Metabolic syndrome is associated with atrial electrical and mechanical dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the left atrial (LA) electrical and mechanical functions in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 87 patients with MetS and 67 controls. Intra-atrial and interatrial electromechanical delays (EDs) were measured with tissue Doppler imaging. P-wave dispersion (Pd) was calculated from the 12-lead electrocardiograms. LA volumes were measured echocardiographically by the biplane area-length method. RESULTS: Intra-atrial and interatrial EDs and Pd were significantly higher in patients with MetS (10.3 ± 6.3, 21.0 ± 11.5 and 41.7 ± 10.8) than in controls (7.4 ± 5.5, 12.3 ± 10.4 and 29.2 ± 7.4; p = 0.003, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The LA preatrial contraction volume and active emptying volumes were higher in this population, but the LA passive emptying fraction was lower. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, the presence of MetS, LA active emptying volume and left ventricular early diastolic (E) wave velocity/late diastolic (A) wave velocity (E/A) ratios were independent correlates of interatrial ED (p = 0.002, p = 0.001 and p = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that intra-atrial and interatrial EDs and Pd were prolonged and LA mechanical functions were impaired in patients with MetS.

The presence of fragmented QRS on 12-lead ECG in patients with coronary slow flow.

BACKGROUND: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is characterised by delayed opacification of coronary arteries in the absence of epicardial occlusive disease. It has been reported that CSF may cause angina, myocardial ischaemia, and infarction. Fragmentation of QRS complex (fQRS) is an easily evaluated non-invasive electrocardiographic parameter. It has been associated with alternation of myocardial activation due to myocardial scar and/or ischaemia. Whether CSF is associated with fQRS is unknown. The presence of fQRS on ECG may be an indicator of myocardial damage in patients with CSF. AIM: To investigate the presence of fQRS in patients with CSF. METHODS: Sixty patients (mean age 55.5 ± 10.5 years) with CSF and 44 patients with normal coronary arteries without associated CSF (mean age 53 ± 8.4 years) were included in this study. The fQRS was defined as the presence of an additional R wave or notching of R or S wave or the presence of fragmentation in two contiguous leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. RESULTS: The presence of fQRS was higher in the CSF group than in the controls (p = 0.005). Hypertension was significantly more common in the CSF group (p < 0.001). There was no significant association between the presence of fQRS and an increasing number of vessel involvements. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of CSF was the independent determinant of fQRS (OR = 10.848; 95% CI 2.385-49.347; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Fragmented QRS, indicating increased risk for arrhythmias and cardiovascular mortality, was found to be significantly higher in patients with CSF. We have not found an association between the presence of fragmented QRS and the degree of CSF. Further prospective studies are needed to establish the significance as a possible new risk factor in patients with CSF.

Coexisting bicuspid aortic and pulmonary valves with normally related great vessels diagnosed by live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Coexistence of bicuspid aortic and pulmonary valves in the same patient is a very rare entity identified mainly during surgery and postmortem. To the best of our knowledge, only one case has been diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography in a newborn with malposition of the great arteries but no images were presented. Here, we are reporting the first case of bicuspid pulmonary and aortic valves diagnosed by live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in an adult with normally related great arteries.

Impact of admission blood glucose levels on prognosis of elderly patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Admission hyperglycemia in acute myocardial infarction (MI) is related with increased in-hospital and long term mortality and major cardiac adverse events. We aimed to investigate how admission hyperglycemia affects the short and long term outcomes in elderly patients (> 65 years) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 677 consecutive elderly patients (mean age 72.2 ± 5.4). Patients were divided into two groups according to admission blood glucose levels. Group 1: low glucose group (LLG), glucose < 168 mg/dL; and Group 2: high glucose group (HGG), glucose > 168 mg/dL. RESULTS: In-hospital, long term mortality and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events were higher in the high admission blood glucose group (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed: Killip > 1, post-thrombolysis in MI < 3 and admission blood glucose levels were independent predictors of in-hospital adverse cardiac events (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Admission hyperglycemia in elderly patients presented with ST elevation myocardial infarction is an independent predictor of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events and is associated with in-hospital and long term mortality.

The primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute anterior myocardial infarction in a middle-aged male patient with bilateral coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas.

