Lower Body Weight in Men, an Epidemiological Predictor of Enlarged Left Atrium in Sinus Rhythm Patients with Dilated Heart.

Background/aims: The source of thrombi in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy is not necessarily from the dilated left ventricle. Left atrium (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) might be in charge for relatively high rate of systemic embolizations in these patients. The main aim of our study was to identify epidemiological predictors in sinus rhythm patients with dilated heart for LA and LAA dilation and/or dysfunction.

Prevalence of the hospitalisation of mentally ill offenders in the Forensic Unit of the Clinic of Psychiatry in Pristina over a three-year period and long-term strategy implications for the management of the Forensic Mental Health System Service.

Background: As a new field in our country, forensic psychiatry needs strategies for management and rehabilitation programmes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatrically diagnosed inpatients who were hospitalised in the three years from January 2009 to December 2011 and the prevalence of such diagnoses. The specific objectives of this study were to use our results to identify rehabilitation programmes for the treatment of patients and to identify the specific training needs of mental-health professionals.

Relationship of left ventricular size to left atrial and left atrial appendage size in sinus rhythm patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Thromboembolic events are a frequent cause of mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. The aim of or study was to evaluate the relationship of left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) to left atrial (LA) size and left atrial appendage (LAA) size in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in sinus rhythm, as well as to determine the prevalence of thrombi in LV and LA /LAA.

Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study, conducted from December 2009 until December 2011.

Left ventricular and left atrial thrombi in sinus rhythm patients with dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy offers a favorable terrain for left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation; however, left artial appendage (LAA) may be an additional source of thrombi in patients with dilated heart. The main objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of LV and LAA thrombi in patients with chronic ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy in sinus rhythm, as well as to reveal echocardiographic predictors for thrombus formation.

Methods: The study included 57 patients with chronic dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy in sinus rhythm, who were not under oral anticoagulation therapy.

Prevalence of left chamber cardiac thrombi in patients with dilated left ventricle at sinus rhythm: the role of transesophageal echocardiography.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) may be a source of thrombi in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy at sinus rhythm. The objectives of our study were to assess the prevalence of intracardiac left chamber thrombus and/or spontaneous echo contrast and to identify clinical and echocardiographic predictors for left ventricle (LV), left atrium (LA), and/or LAA thrombus formation, particularly as regard to LV, LA, and LAA size, in heart failure patients at sinus rhythm.

Methods: We included 45 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy of ischemic or idiopathic origin with mild to moderate systolic dysfunction, who were at sinus rhythm and without anticoagulation therapy.