The effect of body weight on left atrial function determined by longitudinal strain analysis in young adults.

Purpose: Obesity is a risk factor for various cardiovascular disorders. Left atrial (LA) function is vital for predicting adverse outcomes in many diseases. LA strain was recently proposed as a noninvasive and valuable parameter for LA functional evaluation.

Right Coronary Artery Originating from the Left: Do Not Miss the Diagnosis!

Objective: Left circumflex (LCx) artery originating from the right coronary arterial (RCA) system has been reported as the most common form of anomalous origination of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus (ACAOS). However, some studies claim that RCA originating from the left coronary sinus (LCS) is the most frequent form. The aim of this study was to determine the most common type of ACAOS in a single center.

[As cardioprotective and angiogenic biomarker, can ghrelin predict coronary collateral development and severity of coronary atherosclerosis?].

Objective: Ghrelin exerts protective effects on cardiovascular system by inhibiting progression of atherosclerosis, supression of vascular inflammation, and stimulating angiogenesis. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of serum ghrelin on coronary collateral development and SYNTAX score in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Methods: Total of 91 patients who had ≥90% stenosis in at least one major coronary artery were prospectively included in this cross-sectional, observational study.

Woven Coronary Artery Disease Successfully Managed with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A New Case Report.

Woven coronary artery is relatively rare and can be complicated in both acute and chronic phases. A few case reports have been published until now. Herein we report a case with right woven coronary artery managed with drug-eluted stent implantation without complication.

Comparison of three diuretic treatment strategies for patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: There are few prospective data available for establishing a standard diuretic administration regimen for patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of three regimens of furosemide administration in patients with ADHF with regard to diuresis, renal functions, and in-hospital outcomes.

Methods: A total of 43 patients who presented with ADHF were randomized into three groups: (a) continuous infusion (cIV) of 160 mg furosemide for 16 h/day (n = 15); (b) bolus injections (bI) of 80 mg furosemide twice a day (n = 14); (c) and administration of 160 mg furosemide plus hypertonic saline solution (HSS) as an infusion for 30 min once a day (n = 14).

The effect of statin treatment on P-wave characteristics and atrial conduction time.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of statin treatment on P-wave morphology, dispersion, and tissue Doppler imaging-derived atrial conduction time (PA-TDI), which are known to be predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: A total of 132 patients with guideline-directed statin indications but no clinical atrial tachyarrhythmias were studied. P-wave duration, P-wave dispersion, and P-wave amplitude on surface 12-lead electrocardiogram and PA-TDI were evaluated before and after three months of statin (either atrovastatin 10-40 mg/d or rosuvastatin 10-20 mg/d) treatment.

Dasatinib-induced pulmonary hypertension in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: case report.

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is a pathological condition determined as an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mmHg. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is precapillary PHT and a life-threatening disease group which consists of different etiologies with the same pathological and clinical findings, and which is characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. Dasatinib is a dual Src/Abl kinase inhibitor associated with higher affinity for BCR/ABL kinase than imatinib, and is used in the treatment of chronic myelocytic leukemia and Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

[The management of adult female patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment: single center experience and follow-up for 5 years].

Objectives: Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) occurs as the most advanced form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with congenital heart disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the management of ES patients, follow-up and specific PAH treatment applying and clinical outcomes during 5 years.

Study Design: During the period of the month between May 2008 and 2013 ES female patients were included in the study and followed an average for 5 years.

Endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+KDR+) and monocytes may provide the development of good coronary collaterals despite the vascular risk factors and extensive atherosclerosis.

Objective: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) have a regenerative role in the vascular system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate simultaneously the effects of EPC and inflammatory cells on the presence and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the grade of coronary collateral growth in patients with clinical suspicion of CAD.

Methods: This study has a cross-sectional and observational design.

Long-term clinical effects of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with coronary artery stent implantation.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the early and late effects of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on stent thrombosis and major adverse coronary events after coronary artery stent (CAS) implantation at a long-term follow-up period.

