The Relationship Between Clinical Outcomes and Calculated Thrombus Burden Before and After Initial Flow in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the standard treatment for ST-segment eleva- tion myocardial infarction. Although myocardial and epicardial perfusion is usually achieved with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, infarct-related arterial thrombus burden negatively affects the proce- dural success and clinical outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between thrombus burden (calculated before and after initial flow) and clinical consequences in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled 1376 patients who had ST-segment elevation myo- cardial infarction between May 2012 and November 2015. Patients who had only undergone balloon angio- plasty and emergency coronary artery bypass grafting were not included in the study. Data regarding the initial clinical and demographic features of the patients were obtained from their hospital records. Thrombus burden was calculated using baseline and final (after wire inflation or small balloon dilatation) thrombolysis in myocardial infarction thrombus grades. The endpoints of the study were defined as no-reflow development after primary percutaneous coronary intervention and 1-year all-cause mortality. Statistical significance was defined as P < .05. RESULTS: No-reflow was detected in 169 patients (12.3%). The calculated basal thrombus burden was signifi- cantly associated with post-procedural no-reflow (P < .001). No-reflow was also associated with advanced age (P < .001), longer pain-to-door time (P < .001), and increased blood glucose levels (P = .032). The calcu- lated final thrombus burden was related to 1-year all-cause mortality (P = .047). One-year all-cause mortality was also associated with advanced age (P < .001), high Killip scores (P=.003), increased white blood cell counts (P = .001), and low estimated glomerular filtration rates (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Basal thrombus burden was associated with no-reflow, and final thrombus burden was associ- ated with 1-year all-cause mortality. The calculation of thrombus burden before and after initial flow may help to predict clinical outcomes.

Comparison of the effects of metoprolol or carvedilol on serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and uric acid levels among patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation.

OBJECTIVE: Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and uric acid levels measured in patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation (NSTEMI) are important in diagnosis and in predicting the prognosis of the disease. There is a limited number of clinical studies investigating the effects of beta-blockers on GGT and uric acid levels in these patients. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effects of beta-blocker therapy on GGT and uric acid levels. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, prospective clinical study. Hundred patients with NSTEMI were included in this study, and they were divided into two groups. Fifty patients were administered metoprolol succinate treatment (1 x 50 mg), whereas the remaining 50 patients were administered carvedilol treatment (2 x 12.5 mg). Thereafter, all of the patients underwent coronary angiography. Blood samples were taken at the time of admission, at the 1st month, and 3rd month to detect GGT and uric acid levels. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference among the metoprolol or carvedilol groups in terms of the GGT levels measured at the baseline, 1st month, and 3rd month (p=0.904 and p=0.573, respectively). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference among the metoprolol or carvedilol groups in terms of uric acid levels measured at the baseline, 1st month, and 3rd month (p=0.601 and p=0.601, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found that GGT and uric acid levels did not show any change compared to the baseline values, with metoprolol and carvedilol treatment initiated in the early period in patients with NSTEMI.

Effect of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty on right ventricular functions in mitral stenosis: short- and mid-term results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short- and mid-term effects of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) on right ventricular functions in mitral stenosis. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 61 patients who had mitral stenosis in normal sinus rhythm (68% female, age: 42±11-16 years). Right ventricular functions were measured before, immediately after, and at 3 months and 1 year after PMBV by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography imaging methods. Additionally, the patients were evaluated in two groups (PAP≥40 mm Hg, n: 46; PAP<40 mm Hg, n: 15) according to the systolic pulmonary artery that was measured by echocardiography prior to PMBV. RESULTS: Post-PMBV mean gradient, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and left atrial size decreased significantly, and the mitral valve area increased significantly in both patient groups. This significance in pulmonary artery pressure was lost at 1 year. The significant post-PMBV increase in tricuspid annular point systolic excursion (TAPSE), systolic velocity, early diastolic velocity, and peak myocardial velocity during isovolumic contraction (IVV), indicating right ventricular functions, disappeared at 1 year. The significant post-PMBV decrease in myocardial performance index (MPI) and late diastolic velocity lost its significance at 1 year. No significant change was observed in myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVA). The group with pulmonary hypertension demonstrated significance similar to the results of the overall group. Post-PMBV TAPSE, systolic velocity, early diastolic velocity, IVV, and IVA increased significantly, and this increase was maintained up to 1 year in the group without pulmonary hypertension. MPI and late diastolic velocity maintained their significantly decreased values up to 1 year. CONCLUSION: The positive effect of PMBV on right ventricular function in the acute period decreases and even disappears in the mid-term in patients developing pulmonary hypertension. Intervention in the patients prior to the development of hypertension is very important for the improvement in right ventricular functions.