A 38-year-old man admitted to emergency department with 2 h of typical substernal chest pain, shortness of breath and nausea. The ECG revealed sinus rhythm with a 3 mm ST elevation in precordial leads V1-V6. The coronary angiography revealed acute total occlusion in left anterior descending artery (LAD) with normal circumflex and right coronary artery (RCA) along with bilateral fistulas arising from the proximal LAD and ostial RCA draining into the main pulmonary artery. Therefore, primary percutaneous coronary intervention and bare metal stent implantation was performed to culprit LAD lesion. The electrocardiographically gated 64-slice multidetector-row CT showed two large, tortuous abnormal vessels which arose from the both ostial part of the RCA and LAD draining into the main pulmonary artery. We report an unusual case of bilateral coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas leading to acute anterior myocardial infarction in a middle-aged male patient.

Long-term effect of bosentan therapy on cardiac function and symptomatic benefits in adult patients with Eisenmenger syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Bosentan improves symptoms in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES). This study evaluated the effect of long-term bosentan therapy on cardiac function and its relation to symptomatic benefits in ES patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-three consecutive adult ES patients (15 with ventricular septal defect, 6 with atrial septal defect, and 2 with patent ductus arteriosus) underwent standard and tissue Doppler echocardiography before and 24 ± 9 months after bosentan therapy. Echocardiographic measurements included pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), myocardial performance index (MPI), tricuspid and lateral mitral annular pulsed-wave tissue Doppler systolic (Sa) and early diastolic (Ea) long-axis motions. Patients' World Health Organization (WHO) functional class, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and systemic arterial oxygen saturations (SaO(2)) were also recorded. The PASP, WHO functional class, 6MWD, and SaO(2) all improved (118 ± 22 to 111 ± 19 mm Hg, 3.2 ± 0.4 to 2.4 ± 0.5, 286 ± 129 m to 395 ± 120 m, and 84.6 ± 6.5% to 88.8 ± 3.9%, respectively; all P < .01) after therapy. There was also significant improvement in right ventricular (RV) MPI (by 23.9%: 0.46 ± 0.15 to 0.35 ± 0.09) and biventricular long-axis function (tricuspid Sa and Ea: 6.7 ± 1.5 to 8.8 ± 1.7 cm/s and 5.7 ± 1.3 to 7.0 ± 1.2 cm/s, respectively; lateral Sa and Ea: 6.8 ± 1.3 to 8.4 ± 1.5 cm/s and 7.6 ± 2.0 to 8.5 ± 2.1 cm/s, respectively; all P < .05). Posttherapy RV MPI was moderately correlated with PASP and 6MWD. CONCLUSIONS: Sustained improvement of pulmonary arterial hypertension and RV function in ES patients was evident 2 years after bosentan therapy, and this may provide insights on the symptomatic benefits gained in these patients.

Successful electrical cardioversion in a massive concentric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with atrial fibrillation.

A 59-year-old man with a known history of nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and chronic atrial fibrillation was admitted to our clinic with weakness, palpitation, and exertional dyspnea. Electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation with high ventricular rate (120 beats per minute), intraventricular conduction delay, and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with ST-segment depression and inverted T waves. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed massive LV concentric hypertrophy. Although there was no gradient increase in the LV outflow tract, marked turbulent flow was seen in midventricular region by colored Doppler echocardiography. On the fourth day of admission, transesophageal echocardiography was done and showed no thrombus in the left atrium. Electrical cardioversion with 100 J was applied to the patient, and atrial fibrillation was returned to sinus rhythm. His control Doppler echocardiogram revealed peak systolic resting gradient of 54 mm Hg, with an increase to 84 mm Hg at Valsalva maneuver at the LV outflow. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed concentric LV hypertrophy with a 35-mm thickness in diastole, mild scar tissue in LV anterior wall midapical segments, and right ventricle wall thickness with a 10 mm in diastole. There was no bradycardia or tachycardia in 24-hour Holter and exercise electrocardiographic testing.

