An Approach to Non-left Main Bifurcation Lesions: A Contemporary Review.

Bifurcated anatomical locations in the arterial tree, such as coronary artery bifurcations, are prone to develop obstructive atherosclerotic lesions due to the pro-atherogenic low wall shear stress. The percutaneous treatment of bifurcation lesions is among the most challenging complex coronary interventions, including different multistep stenting strategies. Even though provisional side branch (SB) stenting is recommended as the primary approach in most cases, the debate continues between provisional SB and upfront two-stent strategies, particularly in complex bifurcations consisting of a significantly diseased SB that supplies a crucial myocardial territory.

Is there a relationship between heart rate recovery and blood pressure in white coat hypertension?

Aim    Increasing evidence suggests that autonomic dysfunction may be involved in the etiology of white coat hypertension (WCH). The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac autonomic function by using heart rate recovery (HRR) indices in patients with WCH classified according to their circadian rhythm type of blood pressure (BP).Material and methods    This cross-sectional study included 120 participants over the age of 18 yrs, including 50 patients diagnosed with WCH and 70 healthy controls with normal in- and out-of-office BP and without any known disease.

Higher levels of TWEAK and matrix metalloproteinase-3 during the acute phase of myocardial infarction are associated with adverse left ventricular remodeling.

Introduction: It is known that the levels of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK/TNFSF12) increase after myocardial infarction (MI) and that it interacts with sCD163. It has also been argued that TWEAK can induce matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in macrophages.

Aim: To investigate the roles of TWEAK, sCD163, and MMPs in left ventricular (LV) adverse remodeling (AR) in the early post-MI period.

Noninvasive Investigation of the Presence and Extent of Coronary Artery Disease by the Evaluation of Fingertip-Reactive Hyperemia.

Objective: Fingertip-reactive hyperemia-peripheral artery tonometry (RH-PAT) is an emerging novel noninvasive method for evaluating endothelial function. We aimed to evaluate endothelial function with fingertip-reactive hyperemia by RH-PAT in symptomatic patients undergoing elective coronary angiography and to assess the relationship between the degree of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and the presence and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Subjects And Methods: We assessed 92 patients.

The impact of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure on left ventricular diastolic function and natriuretic peptide levels.

Objective: Although the efficacy and safety of left atrial (LA) appendage (LAA) closure in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have been well documented in randomized controlled trials and real-world experience, there are limited data in the literature about the impact of LAA closure on diastolic functions. The study aimed to examine the impact of LAA closure on diastolic function and natriuretic peptide levels in patients with AF.

Patients And Methods: Twelve non-valvular AF patients with high risk for developing cardioembolic stroke and contraindications to warfarin underwent LAA occlusion with the WATCHMAN device (Atritech Inc.