Background: To evaluate whether myocardial strain under adenosine stress calculated from two-dimensional echocardiography by automatic frame-by-frame tracking of natural acoustic markers enables objective description of myocardial viability in clinic. Methods and Results: Two-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D STI) at rest were performed first and once again after ...

Coronary risk factors are poor at predicting adverse cardiac events in the individual patient, with more than 75% of all hard coronary events occurring in persons classified as low or intermediate risk. Myocardial ischaemia testing of asymptomatic persons is an inappropriate measure of myocardial infarction risk, and is plagued by ...

Background: The controversial effects promoted by cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the ventricular repolarization (VR) have motivated VR evaluation by body surface potential mapping (BSPM) in CRT patients. Methods: Fifty-two CRT patients, mean age 58.8 ± 12.3 years, 31 male, LVEF 27.5 ± 9.2, NYHA III-IV heart failure with QRS181.5 ± 14.2 ms, underwent 87-lead BSPM ...

We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of (99m)Tc-3,3-diphosphono-1,2 propanodicarboxylic acid ((99m)Tc-DPD) scintigraphy in differentiating between monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis. Nineteen patients with documented cardiac amyloidosis were included: 8 with transthyretin-related amyloidosis (group A) and 11 with light chain amyloidosis (group B). All the patients underwent scintigraphy with ...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing as the population ages, but its rapid diagnosis and phenotype identification remain challenging. We sought to determine whether acoustic cardiography can accurately identify HF and its phenotypes. METHODS: Three cohorts of patients were studied [94 with hypertension, 109 with HF and ...

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of a 2-h serial multiple biomarker (SMB) protocol for exclusion of myocardial infarction (MI) in the Emergency Department.MethodsA prospective, multicentre, observational study enrolled patients undergoing evaluation for possible MI. Blood samples at presentation and 2 h later were analysed for myoglobin, creatinine kinase-MB, troponin-I and B-natriuretic ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) with acute brainstem infarctions (BSIs) and to determine whether HbA1c is an independent risk factor in BSIs patients. METHODS: 96 only BSIs patients were categorized into four groups according to HbA1c as <6%, ≥6% but <7%, ≥7% but <8%, or≥8%, respectively. ...

The value of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring versus multiple biomarkers in increasing risk prediction for cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unknown. The study group consisted of 1,286 asymptomatic participants (mean ± SD 59 ± 8 years old) with no known coronary heart disease. Mean follow-up time was 4.1 ± 0.4 ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the value of the angiographically-derived Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score in predicting mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during a 3-year follow-up of dialysis patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery ...

Background: The in-hospital outcome of patients with profound cardiogenic shock (CS) undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and prognostic predictors were analyzed. Methods and Results: Between 2003 and 2010, 134 patients with profound CS undergoing 10-15min of cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) and ECMO were prospectively recruited, including 27.6% (37) with ST-elevation ...

Triage to the intensive care unit (ICU) after elective total hip arthroplasty proves a complex medical and resource decision point. A total of 1259 consecutive total hip arthroplasties were reviewed; 89 patients experienced unplanned ICU admissions. Significant risk factors for ICU admission in univariate analysis were age greater than 75 ...

BACKGROUND: A myocardial bridge (MB) is a band of myocardium covering a coronary artery segment, typically located in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Bridged segments of the coronary artery are isolated from the influence of perivascular adipose tissue. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship ...

An 82-year-old hypertensive, diabetic woman was admitted to our department for pre-operative cardiac evaluation. A myocardial perfusion scan revealed apicoseptal and inferior segment hypoperfusion. Coronary angiography exhibited extensive multiple coronary cameral fistulae draining into the left ventricle in a homogeneous and circular way.

The aim of the present study is to investigate incidence, predictors, and long-term outcomes of suboptimal coronary flow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a large population. A total of 2056 consecutive patients with STEMI (mean age 56.2±11.7 years, 1738 men, 318 women) undergoing ...

Several prognostic risk scores have been developed for patients with coronary artery disease, but their comparative use in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been examined. We therefore investigated the accuracy of the Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery ...

Due to high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Iran, and their mutual relationship, we evaluated how comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) can affect MetS in patients with CHD. In this study (1998-2003), we evaluated 547 patients with CHD undergoing comprehensive CR. Cases with MetS decreased ...