[CyberKnife can cause inappropriate shock]. / Uzay nesteri (CyberKnife) uygunsuz sok nedeni olabilir.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) have been increasingly used to treat life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Although they have life-saving capabilities, they are very sensitive to electromagnetic energy sources. It has been reported that many problems associated with the detection of tachyarrhythmias and termination of the mechanism of the ICDs occur due to electromagnetic interference (EMI). In spite of the fact that EMI has been decreasingly observed with the latest generation ICDs, problems may still occur during radiotherapy. The CyberKnife is the latest stereotactic radio-surgery technology in the field of radiotherapy, and is currently being used for the treatment of malign neoplasm in the body. It is especially preferred for the treatment of advanced stage and metastatic tumors. Five ICD shocks were detected in a patient during a routine follow-up visit. When the patient was evaluated, it was determined that he underwent radiotherapy with CyberKnife technology because of lung metastasis and rectal adenocarcinoma. He received the ICD shocks while he was on radiotherapy. When the stored intracardiac electrograms in the memory of the ICD were investigated, it was established that the shocks were inappropriate shocks due to oversensing because of the exposure to EMI.

Unusual cause of right ventricular outflow tract compression: mediastinal lipomatosis.

Mediastinal lipomatosis (ML) is a benign condition characterized by the accumulation of mature adipose tissue within the mediastinum. ML is usually associated with Cushing syndrome and obesity. Most patients are asymptomatic, but some have thoracic pain, dyspnea, cough, dysphonia, dysphagia, and supraventricular tachycardia. We report a case of ML compressing the right ventricular outflow tract in a patient with Behçet disease.

Serum paraoxonase 1 activity in women with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a leading risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. Reduced paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through increased susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in patients with MetS. AIM: To examine whether there is a relationship between serum PON1 activity and MetS in women. METHOD: The study group consisted of 54 women with MetS. The NCEP ATP III guidelines were used to define MetS. The control group consisted of 65 women without MetS and CAD. All patients from the MetS group underwent coronary angiography. RESULTS: The PON1 activity and salt-stimulated PON1 activity were not significantly altered in women with MetS when compared to controls (p = 0.902, p = 0.877, respectively). There was no significant difference in PON1 activity (p = 0.159), and salt-stimulated PON1 activity (p = 0.139) between diabetics and non-diabetics. In the MetS group, patients with CAD (n = 16) had significantly reduced PON1 activity and salt-stimulated PON1 activity compared to MetS patients without CAD (p = 0.008 and p = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Serum PON1 activity is significantly reduced in women with CAD and MetS. MetS per se does not alter serum PON1 activities.

[Pulmonary hypertension caused by left heart disease]. / Sol kalp hastaligina bagli pulmoner hipertansiyon.

Increased resistance to pulmonary venous drainage is the main mechanism in pulmonary hypertension (PH) developing due to left heart disease. This condition may occur as a result of various diseases affecting left ventricle, left atrium, mitral or aortic valves. Pulmonary hypertension is the common and well-recognized complication of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension accompanying chronic heart failure is related to increased mortality. Treatment should be tailored according to the underlying disease.

The relationship between glucose tolerance and severity of coronary artery disease using the Gensini score.

Consecutive patients (n = 235) with coronary ischemia were studied; 69 patients (29%) had diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was administered to the 166 patients without diabetes; 76 (46%) had normal glucose tolerance (group I = NGT), 68 (41%) had impaired glucose tolerance ([IGT] group II = IGT), and 22 (13%) had diabetic glucose tolerance (DGT). The DGT patients were added to the known diabetics forming (Group III; n = 91). Multivessel disease was significantly more prevalent in group III; 30 patients (43%) in group I, 32 patients (51%) in group II, and 57 patients (69%) in group III (P = .002). Gensini scores were 43.20 ± 24.92 in group I, 54.22 ± 42.61 in group II, and 60.59 ± 38.21 in group III. (P = .037) The severity of coronary artery disease is related to abnormal glucose tolerance. Patients with IGT could be neglected in terms of interventions focused to improve risk factors.

The platelet functions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: anti-TNF-alpha therapy decreases the mean platelet volume and platelet mass.

