Autonomic and diastolic dysfunction association with quality of life impairment in cirrhotic patients.

Background And Study Aims: Cirrhosis is a multisystem disorder characterized by hyperdynamic circulation which can progress to multiple organ dysfunctions. Recent studies have demonstrated autonomic dysfunction and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy including diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction with electrophysiologic abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis. Due to the long and complicated course of the disease, health related quality of life is affected.

Evaluation of Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio in patients with acute myocarditis.

Background: Acute myocarditis (AM) can be defined as an inflammatory disease of the myocardium and characterized by large heterogeneity of clinical presentation. Myocarditis is becoming increasingly recognized as a contributor to unexplained mortality, and is thought to be a major cause of sudden cardiac death in the first two decades of life. The present study aimed to search the assessment of repolarization dispersion measured from the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (including Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios) in AM patients.

Layer-specific strain analysis in patients with suspected stable angina pectoris and apparently normal left ventricular wall motion.

Background: Non-invasive imaging tests are widely used in the evaluation of stable angina pectoris (SAP). Despite these tests, non-significant coronary lesions are not a rare finding in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography (CAG). Two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking global longitudinal strain (GLS) imaging is a more sensitive and accurate technique for measuring LV function than conventional 2D methods.

Effect of transient ulnar artery compression on radial artery diameter.

The transradial approach is widely preferred in coronary procedures. A small radial artery diameter (RAD) is the most important factor affecting successful access. Various maneuvers and medications have been used to increase the RAD and thereby facilitate RA cannulation.

Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia Episodes Predict Future Hospitalization in ICD Recipients with Heart Failure.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is well known to reduce mortality in selected patients with heart failure (HF).

Objective: To investigate whether monitored episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) might predict future HF hospitalizations in ICD recipients with HF.

Methods: We examined 104 ICD recipients (mean age: 60 ± 10.

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).