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Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare the functional adaptations of the left ventricle in variant forms of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and to evaluate the use of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in differential diagnosis and prognosis. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 68 patients with LVH, including 20 patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 23 competitive top-level athletes free of cardiovascular disease, and 25 patients with hypertensive heart disease (HHD). All the subjects underwent 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and 2D-STE. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) below -12.5% was defined as severely reduced strain, -12.5% to -17.9% as mildly reduced strain, and above -18% as normal strain. Results: The mean LV-GLS value was higher in athletes than in patients with HCM and HHD with the lowest value being in the HCM group (HCM: -11.4±2.2%; HHD: -13.6±2.6%; and athletes: -5.5±2.1%; p<0.001 among groups). LV-GLS below -12.5% distinguished HCM from others with 65% sensitivity and 77% specificity [area under curve (AUC)=0.808, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.699-0.917, p<0.001]. The median follow-up duration was 6.4±1.1 years. Overall, 11 patients (16%) died. Seven of these were in the HHD group, and four were in the HCM group. The mean GLS value in patients who died was -11.8±1.5%. LV-GLS was significantly associated with mortality after adjusting age and sex via multiple analysis (RR=0.723, 95% CI: 0.537-0.974, p=0.033). Patients with GLS below -12.5% had a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with that of patients with GLS above -12.5% according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for 7 years (29% vs. 9%; p=0.032). The LV-GLS value predicts mortality with 64% sensitivity and 70% specificity with a cut-off value of -12.5 (AUC=0.740, 95% CI: 0.617-0.863, p=0.012). Conclusion: The 2D-STE provides important information about the longitudinal systolic function of the myocardium. It may enable differentiation variable forms of LVH and predict prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is characterized by degenerative calcification of the mitral valve annulus. Atherosclerosis plays role in progression of MAC. Fetuin A is the inhibitor of pathological calcification. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between MAC and fetuin A with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and endothelial dysfunction. Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, 40 patients with documented MAC on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and 40 without MAC were included. All patients had coronary artery disease (CAD). Endothelial functions were assessed by brachial artery Doppler ultrasound (USG) and carotid artery Doppler USG. Serum fetuin-A level was also measured. Linear regression analysis and receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis were performed. Results: Endothelial derived vasodilatory response (EDVR) was significantly decreased and CIMT value was increased in MAC group. There was a strong positive correlation between EDVR and serum fetuin-A value. There was a strong negative correlation between CIMT and EDVR, moderately negative correlation between CIMT and serum fetuin-A level. Simple linear regression analysis revealed that CIMT (β=0.367, p=0.001) and serum fetuin-A level (β=-0.291, p=0.009) were independent factors associated with MAC. The area under the curve (AUC) for serum fetuin-A level was 0.731 (95% 0.620-0.824) and AUC for CIMT was 0.724 (95% CI 0.613-0.818). Conclusion: We observed that MAC is closely related with CIMT and serum fetuin-A level. Serum fetuin-A and CIMT can be used as independent markers in the diagnosis of MAC. We suggest that MAC can be used as an early determinant of CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article describes the case of a 85-year-old female patient who underwent a transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The patient experienced severe aortic stenosis (AS), shortness of breath and syncope. The procedure was done following real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography that enabled accurate evaluation of the aortic root geometry.

The article presents a case study of an alternative technique involving antegrade stem cell infusion with the simultaneous obstruction of related coronary vein. It discusses the use of an alternative approach for cellular cardiomyoplasty to achieve the decrease of the distribution of stem cells into other organs and homing of stem cells in the targeted area. The authors conclude that the technique is feasible and safe for cellular implantation to myocardium.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article about quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) stenosis that was published in previous issue.

The article presents a case study of a 35-year-old woman admitted to the hospital with symptoms of progressive dyspnea and chest pain. Electrocardiogram and radiography reveal mild cardiomegaly with left ventricular hypertrophy and massive concentric hypertrophy which suggest the existence of obstructive cardiomyopathy. Incomplete diastolic coaptation of the cusps results to four thin equal cusps with a squared image in systole and diastole.