The present study was designed to investigate the interaction between platelet indices (mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet count (PLC) and platelet mass (PLM)), inflammatory markers and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) subjects. The effects of anti-TNF-alpha therapy and conventional treatment on platelet indices were also compared. We studied 68 patients with AS (group I, 46 men, age: 36.4 +/- 6.9 years) and as control group 34 age and sex-matched healty subjects. All patients received conventional therapy (CT) at the beginning (Group I). The patients were reevaluated after 3 months according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score. Group II consisted of 35 subjects who responded to the CT and continued to take the same therapy for 3 months additionally. Group III consisted of 33 subjects who had a high disease activity score (BASDAI > 4) after 3 months and were accepted refractory to the CT therapy. In Group III the treatment was switched to infliximab and continued for 3 months at the standard intravenous dose. Significantly higher baseline MPV, PLC and PLM was reported as compared to controls decreased by therapy (9.12 +/- 1.20 vs. 8.35 +/- 0.94 fl, p < 0.001, 340 +/- 69 vs. 251 +/- 56 (x 10(3)/ microL) p < 0.0001, 3096 +/- 736 vs. 2110 +/- 384; p < 0.0001, respectively). In the same way, they were substantially lowered by both treatments in group II and group III. PLC and PLM were positively correlated with WBC and ESR (r : 0.44; p < 0.0001, r : 0.41; p = 0.001, r : 0.52; p < 0.0001, r : 0.41; p = 0.001), respectively) in AS patients. Additionally, MPV and PLM were positively correlated with BASDAI score (r : 0.41; p < 0.001, r = 0.29; p < 0.001 respectively). We have found that increased platelet activity reduced by therapy in AS patients. Additionally, it was correlated with inflammatory markers and disease activity. According to these results, it can be suggested that both anti-TNF-alpha and conventional therapy might contribute to a decrease in the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in AS patients.

Longitudinal left ventricular systolic function is impaired in patients with coronary slow flow.

Slow coronary flow (SCF) is a well recognized clinical entity, characterized by delayed opacification of coronary arteries in the presence of normal coronary angiogram. There is currently no data evaluating myocardial systolic function in SCF phenomenon. This study was performed to evaluate regional and global systolic function using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), strain (S) and strain rate imaging (SRI) in patients with slow coronary flow. A total of 35 patients with slow coronary flow and otherwise normal coronary arteries (mean age 48 +/- 7 years) (SCF group) and 21 patients with normal coronary angiograms (mean age 50 +/- 12 years) (control group) were included in the study. These patients were prospectively assessed for evaluation of regional and global left ventricular function by conventional echocardiography, systolic TDI, peak S, and peak systolic strain rates (SRs) There was a significant difference in peak SRs (-1.1 +/- 0.2 vs. -1.8 +/- 0.2 1/s, P < or = 0.0001) but similar in systolic TDI (42 +/- 20 vs. 44 +/- 21 mm/s, P = 0.77) and S (20.7 +/- 7.7 vs. 23.7 +/- 8.8, P = 0.14) between groups. SRs showed a good correlation with mean TIMI frame count (r = -0.80, P < or = 0.0001). As the number of coronary artery with SCF increased global strain rate decreased further. In case of one or two or three coronary artery with SCF global strain rates were 1.4 +/- 0.2; 1.1 +/- 0.3; 0.9 +/- 0.2 1/s, respectively, P < or = 0.0001. Although ejection fraction was preserved, global and regional strain rate were decreased in SCF. In brief, there is an impairment in longitudinal left ventricular systolic function in patients with SCF.

Factors associated with prolonged prehospital delay in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated factors associated with prolonged prehospital delay in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 439 patients (351 males, 88 females; mean age 57+/-12 years) with ST-elevation AMI were interviewed within 48 hours of hospitalization. Patients were pain-free and hemodynamically stable at the time of interview. Data were collected on the time from the onset of chest pain to hospital admission and on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The patients were evaluated in two groups according to the place to which the first presentation was made, i.e., a local clinic/small hospital (clinic group: n=209, 47.6%) or our tertiary fully equipped cardiovascular center (hospital group: n=230, 52.4%). RESULTS: The median and mean delay times were 70 min and 185.2+/-334.8 min, respectively. Of the study group, 136 patients (31%) arrived within 60 minutes after the onset of symptoms. The median delay time was significantly longer in the clinic group (120 min vs 60 min; p<0.001). Female sex, age > or = 55 years, and total education time <9 years were associated with a longer prehospital delay, whereas a history of coronary artery disease (CAD), smoking, and the absence of diabetes were associated with a shorter prehospital delay. In multivariate regression analysis, total education time <9 years, female sex, age > or = 55 years, and the absence of previous CAD were independent predictors of prolonged prehospital delay. The incidence of direct hospital presentation significantly increased with older age, smoking, aspirin use, and previous CAD. In multivariate analysis, only previous CAD was an independent predictor of direct hospital presentation. CONCLUSION: The median delay time of 70 min in this Turkish cohort is in accordance with the data from western populations. Public education campaigns to shorten prehospital delay should place more emphasis on the factors and patient subgroups associated with prolonged prehospital delay.

