The impact of admission cystatin C levels on in-hospital and three-year mortality rates in acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: Although tremendous advances have been made in preventative and therapeutic approaches in heart failure (HF), the hospitalisation and mortality rates for patients with HF is high. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between cystatin C and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and in- and out-of-hospital mortality rates in acute decompensated HF (ADHF).

Methods: Between February 2008 and November 2011, 57 consecutive patients who were admitted with ADHF were included in this prospective study.

Comparison of the predictive accuracy of four different ECG algorithms in identification of true ablation site for the idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardias.

Background: We aimed to investigate the accuracy of four algorithms in prediction of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardias in patients who successfully underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Methods: Four algorithms; two with easy-applicability and having a memorable design (Dixit and Joshi), and two with more complex and detailed design (Ito and Zhang) were compared according to the predictive accuracy.

Results: Among 99 patients (mean age 36.

Predictors of Impaired Reperfusion after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with In-Hospital Acute Stent Thrombosis: A Retrospective Analyses of 5 Years of Data.

Background: Acute stent thrombosis (STh) is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with a high-risk of reperfusion failure. However, data focusing on risk factors of reperfusion failure in patients undergoing repeat PCI for treatment of STh remains inadequate.

Methods: A total of 8815 patients who underwent PCI with stent implantation from January 2009 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Relation Between TRCA Complication Rates and Peak ACT Levels Stratified According to the BMI Tertiles.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the fixed dose of 5000 IU unfractionated heparin (UFH) represented as peak activated clotting time (ACT) according to the body mass index (BMI) tertiles in patients undergoing diagnostic transradial coronary angiography (TRCA). A total of 422 patients were included in the present study, 84 in the normal weight group, 218 in the overweight group, and the 120 in the grades 1 and 2 obesity groups. Radial artery occlusion (RAO) was observed in 29 (6.

Evaluation of endothelial dysfunction with flow-mediated dilatation after transradial coronary angiography.

Objective Transradial coronary angiography (TRCA) may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, this study investigated the TRCA-related endothelial dysfunction and its relation to operator experience, the number of punctures and procedure duration. Methods and results A total of 57 patients (42 males and 17 females) who underwent TRCA were included in this single-centre study.

Increased Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios and Low Relative Lymphocyte Counts Predict Appropriate Shocks in Heart Failure Patients with ICDs.

Background: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and relative lymphocyte count (L%) are commonly available tests that can be obtained from complete blood count. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between appropriate defibrillator therapy and PLR, and whether decreased lymphocyte count may predict appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks in heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods: A total of 147 patients with ischemic or non-ischemic HF who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention were enrolled in this study.

Relation Between End-Procedural Activated Clotting Time Values and Radial Artery Occlusion Rate With Standard Fixed-Dose Heparin After Transradial Cardiac Catheterization.

Although heparin administration has reduced the incidence of radial artery occlusion (RAO) during the transradial coronary angiography (TRCA), the effective activated clotting time (ACT) value for guiding unfractionated heparin dosing in patients undergoing TRCA is unknown. Four hundred thirty-two patients who were scheduled for elective TRCA were enrolled in our prospective study. All the patients received a standard dose of 5,000 IU unfractionated heparin.

The association between mean platelet volume and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast or left atrial thrombus in patients with mitral stenosis.

Objective: Although the role of platelet activation has been debated in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC), data on differences in mean platelet volume (MPV) according to the presence of SEC/left atrial thrombus and the rhythm status are lacking. In this study, MPV was analyzed in patients with MS according to the presence of SEC/left atrial thrombus.

Methods: Between January 2005 and March 2014, 188 symptomatic patients having moderate or severe MS (mean age, 45.

Comparison of health-related quality of life among patients using novel oral anticoagulants or warfarin for non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures between novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and warfarin-treated Turkish patients who had been started on oral anticoagulants (OACs) due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and to determine the effects of OACs on patient's emotional status, anxiety and depression.

Methods: A total of 182 patients older than 18 years with non-valvular AF and being treated with OACs for at least 6 months according to current AF guidelines who were admitted to outpatient clinics between July 2014 and January 2015 were included in this cross-sectional study. The exclusion criteria were receiving OACs for conditions other than non-valvular AF and being unable to answer the questionnaire.

Usefulness of the Macruz Index for Predicting Successful Percutaneous Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty in Patients with Mitral Stenosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the Macruz index (P/P-R segment) could predict the severity of valvular involvement and the success of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) in patients with mitral stenosis (MS).

Subjects And Methods: Sixty-one patients with MS eligible for PMBV and 72 healthy subjects (61 females and 11 males) with sinus rhythm were enrolled into this study. PMBV was performed in all patients using a percutaneous transseptal antegrade approach and a multitrack balloon technique.

Comparison of the accuracy of three algorithms in predicting accessory pathways among adult Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of three algorithms in predicting accessory pathway locations in adult patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in Turkish population.

Methods: A total of 207 adult patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome were retrospectively analyzed. The most preexcited 12-lead electrocardiogram in sinus rhythm was used for analysis.

Perceived Benefits of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation among Heart Failure Patients and Its Relation to Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Patients with heart failure (HF) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) may misunderstand the indication of ICDs due to unsatisfactory information. The goal of this study is to evaluate the patient perspective of ICD indication and its relation to quality of life, as well as to identify probable communication gaps between doctors and ICD receivers.

Methods: A total of 119 patients with HF who were implanted with a single-chamber ICD were evaluated in outpatient clinics.

Usefulness of notched duration to predict response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Objectives: The presence of notches in the biventricular paced QRS complex (BiP-QRS) from the posterolateral cardiac vein displays delays in the activation of the left ventricle and may consequently be linked with longer times of stimulus conduction. Our objective was to determine the relationship between the notch duration ≥ 0.1 mV in the BiP-QRS and the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).