Aim Coronary artery tortuosity is a common coronary angiographic finding. This tortuosity can cause myocardial ischemia even in the absence of significant coronary artery stenosis. Our aim was to compare the demographic, clinical and echocardiographic features of patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and with and without coronary artery tortuosity. Material and methods 361 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography (CAG) due to CCS were included in the study. These patients divided into two groups, those with coronary tortuosity (Group 1) and those without (Group 2). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors associated with coronary artery tortuosity. Results   The mean age of the 361 CCS patients (44 % female; 56 % male) was 56.7±11.5 years. In the univariable regression analysis, age, female sex, hypertension (HT), PR interval, QTc interval, ST / T segment changes, left ventricle diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), left ventricle hypertrophia (LVH) were identified as predictors of coronary tortuosity. In the multivariable regression analysis, age (OR: 1.059; 95 %CI: 1.032–1.087, p<0.001) and hypertension (OR: 0.484; 95 %CI: 0.278–0.843, p=0.01) were identified as independent predictors of coronary tortuosity. Conclusion Coronary artery tortuosity is an angiographic finding that develops as a result of adaptive mechanisms in the heart and can cause myocardial ischemia. Predictors of coronary artery tortuosity in patients with CCS were long PR and QTc intervals, ST / T segment changes, LVH, LVDD, advanced age, and female gender. Evaluation of these demographic, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic data may help clinicans to anticipate coronary artery tortuosity in patients with CCS and to be precautious for PCI.

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), consisting of albumin and lymphocyte counts, has been associated with satisfactory predictive values ​​for in-hospital mortality or clinical follow-up outcomes in acute situations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the use of PNI for the prediction of hospital admission in individuals with mildly reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFmrEF). This retrospective study was conducted between January 2019 and May 2022 and included 200 patients with HFmrEF detected by transthoracic echocardiography. Data from hospitalized patients (group 1) and outpatients (group 2) were compared. In the multivariable regression analysis, brain natriuretic peptide (odds ratio (OR) = 1.001; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.000-1.001, p = 0.001) and PNI (OR = 0.783; 95% CI = 0.720-0.853; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of hospital admission in patients with HFmrEF. The PNI value was statistically significantly higher in group 2 (52.36 ± 5.36) than in group 1 (38.3 ± 8.63, p < 0.001). The PNI value <46.75 is a predictor of hospitalization in patients with HFmrEF, with 86% sensitivity and 88% specificity. Lower PNI levels predict hospital admission in HFmrEF patients. This measure, which can be easily evaluated in daily cardiological practice, allows for quick and precise decisions for hospitalization.

Objective: Recurrence of pericardial effusion is possible despite the successful completion of pericardiocentesis and initiation of treatment. Predicting recurrence is important for determining treatment strategies. This study aimed to examine the factors that influence the recurrence of effusion in patients who had undergone pericardiocentesis. Method: A total of 113 patients with the evidence of tamponade or pericardial effusion over 10 mm were included in the study. The mean follow‐up period was 49 months. Patients with and without recurrent effusion were divided into two groups. PNI calculation (PNI = 10 × serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count (mm ³ ) formula was used. Results: Recurrent pericardial effusion was observed in 30 patients during the follow‐up period. There was no difference in age, gender, hypertension, LVEF%, hypertension, and appearance of fluid when the two groups were compared. There was a difference in PNI score and presence of malignancy between the two groups ( p : 0.031 and 0.042, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression showed that malignancy and PNI score were independent predictors of recurrence in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis ( p : 0.015 and p : 0.014, respectively). In the ROC analysis, PNI < 40.75 predicts recurrent pericardial effusion with 75% sensitivity and 58% specificity (AUC: 0.626, 95% CI: 0.509–0.742, and p = 0.042). Conclusion: Predictors of recurrence in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis are important for patient follow‐up. PNI is a simple and useful score that can be used to predict recurrent pericardial effusion.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Predicting in-hospital mortality rates following tricuspid valve surgery is imperative, especially in light of the recent advancements in treatment modalities. The Naples prognostic score serves as an indicator of systemic inflammation, malnutrition, and prognostic outcomes across a spectrum of medical conditions. In this investigation, we sought to assess the efficacy of the Naples prognostic score in predicting in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing tricuspid valve surgery. METHODS: A total of 360 consecutive patients diagnosed with severe tricuspid valve disease, who underwent tricuspid valve surgery, were included in this retrospective study. The study population was categorized based on the Naples prognostic score classification into two groups: low (0–1–2) and high (3–4). RESULTS: The study's primary outcome—in-hospital mortality—was significantly higher in patients with a high Naples prognostic score group than in those with a low Naples prognostic score group (35 [28.2%] vs. 8 [5.1%], p2 predicted in-hospital mortality with 81.4% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity (area under the curve: 0.782 [95%CI 0.729–0.829, p<0.0001]). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that the Naples prognostic score serves as an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing tricuspid valve surgery.