Atrial Strain and Strain Rate: A Novel Method for the Evaluation of Atrial Stunning.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia seen in adults. Atrial stunning is defined as the temporary mechanical dysfunction of the atrial appendage developing after AF has returned to sinus rhythm (SR).

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate atrial contractile functions by strain and strain rate in patients with AF, following pharmacological and electrical cardioversion and to compare it with conventional methods.

Relation of serum parathyroid hormone level to severity of heart failure.

Increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) level is associated with all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However its role for identifying advanced HF has not been previously studied. We aimed to investigate whether the assessment of serum PTH could enable clinicians to identify patients with advanced HF.

Comparison of fibrinolytic versus surgical therapy in the treatment of obstructive prosthetic valve thrombosis: a single-center experience.

Objective: Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis (PVT) is a rare but severe cardiac condition. There are only a few data regarding comparison of the fibrinolytic and surgical approaches for the treatment of PVT. In this study, we compared the results of fibrinolytic therapy versus surgery in patients who presented to our institution with a diagnosis of obstructive-type PVT.

Two-year outcome of Turkish patients treated with Zotarolimus versus Paclitaxel eluting stents in an unselected population with coronary artery disease in the real world: a prospective non-randomized registry in southern Turkey.

Background: Our purpose was to investigate the clinical outcomes of Zotarolimus- and Paclitaxel-eluting stents in Turkish patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). In general, the outcome of drug-eluting stent (DES) placement has a proven efficacy in randomized trials. However, the difference in efficacy between the Zotarolimus and Paclitaxel-eluting stents in unselected Turkish patients is controversial.

Efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stents compared with paclitaxel-eluting stents in an unselected population with coronary artery disease: 24-month outcomes of patients in a prospective non-randomized registry in Southern Turkey.

Background: The efficacy of drug-eluting stents has been shown in randomized trials, but some controversy exists regarding which stent sirolimus-eluting or paclitaxel-eluting is more effective in unselected Turkish patients. Therefore, we investigated the clinical outcomes of patients who were treated with one type of these drug-eluting stents in the real world.

Methods: We created a registry and prospectively analyzed data on a consecutive series of all patients who presented to our institution with symptomatic coronary artery disease between February 2005 and March 2007 and who were treated with the sirolimus- or the paclitaxel-eluting stent.

The predictive value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide for the recurrence of atrial fibrillation six months after external cardioversion.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level for the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after successful cardioversion in patients with persistent AF.

Study Design: The study included 58 patients (36 females, 22 males; mean age 59 years) with preserved left ventricular function, who underwent successful electrical cardioversion for persistent AF. Plasma BNP levels were measured before, 30 minutes and six months after cardioversion and electrocardiography was performed to assess AF recurrence.

Association of metabolic syndrome with impaired heart rate recovery and low exercise capacity in young male adults.

Background: Impaired heart rate recovery (HRR) is a powerful predictor of overall mortality.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess HRR in young adult males with metabolic syndrome and to compare HRR with those of obese patients who do not meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-four newly diagnosed and untreated young male subjects (24 +/- 3 years) with metabolic syndrome and 40 age and sex matched obese or overweight control subjects (ages 23 +/- 3 years) were enrolled in the study.