The impact of obesity on late patency of left internal mammary artery grafts.

Background: Arterial conduits having long-term patency rates have been increasingly used for bypass of coronary arteries although some risk factors for their occlusion such as recipient vessel size, older age, and hyperlipidaemia have been described. Obesity, on the other hand, has been well established as a coronary risk factor. However, the effects of obesity on patency of arterial conduits, especially the internal mammary artery, have not been studied previously.

Noninvasive evaluation of coronary artery bypass grafts and native coronary arteries: is 16-slice multidetector CT useful?

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy and limitations of 16-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the detection of significant ( > 50%) stenosis of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) and native coronary arteries.

Materials And Methods: One hundred two patients with 236 grafts were investigated by 16-slice MDCT. Native coronary arteries were also investigated.

A serious complication late after mitral valve replacement: left ventricular rupture with pseudoaneurysm.

We report a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm, an unusual complication of mitral valve replacement (MVR) in a 65-year-old man who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting and MVR surgery two years ago. The patient was referred to our clinics because of progressive exertional dyspnea and palpitations. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a large pseudoaneurysm of the posterolateral left ventricular wall and computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) demonstrated the location and the size of the pseudoaneurysm and its neck.

Association of aortic pressures with fasting plasma glucose in patients with and without impaired fasting glucose.

Background: Diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are associated with future cardiovascular disorders. Aortic pulse pressure (PP) and fractional pulse pressures (FPPs) are strong and independent indicators of the risk of coronary heart disease. These conditions have been reported to be associated with endothelial dysfunction.

Fine vs. coarse atrial fibrillation: which one is more risky?

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent arrhythmia, associated with morbidity and mortality. It is identified by two types on surface electrocardiogram as fine and coarse AF. We aimed to search the association of subtypes of AF with clinical parameters.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of significant coronary artery involvement in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Peripheral artery disease is a common condition, mainly associated with clinical cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with peripheral artery disease suffer from coronary artery disease-related complications. On the other hand, metabolic syndrome, as a constellation of specific risk factors, represents a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality.

Acquired cardiac hypertrophy with outflow tract obstruction in a patient with severe Takayasu arteritis.

Takayasu arteritis with coronary artery involvement is rare and its association with secondary cardiac hypertrophy with severe outflow tract obstruction is not common. We describe a case of Takayasu arteritis, diagnosed 10 years ago, whose coronary artery involvement and obstructive cardiac hypertrophy are ascertained after our investigations.

Metabolic syndrome negatively impacts early patency of saphenous vein grafts.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting has been performed for a long period utilizing saphenous vein grafts, the fate of which might be crucial to prognosis following the operation. Metabolic syndrome, on the other hand, has become an increasingly important part of cardiovascular practice. We examined whether there was any negative effect of metabolic syndrome on saphenous vein graft patency in a relatively short term (< or =5 years).

Level of awareness of on-treatment patients about prescribed statins.

Background: Statins are frequently prescribed drugs for patients with coronary heart disease according to evidence-based medicine. However, compliance with these agents has still been far from ideal, since they require long term, probably life long therapy. We conducted a survey on patients who were already on statin treatment and evaluated their level of awareness of prescribed statins.

Mean platelet volume and exercise stress test.

Background: Long-term moderate or strenuous physical activity is associated with a considerable reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However acute exercise leads to a transient activation of the thrombotic system. Healthy individuals can react this by increasing their fibrinolytic capacity acutely.

Left ventricular thrombosis is associated with increased mean platelet volume in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and sinus rhythm.

Objective: Dilated cardiomyopathy has been associated with left ventricular thrombosis, which leads to substantial morbidity and mortality as a site for peripheral emboli. There are some studies on patients with dilated cardiomyopathy showing altered haemostasis and platelet behaviour despite sinus rhythm. Mean platelet volume, which is the most accurate and simple estimate of platelet reactivity, may be associated with the development of left ventricular thrombosis.

Extrinsic left atrial compression in a patient with achalasia.

Left atrial compression by the esophagus, the stomach, or both is an uncommon but important cause of hemodynamic compromise. Achalasia is a disease of the esophagus with dilatation of the distal part and constriction of the lower oesophageal sphincter. Dilated esophagus is a rare cause of left atrial compression.