The relationship between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels and radial artery spasm.

Objective: The use of the radial approach in coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention has increased owing to its advantages over the femoral approach such as rapid patient mobilization and improved patient comfort. However, radial artery spasm (RAS) that occurs during the procedure is a crucial factor in transradial approach failure and access site switch. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a naturally occurring, modified amino acid that inhibits nitric oxide (NO) production.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Non-Complex Coronary Lesions: Is There a Different Impact on Thyroid Function?

Objective: This study assessed whether high levels of iodide administered during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) differentially influenced thyroid function compared to PCI for non-complex coronary lesions.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 615 patients were enrolled in the study; 205 underwent elective PCI for CTO lesions (Group I) and 410 underwent elective PCI for non-complex lesions including non-CTO, non-bifurcation, non-calcified, and non-tortuous lesions (Group II). Patients were monitored for development of incidental thyroid dysfunction between 1 and 6 months after PCI.

Cutaneous analgesia before transradial access for coronary intervention to prevent radial artery spasm.

Aim: Transradial access (TRA) for coronary intervention is increasingly used in current clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that cutaneous analgesia before TRA for coronary intervention at a puncture site 30 minutes before puncture can reduce patient discomfort and the incidence of radial artery spasm (RAS).

Methods: Patients (n=104) undergoing planned coronary interventions using TRA were prospectively randomized to receive either 1 mL of 1% lidocaine subcutaneously (n=52) (control group) or subcutaneous lidocaine plus 5% lidocaine cream (n=52) cutaneously 30 minutes before puncture (treatment group).

Acute Effusive Pericarditis due to Horse Chestnut Consumption.

Background: There are many well-known causes of pericardial effusion, such as cancer metastasis, bacterial or viral pericarditis, and uremic pericarditis; however, no reports exist in the literature demonstrating a pericardial effusion that led to cardiac tamponade following consumption of an herbal remedy.

Case Report: A 32-year-old male patient was referred to our cardiology outpatient clinic with a complaint of dyspnea. The patient's medical history was unremarkable; however, he had consumed 3 boxes of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L) paste over the previous 1.

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Biventricular Function in Patients with Euthyroid Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular function in euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (eHT) patients.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-five patients diagnosed with eHT and 45 age- and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled in this study. Echocardiographic parameters reflecting RV and LV functions such as chamber dimensions, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, conventional and tissue Doppler-derived early and late filling velocities (E, A, E', A'), isovolumic relaxation (IVRT) and contraction (IVCT) times, ejection time (ET), deceleration time (DT), Tei index, pulmonary acceleration time (PAcT) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) of patients with eHT were compared to those of control subjects using the paired-samples t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

DNA Repair Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Mitral Chordae Tendineae Rupture.

Polymorphisms in Lys939Gln XPC gene may diminish DNA repair capacity, eventually increasing the risk of carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the significance of polymorphism Lys939Gln in XPC gene in patients with mitral chordae tendinea rupture (MCTR). Twenty-one patients with MCTR and thirty-seven age and sex matched controls were enrolled in the study.

Relationship between CHA2DS2-VASc score and atrial electromechanical function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: A pilot study.

Background: CHA2DS2-VASc score is the most widely preferred method for prediction of stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. We hypothesized that CHA2DS2-VASc score may represent atrial remodeling status, and therefore echocardiographic evaluation of left atrial electromechanical remodeling can be used to identify patients with high risk.

Methods: A total of 65 patients who had documented diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) were divided into three risk groups according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score: patients with low risk (score=0, group 1), with moderate risk (score=1, group 2), and with high risk score (score ≥2, group 3).

Effect of internal carotid artery stenting on superior thyroid artery Doppler flow.

Objectives: Patients with carotid disease are frequently referred for carotid artery stenting based on the results of carotid duplex studies. During carotid artery stenting, the stent is usually extended into the common carotid artery, thereby crossing the external carotid artery. Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding internal carotid stenting and external carotid artery flow velocities, but the effect of stenting on ipsilateral superior thyroid artery velocities has not been defined.

ECG Changes Due to Hypothermia Developed After Drowning: Case Report.

Drowning is one of the fatal accidents frequently encountered during the summer and is the most common cause of accidental death in the world. Anoxia, hypothermia, and metabolic acidosis are mainly responsible for morbidty. Cardiovascular effects may occur secondary to hypoxia and hypothermia.

Relation between the GRACE score and severity of atherosclerosis in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome are heterogeneous in terms of clinical presentation and immediate- and long-term risk of death or non-fatal ischemic events. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score and severity of coronary artery disease angiographically evaluated by Gensini score in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: A total of 245 patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome were enrolled to the study.

Correlation between D-dimer levels and coronary artery reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction patients after thrombolytic treatment.

The correlation between plasma D-dimer level and reperfusion has not been clarified yet in thrombolytic therapy applied for acute myocardial infarction patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between reperfusion and fibrinolytic activity in acute myocardial infarction patients treated with thrombolytic therapy. Fibrinolytic activity was reflected by plasma D-dimer levels.

Does sildenafil contribute to acute coronary thrombosis?

Sildenafil was the first oral compound to be approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It is a selective inhibitor of isoform 5 of phosphodiesterase, which is the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of 3', 5'-cyclic guanosine mono-phosphate. Sildenafil-associated myocardial infarction (MI) is rarely seen in patients without previous history of coronary artery disease.

A delayed diagnosis of a retained guidewire during central venous catheterisation: a case report and review of the literature.

Central venous catheterisation allows delivery of medications, intravenous fluids, parenteral nutrition, haemodialysis and monitoring of haemodynamic variables. Various complications may occur during and after the procedure. However, the complete guidewire retention has rarely been reported.

Clopidogrel-induced spontaneous pectoral hematoma.

Clopidogrel is an oral antiplatelet agent used in the treatment of coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, diarrhea and constipation are the common side effects of this drug. Serious side effects like intracranial hemorrhage and severe neutropenia were also reported but spontaneous pectoral hematoma due to the clopidogrel has not been reported previously.

Two cases of multivessel coronary artery ectasias resulting in acute inferior myocardial infarction.

The incidence of multivessel coronary artery ectasias (CAEs) among patients undergoing coronary artery angiography is very rare. All three coronary vessels can be affected by CAE, but most patients have an isolated arterial ectasia, commonly the right coronary artery. In this report we present two cases with inferior myocardial infarction that was likely caused by thrombotic occlusion of CAEs.

An Unusual Type of Localized Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome Presenting With Pulmonary Edema.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant heart disease that is the most common genetic cardiac disorder. The disease is characterized by excessive thickening of the left ventricular myocardium. The anterior portion of the interventricular ventricular septum is often involved.

The effect of admission creatinine levels on one-year mortality in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: We have known that patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine level) have increased mortality for coronary artery disease. In this study, the relationship between admission creatinine level and one year mortality are evaluated in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Method: 160 AMI patients (127 men and 33 women with a mean age of 59 ± 13) were enrolled in the study.