To point out a possible correlation between left atrial volume index (LAVI) and left ventricular (LV) diastolic time interval to better define LV diastolic dysfunction, this study was performed. In 62 hypertensive-hypertrophic patients without LV systolic dysfunction, LV volumes, myocardial mass index, ejection fraction% (EF%) and LAVI were measured by ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Chinese herbs for supplementing qi, nourishing yin and activating blood circulation on heart function of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: One hundred patients with ACS after successful PCI were randomly assigned to a Western medicine (WM) ...

BACKGROUND:: One of the major organs affected in neonatal sepsis is the heart. Echocardiogram provides real-time information on the cardiovascular performance rather than dependence on the clinical signs alone, which might lead to misjudgment. AIM OF THE WORK:: To assess left ventricular (LV) functions in septic neonates early after admission ...

BACKGROUND: Obesity is characterized by impaired cardiac energetics that may play a role in the development of diastolic dysfunction and inappropriate shortness of breath. We assessed whether, in obesity, derangement of energetics and diastolic function is further altered during acute cardiac stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: Normal weight (BMI 22 ± ...

Aims:  To compare psychological factors in patients presenting to hospital with earthquake induced stress cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction and non-cardiac chest pain. We hypothesised that patients with stress cardiomyopathy and non-cardiac chest pain would be more psychologically vulnerable than those with myocardial infarction. Methods:  Cardiology admitting staff in the week following ...

BACKGROUND: Evidence of a link between small rises in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and an increased risk of thromboembolic events (TE) in atrial fibrillation (AF) is currently scarce. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the relation between cTnI and findings of an increased thromboembolic risk in patients with non-valvular AF using ...

Enlarged cardiac silhouette on chest x-ray (CXR) in the absence of cardiopulmonary disease is often dismissed as "pseudocardiomegaly." We aimed to assess the impact of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on radiographic heart size and to determine the clinical significance of cardiomegaly caused by EAT. In total 112 patients (52 ± ...

Objectives: We aimed to assess the prognostic values of the EuroSCORE, SYNTAX score, and the novel Clinical SYNTAX score (CSS) for 30-day and 1-year outcomes in patients undergoing left main (LM) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background: PCI has become an alternative treatment for LM coronary artery disease, and risk scoring ...

This study sought to determine whether left atrial (LA) dysfunction predicts heart failure (HF) hospitalization in subjects with preserved baseline ejection fraction (EF). Among patients with preserved EF, factors leading to HF are not fully understood. Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated LA dysfunction at the time of HF, but longitudinal data ...

Alcohol has been consumed by most societies over the last 7000years. Abraham Lincoln said "It has long been recognized that the problems with alcohol relate not to the use of a bad thing, but to the abuse of a good thing." Light to moderate alcohol consumption reduces the incidence of ...

The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a global longitudinal strain and strain rate (GLS, GLSR) and mean radial strain and strain rate (MRS, MRSR) of the left ventricle to predict multivessel disease. In 113 patients, who underwent coronary angiography, left ventricular deformation was analysed ...

The Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score is a useful tool to guide decision-making in patients undergoing three-vessel disease and left main percutaneous coronary intervention. However, someone perceives the SYNTAX score as a labor-intensive surrogate with no added utility over clinical judgment and technical ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure are common findings in patients suffering from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension related to heart failure. RECENT FINDINGS: HFpEF is a clinical syndrome with increasing ...

BACKGROUND: Relation of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels with extent, severity, and complexity of coronary artery disease has not been adequately studied. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between GGT levels and coronary complexity, severity and extent assessed by SYNTAX score and long-term adverse events. METHODS: We enrolled 442 consecutive patients ...

Among the various cardiac contractility parameters, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and maximum dP/dt (dP/dt(max)) are the simplest and most used. However, these parameters are often reported together, and it is not clear if they are complementary or redundant. We sought to compare the discriminative value of EF and ...

Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Data from the Framingham Study have reported a higher incidence of heart failure in obese individuals compared with a normal cohort. The body initially copes with the abundance of fuel present in an obese milieu by storing it in adipose tissue. ...

BACKGROUND: It has been shown by various diagnostic methodologies that angiotensin receptor blockage reduces left ventricular mass, improves diastolic function and increases contractility in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We planned to detect the effect of angiotensin receptor blockage on midwall mechanics and myocardial dynamics in hypertensive patients with LVH. ...

