Higher copeptin levels are associated with worse outcome in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Correlation of increased copeptin levels with various cardiovascular diseases has been described. The clinical use of copeptin levels in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has not been investigated before.

Hypothesis: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of copeptin levels in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Patient characteristics and statin discontinuation-related factors during treatment of hypercholesterolemia: an observational non-interventional study in patients with statin discontinuation (STAY study).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify patient characteristics and statin discontinuation-related factors in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: A total of 532 patients (age mean±SD: 57.4±11.

Increased Transforming Growth Factor-β Levels Associated With Cardiac Adverse Events in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic heart disease characterized by ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and impaired ventricular relaxation. The exact mechanisms by which fibrosis is caused remain unknown.

Hypothesis: Circulating TGF-β is related to poor prognosis in HCM.

Increased level of red cell distribution width is associated with poor coronary collateral circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Previous studies have shown the association between various hematological parameters and cardiovascular diseases, and their prognostic value. In this study, we compared red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) measurements among patients with poor coronary collateral circulation (CCC) and well-developed CCC.

Study Design: 326 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) were evaluated retrospectively.

Dislodgement of coronary stent due to rupture of stent balloon.

Rare stent complications, including dislodgement of stent, unexpanded stent, stent fracture and stent loss etc. can occur during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). We present a semi-expanded and dislodged stent due to rupture of stent balloon during primary PCI in this case report.

Lower vitamin D level is associated with poor coronary collateral circulation.

Objectives: Vitamin D regulates calcium and bone homeostasis, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Cross-sectional associations between lower vitamin D levels and cardiovascular diseases have been reported, but the relationship between vitamin D levels and collateral arteries in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been reported before.

Design: Two hundred and fourteen patients with above 95% stenosis in at least one epicardial coronary artery were consecutively recruited after coronary angiography (CAG) during the winter season.

Impact of coronary collateral circulation and severity of coronary artery disease in the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery has been reported to be approximately 30%, making it one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality post surgery. Although various clinical and laboratory predictors and underlying mechanisms progressing to postoperative AF have been proposed, the role of ischaemia in pathogenesis is doubtful. In this study, the association of coronary collateral circulation (CCC) and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) with the development of postoperative AF was investigated.

Lower blood vitamin D levels are associated with an increased incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of renovascular disease. We assessed the correlation between vitamin D levels and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG).

Methods: Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were assessed before CAG in 403 patients.

Does SYNTAX score predict in-hospital outcomes in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention?

Background: SYNTAX score (SxS) has been demonstrated to predict long-term outcomes in stable patients with coronary artery disease. But its prognostic value for patients with acute coronary syndrome remains unknown.

Aim: To evaluate whether SxS could predict in-hospital outcomes for patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Relation of coronary collateral circulation with epicardial fat volume in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objective: To investigated the relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: The study population consisted of 152 consecutive patients with CAD who underwent coronary angiography and were found to have at least 95% significiant lesion in at least one major coronary artery. EFV was assessed utilizing 64-multislice computed tomography.

The effect of atorvastatin on P wave dispersion in hyperlipidemic patients.

Aim: P wave dispersion (PWD) has been shown to be a noninvasive predictor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Atorvastatin is a 3 hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor that lowers blood cholesterol levels. The beneficial effect of atorvastatin on atrial arrhythmias is controversial.

Epicardial fat tissue thickness in preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Background. Epicardial fat tissue, another form of visceral adiposity, has been proposed as a new cardiometabolic risk factor, and the possible association of epicardial fat with hypertension has been shown in some recent studies. Although epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is associated with hypertension, the relationship between preeclampsia and EFT is still unknown.

Left main coronary artery arising from right sinus of Valsalva: a rare congenital anomaly associated with distal vasospasm.

A 50 year-old female patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic with a two year history of chest pain and dyspnoea on exertion. Echocardiography revealed apical hypokinesia with an ejection fraction of 50% on the left ventricle. Coronary angiography revealed that the left main coronary artery was arising from the right sinus of Valsalva and than coursing posterior to the aorta.

Homocysteine levels in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Objectives: Increased homocysteine (HCY) levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Plasma HCY is increased in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, and previous studies suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia causes adverse cardiac remodeling and affects pump function. We aimed to evaluate the HCY levels in patients with diastolic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Monomorphic and propafenone-induced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in Brugada syndrome: a case report.

A 24-year-old man without structural heart disease was admitted following recurrent syncopes. His baseline ECG revealed a right bundle-branch block (RBBB) pattern. Spontaneous monomorphic and polymorphic ventricular tachycardias (VT) were observed during monitoring.

The anatomic barriers in the coronary sinus: implications for clinical procedures.

Background: Coronary sinus (CS) catheterization is often used in cardiac resynchronization therapy. Failure to enter the CS is the most common reason for LV pacing lead implant failure.

Methods: We evaluated the anatomic barriers, Thebesian and Vieussens valves, the CS and its tributaries in 52 adult human cadaver hearts.

QT dispersion in the risk stratification of patients with unstable angina: correlation with clinical course, troponin T and scintigraphy.

Objective: This study sought to evaluate the potential prognostic usefulness of QT dispersion (QTd) in patients with unstable angina.

Methods And Results: QTd was calculated and plasma troponin T (TnT) level was measured and rest perfusion imaging with Tc-99m sestamibi was performed in 62 patients admitted with chest pain at rest. All patients had a follow-up during one month in order to assess cardiac events.

Effect of homocysteine-lowering therapy on vascular endothelial function and exercise performance in coronary patients with hyperhomocysteinaemia.

Objective: This study was performed to determine the effect of homocysteine-lowering therapy (HLT) on endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDD) and exercise performance in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods And Results: Among the patients who were on the waiting list for coronary intervention, 26 male patients (plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels > 15 micromol/l) who had a focal stenosis of at least 70% in the left anterior descending artery were included in the study. The patients were matched to receive HLT (n = 15; 0.