Can Right Ventricular Branch Bypass Alleviate Right Ventricular Dysfunction?

Background: Right ventricle (RV) dysfunction after a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure is a challenge that adversely affects RV filling pressure and contraction. This study sought to determine whether additional bypass of an RV branch would lessen RV dysfunction.

Methods: Patients with severe right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis were divided into 2 groups.

Repair of Gerbode defect and aortic neocuspidization by using bovine pericardium in aortic valve endocarditis.

Aortic valve endocarditis may be destructive and cause an acquired Gerbode-type defect. The use of biological material in the closure of the Gerbode defect and reconstruction of the aortic valve is essential for both early and long-term survival. Herein, we present a 62-year-old male patient whose Gerbode defect was repaired with bovine pericardium.

Clinical efficacy, safety, tolerability, and survival outcome of long-term inhaled iloprost treatment in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension: Data from prospective multicenter observational OPTION study.

Objective: To evaluate clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of long-term inhaled iloprost treatment in the daily practice for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: A total of 115 patients with PAH on inhaled iloprost treatment were included. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were recorded at baseline and at 3rd to 24th month visits.

Inspiratory muscle training in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on functional capacity, respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, quality of life, and fatigue and dyspnea perception in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: Twenty-nine clinically stable PAH patients were included in this study. These patients were randomly assigned to a 6-week IMT program (14 patients) or to a sham IMT protocol (15 patients).

Autonomic functions in acrocyanosis assessed by heart rate variability.

Objective: To evaluate the autonomic activity of patients with acrocyanosis by using heart rate variability indices.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 24 patients with acrocyanosis and the control group contained 22 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects. All subjects underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring.

Association between microvascular angina and erectile dsyfunction.

Although the origin of cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is still debated, endothelial dysfunction leading to reduced coronary microvascular dilatory response and increased coronary resistance is thought to have an important role in the pathogenesis. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with risk factors resulting in endotelial dysfunction. Although the relationship between cardiovascular disease and ED has been well established; the relation between CSX and ED has not been extensively studied so far.

Comparative effects of nebivolol and metoprolol on red cell distribution width and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.

High level of circulating red cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio may reflect ongoing vascular inflammation and play an important role in pathophysiology of hypertension. We evaluate the effects of nebivolol and metoprolol on the RDW and N/L in new essential hypertensive patients. After baseline assessment, 72 patients were randomly allocated to 5 mg/d of nebivolol (n = 37, 20 men) or 100 mg/d of metoprolol (n = 35, 18 men) and treated for 6 months.

Assessment of the relationship between red cell distribution width and cardiac syndrome X.

Background: Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is characterised by angina-like chest pain, a positive stress test, and normal coronary arteries. Increased red cell distribution width (RDW) level may be indicative of an underlying inflammatory state.

Aim: To investigate RDW level in patients with CSX and compare patients having coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal subjects.

Association between coronary artery ectasia and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio.

Atherosclerosis plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of coronary artery ectasia (CAE). Inflammation markers may play a part in the pathogenesis of CAE. We aimed to assess the association between the CAE and the neutrophil-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio.

Neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio in patients with cardiac syndrome X and its association with carotid intima-media thickness.

Neutrophils and lymphocytes (N/L) ratio and carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) value have been studied as new predictors of cardiovascular risk. We aimed to investigate N/L ratio and C-IMT value in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) and compare patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal participants. A total of 288 participants were enrolled in the study.

Evaluation of the mean platelet volume in patients with cardiac syndrome X.

Objective: Cardiac syndrome X is characterized by angina-like chest pain, a positive stress test, and normal coronary arteries. A patient's mean platelet volume, which potentially reflects platelet function and activity, is associated with coronary atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mean platelet volumes of patients with cardiac syndrome X, those with coronary artery disease and normal subjects.

Vascular inflammation and aortic stiffness relate to early left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in prehypertension.

Prehypertension is characterized by an increased cardiovascular risk and by an increased prevalence of target organ damage compared with the pure normotensive state. The present study was designed to assess in prehypertensive subjects the possible relationships between early left ventricular dysfunction, vascular inflammation and aortic stiffness. The study population consisted of 31 untreated prehypertensive subjects (age: 34 ± 6 years, mean ± SD) and 31 age-matched pure normotensive controls.

Evaluation of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide, procalcitonin, and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin for the diagnosis and risk stratification of dyspneic ED patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and the prognostic value of a laboratory panel consisting of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), procalcitonin (PCT), and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute dyspnea.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled ED patients who presented with a chief complaint of dyspnea and who had an uncertain diagnosis after physician evaluation. Final primary diagnosis of the cause of shortness of breath was confirmed through additional testing per physician discretion.

The impact of mitral stenosis on left atrial function assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mitral stenosis (MS) on left atrial (LA) function using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE).

Methods And Results: The study subjects consisted of 52 patients with asymptomatic MS and 52 control subjects. LA function was assessed using prototype speckle tracking software and manual tracking method.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic imaging of biventricular false tendons mimicking hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by hypertrophy of the left ventricle, with variable clinical manifestations and morphologic and hemodynamic abnormalities. False tendons (FTs) are discrete, fibromuscular structures of varying length and thickness that tranverse either left and right ventricular cavities. Left and right ventricular FTs were giving a false impression of HCM.

Cardiac autonomic regulation is disturbed in children with euthyroid Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Hashimoto thyroiditis (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis) is the most common form of thyroiditis in childhood. Previous studies have found autonomic dysfunction of varying magnitude in patients with autoimmune diseases, which is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. We aimed to evaluate the heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac autonomic modulation, in children with euthyroid Hashimoto thyroiditis (eHT).

Proanthocyanidin prevents myocardial ischemic injury in adult rats.

Background: Proanthocyanidin is a bioflavonoid known to have protective effect against oxidative injury. We investigated the cardioprotective effect of proanthocyanidin.

Material/methods: Thirty-two Rattus Norvegicus rats were categorized equally as the control group (CG), proanthocyanidin group (PCG), ischemia group (IG) and proanthocyanidin-treated group (PCT).

Cardiac autonomic functions in obese children.

Objective: The autonomic nervous system is assumed to have a role in the pathophysiology of obesity. In this study, we evaluated the autonomic system by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) in obese children.

Methods: Thirty-two obese and 30 healthy children (mean ages: 11.

Speckle tracking based myocardial velocities: our experience with novel software.

Objective: Speckle tracking is a new imaging modality capable of providing information about myocardial motion in all three directions: longitudinal, circumferential and radial. There are many software packages with their unique tracking algorithms and user interfaces in the market. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of QLAB software in clinical practice and speckle based myocardial velocities in healthy subjects.