Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital anomaly associated with structural weakness of the aortic wall. Sudden onset of symptoms in patients with BAV, such as sudden severe back pain, and pulse ...inequality between the extremities or tension disparity should alert clinicians to acute aortic syndromes, as they require prompt diagnosis and management. Retrograde aortic dissection, which is a rare form of acute aortic syndrome, is an uncommon life-threatening entity and may produce atypical computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging findings, leading to difficulty in diagnosis. We report on a 51-year-old male patient with BAV and spontaneous retrograde ascending aortic dissection. CT findings were confusing and the diagnosis was made via transoesophageal echocardiography. After the diagnosis, the patient was treated with a modified Bentall procedure. He did not have any complications and was stable four months after the operation.
In this study, systolic and diastolic function parameters were measured with conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography in coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) patients and compared to those of ...a control group.
Sixty patients (49 male; mean age 52.4±12.1) in whom CSFP was detected during coronary angiography study and 30 volunteers with normal coronary arteries (21 males; mean age 50.2±12.1) were included in this study. CSFP was determined using the TIMI frame count (TFC) method. TIMI frame count was calculated in each coronary artery using the TFC method. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function was assessed by conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. TFC correlation between diastolic function parameters was measured.
Baseline demographic and laboratory results did not differ significantly between the groups. TIMI frame counts were greater in the CSFP group compared to controls (p<0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction (65.93±8.06% vs 66.63±5.96%), E/A ratio (1.11±0.36 vs 1.22±0.33), and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) (85±17 cm/s vs 84±13 cm/s) measured with conventional echocardiography showed no significant difference between the two groups. Em (7.0±2.1 cm/s vs 7.4±1.7 cm/s), Am (7.4±2.0 cm/s vs 7.0±1.4 cm/s) and E/Em (10±3 vs 10±1) measured with tissue Doppler echocardiography showed no significant difference between the two groups. Corrected TIMI frame count for the left descending coronary artery (cLAD) and mean TFC were not correlated with the E/A ratio, deceleration time (DT), IVRT, or E/Em ratio.
Left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were preserved in CSFP.
Coronary artery fistulas (CAF) are defined as a direct communication between a coronary artery and any cardiac chamber or vessel. They are generally congenital and the majority occurs in the right ...coronary artery (RCA) almost always draining to the right cavities and exact incidence of CAF is unknown. The treatment options for CAF are surgery or catheter closure. Catheter closure of the CAF is now considered to be an effective and safe method alternative to surgery. We report the first case with coil migration and coronary dissection to occur simultaneously in the same patient and successful treatment of these two complications with stent implantation.
Abstract
Aim: We aimed to investigate the prophylactic effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) against contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in rat kidneys. Methods and results: 28 Wistar rats were divided into ...4 groups of 7 rats each (control (C), contrast media (CM) TMZ, trimetazidin + contrast media groups (TMZ + CM). The administration of TMZ solution was done on d2, d3 and d4. Fifth day, contrast media was administered at a single dose. On d6 scarification was performed. The oxidant/antioxidant parameters were measured and histopathological scores were performed in kidney tissues. Most of the histopathological scores were significantly higher in the CM group as compared to other groups. Moreover, the scores of the TMZ + CM and C groups were not statistically different. CM group, had significantly higher levels of MDA compared to the C and CM + TMZ groups (562.82 ± 38.15 vs. 419.15 ± 49.01 and 507.34 ± 14.16 01 nmol/mg protein respectively) (p < 0.001). CM group had significantly lower levels of SOD as compared to C, CM + TMZ and TMZ groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study for the first time, histopathologically demonstrated the effectiveness of TMZ for the prevention of CIN.
We report a case of hyperacute inferior myocardial infarction with life-saving collateral circulation from the conus artery to the left anterior descending artery.
Many drugs are known to cause lengthening of the QT interval. Ibandronic acid is a frequently used agent in the treatment of osteoporosis and is known to cause prolongation of the QT interval due to ...hypocalcaemia. However, no cases of long QT syndrome associated with ventricular tachycardia (VT) with a serum calcium level within the normal limits have been reported in the literature. We report on a case of a VT-based long QT syndrome associated with the use of ibandronic acid.
Objective - Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) encompass a continuum of cardiac ischaemic events, ranging from unstable angina pectoris (UA) to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ...Oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary diseases. In the present study, we examined the associations between lipid and protein susceptibility to oxidation and total sialic acid (SA) and antioxidant status and the severity of ACS as determined by having UA, non-STEMI or STEMI.
Methods and results - The study sample consisted of 102 patients with ACS and 45 controls. Malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls as a marker of protein oxidation were measured to show the susceptibility to oxidation.Antioxidant status was determined by measuring the carotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin E levels and paraoxonase and arylesterase activities. In addition to conventional lipid and lipoprotein analysis, MDA and vitamin E were quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography.Total SA and other oxidant and antioxidant parameters were studied spectrophotometrically.As expected, patients had significantly higher total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein (apo) B values and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apoAI values than controls. Our results demonstrated significant increases both in total SA levels and in indicators of oxidative stress in patients with ACS compared with the controls. However, antioxidant parameters were decreased in patients with ACS. When the patients were divided into groups with UA, non-STEMI and STEMI, respectively, total SA and oxidant parameters were significantly increased and antioxidant parameters were significantly decreased in going from UA to STEMI.
Conclusions - Our study shows gradually increased lipid and protein oxidation and total SA and gradually decreased antioxidant status when the conditions advance from UA to STEMI.These results indicate that these markers may be useful both in understanding plaque destabilization and in determination of risk stratification of patients. Also, measurement of these markers may provide a noninvasive window to study atherosclerotic lesions.