SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: A decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (≤40%) in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is a significant predictor of mortality in the young ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the predictors of left ventricular ejection fraction reduction and evaluate the long-term mortality rates in young ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with or without decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. METHODS: We enrolled retrospectively 411 consecutive ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients aged 45 years or below who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Young ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients were divided into two groups according to their left ventricular ejection fraction (≤40%, n=72 and >40%, n=339), which were compared with each other. RESULTS: Statin use, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, peak creatine kinase-MB, prolonged ischemia time, left anterior descending artery-related infarction, proximally/ostial located lesion, and no-reflow were independently associated with low left ventricular ejection fraction. Additionally, long-term mortality was considerably higher in the left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% group than those in the left ventricular ejection fraction>40% group (18.1% versus 2.4%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In young ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients, lesion properties (left anterior descending lesion, proximally located lesion), no-reflow, and prolonged ischemia time appeared to be important determinants for the left ventricular ejection fraction decline, rather than coronary disease severity or demographic and hematological parameters. Statin use may be preventive in the development of left ventricular ejection fraction decline in young ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients.

RESUMO Antecedentes: Destreza prejudicada é uma deficiência frequentemente relatada em pessoas com esclerose múltipla (EM) atáxica. Objetivo: Nosso objetivo é quantificar e padronizar a avaliação do distúrbio de coordenação da extremidade superior em pacientes com EM usando o Tablet Ataxia Assessment Program (TAAP). Métodos: Os movimentos dos eixos X e Y de 50 EM e 30 indivíduos saudáveis que foram avaliados com a International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) também foram avaliados com TAAP. Os tempos funcionais das mãos direita e esquerda dos participantes foram registrados usando o teste de nove pinos (NHPT). A coordenação da extremidade superior de indivíduos com EM foi avaliada com a seção de funções cinéticas da extremidade superior do ICARS. Resultados: Os desvios para os movimentos dos eixos X e Y do grupo MS foram maiores do que os do grupo controle (p <0,05). Correlações significativas foram mostradas entre os escores do TAAP e os escores do NHPT e do ICARS. A correlação mais forte foi encontrada entre NHPT e ICARS na mão dominante (rnhpt=0,356, pnhpt=0,001, ricars=0,439 e picars=0,000). Na correlação do eixo Y com ICARS, observou-se que os desvios no eixo Y foram maiores na mão não dominante do que no eixo X (ryright=0,402, pyright=0,004, ryleft=0,691 e pyleft=0,000). Conclusão: A medição com TAAP é mais sensível do que outros métodos clássicos e atuais de avaliação de ataxia. Acreditamos que o TAAP seja uma ferramenta objetiva que permitirá aos profissionais de neurorreabilitação e médicos avaliar a coordenação dos membros superiores.

ABSTRACT Background: Impaired dexterity is a frequently reported disability among people with ataxic multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To quantify and standardize the evaluation of upper extremity coordination disorder among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), using the Tablet Ataxia Assessment Program (TAAP). Methods: The X and Y axis movements of 50 MS patients and 30 healthy individuals who were evaluated using the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) were also assessed using TAAP. The functional times of the participants’ right and left hands were recorded using the nine-hole peg test (NHPT). The upper extremity coordination of individuals with MS was evaluated using the upper extremity kinetic functions section of ICARS. Results: The deviations for the X and Y axis movements of the MS group were greater than those of the control group (p<0.05). Significant correlations were shown between TAAP scores and NHPT and ICARS scores. The strongest correlation was found between NHPT and ICARS in the dominant hand (rnhpt=0.356, pnhpt=0.001; ricars=0.439, picars=0.000). In correlating the Y axis with ICARS, the deviations in the Y axis were found to be greater in the non-dominant hand than those in the X axis (ryright=0.402, pyright=0.004; ryleft=0.691, pyleft=0.000). Conclusion: Measurement using TAAP is more sensitive than other classical and current methods for evaluating ataxia. We think that TAAP is an objective tool that will allow neurorehabilitation professionals and clinicians to evaluate upper extremity coordination.

