Neurohormonal activation pattern in patients with atrial septal defect.

Atrial septal defects (ASD) divert flow from systemic to pulmonary circulation, and some degree of plasma volume expansion and neurohormonal activation are necessary to maintain the effective circulatory volume. The aim of the present study was to understand the patterns of neurohormonal activation in ASD patients. 16 ASD patients and 10 controls were enrolled.

Antibacterial Effects of Essential Oils on , Methicillin-Resistant , and spp. Isolated from Dog Wounds.

: Essential oils exhibit several biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, proliferative, and anti-inflammatory. This study was aimed at investigating the antimicrobial effects and cytotoxic activities of niaouli, palmarosa, and clove essential oils. : Content analyses of these essential oils were carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Associations Between Echocardiographic Right Heart Measurements With Short-Term Prognosis in Heart Failure: A Prospective Study.

Background: Echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a strong risk determinant for prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Although parameters of RV systolic function are widely used to define RV dysfunction, there is scarce data to suggest these parameters are best suited to predict HF-related outcomes.

Aims: We aimed to understand which morphologic or functional parameters are most closely associated with short-term mortality and HF-related hospitalization in patients with HF.

Effect of VDR and TLR2 gene variants on the clinical course of patients with COVID-19 disease.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has caused a major global health crisis, primarily targets the upper and lower respiratory tract. But infected individuals may experience different clinical symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to critical. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) polymorphisms play a role in the immune response.

Usefulness of triglyceride-glucose index and homeostatic model assessment for predicting coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Background: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a common occurrence in individuals with insulin resistance (IR). Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) is a widely used surrogate marker of IR, although recent studies suggest triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a superior marker of IR that had a better accuracy to predict type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular outcomes than HOMA-IR.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the accuracy and usefulness of TyG index and HOMA-IR for predicting CMD as assessed with echocardiographic coronary flow reserve (CFR) measurement.

Concomitant amyloidosis is the primary cause of endothelial and coronary microvascular dysfunction in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Study Objectives: Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) show manifestations of arterial abnormalities, including carotid intimal thickening and increased vascular stiffness. As carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with amyloidosis, we hypothesized that previously observed abnormalities can largely be related with concomitant amyloidosis rather than CTS itself.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Digoxin is Not Related to Mortality in Patients with Heart Failure: Results from the SELFIE-TR Registry.

Aims: Digoxin has been used in the treatment for heart failure for centuries, but the role of this drug in the modern era is controversial. A particular concern is the recent observational findings suggesting an increase in all-cause mortality with digoxin, although such observations suffer from biased results since these studies usually do not provide adequate compensation for the severity of disease. Using a nationwide registry database, we aimed to investigate whether digoxin is associated with 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure irrespective of phenotype.

Usefulness of Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction - Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Score for Predicting Survival in Patients with Heart Failure.

Background: Central Illustration: Usefulness of Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction - Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Score for Predicting Survival in Patients with Heart Failure Summary of the study design and key findings. ACEF: Age, creatinine and ejection fraction, MDRD: Modified Diet in Renal Disease. While many risk models have been developed to predict prognosis in heart failure (HF), these models are rarely useful for the clinical practitioner as they include multiple variables that might be time-consuming to obtain, they are usually difficult to calculate, and they may suffer from statistical overfitting.

Estimated plasma volume is not a robust indicator of the severity of congestion in patients with heart failure.

Background: Congestion is the main cause of morbidity and a prime determinant of survival in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the assessment of congestion is subjective and estimation of plasma volume (ePV) has been suggested as a more objective measure of congestion. This study aimed to explore the relationships and interactions between ePV, the severity of congestion and survival using a nationwide registry.

How to Use Natriuretic Peptides in Patients with Heart Failure with Non-Reduced Ejection Fraction?

Natriuretic peptides are widely used in all types of heart failure. Previously, we defined heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction as patients with heart failure symptoms and/or signs and who have left ventricular ejection fraction > 40%. For the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the presence of raised natriuretic peptides is one of the major components of the diagnosis, and raised natriuretic peptides make the diagnosis more likely in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction.

The effect of urgent blood pressure reduction on left atrial strain in patients with hypertensive attack : Blood pressure lowering affects LA strain.

