Background Patients with established cardiovascular diseases have a poor prognosis when affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Also, the cardiovascular system, especially the heart, is affected by COVID-19. So we aimed to evaluate the angiographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients presented by ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Results Our retrospective study showed that STEMI patients with COVID-19 had elevated inflammatory markers with mean of their CRP (89.69 ± 30.42 mg/dl) and increased laboratory parameters of thrombosis with mean D-dimer (660.15 ± 360.11 ng/ml). In 69.2% of patients, STEMI was the first clinical presentation and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 developed during the hospital stay; about one third of patients had a non-obstructive CAD, while patients with total occlusion had a high thrombus burden. Conclusion STEMI may be the initial presentation of COVID-19. A non-obstructive CAD was found in about one third of patients; on the other hand, in patients who had a total occlusion of their culprit artery, the thrombus burden was high. Identification of the underlying mechanism responsible for the high thrombus burden in these patients is important as it may result in changes in their primary management strategy, either primary PCI, fibrinolytic therapy, or a pharmaco-invasive strategy. Furthermore, adjunctive anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy may need to be revised.

Background This work aimed to assess the safety of Ramadan Fasting following the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Methods In our two centers’ Prospective Cohort Study, We included 303 patients who had successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention before the first day of Ramadan. We advised the patients that recent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention could be a valid excuse for not fulfilling Ramadan Fasting. However, many patients intended to fast the following Ramadan, and we included them in the fasting Group I. We added the patients who decided not to fast the following Ramadan as a control Group II. We followed all the patients during Ramadan and for 6 months after Ramadan. Results The demographic data of both groups and the complexity of the coronary anatomy showed no statistically significant difference. Group I (n = 153) showed a statistically significant difference in the incidence of Major Adverse Cardiac Events compared to Group II with a P value (0.005). The logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that the duration from index PCI till the start of RF, SYNTAX score > 22, and Complex procedure were independent predictors of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in the fasting Group I with {P = 0.001, OR (2.302), P = 0.026, OR (2.419), and P = 0.032 OR (1.952)}, respectively. Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Group I occurred mainly during Ramadan Fasting, with 19 patients having Major Adverse Cardiac Events during Ramadan and four patients during the remaining of the follow-up period. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis showed the decline of the incidence of Major Adverse Cardiac Events after 90 days from Percutaneous Coronary Intervention till the start of Ramadan Fasting with Sensitivity and specificity (90% and 65%), respectively. Conclusions We suggest that low-risk patients with a normal systolic function who underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention may safely fast Ramadan. At the same time, Ramadan Fasting during the first 3 months following the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention may not be safe.

Background Increased nighttime BP variability (BPV) was associated with stroke. Left atrial (LA) enlargement is the default clinical hallmark of structural remodeling that often occurs in response to LA pressure and volume overload. Blood pressure has proven to be an essential determinant of LA enlargement. We aimed to evaluate the influence of BPV as a risk factor for cryptogenic stroke and highlight the importance of including the (APBM) in the workup for those patients and test the relation between BPV and LA remodeling in these patients, which could be used as a clue to add APM monitoring to their workup. Also, LA remodeling may be a substrate for occult atrial fibrillation (AF). We included Group I (108 consecutive patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke) and Group II (100 consecutive adult participants without a history of stroke or any structural heart disease). We measured the maximal LA volume index (Max LAVI) and minimal LA volume index (Min LAVI). We calculated the left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF). All the participants were subjected to ABPM. Results In our prospective, cross-sectional cohort study, the patients in Group I had statistically significantly higher Min LAVI and Max LAVI and Less LA EF than Group II, with a P value of (0.001, 0.001, and 0.008), respectively. The Group I patients had higher BPV as measured by SD parameters than patients in Group II, with a P value of 0.001 for all SD parameters. The BPV parameters, as measured by SD parameters, were positively related to the LA remodeling parameters in both groups. After adjusting all variables, we found that age, night systolic SD, and night diastolic SD parameters were independent predictors of LA remodeling. Conclusions The patients with cryptogenic stroke had higher short-term BPV, Min LAVI, and Max LAVI but lower LA EF. Careful monitoring of BPV may be of value for both primary and secondary preventions of ischemic stroke.

Background Right ventricular (RV) function is an important prognostic factor in heart failure. Patients with impaired right ventricular function have a poorer prognosis. The ratio between a tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) is a simple non-invasive parameter that has shown a good correlation with invasively estimated right ventricle (RV)-pulmonary artery (PA) coupling. The current study aimed to determine the value of the non-invasive evaluation of RV-PA coupling using the TAPSE/PASP ratio in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with acute heart failure. Methods We included 200 patients with (heart failure and reduced ejection fraction) HFrEF presented by acute heart failure. Echocardiographic evaluation for left ventricle systolic and diastolic function was performed at the time of admission. RV functions were evaluated by calculating the following (TAPSE, PSAP, TAPSE/PASP ratio). Data were analyzed to find the predictors of in-hospital mortality. Results The study cohort included two hundred consecutive patients who were hospitalized for a diagnosis of acute decompensation of chronic heart failure. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12%. TAPSE/PASP was an independent predictor for in-hospital mortality (odd ratio = 3.470; 95% confidence interval, 1.240–9.705, p -value = 0.018) and (odd ratio = 18.813; 95% confidence interval, 1.974–179.275, p -value = 0.011) in univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses respectively. In ROC curve analysis, TAPSE/PASP with a cut-off value < 0.4 mm/mmHg had a sensitivity of 79.17, a specificity of 47.73, and an area under ROC curve = 0.666 for predicting in-hospital mortality. Conclusions The non-invasive TAPSE/PASP ratio could be an independent predictor of mortality in HErEF patients presenting with acute heart failure.