The article presents a medical condition of a 52-year-old man who undergone coronary bypass graft (CABG) surgery. He is diagnosed through chest X-ray and chest computerized tomography. It found that a loculated extrapleural hematoma is developed after left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) CABG operation. The blood collection of parietal pleura and endothoracic facia are the factors of life threatening complication.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare the functional adaptations of the left ventricle in variant forms of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and to evaluate the use of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in differential diagnosis and prognosis., Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 68 patients with LVH, including 20 patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 23 competitive top-level athletes free of cardiovascular disease, and 25 patients with hypertensive heart disease (HHD). All the subjects underwent 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and 2D-STE. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) below -12.5% was defined as severely reduced strain, -12.5% to -17.9% as mildly reduced strain, and above -18% as normal strain., Results: The mean LV-GLS value was higher in athletes than in patients with HCM and HHD with the lowest value being in the HCM group (HCM: -11.4±2.2%; HHD: -13.6±2.6%; and athletes: -15.5±2.1%; p<0.001 among groups). LV-GLS below -12.5% distinguished HCM from others with 65% sensitivity and 77% specificity [area under curve (AUC)=0.808, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.699-0.917, p<0.001]. The median follow-up duration was 6.4±1.1 years. Overall, 11 patients (16%) died. Seven of these were in the HHD group, and four were in the HCM group. The mean GLS value in patients who died was -11.8±1.5%. LV-GLS was significantly associated with mortality after adjusting age and sex via multiple analysis (RR=0.723, 95% CI: 0.537-0.974, p=0.033). Patients with GLS below -12.5% had a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with that of patients with GLS above -12.5% according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for 7 years (29% vs. 9%; p=0.032). The LV-GLS value predicts mortality with 64% sensitivity and 70% specificity with a cut-off value of -12.5 (AUC=0.740, 95% CI: 0.617-0.863, p=0.012)., Conclusion: The 2D-STE provides important information about the longitudinal systolic function of the myocardium. It may enable differentiation variable forms of LVH and predict prognosis.

Aims: Echocardiographic assessment of patients with mitral valve stenosis (MS) requires a detailed evaluation of mitral valve anatomy, mitral valve area (MVA), and pressure gradient and presence concomitant valve diseases. Our aim was to evaluate planimetric MVA and transmitral flow velocities using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with isolated MS and to compare with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to determine the reliability., Methods and Results: Thirty-one patients (mean age 50.4 ± 10.2, 90.3% women) with isolated MS who were in a normal sinus rhythm were included in the study. Patients with ejection fraction <50%, atrial fibrillation, moderate-to-severe mitral valve insufficiency, moderate-to-severe stenosis and insufficiency of other valves, and previous commissurotomy and valvulotomy were excluded. Planimetric MVA and diastolic velocities were measured with TTE and CMR. There were strong correlations between measurements of planimetric MVA and transmitral diastolic velocities (P < 0.0001). Assessment of Bland-Altman analysis revealed strong agreement on measuring planimetric MVA with values -0.018 cm(2) (SD = 0.98 cm(2)) and the limits of agreement were -0.131 to 0.094., Conclusion: CMR is a reliable method in patients with MS for diagnosis and follow-up.

Objective: Mitral valve stenosis (MS) remains as an important cause of morbidity despite evolution in diagnosis and treatment. Generally, left ventricular (LV) systolic functions are well preserved in patients with MS. However, there are some studies showing impaired LV systolic functions in patients with pure MS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate subclinical LV systolic dysfunction in a cohort of isolated mild-to-moderate MS patients with normal LV ejection fraction (EF) by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and velocity vector imaging (VVI) techniques., Methods: Fifty patients with isolated mild-to-moderate MS (84% female, mean age 49.1±10.0 years) and 60 healthy subjects (76.7% female, mean age 49.1±10.5) were included in this cross-sectional observational study. Conventional echocardiography, TDI, strain (S) and strain rate (SRs) analysis were performed in all patients., Results: Transmitral mean pressure gradient was 6.4±3.0 mmHg and mean mitral valve area was 1.45±0.36 cm² in patients with MS. Both longitudinal and circumferential S and SRs were significantly reduced in patients with MS (p<0.001). TDI-derived parameters myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVA) and peak velocity during systolic ejection (Sa) were also significantly decreased in patients with isolated MS (p<0.001). LV ejection fraction (EF) was not correlated with deformation indices. Deformation parameters were not correlated with transmitral gradient or mitral valve area., Conclusion: VVI-derived deformation parameters may identify subclinical systolic dysfunction in patients with isolated MS with normal EF. These findings may give way to optimal timing for mitral valve surgery.