The Evaluation of P-Wave Parameters in Patients With Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defect.

Background: Atrial septal defect (ASD) can lead to volume overload and related changes in P-wave parameters in surface electrocardiograms of these patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of volume overload on P-wave parameters in patients with ASD.

Materials And Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort analysis.

Association between the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nocturnal hypertension.

Nighttime blood pressure (BP) decreases have prognostic significance owing to circadian patterns. The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has rapidly increased in recent years. We aimed to investigate circadian blood pressure changes in patients with NAFLD.

The detailed transseptal puncture technique for optimal closure in patients with a patent foramen ovale.

Background: The closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) using transseptal puncture has particular advantages and disadvantages. Thus, transseptal puncture should be re-evaluated in detail.

Aims: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the detailed transseptal puncture technique in patients who underwent PFO closure due to cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack in terms of residual shunts and atrial fibrillation.

Clinical outcomes of extended endovascular recanalization of 16 consecutive Buerger's disease patients.

Objective: Buerger's disease is one of the worst diseases causing peripheral artery occlusions (especially lower extremity) with increased morbidity and mortality. Endovascular treatment of the diseased arteries gains preference over bypass surgery nowadays. Here, we aimed to present the clinical outcomes of 16 consecutive Buerger's disease patients underwent extended endovascular recanalization which is a new technique to restore direct blood flow to at least one foot artery, with the performance of angioplasty for each tibial and foot artery obstructions.

Percutaneous closure of coronary artery fistula: long-term follow-up results.

Introduction: Coronary artery fistula consists of abnormal congenital connections between a coronary artery and cardiac chambers, a coronary vessel or an intrathoracic vessel that can be complicated by intracardiac shunts, endocarditis, myocardial infarction, or coronary aneurysms. Recent reports have emphasized the efficacy of percutaneous transcatheter techniques as an alternative to surgical closure, but the reported experience is relatively limited.

Aim: To assess angiographic outcomes in a series of 20 patients who underwent transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistula.

Retrograde approach for percutaneous closure in a patient with ruptured sinus of Valsalva.

In this report, we present a 37-year-old male with ruptured right sinus of Valsalva. He was treated by percutaneous closure of the rupture using the retrograde approach. The procedure was performed successfully within 26 minutes.

The effect of hemodialysis on electrocardiographic parameters.

Background: Cardiovascular complications are the leading causes of premature deaths in hemodialysis patients. Due to rapid changes in volume and electrolyte concentration following dialysis, the some electrocardiographic (ECG) changes or arrhythmias might be seen.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of hemodialysis on the ECG parameters in patients with chronic end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

A new electrocardiographic marker of myocardial reperfusion in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous intervention: the value of QRS duration.

Aims: Although ischaemia-induced QRS complex changes have been described previously, their relation with reperfusion status is not clear. We aimed to investigate the relation of QRS duration with reperfusion at tissue level compared to myocardial blush in patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Methods And Results: One hundred and forty-eight patients were enrolled.

The efficiency and safety of percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defects with the Occlutech Figulla device: initial clinical experience.

Objectives: We evaluated the efficiency and safety of the Occlutech Figulla device in percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD).

Study Design: The study included 28 patients (17 women, 11 men; mean age 43 years) who underwent percutaneous transcatheter closure using the Occlutech Figulla device for secundum ASDs causing a hemodynamically significant shunt. Defect size was estimated by transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography, and also by balloon sizing in nine patients.

Tissue Doppler imaging must be performed to detect early left ventricular dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: We sought to compare diastolic parameters in patients having type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy controls using both pulse-wave (PW) Doppler and relatively novel tissue-Doppler imaging (TDI) to evaluate the possible effect of diabetes on left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods And Results: One hundred and thirty-two patients were evaluated (81 type 1 diabetic patients and 51 healthy volunteers). The detailed M-mode, two-dimensional, colour Doppler; PW Doppler; and TDI analyses were performed on resting subjects in a regular setting.

Relationship of admission hematological indexes with myocardial reperfusion abnormalities in acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions.

Background: Elevated values of mean platelet volume (MPV) and elevated white blood cell (WBC) count are predictors of an unfavourable outcome among survivors of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, their relationship with reperfusion abnormalities is less clear.

Objective: To evaluate the value of admission MPV and WBC count in predicting impaired reperfusion in patients with acute STEMI who are treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

A very rare cause of continuous murmur and coronary ischemia: high-flow coronary-to-pulmonary artery fistula.

