Background and Objectives: We aimed to assess the effect of AST/ALT ratio on echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) parameters after COVID-19 patients recover. Materials and Methods: 87 patients with COVID-19 were included in the study. The patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, but the patients did not need intensive care unit follow-up or non-invasive mechanical ventilation support. After a discharge and two weeks following the positive swab test result, patients were considered eligible if they had any symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed within 24 h prior to CMRI. The median value of AST/ALT ratio was found, and the study population was divided into two subgroups based on the median AST/ALT ratio value. The clinical features, blood test, TTE and CMRI results were compared between subgroups. Results: C-reactive protein, D-dimer and fibrinogen were found to be significantly higher in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. LVEF, TAPSE, S’, and FAC were significantly lower in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. LV-GLS were significantly lower in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. In CMRI, native T1 mapping signal, native T2 mapping signal and extracellular volume raised significantly in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. Right ventricle stroke volume and right ventricle ejection fraction were significantly lower in patients with high AST/ALT ratio, but right ventricle end systolic volume was significantly higher in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. Conclusion: High AST/ALT ratio is related to impaired right ventricular function parameters with CMRI and echocardiography after recovery from acute COVID-19. Assessment of AST/ALT ratio at hospital admission may be used to assess the risk of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 disease, and these patients may require closer follow-up during and after the course of COVID-19.

Background and Objectives: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorder, shares cardiovascular characteristics in etiology, prognosis, and fetomaternal risks. Electrocardiography plays a pivotal role in assessing cardiovascular risks. Beyond conventional predictors, identifying easily obtainable and reproducible electrocardiographic markers may significantly contribute to the early identification of individuals at risk of preeclampsia. In this study, we aimed to investigate the value of the Frontal QRS-T angle and other electrocardiographic parameters in predicting the development of preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: A total of 62 pregnant patients diagnosed with preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant patients as the control group were included in this study. The first- and third-trimester electrocardiographic parameters were compared within groups and between groups. Results: The Frontal QRS-T angle was significantly elevated in patients with preeclampsia compared to the controls (55.0 ± 40.8 vs. 19.5 ± 15.1; p = 0.002). The first-trimester Frontal QRS-T angles in the patients with preeclampsia were higher than those of the controls (29.5 ± 25.0 vs. 15.3 ± 11.5; p = 0.015). A high Frontal QRS-T angle independently marked preeclampsia development in antenatal and late pregnancy (p = 0.003 and p = 0.042, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy of the Frontal QRS-T angle in predicting preeclampsia surpassed other electrocardiographic parameters. Conclusions: This study shows that the Frontal QRS-T angle may be a candidate to be an independent predictor for the development of preeclampsia. In this context, the Frontal QRS-T angle, which is an electrocardiographic parameter, seems promising.

A higher frequency of premature ventricular complexes is associated with a higher risk of premature ventricular complex-induced cardiomyopathy. Although there are several studies on the systolic functions of the left ventricle in this patient group, it is clearly not known how the diastolic functions of the left ventricle are affected. This study examined the effect of premature ventricular complex on left ventricle diastolic functions using diastolic strain rate. The trial included 57 patients with frequent premature ventricular complexes and 54 healthy volunteers. The patient was evaluated using echocardiography in its entirety. The vendor-independent software system determined systolic and diastolic strain parameters via 2-dimensional speckle tracking analysis. Using the auto strain 3P semi-automated endocardial boundary tracking instrument, the global longitudinal strain was measured from the apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber, and long axis. The diastolic strain rate was determined by averaging the strain rates of 17 cardiac segments at 2 distinct periods of diastole. In the patient group, early diastolic strain rate was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.62 ± 0.58 vs. 1.25 ± 0.38, P < .001). There were found to be significant negative connections between PVC's electrocardiographic QRS wave length and early diastolic strain rate and coupling interval and early diastolic strain rate. Significant positive associations between coupling interval and early diastolic strain rate were discovered (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Patients with premature ventricular complex exhibited a lower early diastolic strain rate than healthy individuals. The early diastolic strain rate can be used to predict left ventricle diastolic dysfunction, and persons with premature ventricular complex may have a higher risk of left ventricle diastolic dysfunction than the general population.

Objective: Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) is a frequently encountered medical emergency associated with high early mortality rates, but existing tools to predict short-term outcomes for risk stratification have several limitations. Our aim was to derive and validate a simple clinical scoring system using baseline vital signs, clinical and presenting characteristics, and readily available laboratory tests for accurate prediction of short-term mortality in individuals experiencing ACPE.Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprised 1,088 patients with ACPE from six health centers. Subjects were randomly allocated into derivation and validation cohorts at a 4:3 ratio for comprehensive examination and validation of the prognostic model. Independent predictors of mortality (P<0.05) from the multivariable model were included in the risk score. Discriminant ability of the model was tested by receiver operating characteristic analysis.Results: In the derivation cohort (623 patients), age, blood urea nitrogen, heart rate, intubation, anemia, and systolic blood pressure were identified as independent predictors of mortality in multivariable analysis. These variables were used to develop a risk score ranging from 0 to 6 by scoring each of these factors as 0 or 1. The SABIHA (systolic blood pressure, age, blood urea nitrogen, invasive mechanical ventilation requirement, heart rate, and anemia) score provided good calibration with a concordance index of 0.879 (95% confidence interval, 0.821–0.937). While the probability of short-term mortality was 80.0% in the high-risk group, this rate was only 3.3% in the low-risk group. The SABIHA score also performed well on the validation set.Conclusion: A simple clinical score consisting of routinely obtained variables can be used to predict short-term outcomes in patients with ACPE.

Background: Hypothyroidism can cause a variety of manifestations, including cardiovascular disorders. The most frequent clinical signs are sinus bradycardia and pericardial effusion. The affected patient generally has significant symptoms. Hypothyroidism infrequently results in a complete atrioventricular block. Case presentation: A 19-year-old girl presented to our cardiology clinic with generalized tiredness, edema in her lower limbs and face, constipation, and a menstruation abnormality in the previous six months. With a normal ejection fraction on echocardiography, an electrocardiogram revealed complete atrioventricular block. When she was admitted, her laboratory testing showed that she had severely raised Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels, severe dyslipidemia with normal electrolytes, and normal liver and kidney function tests. The patient was treated with 50mg Thyroxine to her. She had significant improvement within two weeks of treatment. Up on the next follow-up (at one-month), her electrocardiogram returned to normal sinus rhythm without any evidence of atrioventricular block and that the lipid profile had returned to normal. Clinical discussion: In its first stages, hypothyroidism can not show any obvious symptoms. Untreated hypothyroidism over time can lead to a variety of health issues, including obesity, joint discomfort, infertility, and heart disease. This current case demonstrates how levothyroxine medication successfully managed a young female patient's severe hypothyroidism, difficult total heart block, severe hyperlipidemia, and long-standing menstrual irregularity. Conclusion: We found that overt hypothyroidism caused a complete atrioventricular block and severe dyslipidemia, and that thyroxin therapy completely corrected both conditions.