Early- and mid-term effects of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty on left atrial mechanical functions in mitral stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate left atrial (LA) mechanical functions in MS before and after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) and to follow it up in short- and mid-term. STUDY DESIGN: We carried out a prospective study of 49 patients with critical mitral stenosis (MS) who had normal sinus rhythm. LA mechanical functions were evaluated before and 24-48 h, 3 months, and 1 year after PMBV, which included LA passive emptying volume (LAPEV), LA active emptying volume (LAAEV), LA total emptying volume (LATEV), LA passive emptying fraction (LAPEF), LA active emptying fraction (LAAEF), LA total emptying fraction (LATEF), and conduit volume. RESULTS: The transthoracic echocardiography parameters of the MS patients before and 24-48 h, 3 months, and 1 year after PMBV were as follows: (a) mitral valve area 1.1 cm² (0.9-1.6); 2.2 cm² (1.8-2.8) (p<0.001); 2.2 cm² (1.7-2.9) (NS); 2.1 cm² (1.8-2.7) (p<0.001); (b) LAPEV 13 ml/m² (9-27); 11 ml/m² (8-19) (p<0.001); 10 ml/m² (7-19) (p<0.001); 10 ml/m² (6-18) (p<0.001); (c) LATEV 26 ml/m² (19-50); 21 ml/m² (16-40) (p<0.001); 20 ml/m² (15-36) (p<0.001); 19 ml/m² (15-34) (p<0.001); (d) Conduit volume 30 ml/m² (22-44); 33 ml/m² (26-46) (p<0.001); 34 ml/m² (30-42) (p<0.001); 36 ml/m² (31-42) (p<0.001), respectively. However, LAAEV, LAPEF, LAAEF, and LATEF were not altered after PMBV. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrated an improvement of LA mechanical functions, which continued to improve for 1 year, after successful treatment of MS by PMBV.

Acute effect of primary percutaneous coronary intervention on left ventricular dyssynchrony in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effect of percutaneous coronary intervention in the acute period on left ventricular dyssynchrony in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients by using Tissue Synchronization Imaging. METHODS: Forty-four ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) patients (29 male, 15 female), who were admitted within the first 12 hours of chest pain symptoms, were enrolled in the study. According to the localization of MI, the patients were divided into groups as anterior MI (n=26) and inferior MI (n=18). All echocardiography measurements were taken just before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and following PCI at a mean of 3-6 days. They were assessed according to the time to reach the peak systolic velocity, which was calculated by the tissue synchronization imaging method from four pairs of non-apical alternate segments. The difference between the duration to reach the peak systolic velocity in alternate segments was regarded as left ventricle dyssynchrony and the results were compared. RESULTS: In the anterior MI group, basal anterior (p<0.01), mid-anterior segment (p<0.01) and basal septal segment (p<0.01); in the inferior MI group, the basal septal segment (p=0.02), mid-septal segment (p=0.02), and basal and mid-inferior segment (p<0.01) values were significantly lower in the post-PCI measurements when compared to the measurements taken prior to PCI. In both groups, the intraventricular dyssynchrony indices of the basal anterior-basal inferior (p<0.01), mid-anterior-mid-inferior (p<0.01) segments were found to be significantly lower in the post-PCI period when compared to the pre-PCI period. CONCLUSION: It was found that percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-elevation significantly decreases the degree of LV dyssynchrony in the acute period.

