Left atrial (LA) enlargement and improved myocardial diastolic properties are a component of athlete's heart. We performed a longitudinal study involving adolescent athletes to investigate the impact of training on LA remodelling and diastolic function. 21 competitive adolescent soccer players were enrolled and engaged in an 8-month training program. Echocardiographic ...

We evaluated electrocardiogram estimates of repolarization times (RTs) and action potential durations (APD) separately for initial and terminal repolarization periods in a reference group of 5376 healthy men and women and in 125 acute coronary syndrome patients with and 657 without diagnostic ST elevation (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and non-STEMI ...

BACKGROUND: In reperfused acute myocardial infarction (RAMI), cardioprotective treatments may enhance myocardial salvage and hence reduce the area of necrosis. Based on studies showing that plasmid-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor (pVEGF) gene transfer reduces infarct size by combining angio-arteriogenic and cardiomyogenic effects and that erythropoietin (EPO) exerts anti-apoptotic actions in ...

Aims: To propose and validate a novel approach to determine the optimal angiographic viewing angles for a selected coronary (target) segment from X-ray coronary angiography, without the need to reconstruct the entire coronary tree in three-dimensions (3D), such that subsequent interventions are carried out from the best view. Methods and results: ...

Thrombus remains the bane of interventional cardiology. The use of thrombus extraction devices and distal protection devices has been controversial. Pharmacological modulation using intracoronary (IC) thrombolytic therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is also not an established choice although intravenous thrombolytic therapy is widely accepted and applied treatment of choice ...

BACKGROUND: Estimation of fetal heart ventricle mass is important for fetal cardiac evaluation in cases of structural or functional cardiac disorders or extracardiac factors. It may join other cardiac parameters to ascertain the severity and prognosis of such disorders, or the nature and timing of intervention. We applied a novel ...

Acute myocardial infarction is triggered by various factors, such as physical exertion, stressful events, heavy meals, or increases in air pollution. However, the importance and relevance of each trigger are uncertain. We compared triggers of myocardial infarction at an individual and population level. We searched PubMed and the Web of ...

The authors present a case of 51-year-old male patient with symptoms of congestive heart failure. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D TTE) at the time of admission revealed a spherical, highly mobile structure in the right atrium (4.5 cm in diameter). Despite using multiple views it was impossible to distinguish if this ...

OBJECTIVE: To establish normative reference ranges of fetal cardiac dimensions derived from volume datasets of cardio-STIC-M (spatio-temporal image correlation with M-mode display) METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken on singleton pregnancies with accurate gestational age and normal fetuses. Volume datasets of cardio-STICs were acquired by experienced sonographers with a high-resolution ...

The capability of currently available echocardiography-based strain estimation techniques to fully map myocardial abnormality at early stages of myocardial ischemia is yet to be investigated. In this study, myocardial elastography (ME), a radio-frequency (RF)-based strain imaging technique that maps the full 2D transmural angle-independent strain tensor in standard echocardiographic views ...

We report a case of a 41-year-old man who had fatal multiple cerebral and bilateral renal infarcts 1 hour after initiation of thrombolytic therapy for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. Echocardiography study disclosed dilated left ventricle with severe global hypokinesia suggestive of preexisting cardiomyopathy and a disintegrated left ventricular apical ...

Objectives. The aim of this study was to establish nomograms for fetal stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and ejection fraction (EF) using four-dimensional ultrasound with spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) modality. Methods. The fetal heart was scanned using STIC modality, starting with classic four-chamber view plane, during fetal quiescence with abdomen uppermost, ...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to find out if single time point and estimated cumulative release of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase (CK) correlate with early infarct size and left ventricular function measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). METHODS: CMR and serial CK and cTnT measurements ...

The plaque distribution patterns in coronary bifurcation lesions are not well understood. It has been speculated that carina is free of plaque partly because of high wall shear stress providing an atheroprotective effect. To study plaque distribution with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in the coronary bifurcation and the prevalence of carina ...

A metabolomic method using reversed-phase liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) was developed to obtain a systematic view of the development and progression of myocardial infarction (MI). By combining with partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), 16 biomarkers in rat urine were identified and eight of them were related to ...

Coronary artery disease is the single leading cause of death in the United States. Occlusion of the coronary artery was identified to be the cause of myocardial infarction almost a century ago. Following a series of investigations, streptokinase was discovered and demonstrated to be beneficial for the treatment of patients ...

