Secret signal delayed mapping in patients with premature ventricular contractions.

Introduction: Mapping and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) that show diurnal changes during the day, and which are rare during 3-D mapping has become very difficult. The most delayed signal mapping in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) with RV apical pacing might be useful in these situations and we called this method Secret Signal Delayed Mapping (SSDM).

Aim: To compare the classical RFA and SSDM in patients with PVC.

Does COVID-19 Cause Non-Dıpper Hypertension?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a health problem worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of blood pressure (BP) on the circadian pattern and prevalence of new-onset non-dipper hypertension in the post-COVID period in patients with known hypertension. This prospective single-center study included 722 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection.

Selvester QRS Score is a Predictor of Mortality in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: The Selvester QRS (S-QRS) score on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is associated with both the amount of myocardial scar and poor prognosis in myocardial infarction patients. However, its prognostic value in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the predictive value of the S-QRS score for mortality in HFpEF.

Prognostic Value of Non-HDL Cholesterol in COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Background: In addition to coronary artery disease, non-high-density lipoprotein(non-HDL-C) provides short and long-term predictive information for many chronic inflammatory diseases such as stroke, hemodialysis, post-renal transplant, non-alcoholic hepatosteatosis, and human immunodeficiency virus.

Objectives: This study examined the predictive value of non-HDL-C measured before SARS-CoV-2 for mortality in COVID-19 infection.

Methods: This study retrospectively included 1435 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated in the thoracic diseases ward in a single center between January 2020 and June 2022.

Prognostic value of R wave peak time in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: R wave peak time (RWPT) is also known as intrinsicoid deflection time or ventricular activation time. It shows the conduction time from the endocardium in the ventricle to the epicardium. It provides diagnostic and prognostic information for many cardiovascular diseases, such as RWPT prolongation, left ventricular hypertrophy, volume overload, conduction system abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.

Subclinical Left Atrial and Ventricular Dysfunction in Acromegaly Patients: A Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Study.

Background: Although it is known that the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) measured by echocardiography is preserved in patients with acromegaly, there is not enough information about the LV and left atrial strain (LV-GLS and LAS).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) functions with strain echocardiography (SE) in patients with acromegaly.

Methods: This study included 50 acromegaly patients with active disease and 50 healthy controls with similar age, gender, and body surface area.

The Prognostic Value of Vertebral Bone Density on Chest CT in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of the vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) on chest computed tomography (CT) in COVID-19 patients. The chest CT of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were evaluated for Pneumonia Severity Score (PSS) as the ratio of the volume of involved lung parenchyma to the total lung volume. In addition, BMD was manually measured from the vertebral corpus using axial CT images.

Modified Lung Ultrasound Score in Evaluating the Severity of Covid-19 Pneumonia.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The aim of the study described here was to determine the severity of pneumonia and the clinical parameters related to a modified lung ultrasound score (mLUS) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The study included 44 patients with proven COVID-19 pneumonia.

Complement C1q/Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Protein-3 (CTRP3) is Significantly Decreased in Patients with Heart Failure and Closely Related with Ventricular Tachycardia.

Background: The relationship between serum complement C1q/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related protein-3 (CTRP3) levels and ventricular tachycardia (VT) in heart failure patients with reduced ejection-fraction (HFrEF) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in serum CTRP3 level and the relationship with VT in HFrEF.

Methods: The study included 88 patients with HFrEF with and without VT and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Relationship between coarse F waves and thromboembolic events in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.

Background: The coarse F waves on the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are known as atrial viability and contractility indicator. Our aim in this study was to investigate the effect of coarse F wave on thromboembolism in patients with permanent AF.

Methods: In our study, 328 patients with permanent AF were included.

Disease Severity Affects Ventricular Repolarization Parameters in Patients With COVID-19.

Background: There is no study evaluating the Tpeak-Tend (Tpe) interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio to assess cardiac arrhythmias in patients with COVID-19.

Objective: We aimed to examine whether there is a change in QT, QTc, Tpe interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and Tpe/QTc ratio in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: The study included 90 patients with COVID-19 infection and 30 age-and-sex-matched healthy controls.

Serum Elabela Levels Are Elevated in Patients with Hyperthyroidism.

The apelinergic system plays an important role in the modulation of the cardiovascular system via the apelin peptide and the apelin receptor (APJ receptor). Apelin and elabela, also known toddler, are peptide ligands for the apelin receptor. These two peptides show similar biological actions, such as vasodilatation, increased myocardial contractility, angiogenesis, and energy metabolism.

