Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Risk in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiovascular disease that predisposes individuals to the development of arrhythmias. The most common sustained arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AF). Compared with the general population, patients with HCM are more prone to the development of AF.

Stethoscope versus point-of-care ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea: a randomized trial.

We aimed to determine the accuracies of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) and stethoscopes as part of the physical examinations of patients with dyspnea. Three emergency medicine specialists in each of two groups of ultrasound and stethoscope performers underwent didactic and hands-on training on PoCUS and stethoscope usage. All the patients enrolled were randomized to one of two predetermined PoCUS or stethoscope groups.

Ligation under vision in the management of symptomatic hemorrhoids: A preliminary experience.

Aim: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of 47 patients who underwent hemorrhoidal arterial ligation under vision (LUV) for symptomatic Grade II and Grade III hemorrhoids.

Methods: A total of 47 patients who underwent LUV between May 2005 and February 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were evaluated with regard to demographic data, grade of the disease, symptoms, medical and/or surgical treatment previously received, operation time, pain scores, analgesic requirement, length of hospital stay, and complications related to the procedure.

Epicardial fat, body mass index, and triglyceride are independent contributors of serum fibroblast growth factor 21 level in obese premenopausal women.

Purpose: The hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) regulates carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis. FGF-21 represents an attractive novel therapy for obesity since administration of FGF-21 has been shown to improve metabolic abnormalities in obese animal models. We investigated FGF-21 and its relationship with epicardial fat thickness (EFT), metabolic parameters, and inflammatory markers in premenopausal obese women compared to controls with similar Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) project risk profiles.

Subclinical hypothyroidism: Comparison of adhesion molecule levels before and after levothyroxine therapy.

Objective: Adhesion molecules are involved in inflammation, atherosclerosis and malignancy. This study measured levels of adhesion molecules before and after levothyroxine therapy in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SHO).

Methods: Levels of soluble (s) intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, s vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM) VCAM-1 and sE-selectin were analysed in patients diagnosed with SHO, prior to administration of 50 µg/day levothyroxine orally for 3 months.

The evaluation of gallstone formation in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass due to morbid obesity.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate gallstone formation, prophylactic and selective cholecystectomy and the effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in morbid obese patients.

Material And Methods: Files of 60 patients who underwent LRYGB between October 2006 and March 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were evaluated for formation of gallstones.

Simvastatin improves incisional wound healing in a rat model: an experimental study.

Unlabelled:  This study investigated the effect of simvastatin on the heal- ing process of abdominal wall wounds in rats.

Methods: The study was performed with adult female Wistar-Albino rats. Control group (n = 20) rats were fed standard laboratory diet until 12 hours before sur- gery.

Spontaneous healing of gallbladder perforation: report of a case.

Gallbladder perforation is a serious complication of acute cholecystitis. Spontaneous healing is very rare, and only three cases have been reported in the English literature. In this study, we present a 73-year-old female patient who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy years after a gallbladder perforation and spontaneous healing.

Prognostic value of plasma soluble CD40 ligand in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Aims: We aimed to clarify whether determination of levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) could predict subsequent thrombo-embolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods And Results: Forty-four consecutive outpatients (mean age: 58 +/- 6 years, 20 male) with chronic NVAF who were not receiving aspirin and had no thrombus or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) on left atrium (LA) or left atrial appendage (LAA) were included in the study. The patients had no history of an embolic event and were followed up 24 +/- 2 months for thrombo-embolic events.

Objective ischemic evidence in patients with myocardial bridging: ultrasonic tissue characterization with dobutamine stress integrated backscatter.

Background: In this study, we investigated the sensitivities of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and integrated backscatter (IBS) in detecting ischemia in patients with symptomatic myocardial bridging (MB).

Methods: Fourteen patients given the diagnosis of MB in the left anterior descending coronary artery as shown by coronary angiography were enrolled. All patients underwent DSE and stress IBS.

[Assessment of physicians employed in emergency medical services about their level of knowledge on basic life support, advanced cardiac life support and medicolegal responsibilities].

Background: We aimed to determine the level of knowledge of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) physicians on Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and medicolegal responsibilities in conjunction with related factors.

Methods: Fifty-three physicians (43 male, 10 females; mean age 39 years; range 28 to 50 years) employed in EMS were required to respond a questionnaire consisting of demographic data and educational background. They also answered 25 multiple-choice questions about BLS, ACLS and medicolegal responsibilities of physicians in a face-to-face manner.

Borderline phylloides tumor in an 11-year-old girl.

Phylloides tumor is an uncommon breast tumor in children. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. A case of borderline phylloides tumor in an 11-year-old girl is described.