The prevalence and correlates of T-wave inversion in lead III in non-obese men.

BACKGROUND: T-wave inversion in lead III was linked to displacement of the base of the heart due to abdominal adipose tissue in early electrocardiography (ECG) trials. The observation of T-wave inversion in lead III in some of the pathological and physiological conditions other than obesity suggests the possibilities of different mechanisms. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of T-wave inversion in lead III in non-obese men. METHOD: A total of 1240 men underwent ECG, blood pressure measurement, hepatic ultrasonography, and biochemical tests from January 2019 to December 2019. We excluded 220 subjects due to predetermined criteria. The eligible 105 non-obese men with T-wave inversion in lead III and 915 non-obese men without T-wave inversion in lead III were compared with each other in terms of clinical, demographic and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The mean age was 27.9 years with a range of 20 to 46 years. The prevalence of T-wave inversion in lead III was 10.3%. Body mass index (BMI), blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, hematocrit, and the percentage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were significantly higher in Group with T-wave inversion while alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in Group without T-wave inversion. In multivariable analysis, NAFLD was the best independent correlate of inverted T-wave in lead III (ß = 6.215, p < 0.0001). BMI (ß = 1.448, p < 0.001) and hematocrit (ß = 1.179, p = 0.021) were the other independent correlates of T-wave inversion in lead III. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the association of T-wave inversion in lead III with NAFLD, BMI, and hematocrit in non-obese men.

Serum Endocan Levels Predict Drug-Eluting Stent Restenosis in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1 or endocan) is an immunoinflammatory marker strongly associated with inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. We explored the relationship between serum endocan concentrations and coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR). METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with ISR and 50 control subjects were included in this study. Clinical data and angiographic characteristics were collected. Serum endocan concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: All included patients were divided into four quartiles based on their concentrations of endocan: quartile 1 (0.62-1.31 ng/mL), quartile 2 (1.33-1.74 ng/mL), quartile 3 (1.75-2.77 ng/mL) and quartile 4 (2.78-4.24 ng/mL). The rates of ISR were 16%, 24%, 68%, and 92%, respectively. The patients in quartile 4 had significantly higher rates of ISR than the other groups (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis indicated that endocan concentration [odds ratio = 8.65, 95% confidence interval 3.56-20.94; p < 0.001] was an independent predictor of ISR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to explore the relationship between endocan and ISR. Using a cutoff value of 1.625 ng/mL, endocan predicted ISR with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 78%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that plasma endocan levels may be a novel biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with ISR.

mHealth apps design using quality function deployment.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to draw health managers', clinicians', entrepreneurs' and mobile apps designers' attention toward new mobile health applications (mHealth apps); second, to define mHealth apps design characteristics intended for doctors; and third, to highlight how mHealth apps can be designed using quality function deployment/house of quality (QFD/HOQ) techniques from doctors' perspectives. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Data were collected through a survey and in-depth interviews with doctors to understand their needs and attitudes toward mHealth apps. Analytic hierarchy process, QFD and HOQ methods were used to analyze data. FINDINGS: Doctors agreed that mHealth apps provide them with the tools to improve their service and to become more efficient. Once the 12 doctors' wants were collected, they were prioritized according to their significance and used for mHealth apps development. Eight technical characteristics that cater to doctors' expectations were sorted. The authors suggest that mHealth app designers need to provide design requirements recommended by health personnel for a higher satisfaction level. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Healthcare managers are focusing on increasing their efficiency, patient satisfaction and care quality, and decreasing costs. For these purposes, mHealth revolution and mHealth apps have high potential for improving doctor effectiveness and healthcare quality. This study is among the first to: define Turkish doctors' wants from mHealth apps; elaborate the app's technical characteristics; and increase design quality, which is implied in improving app design. This research makes a significant contribution to define doctors' wants from mHealth apps, to elaborate their technical characteristics and to increase mHealth apps design quality using QFD.

Utility of speckle tracking echocardiography imaging in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is characterized by the progressive replacement of ventricular myocytes with variable amounts of fibrous and adipose tissue. Several studies have suggested that speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) parameters such as strain (S) and strain rate (SR) may prove useful in the early detection of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate RV myocardial function using the STE method in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with ARVD and to assess its potential role in the differential diagnosis of these two presentations. METHODS: We recruited 34 patients with ARVD. Seventeen patients were symptomatic, and seventeen were asymptomatic. RESULTS: The RV free wall global longitudinal S and SR were significantly lower in symptomatic patients with ARVD than in asymptomatic patients. According to a cutoff value of 1.35 per seconds for RV global SR, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting ARVD were 88% and 77%, respectively. According to a cutoff value of 17.3% for RV S, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting ARVD were 82% and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we present strong evidence that STE-derived global S and SR in the RV free wall are decreased in symptomatic patients with ARVD compared with asymptomatic patients.

The Triglyceride-Glucose Index Might Be a Better Indicator for Predicting Poor Cardiovascular Outcomes in Chronic Coronary Syndrome.

This study aimed to explore the potential association between the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP)-both considered surrogate markers for atherosclerosis-and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients diagnosed with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). We conducted a retrospective analysis, encompassing 715 consecutive patients with intermediate CCS risk, who presented at the outpatient clinic between June 2020 and August 2022. MACEs included non-fatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure, cerebrovascular events, non-cardiac mortality, and cardiac mortality. The primary outcome was the composite occurrence of MACEs during the follow-up period. For time-to-event analysis of the primary outcome, we employed Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard models. The median age of the overall study population was 55 years, with a median follow-up duration of 17 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified age, hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System score, and TyG index as independent predictors of the primary outcome. Notably, individuals with high TyG levels exhibited a significantly higher primary outcome rate compared to those with low TyG levels (18.7% vs. 3.8%, p < 0.001). Similarly, patients with elevated TyG values demonstrated statistically higher rates of cerebrovascular events, hospitalizations for heart failure, non-fatal myocardial infarctions, non-cardiac mortality, and cardiac mortality. These findings suggest that TyG may serve as a predictive marker for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CCS.