Methods: Forty-three patients (28 men, mean age 63+/-10 years) who underwent CAS implantation before MRI examination were included. MRI was performed on a 1.

Type IV dual left anterior descending artery associated with anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right coronary artery: a case report.

Dual left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) originating from the left main stem and the right coronary artery (RCA) (Type IV dual LAD) is a very rare coronary artery anomaly. Association of this anomaly with the anomalous origin of the circumflex artery from the RCA is a very rare occurrence. In this report, we describe a patient presenting with acute lateral wall myocardial infarction who subsequently was found to have this coronary anomaly.

Atrial flutter with 1:1 conduction in a 70-year-old man with hyperthyroidism.

Atrial flutter (AFL) is a rapid, regular atrial tachyarrhythmia that occurs most commonly in patients with underlying structural heart disease. AFL with 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) conduction is a rare occasion. We describe a 70-year-old male patient with hyperthyroidism in whom AFL was associated with 1:1 AV conduction.

Isolated right ventricular infarction due to occlusion of the right ventricular branch in the absence of percutaneous coronary intervention.

Isolated right ventricular myocardial infarction accounts for only 3% of all infarctions. It has previously been reported as a complication of percutaneous coronary intervention involving the right coronary artery secondary to occlusion of the right ventricular branch. In the present report, a patient is described in whom isolated right ventricular myocardial infarction developed due to occlusion of the right ventricular branch of the right coronary artery in the absence of percutaneous intervention.

Intracoronary thrombus aspiration through a guiding catheter in a case with stent thrombosis.

A 50-year-old male with a history of inferior myocardial infarction and stent implantation to the right coronary artery 20 days prior this admission presented with acute inferior myocardial re-infarction. Diagnostic right coronary angiography revealed a massive thrombus within the previously implanted stent. After manual aspiration through a guiding catheter, a large, fresh thrombus was removed.

Corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts in diabetic patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Objective: To evaluate corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and diabetes mellitus, a condition known to be associated with microvascular dysfunction.

Methods: Patients who underwent coronary angiography in Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between January 2000 and January 2005 were studied. Corrected TIMI frame count was calculated over the left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (Cx) and right coronary arteries (RCA) in 118 diabetic and 122 non-diabetic patients with normal coronary angiogram.

The optimal time of elective percutaneous coronary intervention for stable patients after ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: To find the optimal time (early: < or =3 days; late: >3 days) for revascularization in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in the subacute phase.

Methods: Ninety-nine STEMI patients who were admitted to Gazi University Faculty of Medicine between 2000 and 2004 were enrolled into this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to time from the beginning of symptoms to the percutaneous coronary intervention.

[Use of aspirin in diabetic patients].

Major cardiovascular events cause about 80% of the total mortality in diabetic patients. It has been shown that diabetic patients have hyperactive platelets. It may be expected that aspirin, through its antiplatelet action, could change the risk for vascular events in people with diabetes.

A relationship between echocardiographic subepicardial adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome.

Background: Visceral adipose tissue plays a central role in the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). Our study aimed to determine a relationship between MS and subepicardial adipose tissue (SAT), a component of visceral fat surrounding the heart and coronary vessels.

Methods: A total of 123 patients (54 +/- 10 years of age, 47 male patients) diagnosed with MS and 123 age- and gender-matched control subjects were evaluated echocardiographically.

Long term tirofiban infusion before percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with angiographically massive intracoronary thrombus.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of long term tirofiban infusion before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the angiographic results in the setting of visible intracoronary thrombus and compare this with conventional PCI performed without tirofiban.

Methods: Out of 2,835 PCI procedures performed in Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between 1999 and 2006, 156 (5.5%) patients with massive thrombus in whom PCI were applied, were included in this retrospective study.

Losartan improves heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence in heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence are known to be disturbed and associated with excess mortality in heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether losartan, when added on top of beta-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) therapy, could improve these indices in patients with systolic heart failure.

Methods And Results: Seventy-seven patients (mean age 60.