No abstract

Patients with uncomplicated metabolic syndrome have a greater dispersion of ventricular repolarization time and increased QTc-min and QTc-max.

We investigated the association between chronic carbon monoxide (CO) exposure and electrocardiographic maximum/minimum P-wave duration (Pmax/Pmin), P-wave dispersion (Pd), maximum/minimum QT interval (QTmax/QTmin), and QT and corrected QT dispersion (QTd/cQTd), which are known as predictors of atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death. We obtained electrocardiograms of 48 apparently healthy male indoor barbecue workers (age mean ± SD; 33.6 ± 9.4) who were working in various restaurants for at least 3 yr and 51 age-matched healthy men (age mean ± SD; 35.1 ± 6.7). Average working time of the indoor barbecue workers in their jobs was 15.6 ± 7.1 yr. P-wave parameters were analyzable in 39 barbecue workers and 40 control subjects and QT intervals were analyzable in 44 barbecue workers and 47 control subjects. Clinical characteristics of indoor barbecue workers and the control group were comparable in terms of age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate, Pmin, and QTmin. However, COHb levels, Pmax, Pd, QTmax, QTd, and cQTd measurements were higher in indoor barbecue workers than in the control group (6.48 ± 1.43 vs. 2.19 ± 1.30, p < .001; 106.15 ± 7.47 vs. 101.50 ± 6.62, p < .005; 30.51 ± 7.59 vs. 24.50 ± 6.77, p < .001; 406.59 ± 17.64 vs. 390.85 ± 13.15, P < .001; 48.40 ± 8.87 vs. 34.89 ± 5.85, P < .001; 53.64 ± 9.14 vs. 37.77 ± 6.71, P < .001, respectively). In Pearson correlation analysis there were significant correlations between COHb level and Pd, QTmax, QTd, and cQTd (r = .315 P < .005; r = .402, P < .001, r = .573, P < .001, r = .615, P < .001, respectively). In conclusion, the present study is the first to assess and find an association between chronic CO exposure and electrocardiographic Pd and QTd/cQTd.

We aimed to investigate whether there is an association between ABO blood groups, cardiovascular risk factors and myocardial infarction (MI) in a Turkish cohort. Four hundred and seventy-six patients with acute ST elevation MI (mean age 56.7+/-11.7; 80% men) and 203 age and sex matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. ABO blood group distribution of patients was compared with control group. Furthermore, in each ABO blood group, frequency of major cardiac risk factors was determined to find any correlation between blood groups and cardiovascular risk factors. The distribution of ABO blood groups in patients versus control group was A in 43.1 versus 44.3%, B in 15.1 versus 15.3%, AB in 10.7 versus 12.3% and O in 31.1 versus 28.1% (P>0.05 for all). ABO blood group distribution of both patients and control group was concordant with the official data from general Turkish population. The frequency of cardiovascular risk factors was similar in patients with different blood groups; however, the patients with blood group A were younger (P=0.004) and coronary artery disease detection age was lower (P=0.001) than those with the other blood groups. The distribution of ABO blood groups in patients with MI was quite similar to that in control group and that of general Turkish population, which supports the idea that ABO blood group might not be significantly associated with the development of MI. Association of ABO blood group distribution with cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery disease and MI needs to be clarified with multicenter, prospective and large-scale studies.

No abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically encountered arrhythmia in adults. Because it is associated with an increased risk of atrial thrombus formation and embolism, medical and/or electrical cardioversion is the preferred treatment method in the majority of clinics. Thrombus formation in the setting of AF most commonly occurs in the left atrial appendage (LAA), left atrium (LA), right atrial appendage (RAA), and right atrium in decreasing frequency. In routine transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation for AF, examination is generally limited to LA and LAA. Although relatively rare when compared with the left side, RAA thrombus has also the potential of embolism and should be screened. A case of RAA thrombus in which the LA and LAA were spared is described. The authors aimed to underline the importance of this rare but potentially dangerous complication of AF.

No abstract

In conclusion, prolongation of Pmax and Pd in acute SD suggests that acute SD might contribute to development and/or recurrence of atrial fibrillation.