Paraoxonase-1, a novel link between periodontitis and ischemic heart disease: A case-control study.

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease and might be a potential risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, the link between periodontitis and atherosclerosis is not yet fully understood. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a new biomarker representing both anti-atherosclerotic and antioxidant activity, which also acts against dental biofilm formation and periodontitis.

Are women more susceptible to ischemic heart disease compared to men? A literature overview.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is known as the leading cause of death in both genders. Moreover, significant sex differences were found in cardiac structure, function, pathophysiology, presentation, treatment, and outcome of IHD. The presence of unique risk factors such as exposure to menarche and pregnancy, more anemia, hypertension, and autoimmune disorders in women have recently received attention.

The Effect of Erythropoietin Administration on the Serum Level of YKL-40, pro-BNP and IL-6 in Coronary Surgery Patients.

Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic clamping evokes the obligatory global myocardial ischemia and dysfunction with a significant inflammatory response. The discrepancy about cardioprotective effects of erythropoietin still exist. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical immunomodulatory effects of Erythropoietin (EPO) on serum inflammatory biomarkers (YKL-40, IL-6) and cardiac biomarkers, (pro-BNP, CK-MB and troponin).

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of High-Dose, Short-Term Vitamin D Administration in the Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery is a relatively common complication affecting short- and long-term survival. The renoprotective effect of vitamin D (VitD) has been confirmed in several experimental models. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of high-dose VitD administration in patients with VitD insufficiency on the incidence of postoperative AKI, the urinary level of tubular biomarkers, and serum anti-inflammatory biomarker after coronary artery bypass graft.

Vitamin D Treatment Attenuates Heart Apoptosis After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Vitamin D plays an important role in immune system and in the regulation of inflammatory cytokines. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with an extensive inflammatory response. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of vitamin D treatment on the apoptosis and inflammatory changes developed after CABG.

Monetary Value of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) among Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: a Willingness to Pay Study (WTP).

The aim of this study was to estimate the monetary value of a QALY among patients with heart disease and to identify its determinants. A cross-sectional survey was conducted through face-to-face interview on 196 patients with cardiovascular disease from two heart hospitals in Tehran, Iran, to estimate the value of QALY using disaggregated and aggregated approaches. The EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Time Trade-Off (TTO) and contingent valuation WTP techniques were employed, first to elicit patients' preferences and then, to estimate WTP for QALY.

The Use of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography in Thoracic Aortic Dissection Due to Chronic Cocaine Abuse.

Introduction: Aortic dissection is a life threatening disease and is usually accompanied by a high rate of mortality and morbidity. Here we present a case report in which intraoperative tranesophageal echocardiography was used for intraoperative assessments of thoracic aortic dissection due to cocaine abuse.

Case Presentation: A 45- year- old male was admitted to a university hospital due to severe chest pain.

The effect of methylprednisolone treatment on fibrinolysis, thecoagulation system, and blood loss in cardiac surgery.

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to examine steroid pretreatment in order to decrease postoperative coagulopathy disorders and bleeding.

Materials And Methods: In this randomized double-blinded study, the efficacy of low versus high doses of methylprednisolone on the coagulation system and postoperative bleeding was compared in patients who were undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The platelet response to agonists, D-dimer concentration, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) antigens, and platelet receptors CD42b, CD62P, and CD41a were evaluated.

Assessment of the effect of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery on right ventricle function using strain and strain rate imaging.

Background: Right ventricle function significantly decreases after coronary artery bypass surgery; as one of the likely causes, such a condition is attributed to the use of cardiopulmonary pump (CPB). Because nowadays there is a tendency toward increasing use of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery, this study was conducted to evaluate the right ventricle function after this type of surgery using strain and strain rate imaging (SRI) echocardiography.

Methods: This study was conducted on 30 patients, candidate for elective OPCAB surgery, between 2011 and 2012.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: a Case Report.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a neurologic disorder that may appear after infection or major surgery. Guillain-Barré syndrome following cardiac surgery is rare and only based on case reports, and we review all of the published cases. A 52-year-old man after 5 months suffering from chest pain was referred to our hospital and underwent coronary artery bypass graft for 3 vessel disease.

The Effect of Intravenous Administration of Active Recombinant Factor VII on Postoperative Bleeding in Cardiac Valve Reoperations; A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Postoperative bleeding after cardiac reoperations is among the most complicating problems, both for the physicians and for the patients. Many modalities have been used to decrease its adverse effects and the need for blood products administration.

Objectives: In a randomized double-blinded clinical trial of redo cardiac valve surgery in adult, the effect of active recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa) on postoperative bleeding was compared with placebo.

Surgical treatment of primary intracardiac myxoma: 20-year experience in "Shahid Modarres Hospital"--a tertiary university hospital--Tehran, Iran.

Unlabelled: Although cardiac tumors are not common they may vary in terms of race and surgical approach in different countries.

Method: Patients data of 20 years was collected and evaluated in the "Shahid Modarres Hospital"--a tertiary university hospital--Tehran, Iran.

Results: 42 patients with cardiac myxoma (all cases in 20 years) were included in study, 17 males and 25 females, age difference: 13 to 76 years (mean 50.

Mitral valve surgery in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Valvular heart disease is the common cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a tendency for mitral valve regurgitation. In this study we report a case of mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis caused by Libman-Sacks endocarditis in the setting of SLE. In addition, we provide a systematic review of the literature on mitral valve surgery in the presence of Libman-Sacks endocarditis because its challenge on surgical options continues.

Cardiac Hemangioma of RVOT in a Patient with Atypical Chest Pain.

A 40-year-old man presented with atypical chest pain and fatigue from 15 days ago a suspicious mass in the right ventricle based on a bed side transthoracic echocardiography. Preoperative diagnosis of a cardiac hemangioma comes to mind in a minority of cases. In our case, a cardiac tumor was diagnosed and the vascular nature of the tumor was suggested by vascular blush on the coronary angiography.

The association of serum parathyroid hormone and severity of coronary artery diseases.

Introduction: The serum level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been shown to be a predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Data on the association between PTH level and degree of atherosclerosis severity are lacking. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of serum PTH level and number of stenotic coronary arteries.

The effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate on serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP) in elective CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Introduction: Nowadays, many patients undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); while a number of therapeutic agents have been used to suppress its related inflammatory process. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) solution has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Among the cardiac biomarkers, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT Pro-BNP) is one of the most widely recognized.

Postoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level in coronary artery bypass surgery with ventricular dysfunction after perioperative glucose-insulin-potassium treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of perioperative glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) infusion on preoperative and postoperative N-terminal (NT)-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in patients with a low ejection fraction undergoing isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Design: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Modarres Hospital, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Carvedilol compared with metoprolol on left ventricular ejection fraction after coronary artery bypass graft.

A number of elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients have impaired underlying left ventricular function (poor ejection fraction). This study was performed to compare the effect of postoperative oral carvedilol versus metoprolol on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after CABG compared with metoprolol. In a double-blind clinical trial, 60 patients with coronary artery disease, aged 35 to 65 years, who had an ejection fraction of 15% to 35% were included.

Prolonged QT interval and coronary artery bypass mortality due to heart failure.

QT-interval prolongation has been shown to predict mortality in coronary artery disease and heart failure. To assess the prognostic value of QT interval for death due to low cardiac output after coronary artery bypass grafting, the QT interval was measured in 3 consecutive beats on the preoperative electrocardiogram (leads II and V(4)) in 30 patients who died perioperatively due to heart failure and a control group of 168 randomly matched hospital survivors during the same 3-year period. Mean corrected QT interval was significantly longer in the patients who died compared to the control group (480.