The Impact of Trimetazidine Treatment on Left Ventricular Functions and Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Patients with Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of treatment with oral trimetazidine (TMZ) applied before and after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) on short-term left ventricular functions and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) undergoing PCI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 45 patients who were undergoing PCI with the diagnosis of NSTEMI. The patients were randomized into two groups. The first group (n=22) of the patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of NSTEMI was given conventional therapy plus 60 mg TMZ just prior to PCI. Treatment with TMZ was continued for one month after the procedure. TMZ treatment was not given to the second group (n=23). Echocardiography images were recorded and plasma BNP levels were measured just prior to the PCI and on the 1st and 30th days after PCI. RESULTS: The myocardial performance index (MPI) was greater in the second group (p=0.02). In the comparison of BNP levels, they significantly decreased in both of the groups during the 30-day follow-up period (29.0±8 and 50.6±33, p<0.01 respectively). However, decreasing of BNP levels was higher in the group administered with TMZ. The decrease of left ventriclular end-diastolic volume was observed in all groups at 30 days after intervention, but was higher in the group administered with TMZ (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Trimetazidine treatment commencing prior to PCI and continued after PCI in patients with NSTEMI provides improvements in MPI, left ventricular end diastolic volume and a decrease in BNP levels.

Assesment of myocardial ischemia by combination of tissue synchronisation imaging and dobutamine stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is an important non-invasive imaging method for evaluating ischemia. However, wall motion interpretation can be impaired by the experience level of the interpreter and the subjectivity of the visual assessment. In our study we aimed to combine DSE and tissue syncronisation imaging to increase sensitivity for detecting ischemia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 50 patients with indications for DSE were included in the study. In 25 patients we found DSE positive for ischemia and in the other 25 patients we found it to be negative. The negative group was accepted as the control group. There was no significant difference in terms of risk factors and echocardiographic parameters between the two groups, except for wall motion scores. In both groups, left ventricular dyssychrony was accepted as the difference between time to peak systolic velocity (Ts) in the reciprocal four couple of non-apical segments at rest and during peak stress. Timings were corrected for heart rate. We compared the differences of the dyssynchronisation value at rest and during peak stress to determine the distinctions within the groups and between the groups of DSE positive and negative patients. RESULTS: We found that stress and ischemia did not create any significant difference over the left intraventricular dyssynchrony with DSE, although at the segmenter level it prolonged the time to peak systolic velocity (p<0.05). These alterations did not show any significant difference between positive and negative DSE groups. CONCLUSION: As a result, this segmenter dyssynchrony and the time to peak systolic velocity, which is corrected for heart rate, did not enhance any new value over DSE for detecting ischemia.

Speckle tracking echocardiographic analysis of left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions of young elite athletes with eccentric and concentric type of cardiac remodeling.

AIMS: In individuals who exercise regularly and for extended periods of time, some structural alterations in the heart, called the athlete's heart, develop in time. These alterations vary in type, can be eccentric or concentric, depending on the nature of exercise. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel, angle-independent method that accurately and reliably measures systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle (LV) with considerably lower inter-operator variability. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-two marathon runners, 24 wrestlers, and 20 healthy sedentary individuals were included in the study. The average age of subjects is 17.5 ± 2.2 in marathon runners, 16.8 ± 1.9 in wrestlers, and 16.4 ± 1.8 in control group. The parameters of LV longitudinal strain (S), LV longitudinal strain rate systolic (SRS), LV longitudinal strain rate diastolic early filling (SRE), and longitudinal strain rate diastolic late filling (SRA) were evaluated by apical two-, three-, and four-chamber grayscale imaging using the global longitudinal strain (GLS) and GLS rate (GLSR). Conventional echocardiographic parameters demonstrated increased LV diameters and wall thickness in the marathon runners and increased wall thickness without increased LV diameters in the wrestlers. Systolic and diastolic functions were comparable between the marathon runners and wrestlers with conventional echocardiography. Analysis with STE, however, yielded higher systolic strain and strain rates in the athletes. Normalized GLS parameters and end-diastolic volume (EDV) were shown to be correlated. CONCLUSION: Overall, conventional echocardiography can detect some differences between young athletes with eccentric and concentric type of athlete's heart but it is incapable of revealing differences in intrinsic myocardial functions. However, analysis using STE demonstrated increased systolic functions in athletes commensurate with increased load, with unaltered diastolic functions.

