Background and ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the extent of coronary artery disease assessed by the Gensini score and/or the SYNTAX score and the significant carotid stenosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Subjects and MethodsA total of 225 patients who had carotid doppler ultrasonography prior to CABG were included retrospectively. Significant coronary artery disease was assumed as a lumen diameter stenosis of ≥50% in any of the major epicardial coronary arteries. The severity of carotid stenosis was determined by B-mode and duplex ultrasonography. Clinically significant carotid stenosis was defined as peak systolic velocity greater than 125 cm/s.ResultsThe mean value of SYNTAX score and Gensini score was highest in patients allocated to significant carotid stenosis (22.98±7.32, p<0.001 and 77.40±32.35, p<0.001, respectively). The other risk factors for significant carotid stenosis were found to be male gender (p=0.029), carotid bruit (p<0.001), diabetes (p=0.021), left main disease (p=0.002), 3-vessel disease (p=0.008), chronic total coronary occlusion (p=0.001), and coronary artery calcification (p=0.001) in univariate analysis. However, only the Gensini score (odds ratio[OR]=1.030, p=0.004), carotid bruit (OR=0.068, p<0.001), and male gender (OR=0.190, p=0.003) were the independent predictors. The Gensini score cut off value predicting significant carotid stenosis was 50.5 with 77% sensitivity (p<0.001).ConclusionThe Gensini score may be used to identify patients at high risk for significant carotid stenosis prior to CABG.

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the predictive value of the uric acid-to-serum albumin ratio (UAR) in establishing the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients. Methods: A total of 402 patients (mean age 63.5 ± 11.6 years) were included in this retrospectively designed study. We compared Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery Scores (SS) between low (≤22) and intermediate-high (>22) groups. The UAR, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) were evaluated and compared. Results: SS >22 were observed in 30.8% (n = 124) of the patients, and their UAR, NLR, and CAR were significantly higher. Three separate multivariate analysis models performed as the outcome of a reliable correlation between UAR, NLR, CAR, and consequently UAR (OR = 2.08; 95% CI 1.21–3.58; p = 0.008) and CAR (OR = 3.33; 95% CI 1.85–5.9; p < 0.001) reached significance but NLR (OR = 1.26; 95% CI 0.86–1.84; p = 0.20) clinically trended significance (not statistically). Model performance comparisons demonstrated that UAR is a better predictor regarding likelihood ratios (UAR, 60.95; NLR, 57.8; and CAR, 59.0). Conclusion: As a novel inflammatory marker, UAR independently predicted better outcomes than CAR and might be used reliably in prediction of the extent of CAD in NSTEMI patients.

Introduction: Cardiac myxomas are the most common primary intracardiac tumors.Although myxomas are histologically benign, they are potentially dangerous due to potential risk of systemic and cerebral embolism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential predictors of embolism in patients with left atrial myxoma. Methods:This single-center retrospective study enrolled 93 patients (mean age:52.9 ± 15.3 years, female: 70 [75.3%]) with left atrial myxomas between 2014 and 2018. The patients were classified into two groups (embolic vs nonembolic) to investigate possible predictors of embolism. Demographic, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters were recorded into a dataset and compared between patients with and without embolism. Results:The study population was composed of 13 (14%) patients in embolic (11 cerebrovascular and 2 peripheral) and 80 (86%) patients in nonembolic group.Demographic and laboratory parameters were similar between the groups. Tumor sizes were significantly higher in the embolic group than in the nonembolic group (5.59 ± 1.08 vs 4.29 ± 0.61; P = 0.001). By multivariate analysis, increased tumor size, increased left atrial diameter, and the presence of atrial fibrillation and irregular tumor surface were identified as independent predictors of embolism. In ROC curve analyses, tumor size above 4.6 cm predicted embolism with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 73% (AUC: 0.858; 95% CI: 0.752-0.964; P < 0.001). Conclusion:The presence of atrial fibrillation, irregular tumor surface, increased tumor size, and increased left atrial diameter is associated with increased risk of embolism in patients with left atrial myxoma. Early surgery should be scheduled for such patients due to increased potential for embolism. K E Y W O R D Scardiac imaging, cardiac surgery, echocardiography, embolism, left atrial myxoma, transesophageal echocardiography

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and its complications are the major causes of death in the world. Although statins have been used to lower lipid levels in CAD patients, this goal can not be attained in 1/3 of the patients. The objective of this study was to investigate whether common variations in HMG-CoA Reductase(HMGCR) and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genes involved in lipid and statin metabolism modify the effect of statins on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in CAD patients.A hundred  CAD patients were enrolled into the study. At the beginning of the study biochemical measurements were performed to determine the baseline levels performed. Patients were treated with 40 mg atorvastatin for 2 months and biochemical measurements were repeated. According to the post-treatment, LDL-c levels,  patients were divided into 2 groups as non-responders and responders, respectively. The information regarding the risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption etc. were also obtained. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood. The presence of rs17244841 ve rs17238540 mutations in HMGCR and ε2, ε3 and ε4 variants of ApoE were determined by using RT-PCR. Results were evaluated statistically. HMGCR mutatations were mostly found in responders and ε4 variant of ApoE was mostly found in non-responders. It was also found that presence of HMGCR mutations causes a significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-c levels. Also presence of ε2 variant of ApoE causes a statistically significant increase in trigliseride levels. Our findings should be investigated with other researchers to clarify the mechanism.

