Early Systolic Lengthening Is Associated with SYNTAX Score in Patients with Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Early systolic lengthening is a echocardiographic strain parameter previously used to determine the lesion severity in patients with stable coronary artery disease. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between early systolic lengthening and anatomic SYNTAX score in troponin (-) and (+) groups among patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A total of 95 patients diagnosed with non-ST-elevation ACS were included in the prospective, non-randomized, single-center study.

Relationship between histopathological features of aspirated thrombi and long-term left ventricular function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: This study was an investigation of the severity of inflammation (SOI) in aspirated material and thrombus age to examine any association with pre-discharge and long-term left ventricular (LV) function after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: The study group comprised 25 patients with STEMI from whom an occlusive thrombus was aspirated from the infarct-related artery with a 7-F catheter. The SOI in the aspirate was determined according to the mean leukocyte count in 5 high-power magnification fields and graded as mild in the presence of ≤100 leukocytes per field or significant if there were >100 leukocytes per field.

Red Cell Distribution Width with CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score is associated with Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: The use of the CHA2DS2-VASc scoring system and red cell distribution width (RDW) as post-op Atrial Fibrillation (POAF) predictors may be promising for the identification of patients that are at a higher risk of POAF.

Methods: A total of 358 patients (57 patients with POAF, and 301 patients with non-POAF ) with sinus rhythm undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation were included in the study retrospectively. Preoperative RDW levels and electrocardiograms with sinus rhythm were recorded.

Red cell distribution width and its relationship with global longitudinal strain in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a study using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measurement of size variability of the red blood cells and has been shown to be a powerful predictor of prognosis in heart failure (HF). Recently, global longitudinal strain (GLS) emerged as a more accurate marker of left ventricular (LV) systolic function.

Aim: We aimed to assess the relationship between RDW and standard echocardiographic parameters and LV global strain measured by two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with HF with reduced EF (HFrEF).

SYNTAX score predicts postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing on-pump isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia following coronary artery by-pass graft surgery (CABG). The value of SYNTAX score to predict postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) has not been clearly addressed. We aimed to evaluate this relationship in patients undergoing isolated CABG.

Severe biventricular hypertrophy mimicking infiltrative cardiomyopathy in old man with pulmonary stenosis and systemic hypertension.

Hypertrophic biventricular cardiomyopathy is a rare finding and generally caused by systemic infiltrative diseases. Its association with pulmonary stenosis in same patient is even rarer. We report a case report of male patient with biventricular hypertrophy coexisting with pulmonary valve stenosis and systemic hypertension.

Prediction of elevated left ventricular filling pressures in patients with preserved ejection fraction using longitudinal deformation indices of the left ventricle.

Aims: Estimation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures is a clinical challenge in patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF). In the present study, we investigated whether LV and atrial longitudinal strain and strain rate (SR) parameters derived by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) could be used to predict invasively measured LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in this patient population.

Methods And Results: LVEDP was measured before coronary angiography was performed in 65 patients with preserved EF (≥50%) referred to elective cardiac catheterization; besides, patients enrolled underwent comprehensive echocardiographic examination before the procedure.

Determinants of Atrial Electromechanical Delay in Patients with Functional Mitral Regurgitation and Non-ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Atrial conduction time has important hemodynamic effects on ventricular filling and is accepted as a predictor of atrial fibrillation. In this study we assessed atrial conduction time in patients with non ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCMP) and functional mitral regurgitation (MR) and aimed to determine factors predicting atrial conduction time prolongation.

Methods: Sixty five patients with non ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy who have moderate to severe MR and 60 control subjects were included in the study.

Infective endocarditis and complications; a single center experience.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the microbiological characteristics and complications of infective endocarditis (IE) in 119 patients treated in our center for IE, diagnosed by modified Duke criteria.

Study Design: The archive records of 119 patients (82 [69%] males; 37 [31%] females; mean age 39 ± 16 years) with a definite diagnosis of IE between January 1997 and November 2004 were systematically reviewed for clinical and microbiological properties and complications.

Results: The most common complaint of the patients was fever and malaise (102 patients, 85.

Thrombus Formation on the Tricuspid Valve After De Vega's Annuloplasty and Repair of Endocardial Cushion Defect.

