Low-dose thrombolytic therapy versus unfractionated heparin in patients with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism.

Background: Patients with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism (PE) who have acute right ventricular dysfunction and myocardial injury without overt hemodynamic compromise may be candidates for thrombolytic therapy (TT). In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of low-dose prolonged TT and unfractionated heparin (UFH) in intermediate-high risk PE patients.

Methods: This study enrolled 83 (female: 45 [54.

High-density Mapping Catheter (Advisor™ HD Grid) Usage for Intra-atrial Reentrant Tachycardia Ablation in Children and Young Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: We aimed to share our experience of intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia mapping and ablation with a new grid-style multielectrode high-density mapping catheter (Advisor™ HD Grid) in pediatric and young adult patients with operated congenital heart disease.

Methods: All patients with operated congenital heart disease and intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia mapping with the new grid-style catheter between October 2019 and December 2022 were included (group 1), and the results were compared to those patients who operated with conventional catheter methods before this period (group 2). All procedures were performed using the EnSite Precision 3D mapping system (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill, USA) with a limited fluoroscopy approach.

Relationship between myocardial bridging and fatal ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the HCM-MB study.

Background: Myocardial bridging (MB) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are associated with the risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). The goal of the study was to determine the relationship between MB and fatal VAs in HCM patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD).

Methods: A total of 108 HCM patients (mean age: 46.

Short and Long-Term Prognostic Significance of Galectin-3 in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

This study evaluated the short and long-term prognostic value of galectin-3 in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients (n = 143) were admitted with STEMI and followed up for 2 years. The study population was divided into high and low galectin-3 groups based on the admission median value of serum galectin-3.

Acute effects of inhaled iloprost on intracardiac conduction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe, life-threatening disorder despite the availability of specific drug therapy. A lack of endogenous prostacyclin secondary to downregulation of prostacyclin synthase in PAH may contribute to vascular pathologies. Therefore, prostacyclin and its analogs including inhaled iloprost may decrease pulmonary arterial pressure and ventricular pressure.

Assessment of the relationship between endocan and obstructive sleep apnea severity.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and endothelial dysfunction are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and the development of atherosclerosis. Endocan is a marker of endothelial dysfunction, while obstructive sleep apnea is one of the causes of endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the relationship between endocan and obstructive sleep apnea severity.

An unusual treatment of coronary injury following radiofrequency ablation in a 5-year-old child: Systemic steroid usage.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) procedure is performed for many tachyarrhythmias. We performed successful RFCA in a 5-year-old child for supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Acute circumflex artery (CxA) occlusion occurred due to RFCA.

The prognostic value of elevated matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A two-year prospective study.

Introduction: Increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are well established; however, existing data on MMP-9 values as a prognostic marker after STEMI are limited and have been conflicting.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of MMP-9 in predicting two-year adverse cardiovascular events in patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after STEMI.

Methods: In this prospective study, 204 patients with STEMI undergoing PCI were included.

Visfatin levels are increased in patients with resistant hypertension and are correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation of serum visfatin levels with resistant hypertension (RHT).

Patients And Methods: Patients who had undergone ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) during the outpatient controls were prospectively recruited. Seventy-one patients with RHT and 94 patients with controlled hypertension (CHT) were included in the study.

Elective percutaneous coronary intervention leads to significant changes in serum resistin, leptin, and adiponectin levels regardless of periprocedural myocardial injury: an observational study.

Objective: Bioactive roles of adipokines in coronary atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndromes have been demonstrated previously. However, there is a lack of data regarding the relationship between serum adipokines and periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) following elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between serum adipokines and PMI related to elective PCI.

Comparison of Edwards Sapien XT versus Lotus Valve Devices in Terms of Electrophysiological Study Parameters in Patients Undergoing TAVI.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the electrocardiographic and electrophysiological parameters of conduction abnormalities in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to severe aortic valve stenosis.

Methods: The study included 55 patients who underwent TAVI using either the Boston Scientific Lotus (n:25) (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) or Edwards Sapien XT (n:30) (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) prostheses. An electrophysiological study (EPS) was performed in the catheterization room immediately before the initial balloon valvuloplasty and immediately after prosthesis implantation.

Red cell distribution width and end-organ damage in patients with systo-diastolic hypertension.

Introduction: Both end-organ damage and high red cell distribution width (RDW) values are associated with adverse cardiovascular events, inflammatory status, and neurohumoral activation in hypertensive disease and in the general population. In this study, we investigated the relationship between RDW and end-organ damage in hypertensive patients.

