Assessment of interleukin-1 gene cluster polymorphisms in lone atrial fibrillation: new insight into the role of inflammation in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Systemic inflammation is accepted as one of the pathophysiological mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF). The role of inflammation has been shown previously. Interleukin (IL) system is the main modulator of the inflammatory responses and genetic polymorphisms of IL-1 cluster genes are associated with increased risk for inflammatory diseases.

Impact of a mass media campaign to increase public awareness of hypertension.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of a nationwide media campaign on hypertension awareness in the population, which was implemented with the aim of spreading key messages related to optimal blood pressure levels and encouraging blood pressure measurements.

Study Design: A nationwide project called "12/8 Awareness Campaign" was implemented between October 2005 and January 2006 using all available mass and outdoor media aiming to improve the knowledge of people on normal blood pressure values and to encourage regular blood pressure measurements. Four survey questions to inquire the level of awareness related to optimal blood pressure levels, hypertension, and hypertension-related disease conditions were directed via face-to-face interviews to two separate samples representing the general Turkish population before (n=1716) and after (n=1725) the campaign, respectively.

Patients with anemia on admission who have undergone primary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction: in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes.

Objective: We investigated the in-hospital and long-term follow-up (mean 21 months) results of patients with and without anemia on admission and who have undergone primary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Study Design: A total of 2509 patients (616 patients with anemia on admission, 1893 patients without anemia on admission), who were treated with primary angioplasty due to STEMI, were included in this study. Demographics and basic clinical features of the patients, outcomes of the primary angioplasty procedures, and clinical course of the patients during and a mean period of 21-month follow-up after hospitalization were retrospectively evaluated.

[Efficacy and outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to saphenous vein graft occlusion].

Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy and outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to saphenous vein graft (SVG) occlusion.

Study Design: We reviewed 2,646 consecutive patients (mean age 56.6±11.

[Primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients admitted with cardiogenic shock and ST-elevation myocardial infarction: prognosis and predictors of in-hospital mortality].

Objectives: We investigated the efficacy and outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients admitted with cardiogenic shock and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Study Design: We reviewed 91 consecutive patients (66 males, 25 females; mean age 61 ± 11 years) treated with primary PCI for cardiogenic shock due to STEMI. All clinical, angiographic data, and in-hospital and long-term outcomes were collected.

[Gastrointestinal bleeding in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction: incidence, risk factors and prognosis].

Objectives: We investigated the incidence, predictors, and prognosis of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Study Design: We reviewed 2,541 consecutive patients (2,111 males, 430 females; mean age 56.5+/-11.

The outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention for stent thrombosis causing ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: There are very few scientific data about the effectiveness of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to stent thrombosis (ST). The purpose of the present study is to investigate the efficacy and outcome of primary PCI for STEMI due to ST in the largest consecutive patient population with ST reported to date.

Methods: A total of 2,644 consecutive STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI were retrospectively enrolled into the present study.

Prediction of cardiovascular mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: We analyzed a large patient group to develop a clinical risk score that could be applied to patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We reviewed 2529 consecutive patients treated with primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction between 2003 and 2008. All clinical, angiographic and follow-up data were retrospectively collected.

Ischaemic stroke complicating primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: We sought to determine the in-hospital incidence and predictors of ischaemic stroke in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We reviewed 2638 consecutive patients undergoing 2722 pimary PCI procedures for STEMI during in-hospital stay. Stroke was defined as any new focal neurological deficit lasting > or =24 h, occurring anytime during or after PCI until discharge.

Comparison of outcomes in young versus nonyoung patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty.

Objectives: We sought to determine in-hospital and intermediate-term outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in young adults.

Methods: We reviewed 2424 consecutive patients treated with primary angioplasty for acute MI; 465 were aged 45 or less (young group) and 1959 were 46-74 years of age (nonyoung group). Clinical characteristics, in-hospital and intermediate-term outcomes of primary PCI were analyzed.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene VNTR polymorphism is associated with coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Cytokine gene variations such as those associated with the IL1 family are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic coronary flow imaging in identification of left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis in patients with left bundle branch block.

Background: Conventional noninvasive methods have well-known limitations for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). However, advancements in Doppler echocardiography permit transthoracic imaging of coronary flow velocities (CFV) and measurement of coronary flow reserve (CFR). Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of transthoracic CFR measurements for detection of significant left anterior descending (LAD) stenosis in patients with LBBB and compare it to that of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS).

Interleukin-1B (-511) gene polymorphism is associated with acute coronary syndrome in the Turkish population.

