The relationship of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with clinical outcome and final infarct core in acute ischemic stroke patients who have undergone endovascular therapy.

Objectives: Of all strokes, 85% are ischemic and intracranial artery occlusion accounts for 80% of these ischemic strokes. Endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke was a new modality aiming at resolution of clots in occluded cerebral arteries. The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was introduced as a potential marker to determine increased inflammation, which is a result of releasing many mediators from the platelets.

Association of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with silent brain infarcts in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the inflammation as measured by increased platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) predispose to silent infarcts in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Methods: The present study investigated a total of 48 new diagnosed patients with PAF who had no signs of stroke. PLR, which was calculated as the ratio of the platelet count to the lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured due to evaluate inflammatory state.

Early experience of percutaneous paravalvular leak closure using a novel Occlutech occluder.

Aims: Paravalvular regurgitation is an important complication of mitral valve replacement. Although surgical repair is mostly recommended, it is associated with significant morbidity. On the other hand, percutaneous closure is a less invasive alternative approach.

Is there any link between joint hypermobility and mitral valve prolapse in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome?

The objective of the present study is to determine whether benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) modifies the risk of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Female patients fulfilling the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria for FM were included into the study. Joint hypermobility and BJHS were assessed using Beighton's scoring system and Brighton criteria, respectively.

Atrial conduction abnormalities in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Background: Psoriasis vulgaris is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorders. Patients with psoriasis are at risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). The electromechanical delay (EMD) is the time interval from the onset of the P wave on surface electrocardiography (ECG) to the beginning of the A wave.

Endovascular therapy of acute ischaemic stroke by interventional cardiologists: single-centre experience from Turkey.

Aims: We report our single-centre experience with the Solitaire AB self-expanding retrievable stent system in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods And Results: Demographic, clinical, and angiographic findings of thirty-eight consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy were evaluated retrospectively. The mean initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 17.

Successful transcatheter closure of bilateral multiple coronary arterial fistulae in one session.

Coronary artery fistulae represent the most frequent congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, but multiple bilateral fistulae are a rare condition. Current therapeutic options for symptomatic patients are percutaneous closure and cardiac surgery. Transcatheter closure of fistulae using coils is preferred as an effective and safe alternative to surgery.

Diagnostic value of strain echocardiography, galectin-3, and tenascin-C levels for the identification of patients with pulmonary and cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis has been associated with poor prognosis. We evaluated myocardial contractility quantitatively in a cohort of pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) patients with and without cardiac involvement. We also studied markers of fibrosis (tenascin-C [Tn-C] and galectin-3 [Gl-3]) as diagnostic tools for PS and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS).

A giant right atrial villous myxoma with simultaneous pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: Primary cardiac tumors are rare and approximately three quarters of them are benign and up to half of the benign tumors are myxomas. Right atrial villous myxoma with pulmonary embolism is an unusual apparition.

Presentation Of Case: A 29 year-old male was admitted to our outpatient clinic with progressive exertional dyspnea, chest pain and intermittent feeling faint.

Novel fibro-inflammation markers in assessing left atrial remodeling in non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: Structural remodeling is associated with the fibroinflammatory process in the atrial extracellular matrix. In the present study we aimed to investigate whether serum levels of new circulating remodeling markers differ in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to patients with sinus rhythm.

Material And Methods: The study population included 52 patients diagnosed with non-valvular AF and 33 age-matched patients with sinus rhythm.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated the role of inflammation in acute heart failure. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was found to be a useful inflammatory marker for predicting adverse outcomes. We hypothesized that an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio would be associated with increased mortality in acute heart failure patients.

Zwolle risk score predicts contrast-induced acute kidney injury in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.

Objective: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a common complication in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Mehran risk score was defined originally in elective PCI and may be predictive of CI-AKI. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the Zwolle score predicts CI-AKI in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Successful angioplasty for radial artery chronic total occlusion in a patient with digital gangrene.

Critical hand ischemia caused by chronic occlusive arterial disease is an uncommon condition. Diabetes mellitus and chronic renal insufficiency are the concomitant conditions in most of these patients. A 59-year-old woman with diabetic nephropathy being treated with hemodialysis was referred to the Cardiology Department for a non-healing necrotic lesion in the distal part of the fourth finger.

