  Methods: This is a prospective, observational, unicentric trial of patients who underwent coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the University Hospital Center (UHC) "Mother Teresa" in Tirana, Albania, during 2016-2018. CIN was defined as an increase of 25% and/or by 0.

Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Admissions and In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI): An Albanian Observational Study.

Background Multiple studies conducted worldwide and in Albania documented an important reduction of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) admissions during the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. There are few studies regarding STEMI admissions and outcomes during the ongoing pandemic after the initial lockdown. We aimed to study STEMI admissions and in-hospital outcomes after the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Gender Differences in Admissions and In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background The incidence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) decreased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Few studies have investigated gender differences in ACS admissions and outcomes during pandemics and have presented divergent results. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on male and female hospitalizations and in-hospital outcomes in patients presenting with ACS.

Hospitalizations and in-hospital outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: The Albanian experience.

Objective: Global studies report a significant decline in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) related hospitalization rates during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. However, there have been several divergent reports on hospital outcomes. In this study, we aim to investigate the impact of the COVID 19 outbreak on hospitalizations because of STEMI and in-hospital outcomes in Albania.

Differences Among Body Mass Index (BMI) Groups in Patients Undergoing First Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background And Purpose: Body Mass Index (BMI) is known to be an independent risk factor for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and various cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to investigate the differences among BMI groups in patients undergoing first elective PCI.

Methods: 781 consecutive patients who underwent their first-time elective PCI from September 2011 to December 2013 in the Department of Cardiology were enrolled in the study.