Evaluation of left ventricular circumferential contraction functions in obese patients.

Background: We aim to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function abnormalities, especially circumferential contraction functions, in obese patients.

Method: Cases without coronary artery disease (CAD) were divided into two groups according to their body mass indexes (BMI).

Results: Female predominance (P = 0.

The association between left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased aortic stiffness can be explained by possible neurohumoral mechanisms.

Objective: In our study, we tried to find an answer to the question "How could the association between left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDDF) and increased aortic stiffness (IAS) be explained?"

Methods: Cases without coronary artery disease (CAD) were divided into three groups according to their left ventricular (LV) inflow patterns and their LV basal-lateral annulus pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging (pw-TDI). Group 1 (n = 38) represented the normal LV inflow pattern while Group 2 (n = 54) represented impaired LV relaxation and Group 3 (n = 18) represented pseudonormalization. Aortic diameters were measured by using M-mode at a level that is 3 cm above the aortic valve.

Metastatic Ewing's sarcoma involving the right ventricle.

Cardiac metastasis of Ewing's sarcoma is rare. A 22-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of palpitation and fatigue on exertion. She had a seven-year history of radical right tibial resection for Ewing's sarcoma and was also receiving chemotherapy for lung metastasis of Ewing's sarcoma.

Intracoronary autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell transplantation improves coronary collateral vessel formation and recruitment capacity in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: a combined hemodynamic and scintigraphic approach.

This study investigated the effects of intracoronary autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell (BMC) transplantation on coronary microcirculation. Fifteen patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy were treated by intracoronary infusion of BMCs via the patent infarct-related artery. The thermodilution-derived coronary flow reserve, index of microvascular resistance, pressure-derived collateral flow index, and coronary wedge pressure were measured at baseline and at 6 months.

Echocardiographic diagnosis of a giant thrombus passing through a patent foramen ovale from right atrium to the left atrium.

Pulmonary embolus sourced by right atrial thrombus trapped in a patent foramen ovale is an unusual, rare condition. Thus in suspicion of massive pulmonary thromboembolus, echocardiographic examination carries great importance evaluate right ventricular functions and diagnose right sided intracardiac thrombus. We report a 76-year-old female with massive pulmonary embolism caused by a gigantic thrombus trapped in a patent foramen ovale.

Aspirin-resistant platelet aggregation in a cohort of patients with coronary heart disease.

Aspirin resistance could be defined as thrombotic and embolic cardiovascular events despite regular aspirin therapy. The study aimed to determine the profile and prevalence of aspirin resistance in coronary artery disease patients. We evaluated the prevalence of aspirin resistance in a cohort of 505 patients with the diagnosis of coronary artery disease taking 80-300 mg regular aspirin daily.

Intracoronary streptokinase after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Microvascular perfusion is often impaired after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We proposed that in situ thrombosis might contribute to poor myocardial perfusion in this setting. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the effect of low-dose intracoronary streptokinase administered immediately after primary PCI.

Effects of different intensities of acute exercise on flow-mediated dilatation in patients with coronary heart disease.

It is known that regular exercise training improves endothelial dysfunction in coronary artery disease, but, little is known concerning different intensities of acute exercise on endothelial function. We evaluated anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake level of acute exercise on flow-mediated dilatation in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Endothelium-independent vasoreactivity in patients showed a trend with increase at threshold level exercise; however, it was significantly decreased at peak level exercise.

Clinical relevance of aspirin resistance in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a prospective follow-up study (PROSPECTAR).

Aspirin resistance may increase the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) more than threefold in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with stable CAD, the role of aspirin resistance on outcome in the follow-up, and the effect of clopidogrel therapy in MACE prevention in aspirin-resistant individuals. We detected the prevalence of aspirin resistance in 234 patients with stable CAD.

The use of human heart-type fatty acid-binding protein as an early diagnostic biochemical marker of myocardial necrosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome, and its comparison with troponin-T and creatine kinase-myocardial band.

Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), a new biochemical marker of sarcolemmal injury due to acute myocardial ischemia, can be used as a tool in early diagnosis and management of patients at high risk. The aim of this study was to determine the early diagnostic value of H-FABP in acute coronary syndrome (within 6-24 h of chest pain) and to compare it with troponin-T (TnT) and creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) for accuracy. The study consisted of 40 consecutive patients with chest pain admitted to the coronary care unit with the diagnosis of suspected acute coronary syndrome.

