Effects of Pomegranate on Wound Healing.

Background:  Sepsis disrupts normal wound healing and causes organ damage through a systemic inflammatory response. Pomegranate () is a natural antioxidant rich in polyphenols, such as ellagitannins and punicalagins, and has demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing properties in various preclinical models.

Objective:  This study aimed to evaluate the effects of pomegranate extract administered before and after sepsis induction on wound healing in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) rat model.

Inflammatory prognostic index predicts late mortality after surgical aortic valve replacement.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative Inflammatory Prognostic Index (IPI) in predicting late mortality in patients undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR).MethodsA retrospective, single-center cohort of 400 patients who underwent elective, isolated surgical AVR between 2015 and 2023 was analyzed. The IPI was calculated using the formula: C-reactive protein (CRP) × neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) / albumin.

Active Side-Branch Protection Strategy for Culprit Bifurcation Lesion in STEMI Patients: The Multicenter STEMI-BIF Registry.

Background: To date, the best side branch (SB) protection strategy in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs)-related ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not yet been settled.

Aims: This study sought to evaluate the clinical outcome of the jailed balloon (JBT) and jailed wire techniques (JWT) for the SB protection strategy in STEMI patients with culprit CBLs.

Methods: This large-scale multicenter (n = 10) observational retrospective study included STEMI patients with culprit CBLs who underwent PCI with provisional stenting.

Ostial Stent Implantation or Crossover Stenting for Ostial LAD Lesions: The Multicenter CROSS-ANATOLIA Registry.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for isolated ostial left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesions remains technically difficult. Accurate ostial stenting (AOS) aims to prevent involvement of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), while crossover stenting (COS) ensures complete ostial coverage but may increase procedural complexity. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients who underwent AOS or COS for ostial LAD disease.

Thrombosis Risk in Patients With Mitral Paravalvular Leak: A New Phenomenon in Mechanical Prosthetic Valves.

Background: Mitral regurgitation modifies left atrial (LA) hemodynamics, potentially reducing thrombus formation through the "washout effect." However, the role of paravalvular leaks (PVLs) in thrombus formation remains unclear. In this study we examined the development of thrombosis in patients with mild-moderate and severe mitral PVL.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Single-Ventricle Physiology: A Case Report of cc-TGA Managed With Fontan Strategy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been widely used in adult patients with heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony, but its application in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly those with single-ventricle physiology, remains limited. We report the case of a male patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cc-TGA) and single-ventricle physiology who developed complete atrioventricular block and underwent single-chamber epicardial pacing at the age of four. A dual-chamber pacemaker was later implanted at the time of Glenn surgery.

Results of a Screening Program for Diagnosis of Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Among Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: PAPCAT Cardiac Amyloidosis Türkiye Survey.

Background: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an increasingly recognized disease. Several recent advanced imaging techniques and parameters have been introduced into the diagnosis of CA. However, the first step in using those techniques is clinical suspicion.

HALP Score as a Prognostic Biomarker in Tricuspid Valve Surgery: Association with in-Hospital and Long-Term Mortality.

Purpose: Tricuspid valve surgery is associated with significant perioperative and long-term risks. The Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet (HALP) score is an integrated biomarker reflecting nutritional, inflammatory, and hematologic status. HALP score has proven prognostic utility, yet its relevance in tricuspid valve surgery is not well established.

Double kissing culotte or mini-crush stenting for true coronary bifurcation lesions: the multicenter COLLECT-BIF registry.

Background: This multicenter observational study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the mid-term clinical outcomes of the mini-crush technique (MCT) and double kissing culotte technique (DKCT) in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions (CBLs).

Methods: This large-scale, multicenter study (n = 8) included patients with CBLs who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with either MCT or DKCT. The primary endpoint was defined as major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which include cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target lesion revascularization.

A predictive model for differentiating causes of elevated mechanical prosthetic aortic valve gradient.

In managing aortic prosthetic valves (APVs), increased transvalvular gradients present significant diagnostic challenges, often requiring advanced multimodality imaging (MMI). Predictive models can offer valuable insights in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to develop a predictive model to differentiate between causes of high mechanical prosthetic aortic valve gradients the causes of high gradients in mechanical prosthetic aortic valves.

Assessment of vertigo and dizziness in individuals following COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that affects not only the respiratory system but also the central and peripheral nervous systems. Dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems are among the most frequently reported neurological complaints following COVID-19 infection.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dizziness/vertigo in patients who had COVID-19 and to examine the associated risk factors.

An academic evaluation of ChatGpt's ability and accuracy in creating patient education resources for rare cardiovascular diseases.

Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) is a web-based artificial intelligence assistant with the potential to provide information, answer questions, and make recommendations on various topics. Rare cardiovascular diseases (rCVD) are among the health problems that require specialized knowledge and attention, and web databases provide relatively limited information. In this study, we investigated the accuracy and reliability of ChatGPT's answers to patients' possible questions about rCVD.

Association between aortomitral continuity calcification and conduction disturbances following transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the balloon-expandable Myval valve.

Background: Given the anatomical proximity of the cardiac conduction system, aortomitral continuity calcification (AMCC) may contribute to conduction disturbances (CD) during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to radial force on the AMCC. This study aimed to investigate the impact of AMCC on new-onset CD in patients undergoing TAVI with the balloon-expandable Myval valve.

Methods: This retrospective study included 160 patients who underwent TAVI.

Evaluation of Systemic Embolism in Patients with Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: Key Insights and Implications.

Objective: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication following heart valve surgery, presenting considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Despite advances in treatment, systemic embolism remains a major adverse event associated with poor outcomes. This study aimed to identify predictors of in-hospital systemic embolism in patients with PVE and to evaluate treatment outcomes.

The Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation: A Novel Inflammatory Marker for Predicting Restenosis Risk in Superficial Femoral Artery Lesions after Endovascular Treatment.

Background: Restenosis of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) following endovascular treatment remains a significant clinical challenge in peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study evaluates the prognostic value of the Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI) as a biomarker for predicting restenosis risk in SFA lesions.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, 632 patients undergoing endovascular interventions for symptomatic PAD were analyzed.

Transcatheter valve-in-valve replacement for degenerated mitral bioprosthesis using Myval device.

Structural valve deterioration in surgical bioprostheses may require redo valve surgery, which is associated with significant operative mortality and poor long-term survival. As an alternative treatment option, valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged for patients with symptomatic and severely degenerated bioprosthetic valves who are at high risk for redo cardiac surgery. This case report describes the first case of transseptal valve-in-valve-transcatheter mitral valve replacement in an 85-year-old female patient in Türkiye.

Factors determining early mortality in ischemic mitral regurgitation surgery.

Background: This study aims to identify the causes of early mortality in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery performed in combination with coronary artery bypass grafting for the treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Methods: Between January 2017 and January 2023, a total of 411 patients (272 males, 139 females; mean age: 63.1±9.

Axillary Artery Approach for Ductal Stenting in Neonates and Infants.

Ductal stenting in patients with unusual arterial duct anatomy presents a challenge. The axillary artery (AA) approach provides a safe and effective alternative for access, particularly when conventional femoral routes fail. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow who underwent ductus arteriosus (DA) stenting via the AA route between November 2018 and December 2022 at two tertiary cardiac centers.

Three Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: It has been suggested that ventricular strain measurements may be impaired in chronic hemodialysis patients despite having no history of heart disease. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ventricular strain parameters can be used to detect subclinical cardiac dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: In our study, 47 patients under the age of 65 years with no known history of cardiac or valvular disease and receiving chronic hemodialysis treatment for at least 1 year were compared with an age- and sex-matched control group of 29 healthy individuals.