The predictive value of MAPH score for determining thrombus burden in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: A high thrombus burden has been connected with poor clinical events in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). In patients with STEMI, a high MAPH score has been associated with a large thrombus burden. However, the predictive value of the MAPH score in determining the thrombus burden in patients with NSTEMI is unclear.

Association of CHADS-VASc score with thrombus burden in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing SVG-PCI.

Background: The rate of saphenous vein graft (SVG) occlusion within the first year of bypass graft surgery is 15%. The CHADS-VASc score is used to predict the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We aimed to evaluate the predictive role of the CHADS-VASc score in the estimation of intracoronary thrombus burden in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent SVG-PCI.

Diurnal rhythm of blood pressure in patients with polycythemia vera.

Aims: Polycythemia vera increases the risk of hypertension, but there is limited information about the effect on daily blood pressure fluctuations. This study aimed to demonstrate how diurnal blood pressure rhythm is affected in polycythemia vera patients.

Methods: Fifty (50) patients (33 men; mean age 48 ± 15 years) with a diagnosis of polycythemia vera and 51 age and sex-matched healthy subjects for the control group were prospectively evaluated.

The impact of admission cystatin C levels on in-hospital and three-year mortality rates in acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: Although tremendous advances have been made in preventative and therapeutic approaches in heart failure (HF), the hospitalisation and mortality rates for patients with HF is high. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between cystatin C and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and in- and out-of-hospital mortality rates in acute decompensated HF (ADHF).

Methods: Between February 2008 and November 2011, 57 consecutive patients who were admitted with ADHF were included in this prospective study.

Comparison of the predictive accuracy of four different ECG algorithms in identification of true ablation site for the idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardias.

Background: We aimed to investigate the accuracy of four algorithms in prediction of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardias in patients who successfully underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Methods: Four algorithms; two with easy-applicability and having a memorable design (Dixit and Joshi), and two with more complex and detailed design (Ito and Zhang) were compared according to the predictive accuracy.

Results: Among 99 patients (mean age 36.

Predictors of Impaired Reperfusion after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with In-Hospital Acute Stent Thrombosis: A Retrospective Analyses of 5 Years of Data.

Background: Acute stent thrombosis (STh) is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with a high-risk of reperfusion failure. However, data focusing on risk factors of reperfusion failure in patients undergoing repeat PCI for treatment of STh remains inadequate.

Methods: A total of 8815 patients who underwent PCI with stent implantation from January 2009 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Relation Between TRCA Complication Rates and Peak ACT Levels Stratified According to the BMI Tertiles.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the fixed dose of 5000 IU unfractionated heparin (UFH) represented as peak activated clotting time (ACT) according to the body mass index (BMI) tertiles in patients undergoing diagnostic transradial coronary angiography (TRCA). A total of 422 patients were included in the present study, 84 in the normal weight group, 218 in the overweight group, and the 120 in the grades 1 and 2 obesity groups. Radial artery occlusion (RAO) was observed in 29 (6.

Relation Between End-Procedural Activated Clotting Time Values and Radial Artery Occlusion Rate With Standard Fixed-Dose Heparin After Transradial Cardiac Catheterization.

Although heparin administration has reduced the incidence of radial artery occlusion (RAO) during the transradial coronary angiography (TRCA), the effective activated clotting time (ACT) value for guiding unfractionated heparin dosing in patients undergoing TRCA is unknown. Four hundred thirty-two patients who were scheduled for elective TRCA were enrolled in our prospective study. All the patients received a standard dose of 5,000 IU unfractionated heparin.

Post-discharge heart failure monitoring program in Turkey: Hit-PoinT.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and feasibility of an enhanced heart failure (HF) education with a 6-month telephone follow- up program in post-discharge ambulatory HF patients.

Methods: The Hit-Point trial was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of enhanced HF education with a 6-month telephone follow-up program (EHFP) vs routine care (RC) in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction. A total of 248 patients from 10 centers in various geographical areas were randomized: 125 to EHFP and 123 to RC.

The association between mean platelet volume and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast or left atrial thrombus in patients with mitral stenosis.

Objective: Although the role of platelet activation has been debated in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC), data on differences in mean platelet volume (MPV) according to the presence of SEC/left atrial thrombus and the rhythm status are lacking. In this study, MPV was analyzed in patients with MS according to the presence of SEC/left atrial thrombus.

Methods: Between January 2005 and March 2014, 188 symptomatic patients having moderate or severe MS (mean age, 45.

The Association Between Serum Procalcitonin Levels and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease Assessed by SYNTAX Score in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

The SYNTAX score (SX score) is a useful score for assessing the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Previous studies have demonstrated a close relationship between SX score and inflammation. Procalcitonin (PCT) is an early inflammatory marker, especially during sepsis.

Comparison of health-related quality of life among patients using novel oral anticoagulants or warfarin for non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures between novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and warfarin-treated Turkish patients who had been started on oral anticoagulants (OACs) due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and to determine the effects of OACs on patient's emotional status, anxiety and depression.