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is significantly increased in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and significantly related with serum calcium level.

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is a rare cause of secondary hypertension (HT), but in patients with PHP, HT is very common and 20-80% of patients have HT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) in hypertensive patients with PHP, and was to determine the clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters associated with CF-PWV.

Methods: The study included 83 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients with PHP and 83 patients with newly diagnosed essential HT without PHP.

Impaired left ventricular global longitudinal strain improves with radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy.

Background: In our study, we aimed to evaluate left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) value in patients with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and to determine the effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) procedure on LV-GLS.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 patients who underwent three-dimensional RFA with the diagnosis of PVCs were included. LV-GLS was measured with strain echocardiography in all patients before RFA and in the sixth-month control.

Impaired self-reported sleep quality improves with radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with premature ventricular complexes.

Background: The frequency of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) increases in patients with poor sleep quality (PSQ).

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate PSQ in patients referred for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) due to PVCs and to determine the effect of RFA on PSQ.

Methods: A total of 207 patients who were diagnosed with the PVC burden greater than 10% and underwent 3-dimensional RFA in our center were included in this cross -sectional study.

Residual SYNTAX Score Is Associated With Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Preserved LVEF.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between residual SYNTAX score (rSS) and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) development in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with normal or near-to-normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 306 patients who underwent PCI with NSTEMI were included in our study. SYNTAX scores were calculated for the periods before and after PCI.

A new approach to radiofrequency catheter ablation of premature ventricular contractions: The diurnal variation index.

Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) is a frequently used method in the treatment of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) resistant to drug therapy. RFA is recommended for patients with PVCs burden >10%. This study was aimed to investigate the presence of other parameters to enhance the indication of ablation in 24-hour rhythm Holter recordings.

Aortic intima-media thickness can be used to determine target organ damage in adult patients with coronary artery disease risk factors.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between abdominal aortic intima-media thickness (AA-IMT) and thoracic aortic intima-media thickness (TA-IMT) values and to investigate their relationship with common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors.

Material And Methods: This study included 100 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination for different reasons with at least one CAD risk factor. CC-IMT, AA-IMT, and TA-IMT values were measured.

Effect of cryoballoon ablation parameters on recurrence in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence and second generation cryoballoon ablation (CBA) procedural parameters in patients with non-valvular paroxysmal AF (PAF).

Methods: A total of 131 patients with a PAF diagnosis who underwent second-generation CBA (59 male; mean age: 55.2±10.

Liver stiffness value obtained with ElastPQ ultrasound increases with NYHA class in chronic heart failure patients and reduced ejection fraction.

Objective: Liver stiffness (LS) values are known to be associated with increased right ventricle (RV) pressure in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to determine the changes in LS in patients of different New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes and the parameters related to increased LS in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: A total of 181 patients with HFrEF were included in the study.

Silent atrial fibrillation is associated with P-wave duration index in patients with cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) attacks can be silent, symptomatic, or emerge with its complications in pacemaker-implanted patient groups. P-wave duration index (PWDI), a novel parameter, is calculated by dividing the P-wave duration (PWD) by the PR interval. This study aimed to investigate the relation between PWDI and silent AF development in cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator (CRT-D)-applied patients.

Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio in hypertensive patients with primary aldosteronism.

: There is no study evaluating the Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios with T wave peak to end interval (Tp-e interval) used for evaluation of cardiac arrhythmia risk and ventricular repolarization changes in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). We aimed to investigate whether there was a change in Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios in patients with PA.: Thirty patients with newly diagnosed hypertension (HT) and PA and 30 patients with primary HT were included.

Decreased left atrial global longitudinal strain predicts the risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence after cryoablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the association of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence with left atrial (LA) strain in nonvalvular paroxysmal AF patients after cryoablation.

Methods: We included 190 patients who underwent successful cryoablation due to paroxysmal AF. In addition to classical echocardiographic data, LA apical 2-chamber (A2C) strain, LA apical 4-chamber (A4C) strain, and LA global longitudinal strain (LA-GLS) values were calculated by speckle tracking echocardiography.

Liver stiffness obtained by ElastPQ ultrasound shear wave elastography independently determines mean right atrial pressure.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between right atrial pressure (RAP) and liver stiffness (LS) determined by liver elastography (LE) during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with heart failure (HF) and conventional pacemaker (PM) implantation in patients without HF.

Methods: 60 patients with HF who underwent CRT and 60 patients without HF who underwent PM were enrolled. Routine echocardiography and laboratory examinations were performed.