Can left atrial strain and strain rate imaging be used to assess left atrial appendage function?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of left atrial strain (S) and strain rate (SR) imaging in assessing left atrial appendage (LAA) function. METHODS: We studied 78 consecutive patients (35 females and 43 males; mean age 38 ± 15 years) referred for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). LAA late emptying velocity (LAA-EV) was calculated. Real-time color Doppler myocardial velocity imaging (MVI) data were recorded from the LAA by TEE and the lateral wall of the left atrium (LA) by transthoracic echocardiography. Longitudinal S and SR were measured in the mid portion of the lateral LA wall and lateral LAA wall during the contractile period. LAA late systolic velocity (LSV) and LA-LSV were obtained from Doppler analysis. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation was detected between LAA-EV and MVI parameters (for LAA-S, r = 0.88, p < 0.001; for LAA-SR, r = 0.84, p < 0.001; for LAA-LSV, r = 0.83, p < 0.001; for LA-S, r = 0.84, p < 0.001; for LA-SR, r = 0.79, p < 0.001, and for LA-LSV, r = 0.70, p < 0.001). In addition, a significant positive correlation was detected between LAA-S and LA-S (r = 0.85, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We suggest that LA-S and LA-SR imaging is a beneficial method to evaluate LAA functions noninvasively.

Quantitative assessment of the left atrial myocardial deformation in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation by strain and strain rate imaging: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated regional left atrial (LA) myocardial deformations by strain (S) and strain rate (SR) imaging during LA pump, reservoir, and conduit phases in patients with chronic rheumatic mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 42 patients with moderate-to-severe MR who had normal left ventricular (LV) function, and 36 healthy control subjects. Conventional echocardiographic data were used to calculate LV and LA dimensions, volumes and functional indices (LA ejection fraction, LA active and passive emptying fraction). Longitudinal S/SR indices of the mid and superior segments of LA walls were measured during the three LA phases. Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test and Bland-Altman analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: LV systolic functions were similar in the patient and control groups. LV diameters, LA diameters and LA volumes were greater in the patient group compared with the control group (p<0.05, p<0.001, and p<0.001). LA ejection fraction and LA active emptying fraction values were lower in the patient group than in the control group (56 ± 7 vs. 63 ± 5%, 33 ± 9 vs. 40 ± 4%, p<0.05 for both). During the three LA phases, longitudinal S/SR values were significantly lower in all the segments in the patient group compared with the control group (p<0.001 for S, p<0.001 and p<0.05 for SR). CONCLUSION: Regional LA longitudinal myocardial deformations are observed to be impaired during all the mechanical phases in patients with moderate-to-severe MR. Volume overload, remodeling and rheumatic effects may be responsible for the LA myocardial dysfunction in these patients.

