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IntroductionThe identification of diastolic heart failure (DHF) is important for determining the prognosis of congestive heart failure patients. This study attempted to determine the accuracy of emergency physicians who performed bedside echocardiography (BECH) in patients with diastolic dysfunction.MethodsThree attending emergency physicians underwent 3 h of didactic and 3 h of hands-on training taught by a cardiology specialist for the echocardiographic diagnostic criteria of DHF. Between February and April 2010, the emergency physicians performed BECH for patients presenting with dyspnoea, and echocardiographic views were recorded. Our gold standard for the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction was the cardiologists' echocardiography report. Results were compared with χ2 testing.ResultsOf the 69 enrolled patients, 51 were diagnosed as having diastolic dysfunction by emergency physicians. The sensitivity of BECH was 89% (77–95) and specificity was 80% (51–95) with 95% CI. The accuracy of the emergency physicians' echocardiographic diagnosis was 87%.ConclusionBECH performed by emergency physicians may serve as an objective, rapid, non-invasive tool in the assessment of patients presenting with dyspnoea in ED.

Indications for pacing, pacing modes, and demographics of patients who underwent pacemaker implantation between two different time periods were compared in this study. Pacemaker registry of our cardiology department was used to evaluate these changes from 1986 to 2007 (First period: 1986-1996, second period: 1997-2007) retrospectively. Registry revealed 776 implantations in the first and 874 implantations in the second period. The percentages of first implantation were 89% and 70.1% respectively. Nearly 50% of the patients in both periods were female. Main indications for pacing were atrioventricular (AV) block, sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and slow ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation in both periods. Implantation of VVI-AAI pacemakers have decreased (77.8%/1.5% to 51%/0.3%, p=0.05) and implantation of DDD-VDD pacemakers have increased (19.3%/1.3% to 42.3%/6.3%, p=0.05) during the second period compared to the first period. Permanent pacemaker implantation for SSS has decreased significantly from 31.1% in the first period to 12.0% (p=0.05) in the second period. Implantation for AV block has increased significantly from 63.3% to 79.7% (p=0.05) in the second period. Our data revealed temporal changes in pacemaker implantation practice during last twenty years in the cardiology department of a teaching hospital. Implantation of VVI-AAI pacemakers have decreased significantly during the second period. Permanent pacemaker implantation for AV block has also decreased during the last period.

This prospective study was designed to evaluate the potential protective effect of nebivolol compared with metoprolol on the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) following coronary angiography in patients with renal dysfunction. Ninety patients with stable coronary angina pectoris with renal insufficiency (creatinine value ≥1.2 mg/dl) were included for this prospective study. Patients were divided into two groups. Patients in group 1 (n=55) received oral administration of nebivolol 5 mg/daily for coronary artery disease and/or hypertension. Group 2 consisted of 35 patients who received metoprolol 50 mg/daily for the same indications. All patients were hydrated with 0.9% NaCl at a rate of 1 mL/kg/hr for 12 hours before and 24 hours after the procedure. Patients were also given N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 600 mg twice a day, beginning 24 hours before and continuing 48 hours after the procedure. All patients underwent routine coronary angiography. Serum creatinine was assessed just before, immediately after and 48 hours after the procedure. CIN was defined as an increase in serum creatinine concentration of ≥25% within 48 hours after the procedure compared to the patient's baseline value. Tests for significance between groups were conducted using the independent sample t-test for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables. Baseline serum creatinine levels were statistically comparable in two groups. Following angiography, serum creatinine levels increased in both groups. Post-angiographic creatinine levels were not statistically different in the nebivolol and the metoprolol groups. Contrast induced nephropathy developed in 13 patients (24%) of the nebivolol group and in 12 patients (33%) of the metoprolol group. The incidence of CIN was statistically significantly lower in the nebivolol group comparing with the metoprolol group (p=0.03). The use of oral nebivolol for one week at a dose of 5 mg per day may decrease the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients who underwent coronary angiography with renal dysfunction. The small numbers of this study do not allow to draw final conclusion on the use of nebivolol in the prevention of CIN. Therefore, larger studies may be necessary to address the definite role of nebivolol in this setting.

