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Abstract Aims Heart failure in late pregnancy and the postpartum period (HFPP) is a rare but potentially life‐threatening condition, with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) being the most common subtype. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the prevalence of HFPP in the Finnish population and identify the underlying risk factors associated with its occurrence. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the Finnish Medical Birth Register and the Finnish Care Register for Health Care, covering 1996 to 2021. The dataset comprised 1 387 457 deliveries. HFPP cases were identified based on specific ICD‐10 codes. To ensure the accuracy of our findings, we excluded cases with pre‐existing cardiomyopathies and other significant cardiac diseases diagnosed before pregnancy. We employed logistic regression models to evaluate the associations between maternal factors and the incidence of HFPP. Results We identified 159 cases of HFPP, resulting in an incidence rate of 11.5 per 100 000 deliveries. This incidence is comparable with rates reported in other Scandinavian countries and lower than those observed in Germany. Consistent with findings from European cohorts, our study confirmed that pregnancy‐associated hypertensive disorders, particularly preeclampsia, as well as complications such as preterm delivery, twin pregnancy and elective caesarean section, are substantial risk factors for HFPP. These results support previous research linking angiogenic imbalance to the pathogenesis of PPCM. Significant risk factors for HFPP included maternal pre‐pregnancy body mass index ≥35 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–3.25, P = 0.003], history of maternal hypertensive disorder (aOR 2.44, 95% CI 1.22–4.88, P = 0.012), gestational hypertension without significant proteinuria (aOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.27–3.61, P = 0.004), preeclampsia (aOR 2.43, 95% CI 1.39–4.23, P = 0.002), type 1 or type 2 diabetes (aOR 3.27, 95% CI 1.66–6.45, P

Resumo Fundamento A doença arterial coronariana (DAC) devido à isquemia miocárdica causa perda permanente de tecido cardíaco. Objetivos Nosso objetivo foi demonstrar o possível dano ao miocárdio em nível molecular através dos mecanismos de autofagia e apoptose em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica. Métodos Um grupo recebeu uma solução de cardioplegia Custodiol e o outro grupo uma solução de cardioplegia sanguínea. Duas amostras miocárdicas foram coletadas de cada paciente durante a operação, imediatamente antes da parada cardíaca e após a liberação do pinçamento aórtico. Foram avaliadas as expressões de marcadores de autofagia e apoptose. O nível de significância estatística adotado foi de 5%. Resultados A expressão do gene BECLIN foi significativa nos tecidos miocárdicos do grupo CS (p=0,0078). Os níveis de expressão dos genes CASPASE 3, 8 e 9 foram significativamente menores no grupo CC. Os níveis pós-operatórios de TnT foram significativamente diferentes entre os grupos (p=0,0072). As expressões dos genes CASPASE 8 e CASPASE 9 foram semelhantes antes e depois do pinçamento aórtico (p=0,8552, p=0,8891). No grupo CC, os níveis de expressão gênica de CASPASE 3, CASPASE 8 e CASPASE 9 não foram significativamente diferentes em amostras de tecido coletadas após pinçamento aórtico (p=0,7354, p=0,0758, p=0,4128, respectivamente). Conclusões Com nossos achados, acreditamos que as soluções CC e CS não apresentam diferença significativa em termos de proteção miocárdica durante as operações de by-pass.

Objective Masked hypertension (MH) and non-dipping pattern are conditions associated with target organ damage and cardiovascular risk, which are frequently observed together. We aimed to show the relationship between the target organ damage observed in MH and the deterioration in the dipping pattern. Methods Patients who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and office blood pressure (BP)

Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to review the surgical excision results and pathological diagnostic features of rarely observed intracardiac masses in the light of the literature. Diagnosis and treatment approaches and complications were evaluated. Methods: Forty patients (26 females, mean age 52.1±18.1 years, and 14 males, mean age 48.1±20.5 years), who had undergone surgery for intracardiac mass between January 2008 and December 2018, were included in this study. The patients’ data were analyzed retrospectively from the medical records of both centers. Results: When the pathological diagnoses were examined, 85.8% of the masses (n=35) were observed to be benign (benign tumor + hydatid cyst) and 14.2% (n=5) were malignant tumors. The masses were most commonly located in the left atrium (75%, n=30), and this was followed by the right ventricle (12.5%, n=5), right atrium (7.5%, n=3), and left ventricle (5%, n=2). Of the patients, 7.5% (n=3) died during the early postoperative period, while the remaining 92.5% (n=37) were discharged with healing. In the histopathological diagnosis of the patients, in whom in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events were observed, there was malignancy in two cases. Conclusion: Intracardiac masses, which have pathological features, are severe life-threatening problems. In-hospital mortality is frequent, especially in malignant tumors.