The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology is an international monthly periodical on cardiology published on independent, unbiased, double-blinded and peerreview principles. The journal's publication language is English however titles of articles, abstracts and Keywords are also published in Turkish on the journal's web site.The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology aims to publish qualified and original clinical, experimental and basic research on cardiology at the international level. The journal's scope also covers editorial comments, reviews of innovations in medical education and practice, case reports, original images, scientific letters, educational articles, letters to the editor, articles on publication ethics, diagnostic puzzles, and issues in social cardiology.The target readership includes academic members, specialists, residents, and general practitioners working in the fields of adult cardiology, pediatric cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and internal medicine.

Background:Smoking is a common public problem with a high health burden. Many studies have shown that there are many hazardous actions of smoking on body systems especially haemostatic, respiratory and circulatory systems.Smoking may increase the thrombus burden in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The 'smoker's paradox' has been described for more than 25 years. Its existence and its effect on patients' outcome post myocardial infarction are debatable. So we conducted our study to assess the impact of smoking status on outcome of STEMI patients and efficacy of pharmaco-invasive strategy in treating STEMI patients compared to PPCI. Methods:We conducted our prospective observational study in the Cardiology department from-August 2018 to August 2019 on patients who are presented by STEMI with the duration from onset of symptoms to first medical contact were 12 hours or less we included 199 patients in our study.Patients are divided into 4 groups Group 1(Smokers treated by PPCI) Group 2 (Non-smokers treated by PPCI) Group 3 (Smoker treated by pharmaco-invasive strategy)Group 4 (Non-smoker treated by pharmaco-invasive strategy) TIMI flow before and after PCI, acute heart failure and death was assessed in each patient. Results:Smokers are younger than non-smokers and have fewer co-morbidities. Patients treated by primary PCI and pharmaco-invasive strategy either smokers and non-smokers there was no significant difference between the 4 groups in angiographic data and outcome except that smokers treated by pharmaco-invasive strategy had a lower incidence of TIMI flow III at diagnostic angiography before PCI with P value (0.047 ) Conclusion:There is no actual smokers paradox. Pharmaco-invasive strategy is a good option when a PPCI is not available. Finally, early transfer of smokers treated with a pharmaco-invasive strategy to a PCI

Background: The Egyptian National Committee of Viral Hepatitis program is the leading national hepatitis C virus (HCV) management program globally. However, limited data is available about the effect of the new directly acting antiviral agents on the cardiovascular system. Objectives: Our study aimed to assess the safety of the relatively new directly acting antiviral agents approved by the National Health Committee in Egypt to treat patients infected with hepatitis C virus who have midrange left ventricular ejection fraction. Methods: This multicenter study included 400 successive patients with an ejection fraction (40–49%) from May 2017 to December 2019. We classified them into two groups: Group I (Child A), who received Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir for twelve weeks, and Group II (Child B), who received Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir, and Ribavirin for twelve weeks. Patients were evaluated for their symptoms, ejection fraction, brain natriuretic peptide, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance levels, and Holter monitoring (just before the start of treatment and within three days after completing therapy). Results: We found New York Heart Association Class, ejection fraction, brain natriuretic peptide, premature ventricular contractions burden, as well as highest and lowest heart rate did not show a statistically significant difference in both groups after treatment. The treatment did not cause bradycardia or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin levels declined, with improved insulin resistance after treatment in both groups. Both low and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased after treatment in Group II. Conclusions: Both regimens of directly acting antiviral agents used in Egypt to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection are safe in patients with New York Heart Association Class I and II with midrange left ventricular ejection fraction (40–49%). There are beneficial metabolic changes following HCV clearance as an improvement of insulin resistance.

Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)is challenging. Patients usually have normal LV size and ejection fraction. This clinical syndrome develops from a complex interaction of several risk factors that cause organ dysfunction and clinical symptoms. There’s evidence that testosterone deficiency is associated with a worse cardiometabolic profile and increased inflammatory markers. We thought that these changes might have an impact on heart failure pathogenesis. We aimed to study the relationship between testosterone level and symptoms in HFpEF. Methods We studied 120 male patients with HFpEF. According to New York Heart Association (NYHA), patients were classified into I, II and III classes; class IV patients were excluded. All patients were subjected to clinical and echocardiographic examinations. In addition, we measured serum testosterone, cardio-metabolic profile, intracellular adhesive molecule-1(ICAM-1), P-selectin and nitric oxide (NO) levels. Results Patients with testosterone deficiency had worse NYHA class and higher BNP P = (0.001). Additionally, they had a significantly worse metabolic profile; higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR P = (0.005, 0.001, 0.001, 0.001), respectively. Also, they had higher inflammatory markers and worse endothelial functional parameters; (ICAM-1, NO and P- selectin) P = (0.001). Age, BNP and testosterone deficiency can be used as independent predictors of NYHA class III symptoms with a Testosterone cutoff value of 2.7 ng/ml. Conclusion Testosterone deficiency could be used as an independent predictor of symptom severity in HFpEF, and it aggravates systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in these patients.