Electrocardiographic variables associated with underlying Brugada syndrome or drug-induced Type 1 Brugada pattern in patients with slow/fast atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Background: The coexistence of clinical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and drug-induced type 1 Brugada pattern (DI-Type 1 BrP) has been previously reported. The present study was designed to determine the 12-lead ECG characteristics at baseline and during AVNRT and to identify a subset of 12-lead ECG variables of benefit associated with underlying Brugada syndrome (BrS)/DI-Type 1 BrP among patients with slow/fast AVNRT.

Methods: A total of 40 (11 numerical/29 categorical) 12-lead ECG parameters were analyzed and compared between patients with ( = 69) and without ( = 104) BrS/DI-Type1-BrP matched for age, female gender, body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction and comorbid conditions.

BCR-ABL1-Negative Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and Pulmonary Hypertension: A Prospective Long-Term Follow-up Study of the Impact of Pulmonary Hypertension on Survival.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of PHT in patients with BCR-ABL1-negative CMPN and to evaluate impact of PHT on survival during long-term follow-up.

Patients And Methods: A total of 122 patients with BCR-ABL1-negative CMPN underwent transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) evaluation at the beginning of study. Patients undergoing PHT on TTE examination were also evaluated by a pulmonologist.

[Lipid profile, familial hypercholesterolemia prevalence, and 2-year cardiovascular outcome assessment in acute coronary syndrome: Real-life data of a retrospective cohort].

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study based on real-life data was to evaluate the lipid profile and demographic, clinical, and laboratory features of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at a tertiary center and to examine the mortality rate.

Methods: Information including endpoint data for at least 2 years following the index ACS event was retrieved from hospital records. Patients without sufficient follow-up data were called by phone.

Coexistence of atrioventricular accessory pathways and drug-induced type 1 Brugada pattern.

Background: Atrial arrhythmias, particularly atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, can coexist with drug-induced type 1 Brugada electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern (DI-Type1-BrP). The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of DI-Type1-BrP in patients with atrioventricular accessory pathways (AV-APs) and to investigate the clinical, electrocardiographic, electrophysiologic, and genetic characteristics of these patients.

Methods: One-hundred twenty-four consecutive cases of AV-APs and 84 controls underwent an ajmaline challenge test to unmask DI-Type1-BrP.

PCSK 9 gain-of-function mutations (R496W and D374Y) and clinical cardiovascular characteristics in a cohort of Turkish patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Objective: The molecular basis of the mutations in the PCSK9 gene that produces familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in the Turkish population is unknown. This study was conducted to determine the presence of four different PCSK9 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations (F216L, R496W, S127R, and D374Y) in a group of patients with FH.

Methods: A total of 80 consecutive patients with FH (mean age: 56±11 years; mean maximum LDL cholesterol: 251±76 mg/dL) were included in the study.

High prevalence of concealed Brugada syndrome in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Background: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) may coexist with Brugada syndrome (BrS).

Objectives: The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of drug-induced type 1 Brugada ECG pattern (concealed BrS) in patients presenting with clinical spontaneous AVNRT and to investigate their electrocardiographic, electrophysiological, and genetic characteristics.

Methods: Ninety-six consecutive patients without any sign of BrS on baseline electrocardiogram undergoing electrophysiological study and ablation for symptomatic, drug-resistant AVNRT and 66 control subjects underwent an ajmaline challenge to unmask BrS.

[Long-term follow-up in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; 13-year experience of a university hospital lipid clinic].

Objectives: Familiar hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disease characterized with extremely high levels of cholesterol leading to premature atherosclerosis. In homozygous individuals (HoFH) cardiovascular events could develop in childhood. In this article, long-term clinical experience with adult HoFH patients who are followed in Department of Cardiology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine is presented.

Spontaneous atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias: the incidence, clinical, and electrophysiologic characteristics.

Introduction: Spontaneous or inducible atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) may coexist with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (IVAs). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of patients with spontaneous AVNRT among patients with IVAs.

Methods: Nine hundred eighty-seven consecutive patients with IVA (n = 398), patients with clinical and spontaneous AVNRT (n = 327), and patients with preexcitation syndrome (n = 262) were prospectively included in the study.

Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias: the incidence, clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics, and the predictors.

Introduction: Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias in the form of monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and/or ventricular tachycardia (VT) can cause tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TICMP). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics, and the predictors of TICMP in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

Methods: Study population consisted of 249 consecutive patients (148 F/101 M, 45 ± 20 y/o) with frequent PVCs and/or VT.