Material And Methods: The 446 systo-diastolic hypertensive patients included in the study received 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Rise of serum troponin levels following uncomplicated elective percutaneous coronary interventions in patients without clinical and procedural signs suggestive of myocardial necrosis.

Introduction: The new definition of periprocedural myocardial infarction (type 4a MI) excludes patients without angina and electrocardiographic or echocardiographic changes suggestive of myocardial ischemia even though significant serum troponin elevations occur following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Aim: To evaluate the incidence and predictors of serum troponin rise following elective PCI in patients without clinical and procedural signs suggestive of myocardial necrosis by using a high-sensitivite troponin assay (hsTnT).

Material And Methods: Three hundred and four patients (mean age: 60.

The prognostic value of admission red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of variation in the size of circulating red blood cells. Recent studies have reported a strong independent relation between elevated RDW and short- and long-term prognosis in various disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between admission RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR) and in-hospital and long-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Comparison of periprocedural and long term outcomes of proximal versus distal cerebral protection method during carotid artery stenting.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the periprocedural and one-year outcomes of two different cerebral protection systems used during carotid artery stenting (CAS).

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 90 consecutive patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent CAS with a proximal flow blockage protection system (mean age 69.7 ± 8) or distal protection with a filter (mean age 70.

Assessment of Mean Platelet Volume in Patients with Resistant Hypertension, Controlled Hypertension and Normotensives.

Objective: Patients with resistant hypertension are at increased risk for cardiovascular events. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an accepted biomarker of platelet activation and considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether MPV levels are higher in resistant hypertensive (RHTN) patients than in controlled hypertensive (CHTN) patients and healthy normotensive controls.

Antiplatelet resistance and the role of associated variables in stable patients treated with stenting.

Introduction: Nowadays, clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) have become routinely applied therapies in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with stenting.

Aim: Numerous variables can interfere with antiplatelet responsiveness, so we aimed to investigate the role of different variables associated with ASA or clopidogrel resistance in stable coronary artery disease.

Material And Methods: A total of 207 patients undergoing elective PCI were included in the analysis.

Impact of increased admission lipid levels on periprocedural myocardial injury following an elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) is known to be a predictor of in-hospital cardiac events and long-term adverse outcomes following a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to evaluate the correlation between preprocedural serum lipid levels and PMI in patients undergoing elective PCI.

Patients And Methods: The final study group included 195 patients (60.

Transradial catheterization may decrease the radial artery luminal diameter and impair the vasodilatation response in the access site at late term: an observational study.

The present study aimed to evaluate the late-term changes in radial artery luminal diameter (RAD) and vasodilatation response following transradial catheterization (TRC). TRC-inducing trauma to radial artery intima may trigger chronic phase vascular changes and lead to anatomical and functional impairment. There is controversial data whether the impairment persists or repairs later.

Long-term prognostic value of admission haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: Many studies have reported the diagnostic and prognostic value of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, the short- and long-term prognostic value of HbA1c level in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial.

Aim: To investigate whether admission HbA1c level has a prognostic value for in-hospital, short-, and long-term cardiovascular (CV) mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Cerebral microemboli and neurocognitive change after carotid artery stenting with different embolic protection devices.

Objectives: Proximal cerebral protection devices have been developed as an alternative to filter protection devices for reducing neurological complications during carotid artery stenting (CAS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of silent cerebral embolism after CAS using different cerebral embolic protection devices and the impact of silent cerebral embolism on neurocognitive function.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients who underwent CAS were enrolled.

Assessment of the relationship between nondipping phenomenon and microvolt T-wave alternans.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) as a marker of myocardial electrical instability in normotensive and hypertensive individuals with either nondipper or dipper-type circadian rhythm of blood pressure.

Materials And Methods: The study group included a total of 181 patients: 118 hypertensive patients and 63 normotensive healthy volunteers [mean age 46 ± 8; 34 men (54%)]. The patients with hypertension were divided into two groups on the basis of their results of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: 61 patients with dipper hypertension [mean age 46 ± 6; 32 men (52.

The assessment of relationship between fragmented QRS complex and left ventricular wall motion score index in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) has been found to be associated with high mortality and arrhythmic events in acute coronary syndromes. Regional systolic function using wall motion score index (WMSI) is an alternative to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for the assessment of left ventricular systolic function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the presence of fQRS on admission electrocardiogram (ECG) and WMSI in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent primary coronary intervention (PCI).

Predictive value of a fragmented QRS complex in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of fragmented QRS (fQRS) on electrocardiography (ECG) patients with acute ST-segment elevation in myocardial infarction (STEMI), who are undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 414 consecutive STEMI patients (mean age of 55.2 ± 12.