Abstract Introduction: The Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) reflects host systemic inflammatory response and has been reported to be significant as a prognostic indicator in cancer-bearing patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of GPS in outcomes of patients with severe aortic stenosis who were treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: The study population consisted of 79 patients who underwent TAVI due to severe aortic stenosis between January 2018 and March 2019 in our clinic. Echocardiographic and laboratory data were recorded before the procedure and GPS was scored as 0, 1, or 2, based on serum albumin and C-reactive protein levels. European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II scoring system was used for risk stratification. The primary endpoints of the study were postoperative in-hospital mortality, hospitalization due to cardiac causes, or mortality within a year. Results: The 79 patients were classified into two groups according to outcomes. Fifteen patients (19%) reached the primary endpoints at one year of follow-up. Compared to the patients who did not reach the endpoints, these 15 patients were not different in terms of age, preoperative mean gradient, and ejection fraction (P>0.05 for all). GPS was the only laboratory parameter with statistically significant difference between the groups (P=0.008) and multivariate analysis showed that GPS was independent predictor of primary endpoints (P=0.012, odds ratio 4.51, 95% confidence interval 1.39-14.60). Conclusion: GPS is an easy, noninvasive laboratory test which may be used as a predictive biomarker for outcomes in patients undergoing TAVI.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the effects of lidocaine oropharyngeal spray applied before endotracheal intubation on hemodynamic responses and electrocardiographic parameters in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: A total of 60 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, the topical lidocaine group (administration of 10% lidocaine oropharyngeal spray, five minutes before laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation) and the control group. Both groups were compared with each other in terms of main hemodynamic parameters including mean arterial pressure and heart rate, as well as P and QT wave dispersion durations, before and after endotracheal intubation. Results: The groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and other demographics and basic clinical characteristics. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of QT dispersion durations after laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. The increase in QT dispersion duration was not statistically significant in the topical lidocaine group, whereas the increase in QT dispersion duration was statistically significant in the control group. When the groups were compared in terms of P wave dispersion durations, there were significant decreases in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the topical lidocaine administration before endotracheal intubation prevented increase of QT dispersion duration in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Trial Registration: NCT03304431

Resumen Descripción del caso: Una mujer de 52 años llegó a la clínica con tos, esputo, fiebre y fatiga. El paciente estuvo recibiendo terapia inmunosupresora durante 5 años para el tratamiento de la púrpura trombocitopénica. Hallazgo clínico: se escucharon crepitaciones inspiratorias en ambos hemitórax. La saturación de oxígeno fue del 97%. La radiografía de tórax mostró opacidades reticulares difusas que eran más prominentes en las zonas superiores de ambos pulmones. Los recuentos de leucocitos fueron de 17,600 mm3 y los recuentos de plaquetas fueron de 29,000 mm3. La TC de tórax mostró muchas cavidades de pared delgada y nódulos milimétricos acompañados de infiltrados vitrales en los lóbulos superior y medio. La tinción de Gram del líquido bronquial reveló bacilos gramnegativos y leucocitos polimorfonucleares. Las bacterias fueron identificadas como Delftia acidovorans. Tratamiento y resultados: La paciente fue hospitalizado con una sospecha de infección oportunista pulmonar y enfermedad pulmonar cavitaria. Después del tratamiento empírico de piperacilina-tazobactam intravenosa y claritromicina oral, los síntomas y signos retrocedieron significativamente, y fue dada de alta con seguimiento ambulatorio. Relevancia clínica: este es el primer registro de neumonía cavitaria causado por Delftia acidovorans en una paciente inmunocomprometida. Enfatizamos que la neumonía por Delftia debe considerarse en el diagnóstico diferencial de la afectación de la cavidad pulmonar en tales pacientes.