Background: Left atrial (LA) strain is a robust measure of LA function and is a useful parameter to assess left ventricular filling pressure. While initially considered as a "load-independent" parameter of LA function, later studies have found that acute changes in LA preload may affect LA reservoir and contractile strains. Acute alterations in blood pressure (BP) induces a change in left ventricular (LV) filling pressure without imposing a volume load, thus providing an opportunity to assess the effects of the change in LA afterload on LA mechanics.

Effect of renal function on the prognostic importance of chloride in patients with heart failure.

Hypochloremia has recently gained interest as a potential marker of outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). The exact pathophysiologic mechanism linking hypochloremia to HF is unclear but is thought to be mediated by chloride-sensitive proteins and channels located in kidneys. This analysis aimed to understand whether renal dysfunction (RD) affects the association of hypochloremia with mortality in patients with HF.

Gut microbiota-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide and biomarkers of inflammation are linked to endothelial and coronary microvascular function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is an umbrella term used for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate the association of local and systemic biomarkers of inflammation and gut microbiota-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) with endothelial and coronary microvascular dysfunction in IBD.

Methods: A total of 56 patients with IBD (20 with UC and 36 with CD) and 34 age and gender matched controls were included.

Alterations in right ventricular mechanics in patients with Behcet's disease.

Manifest myocardial involvement is somewhat rare in patients with Behcet's disease (BD), although echocardiographic studies suggest that subclinical alterations in left ventricular (LV) contractility is rather common. Data on right ventricular (RV) involvement in BD is rather scarce. This study aims to determine whether RV systolic performance is affected in BD patients, and to understand the clinical and echocardiographic correlates of RV contractility in these patients.

Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index Predicts 1-Year Mortality in Patients with Heart Failure: An Analysis of the SELFIE-TR Study.

Objective: Predicting outcomes is an essential part of evaluation of patients with heart failure (HF). While there are multiple individual laboratory and imaging variables as well as risk scores available for this purpose, they are seldom useful during the initial evaluation. In this analysis, we aimed to elucidate the predictive usefulness of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index (TIMI-RI), a simple index calculated at the bedside with three commonly available variables, using data from a multicenter HF registry.

Coronary flow velocity reserve is reduced in patients with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise.

Coronary artery disease and cardiovascular mortality are increased in patients with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise. The exact cause of this increase remains unknown, but previous studies have indicated the presence of endothelial dysfunction in peripheral arteries and subclinical atherosclerosis in these patients. The present study aimed to clarify whether coronary microvascular dysfunction is also present in patients with exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise.

Comparison of Novel Martin/Hopkins and Sampson Equations for Calculation of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Diabetic Patients.

Background: The accurate determination of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is important to reach guideline-recommended LDL-C concentrations and to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic patients. The commonly used Friedewald equation (LDL-Cf), gives inaccurate results in diabetic patients due to accompanying diabetic dyslipidemia. Recently two new equations - Martin/Hopkins (LDL-Cmh) and Sampson (LDL-Cs) - were developed to improve the accuracy of LDL-C estimation, but data are insufficient to suggest the superiority of one equation over the other one.

Lack of right ventricular hypertrophy is associated with right heart failure in patients with left ventricular failure.

Presence of right heart failure (RHF) is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with left ventricular failure (LVF). While the cause of RHF secondary to LVF is multifactorial, an increased right ventricular (RV) afterload is believed as the major cause of RHF. However, data are scarce on the adaptive responses of the RV in patients with LVF.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is common in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection.

Background And Aims: Microvascular disease is considered as one of the main drivers of morbidity and mortality in severe COVID-19, and microvascular dysfunction has been demonstrated in the subcutaneous and sublingual tissues in COVID-19 patients. The presence of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has also been hypothesized, but direct evidence demonstrating CMD in COVID-19 patients is missing. In the present study, we aimed to investigate CMD in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and to understand whether there is a relationship between biomarkers of myocardial injury, myocardial strain and inflammation and CMD.

Transcutaneous Puncture and Successfully Retrieval of Undeflated Peripheral Angioplasty Balloon.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has gained increasing popularity in the treatment of peripheral artery disease. However, the increase in the frequency of this procedure also increases the risk of complications. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has serious and general complications in terms of device and technique at puncture and dilatation sites.

Topical Administration of Carvacrol Improves Healing in Nasal Septal Perforation: An Experimental Animal Study.

Background: Clinicians are exploring alternative treatments for nasal septum perforation since surgical treatment is challenging.

Objective: The effects of topical carvacrol on the healing of nasal septal perforation were investigated in an animal model.

Method: Twenty-one male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three equal groups.