A Novel Score to Predict One-Year Mortality after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Naples Prognostic Score.

: Aortic stenosis (AS) is a widespread valvular disease in developed countries, primarily among the elderly. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a viable alternative to aortic valve surgery for patients with severe AS who are deemed a high surgical risk or for whom the AS is found to be inoperable. Predicting outcomes after TAVR is essential.

The Predictive Value of R Wave Peak Time to Detect Thrombus Burden in St-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Tertiary Medical Center.

Patients with higher thrombus burden have higher procedural complications and more long-term adverse cardiac events. Detecting patients with high thrombus burden (HTB) before coronary intervention could help avoid procedural complications. The research aimed to analyze the R wave peak time (RWPT) on the electrocardiogram to predict thrombus burden before coronary angiography in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

The association between CHADS-VASc score and aortic valve sclerosis.

Background: Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation is generally managed with the CHADS-VASc score. Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is a focal thickening of the aortic valve without a restriction of motion. AVS is related to several cardiovascular risk factors.

Effect of frailty on major bleeding in octogenarian patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: There has been an increase in the number of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures performed in octogenarian patients due to increased life expectancy and developments in modern medicine. Frailty is associated with the aging process, gradual loss of multiple body functions, and poor health outcomes. We examined the association between frailty and major bleeding in octogenarian patients undergoing PCI.

The relationship between the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio and prognosis in patients with transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objective: Aortic valve stenosis is a common valve disease in developed countries where the elderly population is high. Aortic valve stenosis is not a simple calcification; it is a dynamic process in which uric acid plays a serious role. We investigated the role of the serum uric acid/creatinine (SUA/Cr) ratio, which is an indicator of uric acid level independent of renal function, in determining the prognosis in patients who had undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Prognostic Nutritional Index as a Novel Predictor of In-Stent Restenosis: A Retrospective Study.

: In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a major problem in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is a nutritional status score used in the literature to determine the prognosis of coronary artery disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of preprocedural PNI values on the risk of ISR in patients with stable coronary artery disease who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

Evaluation of Echocardiographic Epicardial Fat Thickness as a Sign of Cardiovascular Risk in Positive Exercise Test Patients.

Background: The association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and positive exercise test results for the diagnosis of coronary artery diseases (CAD) has yet to be evaluated. This study assessed the predictive value of EFT for CAD on the angiographs of patients with positive exercise tests.

Methods: A total of 91 subjects were chosen consecutively from stable angina pectoris patients who were referred for coronary angiography due to a positive exercise test result.

Relationship between red cell distribution width levels and severity of coronary artery ectasia.

Objective: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as abnormal dilatation of coronary arteries. Inflammation is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of CAE. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is also an inflammatory marker.

Total pulmonary vein diameter is a strong predictor of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective: Recent studies have shown that the pulmonary veins are important in atrial fibrillation (AF). This study evaluated the relationship between total pulmonary vein diameter and postoperative AF in on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients.

Patients And Methods: Our study enrolled 149 patients undergoing on-pump CABG.

Screening of coronary artery anomalies in 11,707 patients reveals that the radial approach is safe for cannulating coronary anomalies.

Objective: This study evaluated the transradial approach for its ability to diagnose coronary artery anomalies, its requirement for catheter usage, the number of images obtained and fluoroscopy time required.

Patients And Methods: A total of 11,707 patients' coronary angiograph reports from January 2009 to January 2016 were evaluated with 179 patients identified as having coronary artery anomalies. Subsequent analyses compared patients' access sites with multiple angiographic parameters, including the number of images obtained, catheters used, and the fluoroscopy time required.

Effect of Weight Loss Induced by Intragastric Balloon Therapy on Cardiac Function in Morbidly Obese Individuals: A Pilot Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of intragastric balloon therapy on left ventricular function and left ventricular mass in a cohort of morbidly obese patients.

Subjects And Methods: A prospective trial was performed in a cohort of 17 class II and class III morbidly obese individuals. The intragastric balloon was retained in the stomach for an average of 6 months.

The protective effect of single dose tadalafil in contrast-induced nephropathy: an experimental study.

Objective: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is one of the most common causes of acute renal failure in hospitalized patients. The direct toxic effect of contrast media; ischemic damage caused by reactive oxygen species; increased perivascular hydrostatic pressure; high viscosity and changes in the activity of vasoactive substances play important roles in the pathogenesis. Tadalafil inhibits the phosphodiesterase enzyme which destroys nitric oxide.

Exploiting genetic diversity from landraces in wheat breeding for adaptation to climate change.

Climate change has generated unpredictability in the timing and amount of rain, as well as extreme heat and cold spells that have affected grain yields worldwide and threaten food security. Sources of specific adaptation related to drought and heat, as well as associated breeding of genetic traits, will contribute to maintaining grain yields in dry and warm years. Increased crop photosynthesis and biomass have been achieved particularly through disease resistance and healthy leaves.

The effect of slow coronary flow on right and left ventricular performance.

Objective: To evaluate left and right ventricular functions using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) and myocardial performance index (MPI) methods in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF) and to determine the relationship between these parameters and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count in SCF patients.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-five patients (20 males and 15 females) with SCF who underwent coronary angiography and 35 age- and sex-matched controls (14 males and 21 females) without SCF who underwent elective coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) functions were examined using conventional echocardiography and TDE.

Predictors of mortality in patients with prosthetic valve infective endocarditis: a nation-wide multicenter study.

Background: Our aim was to investigate the clinical and prognostic features of the patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) in a multicenter nation-wide study.

Methods: The present nation-wide study consisted of 75 consecutive patients with PVE treated at 13 major hospitals in Turkey from 2005 to 2012.

Results: The patients who died during follow-up were significantly older than the survivors and had higher C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, poor NYHA functional class and large vegetations.