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening illness that is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Patients with extensive emboli usually have associated right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. With anticoagulation therapy, RV function usually returns to normal. In patients with massive and submassive PE, echocardiography may directly visualize the embolus ...

Recombinant thrombolytic peptides are mainly represented by recombinant forms of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), a proteolytic enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into active plasmin, which then functions to dissolve clots. The three clinically relevant recombinant thrombolytic peptides are alteplase (t-PA), reteplase (r-PA), and tenecteplase (TNK). r-PA and TNK ...

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), caused by acute occlusion of the infarct-related coronary artery, is an emergency condition. The primary therapy is restoration of full antegrade flow by either percutaneus coronary intervention (PCI) or thrombolytic therapy (TT). Although primary PCI is superior to TT in patients with STEMI, there are many ...

We report the case of a 46-year-old patient who presented a chest pain with ST-segment elevation in precordial leads V1 (2 mm), V2 (4 mm), and V3 (3 mm). Thrombolytic therapy was initiated with the combination tenecteplase tissue plasminogene activator, aspirin, and heparin. Further electrocardiogram and cardiac enzymes measured every ...

It is known that primary angioplasty is more effective than thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction. The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of the two strategies on the left ventricular functions using the Tei index (a combined myocardial performance index). ...

OBJECTIVES: High levels of mean platelet volume (MPV) have been shown to be a predictor of poor clinical outcome among survivors of myocardial infarction. We evaluated the association between admission MPV and infarct-related artery (IRA) patency in patients treated with thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). STUDY DESIGN: We ...

Thrombolytic therapy is still the fastest and most accessible treatment for patients presenting with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The time to treatment is a pivotal parameter in reperfusion. We examined the effects of implementing a better organized team approach to reduce door-to-needle times in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Fully ...

Behcet's disease is a multisystemic, rheumatic disorder characterized by oral and genital ulceration and ocular inflammation. Although cardiac involvement is not rare as a manifestation of Behcet's disease, coronary arteritis is reported seldom. We present the first case of left main coronary artery thrombosis in literature leading to acute myocardial ...

BACKGROUND: Thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is currently the only approved acute therapy for ischemic stroke. After rt-PA-induced recanalization, reocclusion is observed in 20-34%, probably caused by platelet activation. In acute myocardial infarction, the combination of thrombolytic and antiplatelet therapy leads to a better outcome compared to thrombolytic ...

OBJECTIVES: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent in patients with acute myocardial infarction. It has been shown that MS is associated with poor in-hospital outcome and long-term survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to investigate the effect of MS on the infarct-related artery patency in patients ...

Tenecteplase is a genetically engineered product of the Alteplase molecule. Mutations of Alteplase at three locations result in a more fibrin specific thrombolytic agent with a longer half life. Such properties would allow bolus administration, leading to faster reperfusion of occluded arteries. Tenecteplase is equivalent to front loaded Alteplase in ...

Management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has undergone seismic changes in the last two decades, primarily with the global availability of thrombolytic agents and with the burgeoning use of Primary PCI. Application of these two modalities has dramatically reduced both the mortality and morbidity from AMI. Advances in thrombolytic therapy ...

Milestones in the development of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) as a fibrin-specific thrombolytic agent include: purification of human t-PA from the culture fluid of the Bowes melanoma cell line, elucidation of the molecular basis of fibrin-specific plasminogen activation, first experimental animal models of thrombosis, first patient (renal allograft) treated with ...

This 63 years old man presented to the emergency room with chest pain of more than 12 hours duration. The initial electrocardiogram showed as ST segment elevation inferior and right ventricular infarction. He developed signs and symptoms consistent with cardiogenic shock, followed by life threatening ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. ...

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a prevalent condition that may account for > 300,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. Although thrombolytics have been studied as a treatment for acute PE since the 1960s, to date there have been only 11 randomized controlled trials comparing thrombolytic therapy to conventional anticoagulation, ...

In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), myocardial reperfusion is associated with an inflammatory response leading to adverse effects on further myocardial damage. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the thrombolytic regimen with half-dose reteplase (r-PA) combined with abciximab on different cytokines involved in the local and systemic inflammatory ...

Individuals with type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience a myocardial infarction and have worse outcomes compared with nondiabetic individuals. The underlying pathophysiology of the atherosclerotic process is accentuated but not significantly different in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, the prothrombotic state associated with diabetes may also ...

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between homocysteine levels and the development of left ventricular thrombus in acute anterior myocardial infarction patients directed to thrombolytic therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients presenting with ST elevated acute anterior myocardial infarction and treated with thrombolytic agent, t-PA, ...