This cross-sectional, observational study investigated prevalence and clinical features of atrial fibrillation (AF) in diabetic patient groups with or without autonomic neuropathy. One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients with pharmacologically treated type-II diabetes mellitus were enrolled for this study in our institution between January 2010 and December 2010. All patients underwent 12-lead electrocardiography on the day of enrollment for AF detection. All diabetic patients underwent neurologic examination for the presence of diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN). Following clinical evaluation, sympathetic skin responses (SSR) and RR interval variability (RRIV) analysis were used for the detection of autonomic neurologic involvement. Patients were divided into two groups according to presence (Group 1) or absence (Group 2) of DAN. Patient groups with or without DAN were compared for AF occurrence. Continuous and categorical data were compared with independent samples t- test and Chi-square statistical tests respectively. Atrial fibrillation prevalence was 24% (n=29) in study population. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed in 47 (39%) patients. Basal characteristics of patients with or without DAN were comparable except glycosylated hemoglobin A (HbA1c) levels. HbA1c levels were found significantly higher in patients with DAN. Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed in 14 patients in Group 1 and in 15 patients in Group 2. Significantly increased AF prevalence (31.9% vs. 20.8%, p=0.014, in groups with and without DAN respectively) was observed in patient group with diabetic autonomic neuropathy. The results of this study demonstrated an increased prevalence of AF in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy compared with non-neuropathic, diabetic patients. Further investigation of this relation with prospective studies is needed to demonstrate a causal relationship between diabetic autonomic neuropathy and AF.

This prospective observational study investigated predictive power of interatrial conduction time (IACT) and P wave dispersion (PWD), in addition to other atrial fibrillation (AF) predictors, in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Eighty-one patients undergoing CABG were enrolled. Before surgery, IACT and PWD were measured. Time interval from electrocardiographic P wave to echocardiographic transmitral a wave was defined as IACT. Rhythm monitorization was used for AF detection. Continuous and categorical data were compared with independent samples t test and Chi-square statistics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent AF predictors. During a follow-up period of 6.4 ± 2.1 days, AF developed in 14 patients (17%). There were no significant differences between patients with or without AF according to age, gender, number of bypass grafts, cross-clamp duration, systolic function, and left atrial diameter. Significantly increased PWD and IACT were found in AF group (PWD: 37 ± 9 ms vs 24 ± 8 ms, p=0.005 and IACT: 129 ± 11 ms vs 117 ± 11 ms, p=0.01) as compared to group without AF. Increased PWD (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04-1.31; p=0.02), absence of beta-blocker treatment (OR 8.88; 95% CI 1.62-48.45; p=0.01), diabetes (DM) and hypertension (HT) combination (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.15-4.22; p=0.01) were independent AF predictors. However, IACT predictive power had borderline significance (OR 1.03; 95% CI 0.95-1.12; p=0.06). Increased PWD, absence of beta-blocker therapy, HT-DM combination were independent AF predictors following CABG. There was significant difference between groups according to IACT, however predictive value of IACT was nonsignificant. Other studies are needed to establish predictive power of IACT.

This study investigated the proportion of silent venous obstruction in patients who underwent pacemaker or lead reimplantation for various reasons. We also investigated independent predictors or risk factor of venous obstruction in this patient population. Seventy-three patients who underwent pacemaker pulse generator and/or lead reimplantation in our institution between 2007 and 2010 were enrolled for this retrospective case-control study. Prior to procedure, patients underwent ipsilateral venography. Patients' venographies were classified as non-significant obstruction (stenosis ≤70%, including normal venogram), significant obstruction (stenosis >70%) and complete obstruction. Continuous and categorical data were compared with Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square statistics respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of venous obstruction. Complete or significant silent central venous obstruction (CVO) proportion was detected as 9.5% (n=7). Basal characteristics of patients with or without CVO were comparable. Significantly increased pacemaker pocket erosion incidence (57% vs 0%, p=0.001, in groups with and without CVO respectively) and significantly higher mean pacemaker age (15.3 ± 10.2 years vs 10.4 ± 5.1 years, p=0.047, in groups with and without CVO respectively) were found in group with CVO. Pacemaker pocket erosion (OR 3.00; 95% CI 1.024-9.302; p=0.001), higher pacemaker age (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.026-1.733; p=0.02) were found as independent CVO predictors in multiple logistic regression analysis. Correlation analysis also revealed a significant correlation between previous or current pacemaker pocket erosion and CVO (r=0.80, p=0.001). Ipsilateral venography is a useful procedure prior to pacemaker or lead reimplantation to detect CVO. In addition to the increased pacemaker age, current or past history of erosion and infection at pacemaker pocket are probable clinical conditions related to CVO. These clinical conditions create a predisposition to CVO with unknown mechanisms, according to the results of this preliminary study.