Abstract Case Description: A 52-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic with complaints of cough, sputum, fever and fatigue. The patient has been receiving immunosuppressive therapy for thrombocytopenic purpura for 5 years. Clinical Finding: Inspiratory crackles were heard on both hemithorax. Oxygen saturation measured with the pulse oximeter was 97%. Chest X-ray showed diffuse reticular opacities that were more prominent in the upper zones of both lungs. WBC counts were 17,600 mm3 and Platelet counts were 29,000 mm3. Thorax CT showed that there were many thin-walled cavities and millimetric nodules accompanied by ground-glass infiltrates in the upper and middle lobes. Gram staining of bronchial fluid, taken by bronchoscopy, revealed Gram-negative bacilli and intense polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The bacteria were defined as Delftia acidovorans by BD Phoenix automated system. Treatment and outcomes: The patient was hospitalized with suspicion of opportunistic pulmonary infections and cavitary lung disease. After the empirical treatment of intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam and oral clarithromycin, her clinical and radiological findings significantly regressed, and she was discharged with outpatient follow-up. Clinical Relevance: This is the first example of cavitary pneumonia due to Delftia acidovorans in an immunocompromised patient. We would like to emphasize that Delftia pneumonia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary cavitary involvement in such patients.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the effects of preoperative anxiety relieving on electrophysiological changes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Methods: A total of 61 patients at ASA III risk group in the age range of 18-65 years were enrolled in the present study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group S (Sedation group) was administered 0.04 mg/kg lorazepam per os (PO) twice before the operation. Group C (control group) was not administered with any anxiolytic premedication. State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the level of anxiety. Electrocardiography (ECG), pulse oximeter and standard monitoring were performed for each patient. QT and P dispersions in each derivation of all ECGs were calculated. Results: Preoperative STAI-I scores were significantly lower in sedation group compared to the controls. Mean values of QT dispersion measured before induction, at the 1st minute of induction, 30th second of intubation and 4th minute of intubation in sedation group were significantly reduced compared to controls (P=0.024; P=0.027; P=0.001; P=0.033, respectively). The mean values of P dispersion measured before induction, at the 3rd minute of induction, 30th second of intubation and 4th minute of intubation in sedation group were significantly reduced compared to controls (P=0.001; P=0.020; P=0.023; P=0.005, respectively). Conclusion: Elevated anxiety levels in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery have a negative effect through prolonged QT and P-wave dispersion times. Anxiolytic treatment before surgery may be useful to prevent ventricular and atrial arrhythmias and associated complications through decreasing the QT and P-wave dispersion duration.

Abstract Objective: In this study, the efficacy of thoracic ultrasonography during echocardiography was evaluated in newborns. Methods: Sixty newborns who had undergone pediatric cardiac surgery were successively evaluated between March 1, 2015, and September 1, 2015. Patients were evaluated for effusion, pulmonary atelectasis, and pneumothorax by ultrasonography, and results were compared with X-ray findings. Results: Sixty percent (n=42) of the cases were male, the median age was 14 days (2-30 days), and the median body weight was 3.3 kg (2.8-4.5 kg). The median RACHS-1 score was 4 (2-6). Atelectasis was demonstrated in 66% (n=40) of the cases. Five of them were determined solely by X-ray, 10 of them only by ultrasonography, and 25 of them by both ultrasonography and X-ray. Pneumothorax was determined in 20% (n=12) of the cases. Excluding one case determined by both methods, all of the 11 cases were diagnosed by X-ray. Pleural effusion was diagnosed in 26% (n=16) of the cases. Four of the cases were demonstrated solely by ultrasonography, three of them solely by X-ray, and nine of the cases by both methods. Pericardial effusion was demonstrated in 10% (n=6) of the cases. Except for one of the cases determined by both methods, five of the cases were diagnosed by ultrasonography. There was a moderate correlation when all pathologies evaluated together (k=0.51). Conclusion: Thoracic ultrasonography might be a beneficial non-invasive method to evaluate postoperative respiratory problems in newborns who had congenital cardiac surgery.