TNKase is a genetically engineered variant of the alteplase molecule. Three different mutations result in an increase of the plasma half-life, of the resistance to plasminogen-activator inhibitor 1 and of the thrombolytic potency against platelet-rich thrombi. Among available agents in clinical practice, TNKase is the most fibrin-specific molecule and can ...

INTRODUCTION: Thrombolytic therapy improves clinical outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke but is compromised by symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and an unpredictable therapeutic response. In vitro and in vivo data suggest that activation of procarboxypeptidase U (proCPU) inhibits fibrinolysis. AIMS: To investigate whether the extent of proCPU activation is related ...

OBJECTIVE: The use of thrombolytic agents and other forms of reperfusion therapy has provided a means to reverse ischemia and minimize the size of infarctions. The purpose of this review is to examine various clinical trials of reperfusion agents and address key imaging issues. CONCLUSION: Advanced MRI and CT play ...

Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can define the territory and extent of myocardial infarction from patterns of late gadolinium enhancement. Following failure to reperfuse with thrombolytic therapy, a case of myocardial infarction is described in which ongoing symptoms and an electrocardiogram change led to a diagnostic dilemma. Cardiac magnetic resonance ...

Coronary embolism is an uncommon cause for myocardial infarction in clinical practice and there is no consensus on the treatment of this subject. Thrombolytic agents and percutaneous intervention are up to date options and yet there are only a few case reports regarding thrombolytic therapy in this special subgroup of ...

BACKGROUND: The role of neuroimaging in acute posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territory infarction is less well appreciated compared with the anterior cerebral circulation because PCA infarction occurs less frequently and more often is associated with limited neurologic deficit not qualifying for thrombolytic therapy. On occasion, however, hemiparesis and/or visual field ...

Over 20 years have passed since the introduction of the tri-iodinated low-osmolar nonionic contrast agents such as iopamidol, iohexol, ioversol and iopromide. During this time, most cardiology practices have switched to these nonionic agents to avoid the nuisance side effects and cardiac adverse events associated with the older ionic contrast ...

Hyperglycaemia in the period following myocardial infarction is associated with increased mortality and there is some evidence that its treatment can improve survival. However, it remains unclear as to what the ideal glucose targets might be. This study examined observational data taken from a previously reported randomised controlled trial of ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intravenous administration of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) can improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The most important complication of t-PA therapy is intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The aim of this study was to use serial MRI studies to identify independent predictors of symptomatic and asymptomatic ...

Thrombolytic agents activate plasminogen and induce a systemic fibrinolytic and anticoagulant state. Two thrombolytic drugs are used frequently in practice: streptokinase (SK) and alteplase (t-PA). Streptokinase mainly undergoes renal elimination with a half-life of 11-17 min, while alteplase is eliminating by the liver with a half-life of 4-6 min. Our ...

Myocardial infarction remains a major cause of death despite contemporary therapeutic strategies. Diagnosis in the intensive care unit is challenging, but is essential to target therapy accurately. In this issue of Critical Care Lim and colleagues present the results of a prospective non-interventional screening study for acute myocardial infarction in ...

PURPOSE: To estimate the doses to the heart and coronary arteries from common breast cancer radiotherapy (RT) regimens used worldwide from the 1950s to the 1990s. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Virtual simulation and computed tomography planning were used to reconstruct the megavoltage and electron regimens. Manual planning was used for the ...

Myocardial infarction in pregnancy is uncommon. Use of thrombolytic treatment is relatively contraindicated. Early recognition as well as a multidisciplinary approach to the management of these cases is important, as untreated there is a high maternal and fetal mortality. The case presented here highlights the importance of early transfer to ...

A 60-year-old man experienced right orbital pain, periorbital swelling, and double vision 2 hours after treatment with streptokinase and heparin for myocardial infarction. Orbital CT revealed a right superior subperiosteal orbital hemorrhage. Conservative management in the absence of visual compromise was sufficient, as his symptoms and signs resolved completely in ...

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) may occur as an isolated event from primary ventricular bleeding or as a complication of brain hemorrhage from another etiology. It is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Recent translational and clinical studies demonstrate that thrombolytic drugs administered intraventricularly through an external ventricular drain to lyse an ...

Rapid reperfusion is the key treatment goal in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The American College of Cardiology-American Heart Association (ACC-AHA) 2004 guidelines for the management of STEMI include recommendations for pharmacologic reperfusion with use of fibrinolytic agents. Fibrinolytic agents are the preferred pharmacologic class for the management ...