Inflammatory Markers as Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence: Exploring the C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio in Cryoablation Patients.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac rhythm disorder associated with hemodynamic disruptions and thromboembolic events. While antiarrhythmic drugs are often recommended as the initial treatment, catheter ablation has emerged as a viable alternative. However, the recurrence of AF following ablation remains a challenge, and there is growing interest in exploring inflammatory markers as predictors of recurrence. METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis included 249 patients who underwent cryoablation for paroxysmal AF. The relationship between the 'C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR)' and AF recurrence was examined. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-nine patients with paroxysmal non-valvular atrial fibrillation were included. They were divided into two groups: those without recurrence (Group 1) and those with recurrence (Group 2). Significant differences were observed in age (57.2 ± 9.9 vs. 62.5 ± 8.4, p = 0.001) and left atrial size (4.0 ± 0.5 vs. 4.2 ± 0.7, p = 0.001) between the two groups. In blood parameters, significant differences were found in CRP (5.2 ± 1.3 vs. 9.4 ± 2.8, p < 0.001) and neutrophil counts (5.1 ± 2.2 vs. 6.7 ± 3.6, p = 0.001). In univariate regression analysis, age (OR: 1.058, CI: 1.024-1.093, p = 0.001), WBC count (OR: 1.201, CI: 1.092-1.322, p < 0.001), neutrophil count (OR: 1.239, CI: 1.114-1.378, p = 0.001), CAR (OR: 1.409, CI: 1.183-1.678, p < 0.001), and left atrial diameter (OR: 0.968, CI: 0.948-0.989, p = 0.002) showed significant associations with AF recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of AF. This study demonstrated that along with age, the CAR can serve as an independent predictor of AF recurrence following cryoablation.

Association of Mild Hyperbilirubinemia with Decreased ECG-Based Ventricular Repolarization Parameters in Young Men.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperbilirubinemia is associated with protection against various oxidative stress-mediated diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between bilirubin and novel electrocardiography (ECG)-based ventricular repolarization parameters. METHODS: We enrolled 201 healthy men with mild hyperbilirubinemia (group 1) and 219 healthy men with normal bilirubin levels (group 2). The Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval (defined as the interval from the peak of the T wave to the end of the T wave), corrected (c) Tp-e interval, QT interval, cQT interval, and Tp-e interval/QT interval ratio were measured from leads V5 and V6 with 20 mm/mV amplitude and 50 mm/second rate. RESULTS: The Tp-e interval, cTp-e interval, and Tp-e interval/QT interval ratio were significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2. The cTp-e interval showed a significant negative correlation with total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, and unconjugated bilirubin. The cTp-e interval (odds ratio [OR], 0.900; P =.002) and Tp-e interval/QT interval ratio (OR, 0.922; P =.04) were significantly associated with mild hyperbilirubinemia. CONCLUSION: We showed the association of mild hyperbilirubinemia with decreased novel ECG-based ventricular repolarization parameters.

Fluoroscopy time and scattered radiation during electrophysiology procedures: analysis of one-year data of a laboratory providing electrophysiology training.

OBJECTIVES: Patients and medical staff expose to significant radiation during electro-physiological (EP) procedures. There are few data regarding the leading factors of longer fluoroscopy time and higher scattered radiation in a laboratory giving EP training during those interventions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients' recordings that underwent EP procedure in a single centre arrhythmia unit from February 2019 to January 2020 were examined. Prospectively collected data regarding procedure duration, fluoroscopy time and total air kerma, demographic characteristics of the patients, type of procedure, success of ablation and the use of electro anatomic mapping were retrospectively evaluated. Predictors of total air kerma were analysed with linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Study population consisted of 437 patients with a median age of 47 (39-56); 184 (42.1%) were male. Median fluoroscopy time was 768 (420-1320) seconds and median cumulative air kerma was 369 (191-750) mGy. Fluoroscopy time and cumulative air kerma were significantly lower in diagnostic EP studies compared to other procedures. There was no difference in terms of total air kerma between the procedures other than the diagnostic EP study. In multivariable linear regression analysis; body surface area, fluoroscopy time, not using the electro-anatomical mapping, unsuccessful ablation and atrial flutter ablation were predictors of total air kerma in EP studies performed by trainees. CONCLUSION: Scattered radiation during EP procedures performed by in-training operators is related with some factors. Awareness about those may help to effort reducing the harmful effect of ionising radiation.

Successful Percutaneous Treatment of an Embolized Patent Ductus Arteriosus Occluder Device.

Transcatheter closure has become the leading approach for closure of most instances of patent ductus arteriosus. However, there are some complications associated with this procedure. We report a case involving the embolization of a device in the right pulmonary artery during placement. A 20-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus. During the deployment of an Amplatzer duct occluder device, it was disconnected from the connector and became embolized in the lower branch of the right pulmonary artery. We could not grasp the device with a gooseneck snare. After various attempts, the device was captured and removed by a BiPal bioptome endomyocardial biopsy forceps. Based on our findings, we recommend that endomyocardial biopsy forceps should be considered as an alternative when such complications occur.