Cardiac Autonomic Functions in Obese Children

Objective: The autonomic nervous system is assumed to have a role in the pathophysiology of obesity. In this study, we evaluated the autonomic system by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) in obese children

A funnel shaped pannus formation above the mitral prosthetic valve diagnosed with real time three-dimensional echocardiography

Prosthetic valve obstruction due to pannus formation can be a life-threatening complication. We showed that real time three dimensional echocardiography has incremental value in diagnosing pannus localization and extent

Atria: A comprehensive evaluation with echocardiography

Left and right atria have gained interest from scientific community. Two or three- dimensional echocardiographic methods have been implemented for better understanding of atrial functions in both healthy persons and patients with various diseases. Atrial volume could be calculated from 2D or 3D images. Volumetric data and derived parameters could be used for determining atrial phasic functions. Nowadays, atrial deformation imaging with 2D-TDI, 2D-speckle tracking imaging or with recently introduced 3D speckle tracking is possible. All those methods have some advantages and disadvantages, which define their clinical value in the future

A case of Guillain-Barre syndrome following prosthetic valve endocarditis

Celik, Turgay/0000-0001-8418-0130; Bek, Semai/0000-0003-4913-976XWOS: 000263950100017PubMed: 17942174Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy associated with progressive limb weakness and areflexia. Up to now, a few cases of GBS following infective endocarditis (IE), particularly prosthetic valve endocarditis, have been reported. We present a case of a 63-year-old male patient in whom GBS developed following aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis. Although GBS is not frequently encountered in patients with IE, we believe that every clinician should consider the probable GBS in those patients suffering from distal paresthesis, progressive limb weakness and ataxia. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

An increase in epicardial adipose tissue is strongly associated with carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaque, but LDL only with the plaque

Objective: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is reliable marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Until today, there was no study that investigated whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), which is a surrogate for lipid depot in a special visceral tissue or circulating lipids, is more important for CIMT and atherosclerotic plaque.Methods: Our study, having cross-sectional and prospective observational design, included 252 patients who were admitted to our outpatient clinic. EAT identified as an echo-free space under the pericardial layer on 2-dimensional echocardiography, was measured perpendicularly in front of the right ventricular free wall at end-systole.Results: EAT significantly correlated with CIMT (r=0.623, p7 mm, p<0.001, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (Beta: 0.406, p<0.001), male gender (Beta: 0.244, p<0.001), and EAT (Beta: 0.450, p<0.001) as independent correlates of CIMT. Otherwise, in logistic regression analysis, only EAT (OR, 1.386; 95% CI, 1.203-1.597, p<0.001) and LDL cholesterol (OR, 1.013; 95% CI, 1.002-1.013, p=0.02) were independent predictors for presence of carotid plaque.Conclusion: Our study showed that EAT has a relationship with both CIMT and the presence of carotid plaque, but LDL is independently related to the plaque. This finding suggests that EAT thickness may be a risk factor and biomarker, playing an important role beginning from early stages of atherosclerosis, unlike LDL cholesterol, which appear to have a role in later stages of atherosclerosis