Percutaneous interventions of coronary artery fistulas: a single-center experience.

Introduction: Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is a congenital communication between the coronary artery and other vascular structures or cardiac chambers. Percutaneous CAF closure is an emerging alternative to surgery, but long-term outcome data are limited.

Aim: To review our center's experience with percutaneous CAF closure methods.

Unlocking Promising Therapies: Drug-Eluting Stents in Medically Refractory Angina Patients With Myocardial Bridging.

Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital variation in which a coronary artery segment tunnels through the myocardium instead of following its usual epicardial route. Although MB is usually diagnosed incidentally and has a good long-term prognosis, it can lead to complications such as angina, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and sudden death. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with MB and medically refractory angina.

Evaluation of left ventricle systolic functions with 2D strain echocardiography after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objective: There is deterioration in global left ventricular (LV) longitudinal function in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, and the decrease in LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) is associated with worsening prognosis. The aim of the study is to examine LV mechanical changes with LV strain imaging in addition to routine examination in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: Fifty patients who had been scheduled for the TAVR procedure between 2016 and 2018 were enrolled.

Assessment of Diastolic Function and Thiol-Disulphide Homeostasis in Arsenic-Exposed Workers.

Objectives: Exposure to arsenic is associated with various cardiovascular diseases. The imbalance between antioxidant and oxidant homeostasis plays a crucial role in the cardiovascular effects of arsenic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of arsenic exposure on diastolic function by measuring thiol and disulphide in arsenic-exposed workers.

Long-term follow-up outcomes in a real-world study cohort after percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure.

Objective: In recent years, percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) has gained widespread use. This study is an evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the Figulla and Amplatzer devices for PFO closure, including long-term follow-up results.

Methods: A total of 305 patients (43.

Four-Dimensional Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricular Systolic Functions in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Receiving Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are established treatment for haematological malignancies. However, cardiac adverse effects, including the reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction and symptomatic heart failure remain clinical problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the left ventricular systolic functions in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia receiving TKIs.

The association between serum angiogenin and osteopontin levels and coronary collateral circulation in patients with chronic total occlusion.

Objective: A well-developed coronary collateral circulation lowers both in-hospital and long-term morbidity and mortality limiting the infarct. Angiogenin (AGN) and osteopontin (OPN) are known to be potent inducers of angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between serum ANG and OPN levels and collateral filling grade in subjects with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD).

Left Atrial Appendage Transcatheter Occlusion with AMPLATZER™ Amulet™ Device: Real Life Data with Mid-Term Follow-Up Results.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is an alternative therapy for atrial fibrillation patients who have high embolic risk and contraindications to anticoagulant therapy.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and mid-term outcomes of percutaneous LAA occlusion, including device-related thrombosis.

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients who had undergone percutaneous LAA occlusion with AMPLATZER™ Amulet™ device from September 2015 to March 2018 were enrolled.

Antithrombotic treatment patterns and stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation in TURKEY: inferences from GARFIELD-AF registry.

Unlabelled: The corner stone of atrial fibrillation therapy includes the prevention of stroke with less adverse effects. The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) study provided data to compare treatment strategies in Turkey with other populations and every-day practice of stroke prevention management with complications.

Methods: GARFIELD-AF is a large-scale registry that enrolled 52,014 patients in five sequential cohorts at >1,000 centers in 35 countries.

Left atrial appendage closure using Amulet device in a patient with prior percutaneous atrial septal defect closure.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is an alternative therapeutic option for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation and contraindications for oral anticoagulation. There are few data available regarding the technical success of percutaneous LAA closure in patients with the previous implantation of an atrial septal defect (ASD) or a patent foramen ovale closure device. This is the description of a case of a successful LAA closure performed with an Amplatzer Amulet occluder device (St.

Monocyte Toll-Like Receptor Expression in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Inflammation has been suggested to play a vital role in the pathogenesis. Previous studies have investigated expression of inflammatory markers in AF.

Increased left atrial pressure predicts recurrence following successful cryoablation for atrial fibrillation with second-generation cryoballoon.

Purpose: Several studies have demonstrated that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and left atrial pressure (LAP), as a surrogate marker of LVDD, were associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for AF. In this study, we aimed to investigate the individual impact of several left ventricular diastolic function parameters on outcomes of cryoablation for paroxysmal AF using second-generation cryoballoon.

Methods: One hundred seventy patients who were scheduled for cryoablation with second-generation cryoballoon were included in this prospective study.

Usefulness of 'figure-of-eight' suture to achieve haemostasis after removal of 15-French calibre femoral venous sheath in patients undergoing cryoablation.

Aims: Among patients undergoing cryoballoon-based atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, in order to reduce access site complications, improve staff efficiency, and decrease length of stay, various techniques have been implemented to achieve immediate haemostasis. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of 'figure-of-eight (FoE)' suture when compared with conventional manual compression for immediate closure of 15-French (Fr) calibre right femoral venous access after cryoablation.

Methods And Results: A total of 200 patients (48% female, mean age 55 ± 12.

Periatrial epicardial adipose tissue thickness is an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active fat depot. Studies have investigated the effect of EAT thickness on outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on the relationship between EAT thickness and outcome of cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are lacking.

Safety and efficacy outcomes of protamine administration for heparin reversal following cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation.

Purpose: Anticoagulation with heparin is required during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) to reduce systemic thromboembolism. In this study, we aim to compare safety and efficacy outcomes between patients who receive protamine administration for reversal of heparin and those who do not, following cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF.

Methods: Patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF despite ≥1 antiarrhythmic drug(s) were scheduled for PVI per the recent consensus recommendations.

Effects of persistent atrial fibrillation on serum galectin-3 levels.

Galectin-3 is known to play an important role in a number of fibrotic conditions, including cardiac fibrosis. Many studies have focused on the association between galectin-3 levels and cardiac fibrosis in heart failure. However, the role of galectin-3 in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been evaluated thoroughly yet.

Red blood cell distribution width predicts outcome of cryoballoon-based atrial fibrillation ablation.

Purpose: Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) in cross-sectional and prospective studies. In this study, we aim to evaluate the relation of preablation RDW levels to late AF recurrence following cryoablation.

Methods: A total of 299 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF despite ≥ 1 antiarrhythmic drug(s) who were scheduled for cryoballoon-based AF ablation were enrolled in this prospective study.

Markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in premenopausal women with vitamin D deficiency and effect of vitamin D replacement.

Background: Recent studies have revealed a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and atherosclerosis. This study aims to investigate the impact of vitamin D deficiency and replacement on markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in young premenopausal women in whom vitamin D deficiency is prevalent.

Methods: Thirty-one premenopausal vitamin D deficient women and 27 age and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled in this study.

Safety and efficacy outcomes in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation with second-generation cryoballoon†.

Aims: The second-generation cryoballoon (Arctic Front Advance™) (Arc-Adv-CB) has a redesigned injection system which distributes the refrigerant homogenously to the frontal balloon surface. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of the Arc-Adv-CB and its predecessor (Arctic Front™) (Arc-CB) in patients who underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: Three hundred and six patients (55.

M2-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor autoantibody levels predict left atrial fibrosis severity in paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation patients undergoing cryoablation.

Aims: Atrial fibrosis has been found to be associated with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation. Autoantibodies against M2-muscarinic receptors (anti-M2-R) may play a role in the development of AF by inducing left atrial (LA) fibrosis. In this study, we aim to compare anti-M2-R levels between paroxysmal lone AF patients and healthy control subjects and to investigate the relationship between pre-ablation anti-M2-R level, LA fibrosis quantified by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI), and AF recurrence following cryoablation.