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Background: Nondipping blood pressure pattern carry a high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications due to a higher cumulative pressure overload. We aimed to define the role of strain analysis for detecting subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in recently diagnosed nondipper and dipper hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular systolic function., Methods: Study population consisted of two groups of patients, Group 1: 45 dipper patients and Group 2: 43 nondipper patients. Global and segmental two-dimensional longitudinal strain analysis were measured by speckle tracking method., Results: The analysis of two-dimensional left ventricular global longitudinal strain and strain rates showed that there was a significant difference between groups (-18.1%±3.1% for nondippers vs -20.5%±2.4% for dippers, P<.001 for global longitudinal strain and -1.2±0.2 1/s for nondippers vs -1.31±0.16 1/s for dippers, P<.001 for global longitudinal strain rate). The nighttime systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure measurements were significantly higher in the nondipper group. Nocturnal dipping rates were statistically different between the groups (P<.001). Interventricular septum, posterior wall thickness, relative wall thickness, left atrial dimension, left ventricular mass, and mass index were higher in the nondipper group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated left atrium size, nocturnal dipping rate, daytime mean blood pressure, and nighttime systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure as independent predictors of global longitudinal strain., Conclusion: In our study, two-dimensional speckle tracking examination showed that the left ventricular systolic function is impaired even in the subclinical period in recently diagnosed nondipper hypertensive patients with deformational analysis., (© 2017, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Red cell distribution width (RDW) represents the heterogeneity of red blood cells (anisocytosis). Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is thought to be a manifestation of red cell aggregation and it has been linked to the development of thromboemboli. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between RDW levels and the presence of left atrial SEC (LASEC). One-hundred and 72 patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography for various indications were enrolled in the study. All patients were categorized into 2 groups according to the presence of LASEC and into 4 groups according to the severity of LASEC. The baseline clinical characteristics, echocardiographic measurements, and laboratory findings, including RDW, were compared between the groups. The RDW (%) level was higher in the LASEC group (14.95 ± 1.32) compared with the non-LASEC group (12.20 ± 1.45; P = 0.0001). When the relationship between RDW and SEC was evaluated according to the increasing grade of SEC, a significant positive correlation was found (r = 0.645, P < 0.0001). In the ROC analysis, an RDW level >13.8% had 70% sensitivity and 89.2% specificity in predicting LASEC (area under the curve = 0.834, P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.656-0.773). In multivariate analysis, RDW levels >13.8% and the presence of atrial fibrillation were independently associated with LASEC (odds ratio [OR] 1.697; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.198-2.085; P = 0.001 and OR 1.586; 95% CI 1.195-2.098; P = 0.003, respectively]. Elevated RDW value is associated with the presence and the severity of SEC. RDW may be a useful marker and independent predictor for the presence of SEC.

Background: Longitudinal two-dimensional strain (L2DS) deformation is a novel technique that evaluates global and regional right ventricular (RV) function. The aim of the study was to investigate the systolic function of RV by using this method in patients with pure mitral stenosis (MS)., Methods: Conventional echocardiography and L2DS analysis were performed in 45 MS patients and 21 healthy controls. For strain analysis apical four-chamber views were obtained and by using a software system, peak systolic strain and strain rates were calculated off-line in each segment., Results: The mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the whole RV (-20 + or - 7 vs. -24 + or - 6%, P= 0.02) and mean GLS of the septum (-19 + or - 7 vs. -23 + or - 5%, P = 0.03) were significantly reduced in the MS patients. Compared with the control group no significant change was determined in the mean GLS of the RV free wall (RVFW). While the mean global longitudinal strain rates (GLSR) of the entire RV and RVFW were similar between the groups, a significant difference in the mean GLSR of the septum (-1.2 + or - 0.4 vs. -1.5 + or - 0.3 s(-1), P= 0.005) was determined in the patients with MS. A regional analysis demonstrated that MS patients had significantly reduced strain and strain rates in the basal and mid-segments of the septum, whereas only lower strain values in the basal RVFW., Conclusions: RV systolic function evaluated by L2DS analysis in patients with MS has shown decreased global and segmental systolic functions. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY 2010;27:525-533).