Effect of glucometabolic disorders on the formation of coronary collaterals in occlusive coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to assess the effect of glucometabolic disorders on coronary collateral vessels in patients with occlusive coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients with at least single-vessel occlusion were enrolled in this study prospectively. The standard oral glucose tolerance test was performed according to the criteria of the World Health Organization. Collateral circulation was graded according to the Rentrop classification. The mean Rentrop scores in normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and diabetes were 1.40 +/- 1.02, 1.05 +/- 0.84, 1.00 +/- 0.98, respectively (P = 0.043). The percentage of patients without collateral circulation (Rentrop-0) was greatest in the diabetic group (44.4%), while the percentage was 21.8% in the IGT group and 22.0% in the NGT group. Ninety-five patients with at least one totally occluded coronary artery were analysed as a subgroup. In the totally occluded artery subgroup postprandial glycaemia was the only parameter that was associated with the Rentrop score in the univariate analysis (r = -0.34, P = 0.002) CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study results, which are in agreement with previous results, indicate that not only diabetic glucose tolerance but also impaired glucose tolerance has an adverse impact on the development of coronary collaterals.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (T-786C) polymorphism in patients with slow coronary flow.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between T-786C polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and slow coronary flow (SCF). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 56 patients with SCF but otherwise normal coronary arteries (mean age 48+/-9 years) and 37 controls with normal coronary angiograms (mean age 50+/-12 years) were enrolled in the study. Screening for the eNOS T-786C polymorphism was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. RESULTS: In normal coronary artery and SCF groups, TT genotype frequency was 23 (62.2%) versus 22 (39.3%), TC heterozygote genotype frequency was 11 (29.7%) versus 30 (53.6%), and CC homozygote genotype frequency was 3 (8.1%) versus 4 (7.1%), respectively (P=0.07). In dominant model statistical analysis, total CC and CT genotype frequency in control and study groups was found to be 14 (37.3%) versus 34 (60.7%), respectively (P=0.025). A positive correlation was found between the mean thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count and C allele in patients with SCF (r=0.21, P=0.043). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the T-786C polymorphism of eNOS gene might be a risk factor for the SCF.

Mean platelet volume in patients with slow coronary flow and its relationship with clinical presentation.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF) and its possible relationship with clinical presentation. STUDY DESIGN: The study included 50 patients with SCF and otherwise normal coronary arteries and 22 patients (control group) with normal coronary arteries. In the SCF group, there were 26 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP), and 24 patients with unstable angina pectoris (USAP). Coronary blood flow was measured using the TIMI frame count. To determine MPV, blood samples with K3 EDTA were processed after one hour of venipuncture. The relationship between MPV and SCF was sought. RESULTS: The mean TIMI frame count was markedly increased in patients with SCF compared to controls (p<0.0001). No significant differences existed between the groups with regard to white blood cell and platelet counts. Patients with SCF had significantly higher MPV values compared to controls (9.4+/-2.3 fl vs 8.1+/-2.0 fl, p=0.014). In subgroup analysis, MPV was significantly increased only in patients presenting with USAP, compared to patients with SAP (p=0.044) and controls (p=0.002). There was a positive correlation between the mean TIMI frame count and MPV in patients with SCF (r=0.32, p=0.01). In multivariate analysis, MPV was the only independent predictor of SCF (p=0.006, odds ratio=1.305, 95% CI=0.985-1.730). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that MPV is increased in patients with SCF, and SCF patients presenting with USAP exhibit significantly increased MPV values, suggesting an altered platelet reactivity and aggregation which may require effective anti-platelet therapy in this patient subgroup.