[Assessment of regional left ventricular functions by strain and strain rate echocardiography in type II diabetes mellitus patients without microvascular complications]. / Mikrovasküler komplikasyonu olmayan tip II diabetes mellituslu hastalarda bölgesel sol ventrikül fonksiyonlarinin gerilim (strain) ve gerilim hizi (strain rate) ekokardiyografi ile degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated regional left ventricular myocardial functions by strain (S) and strain rate (Sr) echocardiography in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) without microvascular complications. STUDY DESIGN: The study included 40 DM patients (20 women, 20 men; mean age 52.4 ± 7.9 years) without microvascular complications, and 40 healthy controls (20 women, 20 men; mean age 52.8 ± 10.1 years). Left ventricular functions were evaluated by conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler, and S-Sr echocardiography. Longitudinal peak systolic S and Sr were measured from the basal, mid and apical segments of the left ventricle walls. Patients with DM duration of >3 years (n=24) and receiving medical therapy for DM (n=30) were also evaluated. RESULTS: Conventional Doppler findings were similar in the patient and control groups. Among tissue Doppler variables, only early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Em) was significantly decreased (10 ± 2.9 vs. 11.4 ± 3.2 cm/sec, p<0.05), and accordingly, mitral inflow E/Em ratio was significantly increased (7.3 ± 2.5 vs. 6.3 ± 2, p<0.05) in patients with DM. The two groups were similar with respect to systolic S and Sr values, except for apical-lateral S, mid-anterior S, basal-anteroseptal S, apical-anterior Sr, and mid-anteroseptal Sr (p<0.05, for all). Patients with DM duration of >3 years and receiving medical therapy showed similar changes as the overall patient group. CONCLUSION: The frequency of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was higher in patients with DM. Irregular distribution of systolic S and Sr indices in the left ventricular segments may indicate that DM leads to heterogeneous myocardial involvement also in the early period.

Analysis of athletes' heart by tissue Doppler and strain/strain rate imaging.

After regular and prolonged training, some physical and structural changes occur in the heart. Strain (S) imaging and Strain Rate (SR) imaging are new and effective techniques derived from tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) which examine systolic and diastolic functions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate left ventricular TDI and S/SR imaging properties in athletes and sedentary controls. The study population consisted of 26 highly trained athletes (group I) and age, sex and body mass index (BMI) adjusted 23 control subjects (group II) who had no pathological conditions. Using standard transthoracic and Doppler echocardiographical measurements and reconstructed spectral pulsed wave tissue Doppler velocities, the S/SR imaging of six different myocardial regions were evaluated. There was a significant increase in left ventricular systolic (LVSD) and diastolic (LVDD) diameter, inter-ventricular septum (IVS), left ventricular mass (LVm), left atrial diameter (LA), and transmitral Doppler peak E velocity (flow velocity in early diastole) between group I and group II in the case of echocardiographic findings. In athletes, TDI analysis showed a significantly increased mitral annulus lateral TDI peak early diastolic (E) velocity (18.8 ± 4.1 cm/s vs. 15 ± 3.5 cm/s, P < 0.01), septal TDI peak E velocity (15.8 ± 2.8 cm/s vs. 12.8 ± 2.4 P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in myocardial velocity imaging parameters between group I and group II. Peak systolic strain/strain rates of septal and lateral walls in group I were significantly higher than group II. This study demonstrates that left ventricular S/SR imaging was higher in athletes than in healthy subjects. In addition to traditional echocardiographic parameters, SI/SRI could be utilised as a useful echocardiographic method for cardiac functions of athletes.

Assessment of the regional myocardial deformation changes and viability in anterior acute myocardial infarction patients by strain and strain rate imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the regional myocardial deformation changes and viability in anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients before and after primary coronary intervention (PCI) by strain (S)/strain rate (Sr) imaging. METHODS: Twenty-one patients presented during the first six hours of an anterior AMI and twenty controls were included in this study. Echocardiographic recordings were obtained from the apical/parasternal images just before PCI, one week and one month after PCI. The S/Sr and velocity (V) were measured from the basal mid and apical segments of the walls supplied by the left anterior descending artery. Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was performed in the 1st month after PCI. Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Acute myocardial infarction resulted in the reduction of deformation indices (S/Sr/V) in all segments. Deformation indices were increased after successful PCI. The S/Sr values of the normal and ischemic segments after PCI were higher compared to the baseline (ischemic Sr:-1.3 ± 0.3 vs. -1.1 ± 0.3, p=0.04). No difference was noted in the S/Sr values of the necrotic segments during the first week (Sr:-1.1 ± 0.3 vs. -1.0 ± 0.3, p=0.054). For V measurements, no difference was observed between the viability types at the follow-up measurements (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The remedial effect of PCI on the deformation values was observed in the first week and continued during the first month. In the early reperfusion period, S/Sr indices have the potential to differentiate necrotic tissue from other viability types. Strain/Strain rate imaging can be used for determination of myocardial deformation changes and parameters of viability. However, V values were insufficient.