Endocardial cushion defect (ECD) can be partial (with two distinct valves) or complete (only one atrioventricular valve), and surgical therapy is usually required. The optimal surgical technique is controversial but De Vega's annuloplasty is widely performed. Tricuspid valve thrombosis are rarely seen after surgery.

Relationship between left ventricular diastolic function and arterial stiffness in patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), one of the most common congenital cardiac abnormalities, is the result of abnormal aortic leaflet formation during valvulogenesis. Recent studies have reported BAV to be associated with abnormal aortic stiffness, which has a negative impact on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. The study aim was to investigate the relationship between LV diastolic function, as measured with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), and arterial stiffness.

Left atrial expansion index is an independent predictor of diastolic dysfunction in patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function: a three dimensional echocardiography study.

In the absence of mitral valve disease left atrial (LA) volume is a marker of diastolic dysfunction and its severity. This study investigated the relationship between left ventricular (LV) end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and LA volumes and phasic atrial functions detected by real-time full volume three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE), in a patient population with preserved LV systolic function. Seventy-two (39 female and 33 male; mean age 56.

Atrial longitudinal strain parameters predict left atrial reverse remodeling after mitral valve surgery: a speckle tracking echocardiography study.

Volume overload in chronic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) causes left atrial (LA) remodeling. Volume overload generally diminishes after mitral valve surgery and LA size and shape are expected to recover. The recovery of LA functions named as reverse remodeling is said to be related with prognosis and mortality.

Effect of mitral valve repair versus replacement on left ventricular rotational deformation: a study with speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Radial and longitudinal movements of the heart do not fully reflect cardiac hemodynamics and physiology. Twist deformation of the heart is essential for adequate cardiac filling and stroke volume. The study aim was to examine the effects of mitral valve replacement or repair on left ventricular rotational parameters, evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography, in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR).

[Relationship between D-dimer and systemic embolism in patients with infective endocarditis].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of plasma D-dimer (DD) levels for predicting systemic embolism in patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

Study Design: A total of 42 patients (mean age: 46±16 years; 78% males) with IE were included. Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic findings of the patients were evaluated.

Relation of left atrial peak systolic strain with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and brain natriuretic peptide level in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: In patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), we investigated the relation of left atrial (LA) deformational parameters evaluated by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) with conventional echocardiographic diastolic dysfunction parameters and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level.

Methods: Ninety STEMI patients who were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 22 healthy control subjects were enrolled. STEMI patients had echocardiographic examination 48 hours after the PCI procedure and venous blood samples were drawn simultaneously.

Determinants of high sensitivity troponin T concentration in chronic stable patients with heart failure: Ischemic heart failure versus non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cardiac troponin T is a marker of myocardial injury, especially when measured by means of the high-sensitivity assay (hs-cTnT). The echocardiographic and clinical predictors of hs-cTnT may be different in ischemic heart failure (IHF) and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (19 female, 41 male; mean age 56.

Multimodality imaging of a giant caseous calcification of the mitral annulus.

We present an unusual case of giant caseous calcification of the mitral annulus in a 58-year-old female patient. The mass was detected during echocardiography and was defined as a big, round echodense lesion attached to the posterior mitral ring annulus. The patient was further evaluated with a full spectrum of cardiac noninvasive imaging modalities and the diagnosis was confirmed.

Prognostic significance of the absence of normal septal Q waves before aortic valve replacement.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of absence of septal Q waves in patients scheduled for aortic valve replacement.

Material And Methods: Sixty-one patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis were retrospectively evaluated. Septal Q waves were defined as Q waves of<2mm in amplitude and<40ms in width and absence of septal Q waves was defined as simultaneous loss of Q waves from at least three of the leads I, aVL, V5 and V6.

Extent of left ventricular hypertrophy is related to interatrial conduction delay in hypertensive patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between left ventricular mass (LVM) and interatrial conduction delay (CD) measured by tissue Doppler echocardiography. In enrolled 66 hypertensive patients, positive correlation between interatrial CD and LVM index (r = 0.32) was detected.

Severe obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurring secondary to mitochondrial disease.

Mitochondrial disorders have been recognized as important secondary causes of cardiomyopathies. Differentiation of these cases from primary cardiomyopathies is important since the pathogenesis, accompanying systemic manifestations, and prognosis may be different. The typical cardiac manifestation of mitochondrial disorders is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.