A shift in the balance of regulatory T and T helper 17 cells in rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Autoimmunity plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD); however, cellular mechanisms of autoimmune response are unclear. Whereas T helper 17 (TH17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) cells share a common differentiation pathway, they play opposite roles in the immune tolerance and autoimmune diseases. Although high TH17/Treg ratio has been shown in several autoimmune diseases, no data are available in RHD.

The relationship of plasma neuropeptide Y levels with coronary collateral development.

Objective: Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a sympathetic cotransmitter, has been shown to promote angiogenesis in in-vitro models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of plasma NPY levels with coronary collateral vessel development in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: The study included 81 patients with at least one coronary stenosis with at least 80% narrowing in coronary angiography.

Atrioventricular block induced by mad-honey intoxication: confirmation of diagnosis by pollen analysis.

An unusual type of food poisoning, mad-honey intoxication, can be observed in the Black Sea region of Turkey and various other parts of the world. It can occur after ingestion of grayanotoxin-contaminated honey produced from the nectar of Rhododendron ponticum and other plant species, chiefly of the Ericaceae and Sapindaceae families. Mad-honey intoxication can result in severe cardiac complications, such as complete atrioventricular block.

Recurrence of ventricular tachycardia degeneration by low-energy implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks: a case report.

Despite their proven efficacy at reducing mortality in selected patients, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators have some proarrhythmic effects. In this report, we present a case of a patient with recurrent ventricular tachycardia degeneration to ventricular fibrillation by appropriate low-energy implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks.

Coagulation, fibrinolytic system activation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm.

Anticoagulation treatment can prevent systemic embolism in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), but this treatment is under debate if patients are in sinus rhythm. The authors aimed to determine the hemostatic changes in patients with MS and sinus rhythm. Forty-six patients (28 in sinus rhythm and 18 in AF) with mitral stenosis were enrolled in this study.

A rare form of communication between the left internal thoracic artery and the left anterior descending artery.

Extracardiac collaterals generally from bronchial and internal thoracic arteries to coronary circulation have been described in the literature. In this report, we present a case of 59-year-old male patient with collaterals from the left internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending artery developed after coronary artery bypass grafting and aneurysmectomy surgery. It is likely the collaterals developed as a result of the postoperative adhesions.

Atrioventricular membrane perforation: a very rare complication of transvenous pacemaker implantation.

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department with the complaint of syncope. An electrocardiogram showed complete atrioventricular block with a low ventricular rate. He was hospitalized and a temporary transfemoral pacemaker was inserted under direct fluoroscopy urgently.

An unusual cause of stroke in a patient with permanent transvenous pacemaker.

We report the case of a 61-year-old man with a stroke secondary to cerebral embolism resulting from inadvertent malposition of a permanent transvenous pacemaker lead in the left ventricle. An electrocardiogram and chest X-ray were suggestive of a left-sided positioned lead which was confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography. Because this malposition was complicated with a cerebrovascular event, transcatheter lead extraction was planned, however, the patient chose lifelong anticoagulation therapy.

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels in patients with rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone secreted from the ventricular myocardium as a response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is still an important cause of heart failure in developing countries.

Aims: To measure BNP levels in patients with RHD and to determine whether BNP concentrations correlate with clinical and echocardiographic findings.