Background: Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and may be used for risk stratification. Two-dimensional echocardiography, the most commonly used technique for estimation of LVM, uses the third power of the left ventricular internal diameter (LVID) for the calculation., Objectives: To determine whether a decrease in intravascular volume after dialysis may cause inaccurate estimation of LVM by echocardiography., Methods: Thirty-eight patients undergoing hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure constituted the study group (14 women [37%] and 24 men [63%], mean age +/- SD 38.7+/-10.9 years). LVID, and interventricular and posterior wall thicknesses were measured by two-dimensionally guided M-mode echocardiography. Stroke volume and cardiac output were calculated using left ventricular outflow tract diameter and the pulsed-wave Doppler time-velocity integral obtained from left ventricular outflow tract. LVM was calculated by using Devereux's formula, and was indexed for body surface area and height. All echocardiographic parameters were measured or calculated before and after dialysis (on the same day), and then compared., Results: There were no significant changes in wall thickness; however, LVID, LVM, the LVM/body surface index and the LVM/height index significantly decreased after dialysis (P<0.001 for each parameter). There was a significant correlation between the change in LVID and the change in LVM (P<0.001, r=0.59). Stroke volume and cardiac output also decreased significantly after hemodialysis (P<0.001 for each parameter)., Conclusions: Intravascular volume-dependent change in LVID causes inaccurate estimation of LVM, so volume status should be kept in mind, especially in serial assessment of LVM.

Key Clinical Message: This report illustrates a feasible and anatomical solution aiming to improve the success and decrease the possible hazards such as atrioventricular block during ablation of parahisian PVCs. We tried to illustrate the specific anatomy pertaining parahisian region and to explain a retrograde subvalvular catheter technique to overcome these procedural obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary artery fistulas ( CAF) are a rare cardiac anomaly that can be either congenital or acquired. CAFs have clinical significance because of complications such as dyspnea on exertion, congestive heart failure, and cardiac tamponade. The literature also contains case reports of CAF presenting as bacterial endocarditis. We describe a 31-year-old man who presented with native valve infective endocarditis related to an unusual form of a CAF between the circumflex coronary artery and left ventricle. He also had giant coronary arteries, which were imaged with computed tomography angiography and transesophageal echocardiography. The diameter of the circumflex coronary artery and left main coronary artery was measured as 19 mm. Surgical intervention for heart valves was performed because of vegetations resistant to continued antibiotic treatment. At the same time, the CAF was treated with surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of anglotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in patients with degenerative aortic valve calcification (AVC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study consisted of 305 Turkish patients of European descent (139 male, 166 female; mean ± age, 68±9 years) referred to our echocardiography laboratory for aortic valve evaluation between June 2, 2003, and April 29, 2005. The severity of AVC was graded from I to 6 by echocardiography. We used polymerase chain reaction to determine ACE gene polymorphism. RESULTS: The ACE insertion/deletion genotype distributions for the study population were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (X2=3.5, P=.18). The study population was divided into 3 groups based on the severity of AVC: those with grade I calcification were in group 1, those with grades 2 to 4 in group 2, and those with grades 5 to 6 in group 3. Group I patients were significantly younger, less likely to have hypertension and diabetes, and had higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The genotype frequencies were significantly different among groups, with the insertion/insertion genotype being less prevalent in group 3 patients. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of severe AVC were hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 5.6; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 2.8-11.0; P<.001), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 2.7; 95% Cl, 1.5-4.9; P=.001), and the deletion/deletion and insertion/deletion vs insertion/insertion genotype (OR, 3.2; 95% Cl, 1.5-7.2; P=.0O4). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ACE gene polymorphism may be associated with severe AVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]