The precise pathogenetic mechanism(s) of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease have never been defined. C-reactive protein (CRP) is increased in patients with acute rheumatic fever, but it is not known whether plasma levels increase in patients with chronic rheumatic valve disease. The aim of this study was to determine the role of inflammation detected by high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels in the progression of chronic rheumatic valve disease. A total of 113 patients with chronic rheumatic valve disease (81 women, 32 men; mean age 40"14 years, range 13-70), 51 patients with prosthetic valve(s) (31 women, 20 men; mean age 48"13 years, range 21-71) and 102 healthy subjects (68 women, 34 men, mean age 41"12 years, range 25-73), as a control group, were assessed. Patients with acute rheumatic fever, acute infection, inflammatory disease, malignancy, acute myocardial infarction and trauma were excluded. hs-CRP was determined using latex-enhanced immunonephelometric assays on a BN II analyzer (Behring). Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients in order to evaluate valvular disease. Levels of hs-CRP were significantly higher in patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease than in patients with prosthetic valve(s) and healthy subjects (0.62"0.64 vs. 0.35"0.41 vs. 0.24"0.18 mgyl, P-0.01 and P-0.001 respectively). No correlation was observed between CRP and age, sex or functional capacity. We found that hs-CRP is increased in chronic rheumatic heart disease; this may indicate that inflammatory response still persists in the chronic phase.

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Aim Several scoring systems, such as controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), have been previously described to show nutritional status. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the value of these scoring systems in predicting in‐hospital and long‐term mortality in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Methods PNI, GNRI, and CONUT were determined using the receiver operator characteristics curve analysis in 150 consecutive elderly patients (age: 70 (66–74) years, male: 78) who underwent SAVR due to degenerative severe aortic stenosis (AS). Patients were divided into two groups according to cutoff values from these indexes. Results During the 50 ± 31 months follow‐up period, a total of 36 (24%) patients died. 30‐day mortality, 1‐year mortality, and total mortality were significantly higher in lower PNI, lower GNRI, and higher CONUT groups. PNI cutoff value was 49.2, GNRI cutoff value was 102.5, and CONUT cutoff value was 1.5. PNI ≤ 49.2, GNRI ≤ 102.5, and CONUT > 1.5 values were found to be independent predictors of total mortality even after risk adjustment. In addition, in the mortality group, PNI (53.7 ± 5.9 vs. 47.4 ± 6.3; p < .001) and GNRI (108 ± 10 vs. 99 ± 6.3); p < .001) were significantly lower, while CONUT score (1 [0–2] vs. 2 [0.2–3]; p < .001) was significantly higher. Conclusion Objective nutritional indexes including CONUT score, PNI, and GNRI are important prognostic factors and those indexes should be part of frailty assessment in patients with severe AS.

Acute SD is associated with a reduction in LA passive emptying function in healthy adults. 3D-derived indices were sufficient to show subclinical diastolic dysfunction according to impairment in passive phase of LA ejection. Prospective large-scale studies are needed to enlighten this issue.

Purpose Hypertension is associated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, impaired LV relaxation, and left atrial (LA) enlargement. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves clinical outcomes in a broad spectrum of cardiac disease. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of CR on blood pressure (BP), and on LA and LV functions in hypertensive patients. Methods Thirty consecutive hypertensive patients who would undergo CR program, and 38 hypertensive patients who refused to undergo CR program were included. All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring and transthoracic echocardiography, which were repeated after completion of the CR program, or 12 weeks later in the control group. LA and LV functions were assessed by both speckle tracking and 3‐dimensional echocardiography. N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) levels were assessed before and after CR. Results Although initial ambulatory BP values and NT‐proBNP levels were similar between the groups, daily, day‐time, and night‐time BP and NT‐proBNP were significantly lower in the CR group after rehabilitation. LA reservoir strain and LV global longitudinal strain of the CR group significantly increased after CR while no significant increase was observed in controls. Conclusion CR improves LA and LV strain while lowering BP and should be encouraged in routine management of hypertensive patients.

Right ventricle involvement may cause an increase in RA phasic volumes and deterioration of conduit function in patients with acute IMI.

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