The role of aspirin resistance on outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome and the effect of clopidogrel therapy in the prevention of major cardiovascular events.

Background: Aspirin resistance may increase up to more then threefold the risk of major cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Aim: The aim of our study was to determine; the prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with acute coronary syndromes, the role of aspirin resistance on outcome in the follow-up and the effect of clopidogrel therapy in the prevention of MACE in aspirin resistant subjects.

Material And Methods: We detected the prevelance of aspirin resistance in 105 patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Association of haematological indices with the degree of microvascular injury in patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), increased neutrophil count has been associated with more severe coronary artery disease and larger infarct size. Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is also associated with poor clinical outcome and impaired angiographic reperfusion in patients with AMI. However, the associations of neutrophil count and MPV with the indices of tissue level reperfusion were not fully elucidated.

Endothelial function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome but without hypertension.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) influences endothelial function and causes hypertension.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the role of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of hypertension in OSAS.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with OSAS but without hypertension and 15 healthy normotensive subjects were investigated.

A potential evidence to explain the reason behind the devastating prognosis of coronary artery disease in uraemic patients: renal insufficiency is associated with poor coronary collateral vessel development.

The potential of individuals to develop coronary collateral circulation is often neglected but is of potential major importance in myocardial vulnerability. Likewise, the effect of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on collateral vessel development is not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CKD on collateral development in patients with advanced coronary artery disease.

Multiple coronary thrombosis and stent implantation to the subtotally occluded right renal artery in a patient with essential thrombocytosis: a case report with review.

Essential thrombocytosis is a myeloproliferative disorder of unknown etiology manifested clinically by the overproduction of platelets in the absence of a definable cause. Platelet dysfunction in essential thrombocytosis results in both hemorrhage and thrombosis. It is one of the rare causes of ischemic cardiovascular events.

Cardiac fatigue and oxygen kinetics after prolonged exercise.

Background: Although the underlying mechanisms responsible for cardiac dysfunction after prolonged exercise remains to be elucidated, it has reported cardiac deterioration following exhaustive exercise in the absence of underlying cardiovascular diseases, which has been attributed to cardiac fatigue. The study was designed to investigate the effects of after fatiguing exercise on oxygen kinetics.

Methods: Six athletes have taken examination, firstly by echocardiography, secondly by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and then by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), before 2 days (pre-race) and after 1 day (post-race) marathon competition.

Pressure-derived collateral flow index: a strong predictor of late left ventricular remodeling after thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Despite proved efficacy of pressure-derived collateral flow index in determining microvascular dysfunction in patients with acute myocardial infarction, its role in prediction of left ventricular remodeling at long term has yet to be demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the relationship between quantitatively assessed microvascular dysfunction by using intracoronary pressure wire and late left ventricular remodeling.

Patients And Methods: The study population consisted of 28 patients with first acute myocardial infarction.

Mitral and tricuspid annular velocities determined by Doppler tissue imaging in hypopituitary, growth hormone-deficient patients.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine systolic and diastolic velocity profiles of the left and right ventricles by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and to reveal the associations between TDI parameters and early atherosclerotic changes in adult hypopituitary patients with GH deficiency.

Patients And Methods: The study group is composed of 16 hypopituitary, GH-deficient patients and 13 healthy controls. All patients had been receiving adequate substitution therapy other than GH at stable doses for at least 6 months.

Endothelial flow-mediated dilatation and exercise capacity in highly trained endurance athletes.

Brachial artery ultrasound during reactive hyperemia is a noninvasive method of assessing peripheral endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. Aerobic exercise has the potential to improve local endothelial function. We sought to analyze the effects of regular aerobic training on brachial artery endothelial function in endurance athletes.

Non-invasive evaluation of endothelial function in hypertensive elderly patients.

Impaired endothelium-dependent vasomotion is a diffuse disease process resulting in abnormal regulation of blood vessel tone and loss of several atheroprotective effects of the normal endothelium. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of aging and hypertension on endothelial function. Sixty-six geriatric subjects with ages over 60 (48 hypertensive and 18 healthy) and 40 middle-aged subjects (16 hypertensive and 24 healthy) were included in the study.

Evaluation of endothelial function in subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism are two frequently occurring conditions for which exact therapeutic approaches have not yet been established. The aim of this study was to compare the endothelial function and carotid artery intimae-media thickness (IMT) of these two groups of patients to euthyroid subjects and to assess the effects of these conditions on endothelial function. Study groups comprised of 25 subclinical hypothyroid patients (mean age, 32.