The relationship between total atrial conduction time and left atrial global strain in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Introduction: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic, multisystem disease that results in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) over time. In this study, our goal was to assess predictors of AF in patients with psoriasis, including total atrial conduction time (TACT) and left atrial global longitudinal strain (LAGLS).

Material And Methods: A total of 80 individuals, including 40 psoriasis patients and 40 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study.

Aortic valve sclerosis is a high predictive marker of systemic endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients.

Background: Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is closely related to hypertension and is an important predictor of coronary artery disease as well as cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the mechanisms causing AVS have not yet been clarified. Therefore, we planned to investigate the influence of atherosclerosis-related risk factors including C-reactive protein (CRP), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), left ventricular hypertrophy, and the conventional risk parameters as well as endothelial dysfunction in untreated hypertensive patients.

Premature hair whitening is an independent predictor of carotid intima-media thickness in young and middle-aged men.

Objective: Premature graying or whitening of the hair may possibly represent premature atherosclerotic changes as a surrogate marker of different host responses to cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). This study was undertaken to test whether carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) as a validated surrogate marker of the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) is higher in subjects with prominent signs of hair whitening, independent of chronological age and other CVRFs.

Methods: The current study was conducted in young and middle-aged patients (<55 years age) without a history of cardiovascular disease.

Increased epicardial adipose tissue in patients with slow coronary flow phenomenon.

Background: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is an angiographic finding characterised by delayed opacification of epicardial coronary arteries without obstructive coronary disease. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), localised beneath the visceral pericardium, is a metabolically active endocrine and paracrine organ with possible interactions within the heart. EAT and low-grade inflammation play major roles in the atherosclerotic vascular processes and may be important in other coronary pathologies such as SCF.

Increased pulse wave velocity in patients with panic disorder: independent vascular influence of panic disorder on arterial stiffness.

Objective: Acute and chronic mental stress and many psychiatric disorders have been accepted as a cause of cardiovascular disease. Panic disorder, a subtype of anxiety disorder, has been associated with increased risk of fatal myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death in epidemiological studies. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) is currently the gold standard measurement of arterial stiffness.

Non-dipping pattern in untreated hypertensive patients is related to increased pulse wave velocity independent of raised nocturnal blood pressure.

Background: Non-dipper pattern, characterized by diminished nocturnal decline in blood pressure (BP), is associated with an increase in cardiovascular events. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) has been accepted as the gold standard measurement of arterial stiffness. CF-PWV is a well-recognized predictor of an adverse cardiovascular outcome with higher predictive value than classical cardiovascular risk factors.

A rare combination: Single coronary artery originating from the left sinus of valsalva coexisting with perimembranous ventricular septal defect.

Single coronary artery (SCA) is a rare congenital anomaly in which the entire coronary system arises from a solitary ostium. Although an uncommon congenital anomaly, SCA is encountered more frequently in the presence of other congenital cardiac malformations such as persistent truncus arteriosus, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, or pulmonary atresia. In this report, we present a case of SCA arising from the left sinus of valsalva coexisting with perimembranous ventricular septal defect.

Relationship of fragmented QRS complexes with inadequate coronary collaterals in patients with chronic total occlusion.

Background: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes are defined as various RSR' patterns (≥1 R' or notching of S wave or R wave) in two contiguous leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. In previous studies, fQRS has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality, sudden cardiac death and recurrent cardiovascular events (CVEs). The causative relationship between fQRS and cardiac fibrosis has been shown in prior studies.

Increased serum bilirubin level is related to good collateral development in patients with chronic total coronary occlusion.

Objective: Bilirubin is a bile pigment with potent anti-oxidant properties; in previous studies it has been reported to be negatively associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Although elevated serum bilirubin concentrations may protect against endothelial dysfunction, it is not clear whether higher serum bilirubin levels (SBLs) in physiological ranges may work in favor of good collateral development in patients with chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO).

Methods: The study population consisted of patients who underwent coronary angiography with a suspicion of CAD.

Relationship of fragmented QRS with prognostic markers and in-hospital MACE in patients undergoing CABG.

Background: Fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, sudden cardiac death and recurrent cardiovascular events. However, its prognostic role has not been studied comprehensively in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the presence of fQRS, and the prognostic markers and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Acute coronary syndrome due to bare metal stent fracture in the right coronary artery.

Stent fracture (SF) has been suggested to be an unusual cause of restenosis after drug eluting-stent implantation. However, angiographically visible SF after bare metal stent (BMS) implantation is extremely rare. We present a case of a 58 year-old male patient who presented with unstable angina secondary to a SF of a BMS within two months of elective percutaneous coronary intervention for right coronary artery associated with a muscle bridge and atherosclerotic stenosis.