| EDITORIAL | 5 |
| CARDIOVASCULAR TOPICS | 7 |
| Prevalence of asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction in hypertensive Nigerians: echocardiographic study of 832 subjects | 7 |
| Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in people of Asian Indian origin: outcomes by definitions | 13 |
| Down syndrome and congenital heart disease: why the regional difference as observed in the Libyan experience? | 16 |
| Diagnosis and follow up of patients with primary cardiac tumours: a single-centre experience of myxomas | 20 |
| Role of stromal-derived factor-1 | 23 |
| The effect of mebudipine on cardiac function and activity of the myocardial nitric oxide system in ischaemia–reperfusion injury in rats | 29 |
| Analysis of omega-3 fatty acid content of South African fish oil supplements | 34 |
| REVIEW ARTICLE | 40 |
| CASE REPORTS | 45 |
| A rare complication after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Ogilvie’s syndrome | 45 |
| Anaesthesia for emergency Caesarean section in a patient with peripartum cardiomypathy | 47 |
| Diagnostic assessment of prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis by real-time threedimensional transoesophageal echocardiography and successful thrombolytic treatment | 50 |
| DRUG TRENDS | 54 |