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TDI-derived RV IVA is a novel, noninvasive echocardiographic index which may be used in the assessment of subclinical RV dysfunction in patients with COPD.

Background:Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as localized or diffuse dilatation of the coronary arteries. There are scarce data about the role of inflammation in CAE. In the present study, the plasma soluble adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) levels in CAE were investigated. Methods: The study population (n = 67) consisted of four groups. Group 1: patients with normal coronary artery (NCA); group 2: patients with isolated ectasia without stenotic lesion; group 3: patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) without CAE; group 4: patients with both OCAD and CAE. Results: Plasma concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were higher in patients with isolated ectasia than in cases with NCA (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with OCAD patients, patients with CAE had significantly elevated concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 of the CAE and OCAD group were higher than in patients in the OCAD group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). We detected a positive correlation between the presence of CAE and the levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed a significant independent relation between the presence of CAE and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Conclusion: We found elevated plasma levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with CAE and OCAD + CAE compared with subjects with NCA and OCAD. These data strongly suggest that more severe vascular wall inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of CAE.

The elevated levels of plasma resistin were related to paroxysmal AF group and persistent AF group, but not to permanent AF group.

A high admission RDW level in patients with acute AMI undergoing a primary percutaneous coronary intervention was associated with an increased risk for intrahospital cardiovascular mortality, but was not associated with worse postinterventional TIMI flow.

One hundred sixty-five patients undergoing primary myocardial revascularization were prospectively entered into a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in a single institution, in order to determine the influence of high- and low-dose aprotinin application on early coronary artery bypass graft patency. All patients were operated on by the same team and the three treatment groups were comparable in all demographic data and surgical variables. Postoperative chest tube drainage and transfusion requirements were significantly reduced in patients receiving high or low doses of aprotinin. In all patients vein and internal mammary artery graft patency was assessed by control coronary angiograms 4 to 15 days (median 8.2 days) postoperatively. In the high-dose aprotinin group, 140 of 142 vein grafts and in the low-dose aprotinin group all of the 128 vein grafts were patent compared with 138 of 139 in the placebo group. The difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). All pedicled internal mammary artery grafts were patent in the three treatment groups. The prevalence of perioperative myocardial infarction was evaluated by serial creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) isoenzyme measurements and by electrocardiographic recordings. No additional changes that could be attributed to aprotinin were observed. In conclusion, these results suggest that perioperative myocardial infraction secondary to aprotinin-induced native coronary artery or conduit thrombosis is not increased by aprotinin in patients undergoing primary myocardial revascularization.

Diabetes is associated with subclinical RV systolic dysfunction, regardless of coexisting hypertension. Tissue Doppler-derived IVA; is a novel, non-invasive parameter which may be used in early detection of RV systolic dysfunction in patients with DM.

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