Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Findings on Electrocardiogram Predict Impaired Left Atrial Functions.

Objective: Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG LVH) holds significant clinical importance in cardiovascular disease. Pathological processes that lead to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) also induce remodeling and impair left atrial (LA) function. Atrial function can be assessed using speckle-tracking echocardiography.

PFAS and their association with the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the major causes of death globally. In addition to traditional risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyles (smoking, obesity, sedentary) and genetics, common environmental exposures, including persistent environmental contaminants, may also influence CVD risk. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of highly fluorinated chemicals used in household consumer and industrial products known to persist in our environment for years, causing health concerns that are now linked to endocrine disruptions and related outcomes in women, including interference of the cardiovascular and reproductive systems.

Monocyte to HDL ratio may predict thrombosis in patients with mechanical mitral and aortic valve prosthesis.

Increased inflammatory biomarkers have been reported in prosthetic heart valve thrombosis (PHVT). Monocyte to HDL ratio (MHR) and albumin to CRP levels (CAR) are two biomarkers used widely for systemic inflammation but there is a lack of data on prosthetic heart valves. This study aimed to find out the potential predictive value of MHR and CAR for PHVT.

Kinesiophobia, physical performance, and health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Kinesiophobia is an important risk factor for physical activity and exercise restrictions. It is important to assess kinesiophobia and identify high-risk patients to help prevent sedentary behaviour and increase exercise participation among cardiac patients.

Aim: To evaluate kinesiophobia and its association with physical performance, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), patients' limitations and symptoms, and disease history in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Strain Echocardiographic Evaluation of Myocardial Involvement in Patients with Continuing Chest Pain after COVID-19 Infection.

Background: A new clinical manifestation called post or long coronavirus disease (p/l COVID) has walked into our lives after the acute COVID-19 phase. P/l COVID may lead to myocardial injury with subsequent cardiac problems. Diagnosing these patients quickly and simply has become more important due to the increasing number of patients with p/l COVID.

The Clinical Value of the Predicting Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Subsequent Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Score in Predicting Long-Term Major Adverse Cardiovascular And Cerebrovascular Events and Major Bleeding in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The PRECISE-DAPT (predicting bleeding complications in patients undergoing stent implantation and subsequent dual antiplatelet therapy) score is recommended for predicting out-of-hospital bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, its long-term prediction remains unclear. We investigated the performance of this score in predicting long-term outcomes in patients with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Accuracy of Multi-organ Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Acute Kidney Injury Etiologies.

This study investigated the diagnostic performance of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for acute kidney injury (AKI) etiological subgroups in emergency department (ED) patients. Multi-organ POCUS including kidney, bladder, inferior vena cava (IVC), lung and cardiac examinations were used to identify five AKI subgroups: hypovolemia, reduced cardiac output, systemic vasodilatation and renal vasomodulation, renal and post-renal. One hundred sixty-five AKI patients were included in the study.

Association between Intermountain Risk Score and long-term mortality with the transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure.

Background: Since its first introduction, the spectrum and frequency of use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have increased throughout the world. Therefore, it is crucial to determine which patients are at high mortality risk with TAVI. The Intermountain Risk Score (IMRS) is a score calculated from laboratory parameters.

Platelet distribution width in young patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

Objective: Platelet distribution width (PDW) has been reported in a wide range of pathological settings. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between PDW and lower extremity chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) by comparing the levels of PDW and other parameters derived from complete blood count (CBC) tests in young individuals with or without lower extremity CVI.

Methods: This prospective clinical study was conducted between January 2020 and December 2020.

Evaluation of Bleeding Rate and Time in Therapeutic Range in Patients Using Warfarin Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Warfarin Treatment in COVID-19.

The treatment process of patients using warfarin is expected to be hindered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore we investigated whether the time in therapeutic range (TTR) and bleeding complications were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. 355 patients using warfarin were included between March 2019 to March 2021.

Identification of Circulating Diagnostic Biomarkers for Coronary Microvascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women Using Machine-Learning Techniques.

Coronary microvascular disease (CMD) is a common form of heart disease in postmenopausal women. It is not due to plaque formation but dysfunction of microvessels that feed the heart muscle. The majority of the patients do not receive a proper diagnosis, are discharged prematurely and must go back to the hospital with persistent symptoms.

Is coronary artery tortuosity a predisposing factor for drug-eluting stent restenosis?

Background: Coronary artery tortuosity (CAT) is a relatively common finding on coronary angiography and may be associated with impaired left ventricular relaxation and coronary ischemia However, the significance of CAT remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether the severity of tortuosity in the targeted coronary segment is a predictor of stent restenosis.

Methods: The study included a total of 637 patients undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation due to stable or unstable angina and who had no native coronary artery stenosis on their last coronary angiogram.

Association between lower extremity venous insufficiency and duration of atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Physiologic studies have shown that atrium has an active role in venous blood return from lower extremity. In this context we investigated the association between AF and chronic venous disease (CVD).

Methods: In this observational study we included 392 AF patients which were divided into two groups (chronic AF, 218 (56%)) and non-chronic.

Association of Inflammatory Markers with Multisite Artery Disease in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Introduction: Chronic inflammation plays a considerable role in atherosclerosis and may occur simultaneously in different arteries. This condition is referred to as multisite arterial disease (MSAD). We aimed to investigate the association between inflammatory markers and MSAD.

Analysis of thrombophilic gene mutations in coronary artery ectasia.

Objective: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as localized or diffuse dilatation in the coronary artery lumen of at least 1.5 times the diameter of adjacent healthy reference segments. The etiology of CAE is still unknown, but the most likely cause is atherosclerosis.

The effect of successful parathyroid surgery on left ventricle function in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism evaluated with strain echocardiography.

Background: Hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is the most common cause of hypercalcemia in outpatients. It is characterized by many cardiac complications including chronic cardiac arrhythmia, hypertrophy, and diastolic insufficiency. However, there are insufficient data about the cardiac systolic function in PHP.

Correlation Between the Severity of Coronary Artery Ectasia and Monocyte/Lymphocyte, Platelet/Lymphocyte, and HDL/LDL Ratios.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the monocyte/lymphocyte, platelet/lymphocyte, and HDL/LDL ratios as markers of the severity of coronary artery ectasia(CE).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Cardiology, Izmir Katip Celebi University and Balikesir University, Turkey, from January 2017 to October 2018.

Evaluation of subclinical myocardial dysfunction using speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To evaluate whether there is any difference between radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA), also termed ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and non-radiographic (nr-) axSpA, with respect to subclinial myocardial dysfunction using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional case control study. We included 72 patients with AS, 38 patients with nr-axSpA, and 56 age-matched healthy subjects.

Evaluation of early myocardial dysfunction with strain echocardiography in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Introduction: It is well known that chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHBV) can be associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma but it can also be associated with extra-hepatic effects, of which cardiac manifestations are the one of the least known. There is a limited amount of data about myocardial dysfunction in CHBV and insufficient data of strain echocardiography in CHBV. The aim of this study was to detect early myocardial dysfunction in CHBV using strain echocardiography.

The relationship between serum apelin levels and aortic dilatation in bicuspid aortic valve patients.

Objective: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart disease. The process of aortic dilatation is not completely clear in patients with the BAV. Apelin is a peptide found at high levels in vascular endothelial cells which has a role in vascular regulation and cardiovascular function.