Objectives: acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is defined as an inflammatory disease associated with development of atherosclerosis and instability. IL-1 is a candidate inflammatory cytokine that is thought to trigger ACS. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between IL-1 gene family polymorphisms (IL-1RN, IL-1B in positions -511 and +3953) and ACS in the Turkish population.

Sympathetic overactivity in patients with left ventricular aneurysm in early period after anterior myocardial infarction: does sympathetic activity predict aneurysm formation?

Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) is an important complication of acute transmural myocardial infarction (MI) that bears great clinical significance because of high mortality. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is extensively used to evaluate autonomic modulation of sinus node and to identify patients at risk for an increased cardiac mortality. In this study, the authors evaluated HRV in patients with LVA in the early period after acute anterior wall MI.

Correlation between Doppler derived dP/dt and left ventricular asynchrony in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: A combined study using strain rate imaging and conventional Doppler echocardiography.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between Doppler-derived left ventricular (LV) dP/dt and the degree of LV mechanical asynchrony measured by strain rate imaging.

Methods And Results: The study group consisted of 69 patients with variable degree of LV dysfunction and mitral regurgitation (MR). Conventional echo variables and LV dP/dt were calculated from the MR Doppler spectrum by rate-pressure-rise method.

Cardiac resynchronization improves coronary blood flow.

Asynchronous ventricular activation, induced by left bundle branch block, is known to have deleterious effects on the systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle (LV). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been proposed as a complementary method to improve the LV systolic performance by restoring the synchronized contraction patterns in patients with advanced heart failure and left bundle branch block. However, the effect of CRT on myocardial blood flow is not well established.

Influence of different echocardiographic imaging modes on the assessment of anterior mitral leaflet thickness.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to compare fundamental imaging (FI) measurements with harmonic imaging (HI) measurements and surgical measurements (SM) in the assessment of mitral anterior leaflet thickness.

Methods: Forty-three patients scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement were included. Before surgery, routine echocardiography was performed in all patients using an instrument fitted with a 2.

Comparison of coronary flow velocities between patients with obstructive and nonobstructive type hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: noninvasive assessment by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

Background: We aimed to compare coronary flow velocity (CFV) measurements of patients with nonobstructive (NHCM) and obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) by using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE).

Methods And Results: In 11 patients with NHCM and 26 with HOCM, CFV in the distal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary was measured by TTDE (3.5 MHz) under the guidance of color Doppler flow mapping in addition to standard 2D and Doppler echocardiography.

Double-orifice mitral valve associated with nonisolated left ventricular noncompaction--a case report.

Double-orifice mitral valve is a rare congenital anomaly. Although it is more frequently associated with other cardiac abnormalities, it may occur as an isolated lesion. There are 2 forms of myocardial noncompaction: isolated and nonisolated myocardial noncompaction.

Prediction of infarct-related coronary artery of patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction by a predischarge exercise test index.

The predictive accuracy of electrocardiographic markers in identifying the infarct-related artery of myocardial infarctions has been a subject of extensive investigation. The present study was designed to test whether the index L II/L III ratio adapted to exercise electrocardiograms could be utilized as a marker to distinguish right coronary and left circumflex arteries as culprit coronaries in acute inferior myocardial infarctions. For this purpose, 82 patients with a positive-symptom-limited and/or submaximal treadmill exercise test with modified Bruce protocol after an acute inferior myocardial infarction were studied.

Assessing the effect of low dose dobutamine on various diastolic function indexes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low dose dobutamine (LDD) on various diastolic function parameters in patients without wall motion abnormality.

Methods: Thirty-one volunteer patients who had no regional wall motion abnormality were included in the study. Echocardiographic measurements were taken both at pre-dobutamine and during LDD infusion.

Sequential evaluation of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation has become standard therapy for many types of arrhythmias. RF energy may cause deterioration in left ventricular function by damaging the myocardium. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in left ventricular function after catheter ablation using various echocardiographic parameters.

Determinants of coronary flow abnormalities in obstructive type hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: noninvasive assessment by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

We aimed to visualize the coronary flow velocities (CFV) of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy by using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and to determine the relationship between abnormal CFV patterns and conventional echocardiography indices. Guided by 2-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler color flow mapping, CFV in the distal left anterior descending coronary artery were measured in 21 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy using a 3.5-MHz transducer.

Effect of patient age at surgical intervention on long-term right ventricular performance in atrial septal defect.

Controversy exists about the influence of patient age on the benefit of surgery in atrial septal defect (ASD). Tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) when applied to atrioventricular annuli provides variables reliably reflecting the performance of the corresponding ventricle. We sought to investigate the effect of timing of surgery on biventricular functions by comparing the conventional echocardiography variables and TDE profiles of right and left atrioventricular annuli in patients treated at various ages.