A 52-year-old woman presented with complaints of chest discomfort and angina radiating to the neck and left arm on exertion. She reported that the severity of angina was increasing after sublingual nitrate intake. Coronary angiography showed a high-flow fistula between the left main coronary artery and pulmonary artery.

[High levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and impaired autonomic activity in smokers].

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) activity and autonomic nervous activity using heart rate variability in smokers.

Study Design: The study consisted of 136 healthy subjects, including 66 smokers (35 women, 31 men; mean age 36 years) and 70 nonsmokers (43 women, 27 men; mean age 34 years). Serum samples were collected from all the subjects.

Clinical implications of chest x-ray parameters in evaluating patients with cardiac dyspnea.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between aortic arch calcification and clinical and radiographical parameters on chest radiography.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 242 consecutive patients that were admitted to our intensive care unit for dyspnea. Chest radiography was performed for all patients with the posteroanterior view.

Hepatitis C infection is associated with increased coronary artery atherosclerosis defined by modified Reardon severity score system.

Background: The link between arteriosclerotic disease in the carotid or coronary artery and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been shown in some studies although other studies have produced contrary results. However, the effect of chronic HCV infection on the extension or severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been determined so the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of HCV infection on the severity of CAD.

Methods And Results: The study group comprised 139 HCV seropositive and 225 HCV seronegative patients with angiographically documented CAD.

Systolic total narrowing of left anterior descending coronary artery and flow interruption secondary to myocardial bridge: a rare case report and review of literature.

A 33-y-old man was admitted to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm and neck. No pathological signs were recorded upon physical examination. The admission electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded during chest pain showed a large anterior wall myocardial infarction.

Sympathetic overactivity in patients with pulmonary stenosis and improvement after percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty.

Objective: Percutaneous balloon valvulotomy (PBV) is the procedure of choice for the treatment of valvular pulmonary stenosis (PS) with similar results comparable to surgical valvotomy but less invasive.

Methods And Results: Twenty-seven consecutive patients with PS being evaluated for PBV were enrolled in the study. Peak instantaneous transvalvular gradient, right ventricle (RV) diameter, mean atrial pressures, RV systolic pressure (RVSP), pro-brain natriuretic peptide (proBNP) levels significantly decreased immediately after PBV.

Relationship of admission QRS duration and changes in QRS duration with myocardial reperfusion in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with fibrinolytic therapy.

Background: Although ischemia induced QRS complex changes have been described previously, their relationship with impaired reperfusion, which is known to be associated with poor clinical outcomes, is not clear.

Methods And Results: To investigate the relationship of QRS duration changes with myocardial reperfusion, we studied 165 acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients who were administered fibrinolytic therapy for reperfusion. For each patient, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) with a paper speed of 50 mm/s was recorded on admission and repeated at the 60(th) and 90(th) min following fibrinolytic therapy.

Effects of cigarette smoking on heart rate variability and plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in healthy subjects: is there the relationship between both markers?

Background: Cigarette smoking increased the risk of acute cardiac events related with endothelial dysfunction and increased sympathetic activity. Impaired autonomic nervous activity is recognized as a considerable symptom of cardiac dysfunction and is strongly associated with increased risk overall mortality.

Methods: A total of 75 healthy habitual smokers (40 female, 35 male, mean age 36.

Imaging of coronary artery anomalies: the role of multidetector computed tomography.

Background: Coronary artery anomalies are evaluated by using catheter-based angiography. Multidetector row-computed tomography (MDCT) is a new noninvasive imaging technique that has excellent spatial resolution for detecting the origin and course of a coronary anomalous vessel.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity of multidetector computed tomography in patients who had coronary artery anomaly demonstrated by conventional coronary angiography.

Imaging of coronary artery fistulas by multidetector computed tomography: is multidetector computed tomography sensitive?

Background: Coronary angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary artery fistulas (CAFs). Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is a recently developed imaging technique for detecting coronary artery stenosis, coronary artery anomalies, and coronary artery fistulas and their courses.

Objective: We aimed to determine accuracy or sensitivity of MDCT in patients having CAF.

Relationship of admission haematological indices with infarct-related artery patency in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.

Objective: Mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker for platelet reactivity, and white blood cell count (WBC-C), a marker for inflammation, have been shown to be predictive of unfavourable outcomes among survivors of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The relationship of admission MPV and WBC-C with infarct-related artery (IRA) patency is not clear. We aimed to evaluate the value of admission MPV and WBC-C for the prediction of IRA patency, in patients with acute STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.