Abstract Introduction: Blood cardioplegia (BC) and Custodiol cardioplegia (CC) have been used for a long time in open heart surgery and are highly effective solutions. The most controversial issue among these two is whether there is any difference between them regarding myocardial damage after ischemia surgery. In this study, autophagy, apoptosis, and hypoxia markers were investigated and that way we evaluated the differences between BC and CC patients. Methods: A total of 30 patients were included in this study, using two different cardioplegic solutions. Three different whole blood samples of the patients were taken from a central vein (preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and one day after surgery). Total ribonucleic acid was extracted from these samples. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed, and changes in gene expression were determined by the 2-∆∆Ct method of relative quantification. Results: In the CC group, Beclin gene expression level was found to be higher and this difference was statistically significant (P=0.0024). Similarly, cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) 9 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) gene expression level increased and were significantly different in the CC group. In the BC group, Beclin and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 expressions were higher in the samples taken one day after surgery. Caspases 3 and 8 gene expressions were significantly different in the BC group. Conclusion: As a result of the analysis performed between the two cardioplegia groups, it has been shown that CC harms the myocardium more than BC at the level of mRNA expression of related markers.

Abstract Introduction: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase enzyme activity may affect the vessel wall and have a role in development of aortic aneurysms. EPCs originate from hematopoietic stem cells and can be enumerated from peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relation of EPC number and NADPH oxidase enzyme activity in the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). Methods: Patients with TAA (n=30) and healthy individuals without TAA (control, n=10) were included in our study. Characterization and enumeration of EPC from peripheral blood samples were performed by flow cytometry with panels including markers of EPCs (CD34/CD133/CD309/CD146/CD144). Additionally, NADPH oxidase enzyme activity (capacity) was also measured by the dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) test. Results: The enumeration of EPC with CD34+/CD146+ marker showed that the number of mean EPC/106 cells was increased in the patient group (41.5/106 cells), but not in the control group (20.50/105 cells) (P

Abstract Introduction: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between postoperative mortality, morbidity, hospital stay and development of postoperative complications with the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery. Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent CABG at our clinic between January 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into two groups according to their diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosis. Diabetic patients were also divided into two groups according to their HbA1c levels. The HbA1c threshold value was 7%. All patients were divided into two groups in terms of LVEF. The LVEF threshold value was 40%. Results: We analyzed 393 patients, of which 304 (77.4%) were male and 177 (45.04%) patients were diabetic. For lower LVEF and HbA1c values, we found no relationship between postoperative mortality, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay and development of postoperative complications. Deep surgical site infection (DSSI) was found to be more common in diabetic patients who had a higher HbA1c value. Length of hospital stay was longer in diabetic patients with HbA1c levels

Background/Aims: We aimed to investigate the effects of glomerular IgM and C3 deposition on outcomes of adult patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Methods: In this retrospective analysis, 86 consecutive adult patients with biopsy-proven primary FSGS were stratified into 3 groups according to their histopathological features: IgM– C3–, IgM+ C3–, and IgM+ C3+. Primary outcome was defined as at least a 50% reduction in baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or development of kidney failure, while complete or partial remission rates were secondary outcomes. Results: Glomerular IgM deposits were found in 44 (51.1%) patients, 22 (25.5%) of which presented with accompanying C3 deposition. Patients in IgM+ C3+ group had higher level of proteinuria (5.6 g/24 h [3.77–8.5], p = 0.073), higher percentage of segmental glomerulosclerosis (20% [12.3–27.2], p = 0.001), and lower levels of eGFR (69 ± 37.2 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.029) and serum albumin (2.71 ± 0.85 g/dL, p = 0.045) at the time of diagnosis. Despite 86.3% of patients in IgM+ C3+ group (19/22) received immunosuppressive treatment, the primary outcome was more common in patients in the IgM+ C3+ group compared with patients in IgM+ C3– and IgM– C3– groups (11 [50%] vs. 2 [9%] and 11 [26.1%] respectively [p = 0.010]). Complete or partial remission rates were lower in patients in the IgM+ C3+ group (5/22, 22.7%), as well (p = 0.043). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that IgM and C3 co-deposition was an independent risk factor associated with primary outcome (hazard ratio 3.355, 95% CI 1.349–8.344, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Glomerular IgM and C3 co-deposition is a predictor of unfavorable renal outcomes in adult patients with primary FSGS.