In this study, we evaluated the possibility that, levels of circulating adhesion molecules following direct stent implantation may be a marker of restenosis. This prospective, observational study investigated levels of circulating intercellular (ICAM-1), and vascular cell (VCAM-1) adhesion molecules in 15 patients with stable angina pectoris before and after coronary stent implantation for single vessel-single lesion disease in proximal left anterior descending artery. All patients received bare-metal stents. Patients underwent repeat coronary angiography for detection of restenosis at 6 month. Continuous data between patients with and without restenosis were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Repeated measurements were compared using Wilcoxon T test. Categorical data were compared using Chi-square statistics. Baseline ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 concentrations before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were 4.89±2.28 and 46.35±22.96 ng/ml respectively. Levels of ICAM and VCAM increased nonsignificantly 24 hours after PCI (5.01±2.35 ng/ml and 52.57±19.40 ng/ml, respectively). Six patients (40%) developed restenosis within 6 months. Mean stent length, mean stent diameter, and mean dilatation pressure were comparable in patient groups with and without restenosis. Levels of plasma VCAM-1 measured before and after PCI did not change significantly in patients without restenosis. However, these levels increased significantly in the group of restenosis. At 6 months, patients who developed restenosis, had higher VCAM-1 levels, as compared to baseline values (from 45.1±21.0 to 57.2±14.3 ng/ml, p=0.05). Plasma levels of pre and post PCI ICAM-1 did not differ significantly between groups with and without restenosis. These results suggest a more dominant role for VCAM-1, but not for ICAM-1 in development of restenosis following coronary stent implantation.

This prospective study was designed to evaluate the potential protective effect of nebivolol compared with metoprolol on the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) following coronary angiography in patients with renal dysfunction. Ninety patients with stable coronary angina pectoris with renal insufficiency (creatinine value ≥1.2 mg/dl) were included for this prospective study. Patients were divided into two groups. Patients in group 1 (n=55) received oral administration of nebivolol 5 mg/daily for coronary artery disease and/or hypertension. Group 2 consisted of 35 patients who received metoprolol 50 mg/daily for the same indications. All patients were hydrated with 0.9% NaCl at a rate of 1 mL/kg/hr for 12 hours before and 24 hours after the procedure. Patients were also given N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 600 mg twice a day, beginning 24 hours before and continuing 48 hours after the procedure. All patients underwent routine coronary angiography. Serum creatinine was assessed just before, immediately after and 48 hours after the procedure. CIN was defined as an increase in serum creatinine concentration of ≥25% within 48 hours after the procedure compared to the patient's baseline value. Tests for significance between groups were conducted using the independent sample t-test for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables. Baseline serum creatinine levels were statistically comparable in two groups. Following angiography, serum creatinine levels increased in both groups. Post-angiographic creatinine levels were not statistically different in the nebivolol and the metoprolol groups. Contrast induced nephropathy developed in 13 patients (24%) of the nebivolol group and in 12 patients (33%) of the metoprolol group. The incidence of CIN was statistically significantly lower in the nebivolol group comparing with the metoprolol group (p=0.03). The use of oral nebivolol for one week at a dose of 5 mg per day may decrease the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients who underwent coronary angiography with renal dysfunction. The small numbers of this study do not allow to draw final conclusion on the use of nebivolol in the prevention of CIN. Therefore, larger studies may be necessary to address the definite role of nebivolol in this setting.