The aim of our study is to determine the incidence of single coronary artery (SCA). SCA is a rarely seen coronary anomaly in which the right coronary artery and the left main coronary artery arise from single aortic sinus. Although SCA has a benign course in most cases and its clinical significance is unknown, in some autopsy studies it was shown to be related to sudden cardiac death. SCA patients detected among 215,140 coronary angiographies (CAG) performed between 1998 and 2013 in SANKO Hospital were included in our study. The classification of CAG was made according to the two different classifications defined by Smith and Lipton and colleagues. A total number of 215,140 patients who underwent routine CAG were included in the study, and SCA was detected in 67 (0.031%) patients. There were 6 (9%) type R-I, 23 (34%) type R-II, 10 (15%) type R-III, 16 (24%) type L-I and 12 (18%) type L-II patients according to the angiographic classification. SCA is rarely seen during routine cardiac catheterisation and its incidence is 0.014-0.066% in angiographic series. In our study, the incidence was shown to be similar to the previous studies.
(1) To investigate the role of azurocidin, an antimicrobial protein, in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). (2) This single-center prospective observational study included patients with STEMI and healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. Baseline demographic, clinical and biochemical data were compared between the two groups. Azurocidin levels at baseline were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate linear regression analysis with enter method was used to test the association between azurocidin and independent variables, such as the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) score, synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXUS and cardiac surgery score, global registry of acute coronary events score, Killip class, C-reactive protein (CRP), and creatinine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB). (3) A total of 76 patients with STEMI and 30 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Mean ± SD azurocidin levels were significantly higher in patients compared with healthy controls (18.07 ± 13.99 versus 10.09 ± 5.29 ng/mL, respectively). In a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, an azurocidin cut-off level of >11.46 ng/mL had 74% sensitivity and 58% specificity in predicting myocardial infarction. Azurocidin levels had a positive correlation with TIMI score (r = 0.651). In multivariate linear regression analysis, the TIMI score was an independent predictor of the azurocidin level. (4) Azurocidin is an infection marker that may be important in patients with STEMI.
1 January 2014 in Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) syndromes is a rarely seen multisystem disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance due to thymidine phosphorylase gene mutation. It is characterized by progressive external ophthalmoplegia and/or pitosis, progressive gastrointestinal dismotility and abdominal pain, postprandial emesis, cachexia, demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, symmetrical and distal weakness especially in lower extremities and diffuse leucoencephalopathy in cranial magnetic resonance. Endocarditis is the infectious and inflammatory disease of the endothelial surface of the heart. MNGIE syndrome is a condition in which immune system is suppressed and infection risk increased. Herein we summarized a previously not reported endocarditis case in a patient with MNGIE syndrome who was under follow up for three years. In MNGIE syndrome of acute dyspnea, infective endocarditis should be kept in mind and prompt evaluation for surgical treatment should be done.
1 January 2020 in Turk Kardiyoloji Dernegi Arsivi-Archives of the Turkish Society of Cardiology
Objective: Coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) is defined as the delayed arrival of coronary blood flow to the distal vascular bed in at least 1 major epicardial coronary artery. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a type of DNA that circulates freely in the blood once released from nucleated cells. The aim of this study was to determine if the level of cfDNA, which is an indicator of ischemia at the cellular level, was increased in CSFP. Methods: The study included 46 patients in total: 23 patients with CSFP and 23 with a normal coronary angiogram (NCA). The level of cfDNA, and clinical, biochemical, and angiographic features of the groups were compared. Results: The mean age was 53.8 +/- 10.3 years for the CSFP patient group and 56.6 +/- 9.4 years for the NCA patient group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of basal clinical characteristics or laboratory data. The plasma cfDNA level was 5.04 +/- 2.37 ng/mu L in the CSFP patients and 2.28 +/- 1.09 ng/mu L in the NCA group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Several invasive and noninvasive studies conducted on patients with CSFP have revealed myocardial ischemia. The results of this study demonstrated that the level of cfDNA was significantly increased in patients with CSFP as a result of ischemia at the cellular level caused by microvascular disruption.
Background: Complete heart blocks underwent to permanent pacemaker placement are a common complication of tricuspid valve replacement (TVR). If indicated, endocardial placement of a right ventricular (RV) lead is precluded in the presence of mechanical TVR.Case presentation: A 20-year-old female patient firstly underwent metallic prosthetic valve operation with tricuspid valve endocarditis in 2014. Three years after the operation, echocardiography revealed dysfunction of the prosthetic valve thus reoperation was decided. In the second operation, the patient underwent a bioprosthesis valve and AV complete block developed in the postoperative period. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was 45% was found on echocardiography. Pacemaker dependence of the patient, it was aimed to place two electrodes into the left ventricle. Electrodes were placed the target two branches in coronary sinus (CS) and right atrium. Univentricular bifocal pacing was enabled to work.Conclusion: Electrode placement in the CS is a very good alternative to epicardial surgical lead placement in cases where endocardial lead placement from the right atrium to the RV is contraindicated. In patients with lower left ventricular EF who will be pacemaker dependent, the insertion of two electrodes into the CS to prevent pacemaker is a safe and effective treatment.
15 December 2020 in CardioVascular Journal of Africa
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a recently recognised pandemic spreading rapidly from Wuhan, Hubei, to other provinces in China and to manyy countries around the world. The number of COVID-19-related deaths is steadily increasing. Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a disease with high morbidity and mortality rates, and primary percutaneous coronary intervention is usually recommended for the treatment. A patient with diabetes mellitus and hypertension for five years was admitted to the emergency unit with symptoms of fever, cough and dyspnoea. These symptoms were consistent with viral pneumonia and a COVID PCR test was performed, which tested positive three days later. The patient had chest pain on the eighth day of hospitalisation. On electrocardiography, simultaneous acute inferior and anterior STEMI were identified. High levels of stress and increased metabolic demand in these patients may lead to concomitant thrombosis of different coronary arteries, presenting with two different STEMIs.