Objective: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the ''gold standard'' for benign gallbladder diseases due to its advantages. In the presence of inflammation or fibrosis, the risk of bleeding and bile duct injury is increased during dissection. Laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy (LPC) is a feasible and safe method to prevent bile duct injuries and decrease the conversion (to open cholecystectomy) rates in difficult cholecystectomies where anatomical structures could not be demonstrated clearly. Material and Methods:The feasibility, efficiency, and safety of LPC were investigated. The data of 80 patients with cholelithiasis who underwent LPC (n=40) and conversion cholecystectomy (CC) (n=40) were retrospectively examined. Demographic characteristics, ASA scores, operating time, drain usage, requirement for intensive care, postoperative length of hospital stay, surgical site infection, antibiotic requirement and complication rates were compared. Results:The median ASA value was 1 in the CC group and 2 in the LPC group. Mean operation time was 123 minutes in the CC group, and 87.50 minutes in the LPC group. Surgical drains were used in 16 CC patients and 4 LPC patients. There was no significant difference between groups in postoperative length of intensive care unit stay (p=0.241). When surgical site infections were compared, the difference was at the limit of statistical significance (p=0.055). Early complication rates were not different (p=0.608) but none of the patients in the LPC group suffered from late complications. Conclusion:LPC is an efficient and safe way to decrease the conversion rate. LPC seems to be an alternative procedure to CC with advantages of shorter operating time, lower rates of surgical site infection, shorter postoperative hospitalization and fewer complications in high-risk patients.

It has been reported that myocardial damage and heart failure are more common in COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms. The aim of our study was to measure the right ventricular functions of COVID-19 patients 30 days after their discharge, and compare them to the right ventricular functions of healthy volunteers. Fifty one patients with COVID-19 and 32 healthy volunteers who underwent echocardiographic examinations were enrolled in our study. 29 patients were treated for severe and 22 patients were treated for moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. The study was conducted prospectively, in a single center, between 15 May 2020 and 15 July 2020. We analyzed the right ventricular functions of the patients using conventional techniques and two-dimensional speckle-tracking. Right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic area were statistically higher than control group. The right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) was significantly lesser in the patient group compared to the control group. Tricuspid annular plane systolic motion (TAPSE) was within normal limits in both groups, it was lower in the patient group compared to the control group. Pulmonary artery pressure was found to be significantly higher in the patient group. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RV-GLS) was lesser than the control group (− 15.7 [(− 12.6)–(− 18.7)] vs. − 18.1 [(− 14.8)–(− 21)]; p 0.011). Right ventricular free wall strain (RV-FWS) was lesser in the patient group compared to the control group (− 16 [(− 12.7)–(− 19)] vs − 21.6 [(− 17)–(− 25.3)]; p < 0.001). We found subclinical right ventricular dysfunction in the echocardiographies of COVID-19 patients although there were no risk factors.

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Purpose:In this study, we investigated whether mechanical dispersion which reflects electrical abnormality and other echocardiographic and clinic parameters predict appropriate ICD shock in patients undergone ICD implantation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods:Sixty-three patients who received ICD implantation for primary or secondary prevention were included in the study. Patients' clinical, electrocardiographic, 2D classic, and speckle tracking echocardiographic data were collected.Mechanical dispersion was defined as the standard deviation of time to peak negative strain in 18 left ventricular segments. Appropriate ICD therapy was defined as cardioversion or defibrillation due to ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Patients were divided into two groups as occurrence or the absence of appropriate ICD therapy.Results: A total of 17 (26.9%) patients were observed to have an appropriate ICD therapy during follow-up periods. In patients who performed appropriate ICD therapy, a larger left atrial volume index, higher sudden cardiac death (SCD)-Risk Score, longer mechanical dispersion, and decreased global longitudinal peak strain (GLPS) were observed. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, including (GLPS, mechanical dispersion, LAVi, and SCD-Risk Score) was used to determine independent predictors of occurrence of appropriate ICD therapy during the follow-up. Mechanical dispersion, GLPS, and SCD-Risk Score were found to be independent predictors of occurrence of appropriate ICD therapy. Conclusions:Mechanical dispersion, GLPS, and SCD-Risk Score were found to be predictive for appropriate ICD therapy in patients receiving ICD implantation. Readily measurable mechanical dispersion and GLPS could be helpful to distinguish patients at high risk who could optimally benefit from ICD therapy. K E Y W O R D Selectromechanical delay, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myocardial strain