We estimate likelihood of presenting rhythms and survival to hospital discharge outcome after acute cardiac ischemia with arrhythmia and/or myocardial infarction (AMI) during long-duration space missions (LDSM) using selected terrestrial cohorts in medical literature. Medical scenarios were risk-stratified by coronary artery calcium score (CAC) and Framingham risk factors (FRF). AMI ...

Background: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is defined as delayed coronary opacification in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. In the present study, we sought to define its prevalence and clinical features. Methods and Results: The 1,741 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were identified. Those with normal ...

Recent studies have explored the prognostic role of TDI-derived parameters in major cardiac diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF). In these conditions, myocardial mitral annular systolic (S') and early diastolic (E') velocities have been shown to predict mortality or cardiovascular events. In heart failure non ...

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common form of feline heart disease. To date, reliable morphometric reference data for anatomical or histological changes are unavailable. The aim of this study was to identify diagnostically relevant morphometric criteria that clearly distinguish feline HCM from normal hearts. Hearts from 15 cats with ...

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions remains challenging with a higher risk of adverse outcomes. Whether adjunctive intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging improves outcomes of PCI of bifurcation lesions remains unclear. This study sought to determine the long-term clinical outcomes associated with using IVUS for percutaneous treatment of coronary bifurcation ...

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification is essential for the clinical decision-making process in patients undergoing revascularization of the unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA), since the optimal revascularization strategy still remains subject of ongoing debate. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic value of angiographic versus clinical characteristics for the prediction of major adverse ...

We sought to compare the predictive value of the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI), Controlled Abciximab and Device Investigation to Lower Late Angioplasty Complications (CADILLAC), Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (PAMI), and Global Registry for Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) scores for the outcome of ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing ...

Cardiac remodelling following myocardial infarction (MI) is a complex, dynamic process. There have been few longitudinal studies of these changes. A 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was performed on 20 rabbits, before and 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after MI (n = 14) and twice for controls (n = 6). ...

The relation between left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and LV function is well known. However, less is known about the vascular changes influenced by LV geometry. We sought to investigate the relationship of LV geometry to carotid arterial and LV function. A total of 476 hypertensive patients were prospectively recruited. All ...

Background: To date, drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation has not been compared with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for ostial left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesions. Methods: Of the 263 patients in the MAIN-COMPARE registry with ostial LMCA stenosis, 123 were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with DES and 140 ...

OBJECTIVE: Epicardial fat volume (EFV) is linked to cardiovascular event risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether EFV is independently related to concurrent presence of both myocardial ischemia and obstructive coronary stenosis. METHODS: We studied 92 consecutive patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent Rb-82 ...

Introduction: Patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) comprise a heterogeneous population with respect to the risk for adverse events. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has shown to be better, mainly in high-risk patients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction ...

Background: Myocardial (123) I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) kinetics reflect the integrity and function of cardiac presynaptic sympathetic nerve terminals. Heart rate variability (HRV) is an indicator of cardiac sympatho-vagal balance. However, the function of cardiac sympathetic nerve terminals as a modulator of HRV in asymptomatic subjects has remained elusive. In addition, the ...

Various conventional methods are used for functional evaluation and risk stratification in heart failure. A combined index of global myocardial performance called the Tei index has been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of the Tei index with other conventional indices of systolic and diastolic ...

 Obesity is now recognised as one of the most important risk factors for heart disease. Obese individuals have high circulating levels of leptin, a hormone secreted by adipose tissue and in-volved in energy homeostasis. Growing evidence suggests that leptin may contribute to the development of cardiac dysfunction. In a large ...

Objective In hypertensive patients with typical chest pain but absence of coronary stenosis the coronary microcirculation may be impaired, thus, our study aimed to appraise, in these subjects, the role of the coronary microcirculation, assessed by Myocardial Blush Grade (MBG) and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Frame Count (TFC). Methods ...

Following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) the area of myocardial perfusion and metabolism mismatch is designated as dysfunctional viable myocardium. (123)I-beta-methyl iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) is clinically very useful for evaluating myocardial fatty acid metabolism, and (99)mTc-Tetrofosmin (TF) is a widely used tracer for myocardial perfusion. This study was designed to ...