Inadequate awareness and attention to non-HDL cholesterol: undertreatment of high-risk patients in cardiology practice in Turkey.

Background: The relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is well-established. Recently, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) has been validated as a superior predictor of ASCVD, especially in individuals with mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia. The EPHESUS study evaluated real-life hypercholesterolemia management and awareness of non-HDL-C in cardiology outpatient practices.

Comparative Evaluation of Chatbot Responses on Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The growing interest in natural language processing chatbots (NLPCs) has driven their inevitable widespread adoption in healthcare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of responses provided by NLPCs, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Bing, to frequently asked questions about CAD.

Predictive Value of Inflammatory Scores for Left Atrium Thrombosis in Ischemic Stroke Without Atrial Fibrillation.

: Studies have shown that inflammation markers can be used as prognostic tools in predicting acute ischemic stroke. In this study, we conducted a comparison of several inflammation scores in predicting left atrial thrombosis (LAT) in patients with ischemic stroke without AF. : In this single-center, retrospective study, we included 303 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke.

Clinical Implications of Pan-Immune-inflammatory Values in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Despite significant advances in understanding hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in recent years, there is a need to improve risk stratification for patients at high risk of adverse outcomes. The relationship between inflammation and disease severity in HCM patients is known. Recently, a new inflammation parameter called the pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) has been introduced.

Plasma transfusion in the intensive care unit.

Background: Current guidelines discourage prophylactic plasma use in non-bleeding patients. This study assesses global plasma transfusion practices in the intensive care unit (ICU) and their alignment with current guidelines.

Study Design And Methods: This was a sub-study of an international, prospective, observational cohort.

Giant right coronary artery aneurysm presenting with recurrent syncope: A diagnostic challenge.

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is a rare form of coronary artery disease characterized by abnormal dilation of a coronary artery segment. While CAAs can present with various symptoms, syncope is notably uncommon, with limited documented cases. We present the case of a 24-year-old woman with a 2-month history of recurrent syncope, occurring in the absence of other symptoms.

Development of In-Hospital and Discharge Protocols for Optimal Lipid-Lowering Strategies in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in Türkiye: Expert Guidance.

Although guidelines strongly recommend low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), these goals are not achieved in many patients. We present expert recommendations for the in-hospital and post-discharge management of lipid-lowering therapy in ACS patients in Türkiye. A group of expert cardiologists comprising members of the Turkish Society of Cardiology and leading lipidologists who have all worked in national cardiology lipid working groups for at least 4 years, considered the optimal approach to lipid management in ACS patients in Türkiye, taking into account Turkish healthcare infrastructure and issues from real-world practice.

Evaluation of right ventricular mechanics using exercise echocardiography in asymptomatic patients with severe mitral stenosis.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise echocardiography (EE) on Right ventricular (RV) deformation parameters in asymptomatic patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) (mitral valve area ≤ 1.5 cm, stage C) and to determine the relation between symptoms and severity of MS. 38 rheumatic MS patients in stage C underwent EE.

Associations Between Echocardiographic Right Heart Measurements With Short-Term Prognosis in Heart Failure: A Prospective Study.

Background: Echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a strong risk determinant for prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Although parameters of RV systolic function are widely used to define RV dysfunction, there is scarce data to suggest these parameters are best suited to predict HF-related outcomes.

Aims: We aimed to understand which morphologic or functional parameters are most closely associated with short-term mortality and HF-related hospitalization in patients with HF.

Evaluation of mid-term outcomes of partial and intermediate atrioventricular canal defect surgery.

Background: The risk factors for reoperation and mortality after partial and intermediate atrioventricular canal defect repair are unclear. This study assessed the mid-term outcomes and risk factors for reoperation and mortality after partial and intermediate atrioventricular canal defect surgery.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients who underwent primary repair of intermediate (n = 45) or partial (n = 52) atrioventricular canal defect between 2005 and 2019 were included in this single-centre study.

Comparison of inflammatory markers for the prediction of atrial fibrillation recurrence following cryoablation.

The aim of this study is to investigate the value of inflammatory markers for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence prediction after cryo-balloon ablation (CA). The study included 399 patients divided into two groups by AF recurrence after CA. Inflammatory markers including uric acid/albumin ratio (UAR), systemic immune inflammation index (SIII) and CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) were evaluated.

Assessment of Lipoprotein (a) Levels in Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Single Center Experience from Türkiye.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the role of elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels as a potential contributor to residual risk in individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Considering that approximately 90% of Lp(a) levels are genetically determined and can vary regionally, we assessed Lp(a) levels in a cohort of ASCVD patients from the Turkish population, where data is currently limited.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data and Lp(a) measurements collected from individuals diagnosed with ASCVD at a single center.

Acquired antithrombin deficiency in adult patients with postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between acquired antithrombin deficiency in patients undergoing postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (PC-ECMO) and thromboembolic or haemorrhagic events such as bleeding, peripheral arterial thromboembolism, and ischemic cerebrovascular events.

Methods: The study was designed as a single-center, prospective study and conducted at our hospital between November 2019 and June 2021. 50 patients who underwent ECMO due to postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock were included in the study.

A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Haloperidol and Dexmedetomidine on QTc Interval Prolongation during Delirium Treatment in Intensive Care Units.

Background: Haloperidol and dexmedetomidine are used to treat delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). The effects of these drugs on the corrected QT (QTc) interval have not been compared before. It was aimed to compare the effects of haloperidol and dexmedetomidine treatment on QTc intervals in patients who developed delirium during ICU follow-up.

Heart Failure Awareness Survey in a Turkish Population: HFAS-TR.

Objective: Heart failure is a leading cause of death and the most common diagnosis leading to hospitalization. Its awareness is lower than that of other cardiovascular diseases, both in the general population and among patients with heart failure (HF). This study aimed to establish the current level of knowledge about HF in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) in Türkiye.

Comparative analysis of the addition of empagliflozin versus doubling the furosemide dose in decompensated heart failure.

Introduction: This study aims to compare the addition of SGLT2 inhibitors or doubling the diuretic dose in patients receiving treatment with beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), as well as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who present to the emergency department with decompensated heart failure.

Methods: This study is a single-center and prospective analysis. A total of 980 decompensated heart failure (HFrEF) patients receiving optimal medical therapy (OMT) according to the 2021 European heart failure guidelines were randomized in a 2:1 ratio into the furosemide and empagliflozin treatment arms.

Prognostic value of pulmonary artery diameter/aorta diameter ratio in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The ratio of pulmonary artery diameter (PAD) to ascending aortic diameter (AoD) has been reported to be a prognostic marker in several lung diseases; however, the usefulness of this tool in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is unknown. Here, we aimed to determine the long-term prognostic value of the PAD/AoD ratio in patients with APE.

Methods: A total of 275 patients diagnosed with APE at our tertiary care center between November 2016 and February 2022 were included in the study.