International Cardiovascular Research Journal

Takayasu's arteritis is an inflammatory disease with a variety of manifestations, such as cardiac involvement. We describe a 52-year-old woman with clinical and echocardiographic manifestations mimicking infectious endocarditis, such as periaortic and mital-aortic intervalvular fibrosa abscess with extension to the anterior mitral leaflet. However, no infective tissue was discovered intraoperatively. Pathological evaluation demonstrated Takayasu's arteritis. To the best of our knowledge, Takayasu's arteritis can involve mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa and imitate infectious endocarditis...

Multifocal fibrosclerosis is a rare syndrome of unknown cause that is characterized by fibrosis involving multiple organ systems. Definitive diagnosis can only be made based on biopsy findings. In this case, the biopsy specimen of the patient demonstrates pulmonary hyalinated granuloma or sclerosing mediastinitis. There are few reports of multiple fibrosclerosis with heart failure. Here, we reported a case of retroperitoneal fibrosis with massive mediastinal involvement extending to pleura and pericardium causing pleuro- pericardial effusion with dilated cardiomyopathy...

BACKGROUND: Poor sexual function is associated with impaired Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) are not exceptions. It is not known, however, if symptoms of depression mediate the effect of sexual function on HRQoL among men and women with CAD. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the association between sexual function and HRQoL among men and women with CAD...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is rising in industrial and developing countries. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disease. Thus, understanding the signs and risk factors of CAD from the patients' perspective and their ways of dealing with this disease is of vital importance. OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study aimed to explore the Iranian patients' viewpoints about CAD and how they dealt with it in their first encounter...

BACKGROUND: QT dispersion (QTd) is equal to longer QTc minus shorter QTc measured by 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). QTd reflects inhomogeneity in repolarization of ventricular myocardium and because of easy and fast measurement of QTd, it can be used to predict high-risk patients for dysrhythmia after Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effect of thrombolytic therapy on QTd before and 1 hour and 4 days after beginning of thrombolytic therapy...

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that inflammation may be involved in pathogenesis of MetS. Inflammatory biomarkers are moving to the forefront as the potent predictors of MetS. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the association between MetS and some inflammatory biomarkers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 800 subjects aged above 35 years selected through random sampling in Borujerd (west of Iran) from 2011 to 2013...

BACKGROUND: Fungal endocarditis, the most severe form of infective endocarditis, is characterized by excessive mortality and morbidity. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to analyze the characteristics of fungal endocarditis to improve the management of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, vegetations on the mitral or tricuspid valves and embolic material surgically removed from the patients with suspected infective endocarditis between December 2009 and November 2011 were examined for fungal infection by direct smear and culture, and the susceptibility patterns of the isolated species were determined...

BACKGROUND: Right Ventricular (RV) dysfunction has been introduced as a predictor of mortality in acute myocardial infarction. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of right coronary revascularization on systolic and diastolic RV dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on unstable angina patients who were candidate for elective Percutaneous Revascularization Intervention (PCI) on the right coronary artery...

BACKGROUND: Galectin-3 is a soluble ß-galactoside-binding lectin released by activated cardiac macrophages. Galectin-3 has been proposed for diagnosis and prognosis of HF patients. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between galectin-3 as a biomarker and ejection fraction and functional capacity in the patients with compensated systolic heart failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, serum levels of Galectin-3 were measured in 76 patients with compensated heart failure with New York Heart Association class I-IV and left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%...

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of 40% of deaths in Iran annually. Many patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery have previous cardiovascular risk factors which could be prevented. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional (descriptive - analytical) study, a data collecting form was used...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Coronary artery anomalies are among the neglected topics in cardiology. Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the right sinus of valsalva is a rare coronary anomaly observed in 0.15% of patients. During exercise, the distended aorta and pulmonary artery with increased blood flow may squeeze the Left Main Coronary Artery (LMCA) between them. Even though arrhythmias are common causes of syncope, one should also think about aberrant coronary artery in the patients with syncope of unexplained origin...

BACKGROUND: After an acute coronary syndrome, dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel plus aspirin is still a standard of care, but several new approaches have been investigated. OBJECTIVES: The present study re-examined the studies published thus far on this topic to evaluate the effectiveness of dual antiplatelet therapy in comparison to some of these new approaches (mainly, ticagrelor + aspirin and dual therapy plus a new oral anticoagulant [NOAC]; i.e., "triple therapy")...

BACKGROUND: Endothelial-derived apoptotic microparticles (EMPs) play a pivotal role in endothelial dysfunction in hronic Heart Failure (CHF). OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the association between EMPs and pro-inflammatory biomarkers, clinical status, and outcomes in the patients with ischemic CHF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 154 patients with ischemic symptomatic moderate-to-severe CHF on discharge from hospital...

BACKGROUND: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common complication after open heart surgery and is frequently associated with increased hospital stay, complications, and mortality rates. The effect of β-blockers on prevention of supraventricular arrhythmias has been confirmed in several prospective randomized studies. OBJECTIVES: This clinical trial aimed to compare the preventive effects of carvedilol and metoprolol on occurrence of AF after CABG surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 150 patients (55 females, 95 males; mean age: 59 ± 10 years) who underwent CABG surgery...

BACKGROUND: No clear evidence is available in the literature regarding the acute effect of different styles of music on cardiac autonomic control. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of classical baroque and heavy metal musical auditory stimulation on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in healthy men. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, HRV was analyzed regarding time (SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, and pNN50) and frequency domain (LF, HF, and LF / HF) in 12 healthy men...

BACKGROUND: Transposition of Great Arteries (TGA) is a serious congenital heart disease which can be accompanied by good outcomes with anatomic correction within the first few weeks of life. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate electrocardiographic changes in the children with uncomplicated Arterial Switch Operation (ASO). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve lead electrocardiograms were obtained from thirty-three patients with TGA after ASO...

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Blood pressure control is a challenge for healthcare providers and the rate of blood pressure control is not more than 50% worldwide. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a short-term educational program on the level of knowledge, lifestyle changes, and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on the hypertensive patients attending Shiraz Healthy Heart House...

BACKGROUND: Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) is highly prevalent and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. It has been well established that excessive intake of sodium chloride (salt) induced hypertension in some populations. Although salt seems to induce cardiovascular diseases through elevation of blood pressure, it has also been indicated that salt can induce cardiovascular diseases independently from blood pressure elevation. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the association between salt consumption and inflammation in CHF patients...