Stamatios Lerakis

..The molecular mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory activity, however, are not clear. In this work, the potential role of antioxidant activity of Chios mastic gum has been evaluated...

..Adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (AS-CMR) is an imaging modality with increasing application. The goal of this study was to evaluate the negative prognostic value of AS-CMR among low-risk acute chest pain patients...

..It appears to be protective against stroke in intermediate follow-up studies. Hypothesis: The PLAATO system is protective against stroke and is safe in long-term follow-up...

..The prognostic value of deformation parameters of the systemic right ventricle in adults with D-transposition of the great arteries and prior atrial switch has not been reported...

..Nosocomial infection may predispose patients to MRSA endocarditis, but a larger study with a greater sample size is necessary to evaluate these questions more accurately...

..Patients without findings to suggest ischemia have an excellent intermediate-term prognosis...

..However, conventional measures of RV function may not adequately express this adaptation...

..To compare the diagnostic accuracy of Rb-82 myocardial perfusion three-dimensional (3D) PET with and without prompt-gamma compensation (PGC)...

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..The feasibility and value of transthoracic dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery has not been investigated...

..The clinical applicability of myocardial deformation imaging by two-dimensional strain (2DS) echocardiography in this setting is still under investigation...

..The findings were consistent with Takayasu's arteritis, a large vessel vasculitis of unknown etiology that predominantly affects females...

..The high incidence of IE (11.5%) and mortality rate (30%) in this study suggests that IE in HIV-positive patients, including non-intravenous drug abusers, represents a real concern for clinicians and their management of these patients...

..Community MSSA is the cause of most of the community endocarditis, whereas nosocomial MRSA is the cause of most of the MRSA endocarditis. Patients with S aureus bacteremia should be aggressively evaluated for endocarditis...

..All 3 patients experienced decreased regurgitation at the site of the closure as well as symptomatic improvement in their heart failure...

..We report a case of right-sided endocarditis in which the use of contrast was instrumental to the comprehensive evaluation of the lesion and to subsequent patient management...

..The purpose of this trial is to determine whether lipid levels relate to restenosis and/or whether statin therapy can prevent or delay the process of restenosis after intracoronary stenting...

..In this article, we describe the current percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion devices, their safety in recent trials, and their potential role in stroke prevention in AF...

..This case emphasizes the need for high suspicion for thrombus when a right atrial mass is found in a patient with a hypercoagulable state due to underlying malignancy who has a central venous catheter...

..This case represents the first known closure of an atrial pseudoaneurysm with a percutaneous septal occluder device...

..Furthermore, it will help predict responders to this therapy, hence decreasing the percentage of nonresponders and allowing a more cost-effective use of this new technology...

..It is up to the clinician to use the technology effectively and appropriately. It is certain that cardiac CT technology will continue to improve...

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..We present a case of peri-MI cardiogenic shock necessitating deployment of a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD). TEE guidance played a crucial role in optimal positioning of the venous cannula in the left atrium...

..This problem appeared to be related to a complex, multilobed LAA anatomy and was readily resolved by repositioning of the device under TEE guidance...

..The patient survived after long-term antibiotics and surgical replacement of the mitral valve. The clinical characteristics and complications from reported cases of P mirabilis endocarditis are reviewed...

..The coronary dissection was treated with coronary stents. Transesophageal echocardiogram visualized the intracoronary stent within the intimal flap of the aortic dissection. The aortic dissection was successfully managed conservatively...

..We review the clinical presentation and treatment of patients with each anomaly and the current recommendations regarding the clinical course and management of such patients...

..However, the success of myocardial revascularization by a percutaneous or surgical approach is highly dependent on the patient's associated comorbidities, especially in patients over age 80 years...

..We report a case of esophageal dissection complicating transesophageal echocardiogram in a 52-year-old man who was treated conservatively. Moreover, we review briefly the complications of transesophageal echocardiogram...

..Despite the mounting evidence for these agents on multiple processes in the development of atherosclerosis, their clinical utility in patients with coronary artery disease remains unclear...

..Furthermore, it seems to have an important role in improving the hemodynamic parameters in patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to HF and in improving postoperative renal function after coronary artery bypass grafting...