Transcriptional profiling of septal wall of the right ventricular outflow tract in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Frequent, monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and/or ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with structurally normal heart usually arise from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). The underlying arrhythmogenic substrate for the genesis of RVOT tachycardias is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the genome-wide transcriptional profiling of the septal wall of the RVOT in patients with RVOT tachycardia and control subjects.

Increased myocardial collagen turnover in patients with progressive cardiac conduction disease.

Background: Histopathologically, progressive cardiac conduction disease (PCCD) is characterized by progressive fibrosis and sclerodegenerative changes in the proximal and distal conduction system of the heart. Therefore, we sought to determine the serum levels of myocardial collagen turnover markers, extracellular matrix components, transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGFbeta(1)), and bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) in this population.

Methods: Study population included 20 patients (6 M/14 F, mean age 76 +/- 8 years) with acquired, permanent 2:1, or complete atrioventricular block and compared with age- and sex-matched, asymptomatic, healthy control subjects (n = 18, 6 M/12 F, mean age 75 +/- 7 years).

Levosimendan versus dobutamine in heart failure patients treated chronically with carvedilol.

Introduction: Although beta-blockers are highly effective in the treatment of heart failure (HF), many patients with HF receiving a beta-blocker continue to become decompensated and require hospitalization for worsening HF. Levosimendan and dobutamine are used to manage decompensated HF, but their comparative effects on left ventricular (LV) function in patients prescribed beta-blockers are unknown.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dobutamine and levosimendan on LV systolic and diastolic functions in chronic HF patients treated chronically with carvedilol.

Beta1 and beta2-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

Introduction: Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias commonly refer to ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/or frequent/monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVC) in patients with structurally normal heart. Activation of sympathetic tone has been shown to play an important role in the provocation and maintenance of these arrhythmias. We investigated whether common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the beta(1) and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors are associated with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

Angiographic analysis of the anatomic relation of coronary arteries to mitral and tricuspid annulus and implications for radiofrequency ablation.

Coronary artery (CA) narrowings and/or occlusions after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have been reported. The aim of this study was to describe the in vivo topographic anatomy of CAs and their anatomic relation to the mitral and tricuspid annulus using selective coronary angiography. Fifty consecutive patients undergoing RFA for narrow QRS complex tachycardia were included in the study.

Repolarization characteristics and incidence of Torsades de Pointes in patients with acquired complete atrioventricular block.

Objective: Torsades de pointes (TdP) during bradyarrhythmias have been reported to be associated with gender, degree of QT prolongation and duration of bradyarrhythmia. We sought to investigate the repolarization characteristics on 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and the incidence of TdP in patients with acquired complete atrioventricular block (CAVB).

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with acquired CAVB were included in the study.

Demonstration of ventricular myocardial extensions into the pulmonary artery and aorta beyond the ventriculo-arterial junction.

Background: A subgroup of outflow tract (OT) ventricular tachycardias (VT) originate from the aortic sinuses or the main stem of the pulmonary artery. The anatomic substrate for these tachycardias is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of ventricular myocardial extensions (VME) into the pulmonary artery (PA) and aorta (Ao) beyond the ventriculo-arterial junction (VAJ) and determine the anatomical and histological characteristics of these muscle extensions.

Effects of home-based cardiac exercise program on the exercise tolerance, serum lipid values and self-efficacy of coronary patients.

Background: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation improves exercise capacity and reduces cardiac risk factors. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a home-based cardiac exercise program (HBCEP) on exercise tolerance, serum lipids, and self-efficacy in coronary heart disease patients in Turkey. Self-efficacy theory provided the framework for this study's intervention.

[Antithrombotics (Antithrombin therapy)].

Thrombus on the atherosclerotic plaque is mainly responsible for acute coronary syndromes. Antithrombin therapy continues to be the mainstay of the therapy defeating thrombus. Up-to-date antithrombin therapy consists of vitamin K antagonists, unfractionated and low molecular heparins, direct thrombin inhibitors and selective inhibitors of factor Xa.

Homozygous factor V Leiden mutation in two siblings presenting with acute myocardial infarction: a rare cause of myocardial infarction in the young.

Although factor V Leiden mutation, is the most common established genetic risk factor for venous thrombosis, its effect on the development of myocardial infarction remains unclear. We describe a family case of homozygous factor V Leiden mutation in two siblings presenting with acute myocardial infarction as a rare cause of myocardial infarction in the young.