Evaluation of left ventricular function with strain/strain rate imaging in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: The most important sequel of acute rheumatic fever is mitral stenosis in long-term. The aim of the study is to determine left ventricular (LV) functions by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and strain/strain rate echocardiography (SE/SRE) in mitral stenosis patients who had no clinical signs of heart failure. METHODS: Our study was designed as cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 32 patients with isolated mitral stenosis and mitral valve area = 2.0 cm(2) (Group 1) and 25 healthy control subjects (Group 2). In addition to standard echocardiographic methods, TDI and SE/SRE were performed to assess LV functions in all participants. Student's t-test was used to compare continuous variables. Fisher- exact test was used to compare categorical variables. RESULTS: Systolic myocardial velocity (Sm) were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (6.0+/-1.4 cm/sec vs 7.9+/-1.8 cm/sec, p=0.001) also, early diastolic myocardial velocity (Em) were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (4.4+/-1.5 cm/sec vs 10.8+/-2.1 cm/sec, p=0.001). But there was no significant difference in late diastolic myocardial velocity (Am) between two groups. Peak systolic strain and strain rate of septal wall in Group 1 were significantly lower than Group 2 (p=0.001 for both). Besides, peak systolic strain and strain rate of lateral wall in Group 1 were significantly lower than in Group 2 (p=0.001 for both). CONCLUSION: Although, global ejection fraction was normal and there were no symptoms of heart failure clinically in the patients with mitral stenosis, LV dysfunction demonstrated that using by echocardiography. TDI and strain/strain rate imaging to be new echocardiographic methods may be used reliably for detection LV function in early stage of mitral stenosis.

Evaluation of ultrasonographic fatty liver and severity of coronary atherosclerosis, and obesity in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

OBJECTIVE: Aims were to examine associations (1) between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and obesity, (2) between CAD and NAFLD with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamiltransferase (GGT) levels. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the study group consisted of 355 patients (mean age: 57.5+/-11.4 years), that comply with inclusion criteria and selected of 414 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiographies. Coronary artery disease was defined as a stenosis at least 50% in at least one major coronary artery. Modified Gensini scoring was used to determine the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Fatty liver was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography (4 stages: Grades 0, 1, 2 and 3). Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) >or=30 kg/m2. Statistical evaluations were performed using Student's t test, ANOVA, Chi- square, kappa tests and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: There were significant differences among Grades 0, 1 and 2-3 according to presence of CAD and Gensini score. In univariate analysis, age (OR=1.03, p=0.004), gender (OR=3.05, p<0.0001), dyslipidemia (OR=4.40, p<0.0001), diabetes mellitus (OR=2.15, p=0.048), smoking (OR=3.19, p<0.0001), AST (OR=1.01, p=0.042), GGT (OR=1.04, p<0.0001), NAFLD (OR=1.87, p=0.036) and obesity+NAFLD (OR: 2.1, p=0.018) have effects on presence of CAD. In multivariate model, age (OR=1.04, p<0.001), AST (OR=1.01, p<0.05), GGT (OR=1.04, p<0.001), NAFLD (OR=2.58, p<0.01) have independent effects on CAD; however BMI and obesity were ineffective. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has an independent effect on Gensini score (OR=2.02, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic fatty liver have independent effects on both the presence of CAD and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, increased serum AST and GGT levels may be independently associated with CAD.

Three-dimensional imaging of a comma-shaped right ventricular hydatid cyst.

We report herein a hydatid cyst of the right ventricle and its two- and three-dimensional echocardiographic appearance.