Methods: A total of 182 patients older than 18 years with non-valvular AF and being treated with OACs for at least 6 months according to current AF guidelines who were admitted to outpatient clinics between July 2014 and January 2015 were included in this cross-sectional study. The exclusion criteria were receiving OACs for conditions other than non-valvular AF and being unable to answer the questionnaire.

Usefulness of the Macruz Index for Predicting Successful Percutaneous Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty in Patients with Mitral Stenosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the Macruz index (P/P-R segment) could predict the severity of valvular involvement and the success of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) in patients with mitral stenosis (MS).

Subjects And Methods: Sixty-one patients with MS eligible for PMBV and 72 healthy subjects (61 females and 11 males) with sinus rhythm were enrolled into this study. PMBV was performed in all patients using a percutaneous transseptal antegrade approach and a multitrack balloon technique.

Comparison of the accuracy of three algorithms in predicting accessory pathways among adult Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of three algorithms in predicting accessory pathway locations in adult patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in Turkish population.

Methods: A total of 207 adult patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome were retrospectively analyzed. The most preexcited 12-lead electrocardiogram in sinus rhythm was used for analysis.

Perceived Benefits of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation among Heart Failure Patients and Its Relation to Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Patients with heart failure (HF) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) may misunderstand the indication of ICDs due to unsatisfactory information. The goal of this study is to evaluate the patient perspective of ICD indication and its relation to quality of life, as well as to identify probable communication gaps between doctors and ICD receivers.

Methods: A total of 119 patients with HF who were implanted with a single-chamber ICD were evaluated in outpatient clinics.

Usefulness of notched duration to predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Objectives: The presence of notches in the biventricular paced QRS complex (BiP-QRS) from the posterolateral cardiac vein displays delays in the activation of the left ventricle and may consequently be linked with longer times of stimulus conduction. Our objective was to determine the relationship between the notch duration ≥ 0.1 mV in the BiP-QRS and the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

The effect of hemodialysis on electrocardiographic parameters.

Background: Cardiovascular complications are the leading causes of premature deaths in hemodialysis patients. Due to rapid changes in volume and electrolyte concentration following dialysis, the some electrocardiographic (ECG) changes or arrhythmias might be seen.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of hemodialysis on the ECG parameters in patients with chronic end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

The effect of different circadian blood pressure rhythms on left ventricular systolic dyssynchrony in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.

Objectives: Left ventricular (LV) synchronous contraction is impaired in patients with hypertension (HT). The deleterious effects of HT on cardiovascular system are more evident in patients with nondipper HT than dippers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of nondipping HT on LV systolic synchronicity compared with dippers and controls.

An alternative noninvasive technique for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms: stethoscope-guided compression.

Objective: latrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysm is a well-known vascular access site complication. Many invasive and noninvasive techniques have been proposed for the management of this relatively common complication. In this study, we aimed to evaluate efficiency and safety of stethoscope-guided compression as a novel noninvasive technique in the femoral pseudoaneurysm treatment.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in acute myocardial infarction as a predictor of poor prognosis and impaired reperfusion.

Aim: To investigate whether the elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is associated with an adverse prognosis in the patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: It included 140 consecutive patients undergoing primary PCI for acute STEMI, 12 hours after symptom beginning and 50 healthy age and sex matched control subjects. All patients were categorized into two groups defined by the median ESR level on admission.

A new electrocardiographic marker of myocardial reperfusion in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous intervention: the value of QRS duration.

Aims: Although ischaemia-induced QRS complex changes have been described previously, their relation with reperfusion status is not clear. We aimed to investigate the relation of QRS duration with reperfusion at tissue level compared to myocardial blush in patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Methods And Results: One hundred and forty-eight patients were enrolled.

[The relationship between insulin resistance and left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure and metabolic syndrome].

Objectives: The relationship between chronic heart failure (CHF) and insulin resistance (IR) has long been recognized. We examined the relationship of IR with left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions and functional capacity of CHF patients with metabolic syndrome.

Study Design: The study included 50 nondiabetic CHF patients with metabolic syndrome (NYHA class I-III; 40 men, 10 women; mean age 60+/-10 years).

Documentation of impaired coronary blood flow in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Background: In the current study, the effects of moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on coronary blood flow in patients with angiographically proven normal coronary arteries was evaluated.

Methods And Results: A total of 85 patients with moderate to severe COPD and 39 age- and sex-matched control partcipants, who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography and found to have normal epicardial coronary angiogram constituted the COPD and control groups, respectively. The 2 groups were compared for Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame counts in each major coronary artery.

The use of three-dimensional echocardiography in the visualization of pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa.

Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIF) is an uncommon but serious complication of aortic valve endocarditis. A 23-year-old woman was referred to our institution with the diagnosis of aortic valve endocarditis thought to be complicated by an aortic root abscess. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed a vegetation attached to the left coronary cuspis of the aortic valve and a false aneurysm-like structure in the MAIF at the left ventricular outflow tract.