Abstract Introduction: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with hyperlactatemia, which leads to adverse clinical outcomes. No study has examined the effect of different clamping techniques on postoperative hyperlactatemia (PHL). Thus, we aimed to evaluate the impact of two different techniques on PHL and the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 100 patients who underwent isolated CPB either with single clamp technique (SCT, n=47) or double clamp technique (DCT, n=53). Demographic and preoperative laboratory data, as well as operative features and arterial blood lactate levels at the onset and at the end of CPB, were collected from patient charts. Results: Blood lactate levels collected at the end of CPB did not differ significantly between groups whereas intraoperative lactate increased significantly in both groups (P

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a hipotermia residual pós-operatória e sua duração, assim como discutir se a hipotermia tardia pode ser um marcador de sangramento excessivo. MÉTODO: Neste estudo retrospectivo, os registros de 12 pacientes que tiveram re-intervenção por causa de sangramento no período pós-operatório foram revisados e suas durações, que foram desde o primeiro minuto em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva até a pele alcançar uma temperatura de 36,5 graus Celsius. O tempo de duração da Circulação Extracorpórea (CEC) foi anotado. Também foi registrado o tempo ativado de coagulação (TCA). A temperatura mais baixa do corpo durante a operação foi medida. Um grupo de controle foi criado (n=16) aleatoriamente, formado por pacientes que não precisariam de re-intervenção e no qual a duração da CEC foi similar à do grupo de estudo. Todos os parâmetros foram comparados entre dois grupos com a versão do software SSPSs. RESULTADOS: As durações desde o primeiro minuto no tratamento intensivo até a temperatura da pele alcançar 36.5 graus Celsius foram significantemente mais longas no grupo de estudo (p=0,0001). TAC pré-operatório e pós-operatório não foram diferentes (p=0,312 e p=0,576 respectivamente). A menor temperatura do corpo não foi diferente (p=0,157). CONCLUSÕES: Nossos achados indicam que a temperatura da pele é importante no sangramento excessivo que leva à re-intervenção. Hipotermia pode ser o motivo ou a causa do sangramento.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether postoperative hypothermia evaluated by skin temperature can be a clue of excessive bleeding requiring re-exploration. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the records of 12 patients who needed re-exploration due to bleeding in the postoperative period were reviewed and the time from the first minute in the intensive care unit until the skin temperature reached 36.5ºC was measured. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) durations were noted as were preoperative and postoperative Activated Clotting Times (ACT) and the lowest body temperatures during the operation. A control group was formed of 16 randomly chosen patients who did not need re-exploration with CPB times similar to the study group. All parameters were compared between the two groups using the SPSS software version 10.0. RESULTS: The length of time from the first minute in the intensive care unit until skin temperatures reached 36.5ºC were significantly longer in the study group (p=0.0001). Preoperative and postoperative ACT were not significantly different (p=0.312 and p=0.576 respectively). The lowest body temperatures were also not significantly different (p=0.157). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that skin temperature is an important indicator of excessive bleeding with a need for re-exploration. Hypothermia may be a reason for this or may be a result of the bleeding.

Double orifice mitral valve is a very rare congenital abnormality. Well known associations of this pathology with other congenital lesions point to a complex and central pathophysiological mechanism leading to a sequence of pathologies. These associations have long been realized and arbitrarily defined as Shone complex. We would like to present a 21-year-old patient with double orifice mitral valve associated with bicuspid aortic valve, with a brief review of the literature on possible central mechanisms leading to different subsets of congenital abnormalities involving these two.