A very rare case of coexistence of ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy, myocardial bridging and atherosclerosis.

Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium is a rare congenital heart disease, presumably caused by the intrauterine arrest of the myocardial compaction process at the beginning of fetal development. It could remain asymptomatic or manifest with congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and systemic thromboemboli. Here we report a 55-year-old man who was admitted to hospital with chest pain and dyspnea, whose further evaluation revealed left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy accompanying myocardial bridging and stenosis of the right coronary artery.

Comparison of single-dose and repeated levosimendan infusion in patients with acute exacerbation of advanced heart failure.

Background: Levosimendan (LS) is a novel inodilator that improves cardiac performance, central hemodynamics, and symptoms of patients with decompensated chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of single and repeated LS infusion on left ventricular performance, biomarkers, and neurohormonal activation in patients with acute heart failure.

Material And Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive patients with acute exacerbation of advanced heart failure were included in this study.

Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a major cause of hospitalisation, morbidity and mortality worldwide. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is an enzyme responsible for the extracellular catabolism of antioxidant glutathione and a potential risk indicator of cardiac mortality. Limited data exists on the prognostic value of circulating levels of GGT in patients hospitalized due to AHF.

Epicardial fat thickness in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Objectives: Psoriasis vulgaris is one of the most common skin disorders. Patients with psoriasis carry an excessive risk of coronary artery disease. Visceral adipose tissue around the heart affects the heart and coronaries by secreting proatherogenic mediators.

Endovascular therapy of acute ischemic stroke by interventional cardiologists: initial national experience.

Objectives: We report our initial experience with thrombectomy devices in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Study Design: Demographic, clinical, and angiographic findings of 19 consecutive patients (7 females and 12 males; mean age 61.4±12.

Utility of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for predicting in-hospital mortality after levosimendan infusion in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a levosimendan infusion on hematological variables in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The predictive value of these variables for in-hospital mortality was also evaluated.

Methods: A total of 553 patients (368 males; mean age, 63.

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evidence of myocardial impairment in patients with overt hypothyroidism.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate cardiac function and myocardial contractility in patients with overt hypothyroidism using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) strain imaging and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and compare the changes at one month after starting the treatment. We also compared the P wave dispersion (Pdis) in patients with and without hypothyroidism.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-one patients with overt hypothyroidism and forty age- and body mass index-matched healthy subjects underwent conventional echocardiography, RT3DE and 2D-STE for assessment of resting LV function.

Early assessment of percutaneous coronary interventions for chronic total occlusions analyzed by novel echocardiographic techniques.

Objective: Successful revascularization of chronic total occlusions has been associated with improved left ventricular systolic function, reduced anginal symptoms, increased exercise capacity, and increased survival. This study was conducted to determine the impact of revascularization in chronic total occlusion on left ventricular function using novel echocardiographic techniques.

Methods: A total of 129 patients with chronic total occlusion who underwent revascularization between April 2011 and November 2012 were included in this study.

Does estimated glomerular filtration rate have an effect on left ventricular function after ST-elevation myocardial infarction?

Objectives: Little is known about whether estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) affect left ventricular (LV) function and gain benefit with antiremodeling treatment in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated the effect of eGFR on LV function using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) parameters. In addition, we sought to evaluate the antiremodeling effect of standard treatment at follow-up in patients with renal insufficiency (RI) after STEMI.

Association between serum cystatin C levels and coronary slow flow.

We assessed the association between serum cystatin C (CysC) levels and coronary slow flow (CSF) phenomenon in patients who underwent coronary angiography. A total of 210 patients (mean age 55.6 ± 10.

Combined use of invatec mo.ma proximal protection device and Solitaire AB retrievable stent for tandem occlusions in a patient with acute ischemic stroke.

Recanalization of tandem vascular occlusions in the setting of an acute stroke is problematic. Here we report a successful treatment of an acute ischemic stroke with tandem cervical internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery occlusions. A 56-year-old woman presented with acute left-sided hemiplegia.