Effects of negative T wave in electrocardiography on prognosis of post-myocardial infarction patients.

Background: Negative T (NT) wave in electrocardiography (ECG) is one of the important factors in determining short- and long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we compared clinical and paraclinical findings in post-MI patients according to presence or absence of NT wave.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with acute ST elevation MI who presented to Shahid Modares Hospital (Tehran, Iran) during 2009-10.

Iatrogenic left main artery dissection: A catastrophic complication.

Iatrogenic left main artery (LM) dissection is a catastrophic complication of coronary angiography and angioplasty that requires prompt management using stenting. Although LM dissection can be prevented, it cannot always be avoided and has a reported incidence rate of 0.02%.

L-carnitine treatment in patients with mild diastolic heart failure is associated with improvement in diastolic function and symptoms.

Objectives: L-Carnitine is a crucial component of activated fatty acid transport. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine on patients with a history of mild heart failure and diastolic dysfunction.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with a history of NYHA functional class II symptoms and ejection fraction >45% with documented grade 1 diastolic dysfunction on echocardiogram were randomized in blinded fashion to receive 1,500 mg of L-carnitine daily for 3 months in comparison to a no treatment group (31 patients).

Changes of left ventricular mass index among end-stage renal disease patients after renal transplantation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine left ventricular (LV) mass index via echocardiography in end-stage renal disease patients (ESRD) before and after renal transplantation, and its association with one-year survival.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven patients with ESRD who were candidate for renal transplantation were evaluated with echocardiography before and 4 months after the operation. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), LV mass, and LV mass index were determined.

Efficacy of folic acid therapy for prevention of in-stent restenosis: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: It is known that there is an association between elevated total plasma homocysteine level and restenosis after percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of lowering plasma homocysteine levels on the rate of restenosis after stent-percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Methods: Folic acid (1 mg) or placebo was administered to 200 patients (mean +/- SD age of 54 +/- 9 years) for 3 months, after successful coronary angioplasty in a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

Pulse tissue Doppler analysis of tricuspid annular motion in Iranian children.

Background: Quantitative assessment of right ventricular (RV) function has been difficult to assess non-invasively secondary to its non-geometric shape and respiratory-variable filling. With recent improvements in ultrasound equipment we are now able to study myocardial velocity changes, which is known as tissue Doppler imaging.

Objectives: To define normal indices of tricuspid pulse tissue Doppler echocardiography imaging in children and infants.