A Potential Relationship Between HALP Score and In-Hospital Mortality in Acute Heart Failure.

Introduction: Acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with a dismal prognosis that is even poorer than the majority of cancer types. Therefore, clinical indicators that can aid in determining the prognosis of heart failure are of interest. Multiple risk prediction tools with varying sensitivity and specificities have been introduced before.

Effect of Coronary Collateral Supply on Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain after Recanalization of Chronic Total Occlusion.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to chronic total occlusion (CTO) is still a subject of debate. The primary goal of revascularization is to provide symptomatic relief and enhance left ventricular (LV) functions. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is proven to be more sensitive than the ejection fraction (EF), especially for subtle ischemic changes.

Atherogenic Index of Plasma Predicts Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris.

Aims: Chronic coronary syndrome is associated with several risk factors, such as dyslipidemia and hypertension. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been demonstrated to be a biochemical risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to determine whether the AIP is an effective parameter for estimating obstructive CAD.

An Unconventional Approach to Overcome the Extreme Angulation of LAD: A Challenging Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

We herein describe a challenging acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) case. The patient was hemodynamically unstable during the procedure and the extremely angulated culprit vessel hindered our repeated attempts of wiring. Procedural complexity and risks were increased not only due to angulation but also the bifurcational nature of the culprit lesion.

Determining Subclinical Cardiovascular and Cardiac Diseases in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: The aims of the present study were to determine the subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial dysfunction in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, who were asymptomatic for cardiac disease.

Methods: A total of 61 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients were enrolled in the study. The 10-year probability of cardiovascular events was evaluated according to the pooled cohort equation risk score (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease).

Challenging Intervention to Restenosis of Right Coronary Ostial Stent Excessively Overhanging to the Aorta: A Case Report and Brief Review of Literature.

Intervention of aorto-ostial stent restenosis is challenging due to coronary anatomical variations, possible non-selective ostial engagements, and difficulties crossing the central lumen. Aorto-ostial stent restenosis is intervened through the central lumen or protruding side struts using various techniques. These techniques are often difficult and complex such as double wire technique, balloon-assisted technique, snare technique, side-strut sequential ballooning technique, and guideline-facilitated side strut stenting technique.

Comparison of frequency of silent cerebral infarction as assessed by serum neuron specific enolase in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: .

Background: Cerebral infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) may clinically vary from being silent to catastrophic. Silent cerebral infarction (SCI) is the neuronal injury in the absence of clinically appearent stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) is suggested to be a valid surrogate biomarker that allows to detect recent neuronal injury.

Thrombotic Complication of COVID-19: A Case Report of Acute Saphenous Vein Graft Thrombosis in a Newly Diagnosed Patient.

A 63-year-old man with active COVID-19 infection and a history of coronary artery bypass grafting presented with acute thrombotic occlusion of saphenous venous graft which was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery. Initial antegrade approach, complicated by a small leakage in the distal left anterior descending artery, was later converted to a retrograde approach via occluded saphenous vein graft. After successful stenting, TIMI 3 flow was achieved.

Invasive validation of the left ventricular global longitudinal strain for estimating left ventricular filling pressure.

Purpose: An elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure is the main finding in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction, which is estimated with an algorithm using echocardiographic parameters recommended by the recent American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) guidelines. In this study, we sought to determine the efficacy of the LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) in predicting an elevated LV filling pressure.

Methods And Results: A total of 73 prospectively selected patients undergoing LV catheterization (mean age 63.

LA reservoir strain: a sensitive parameter for estimating LV filling pressure in patients with preserved EF.

An elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure is the main finding in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and LV filling pressure is estimated with an algorithm in the recent American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) guideline. In this study, we sought to determine the efficacy of LA global longitudinal strain to estimate elevated LV filling pressure. Seventy-one consecutive patients (mean age of 63.

Evaluation of the Impact of Ranolazine Treatment on Liver Function Tests in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver pathology in the developed world. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the impact of ranolazine on liver tests in patients with NAFLD and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Relationship between silent cerebral infarcts and quality of anticoagulation in patients with prosthetic mitral valves.

Objective: Although patients with prosthetic heart valves have an increased risk of clinically overt cerebrovascular events, evidence for the risk of silent cerebral infarction (SCI) is scarce. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is suggested to be a valid biomarker that allows for the quantification of the degree of neuronal injury. We aimed to assess whether NSE is elevated as a marker of recent SCI in patients with a prosthetic mitral valve.

Does the level of myocardial injury differ in primary angioplasty patients loaded first with clopidogrel and the ones with ticagrelor?

Objective: In daily clinical practice, we encounter ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients loaded with clopidogrel upon admission to primary angioplasty. These patients are loaded with ticagrelor, if there is no contraindication. This study aimed to compare the level of injury between STEMI patients who were first loaded with clopidogrel and the ones first loaded with ticagrelor.

Catheter-induced Multiple Non-proximal Coronary Spasm in a Patient Presenting with Myocardial Infarction.

Interventional cardiologists encounter a wide range of lesions that cannot be angiographically distinguished from fixed atherosclerotic obstructive disease. In this case report, we document vasospasm at multiple sites in the coronary territory in a patient presenting with acute coronary syndrome. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with typical chest pain lasting approximately 1 h.

Assessment of Myocardial Perfusion by Angiographic Methods in Tortuous Coronary Arteries.

The relationship between coronary tortuosity (CorT) and tissue-level myocardial perfusion is not clear. We investigated tissue perfusion in myocardial territories supplied by tortuous coronary arteries. Among patients who had undergone coronary angiography, patients with reported CorT, those with ≥1 coronary artery were included in the study group (100 patients).

Acute stunning effect of hemodialysis on myocardial performance: A three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic study.

The effects of acute changes during hemodialysis (HD) on the myocardium are not yet known. The invention of three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) has offered clinicians a new method to assess the movements of ventricular segments simultaneously in three spatial directions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of first weekly standard HD process on the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) global and regional myocardial function in patients with normal left ventricle ejection fraction using 3DSTE-derived indices.

[Labile hypertension in the clinic].

Labile hypertension is a common problem in daily clinical practice. It is defined as a rapid, temporary rise in blood pressure to above 140/90 mm Hg, most often due to emotional stress, followed by a return to normal values. In the clinical setting, it may be due to white coat hypertension, masked hypertension, pseudopheochromocytoma, orthostatic hypertension, or supine hypertension.

Relation of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure to Silent Cerebral Infarcts in Patients With Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure (HF) is a prothrombotic state with increased rate of thromboembolic events. Magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated increased rate of silent cerebral infarcts (SCI) in this patient group and SCIs were shown lead to dementia, cognitive decline, and depression. We aimed to show acute decompensated phase is associated with increased rate of recent SCI in reduced ejection fraction HF patients.

Late elimination of challenging idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias originating from left ventricular summit by anatomical ablation.

Ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) originating from left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT)/left ventricular summit (LVS) is challenging with considerable rate of failure. Recently, in a novel approach to ablation of these arrythmias, application of radiofrequency energy to anatomically opposite sites of presumed origin of arrythmia, has been associated with moderate procedure success. Although late elimination of PVCs that are persistent following an ablation procedure has been previously reported, this observation has not been studied sufficiently.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after certolizumab treatment in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening syndrome that may be triggered by hereditary factors, autoimmune and immunologic disorders, infectious diseases, malignancies and medications. Suspicion of the disease and early treatment is of paramount importance. Since the presentation of HLH with only skin involvement is rare, early diagnosis may be difficult.