Unlocking vascular vitality: Exploring the impact of LIMA harvesting technique on endothelial health.

Background: This study investigates the impact of different harvesting techniques on the morphology and endothelial function of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Fifty-three patients undergoing elective CABG were randomly assigned to two groups based on the harvesting technique: traditional clipping and nonclipping. Histological analyses revealed that arteries in the nonclipped group exhibited greater dilation and preserved endothelial integrity compared to the control group.

The Relationship Between Echocardiographic Calcification Score and Grade of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background and objective It has been suggested that knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is associated with the development of calcification and an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, while the contribution of KOA grade is not clearly known enough. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the grade of KOA, the echocardiographic calcification score (echo-CCS), and CV risk assessment. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 204 patients diagnosed with KOA and classified according to the Kellgren-Lawrence staging criteria.

Predictive Performance of Triglyceride-Glucose Index on Asymptomatic Multiple Organ Damage in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Hypertension.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) contributes to the development of hypertension and mediated organ damage (HMOD) through various mechanisms.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate marker of IR, in predicting the presence and severity of HMOD in newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients from an academic training and research hospital

Methods: The study included 438 patients with newly diagnosed, untreated hypertension. The control group comprised normotensive individuals matched on a 1:1 ratio based on age, gender, body mass index, and smoking using the nearest neighbor method.

Relationship between systemic inflammation indices and time of symptom onset in cardiac remodeling after first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Circadian variations play a pivotal role in both leukocyte trafficking and inflammatory response. This may affect the course of cardiac healing after myocardial infarction (MI).

Aims: The present study investigated the relationship between the systemic immune inflammation (SII) index and the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), two new inflammation indices integrating white blood cell subsets and platelets, and the time of onset of symptoms in left ventricular adverse remodeling (LVAR) after ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI).

A very rare interarterial communication: total occlusion of right coronary artery with antegrade collateral supply from left circumflex artery through conus branch.

Purpose: The purpose of the present case report is to describe an extremely rare and unusual coronary interarterial communication.

Methods: A 65-year-old female patient admitted with acute coronary syndrome underwent a coronary angiography performed with Judkins technique to obtain standard angiographic views.

Results: We have demonstrated a very rare interarterial communication traversing an unusual retroaortic path between the body of left circumflex artery and the conus branch of the right coronary artery.

Evaluation of real-life data on the use of inhaler devices, including satisfaction and adherence to treatment, by community pharmacists in partnership with pulmonary disease specialists.

Objective: The use of inhaler device (UID) and the satisfaction and adherence of patients to treatment were evaluated by Istanbul city community pharmacists to obtain real-life data from patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Pharmacists educated by pulmonary disease specialists asked patients who combined medications with inhaler devices to fill out a questionnaire prepared by the specialists. Each patient's UID was checked, and their errors were corrected by showing them the already prepared standard video of their inhaler device.

Blockade of TGF-β (Transforming Growth Factor Beta) Signaling by Deletion of in Smooth Muscle Cells of 11-Month-Old Mice Alters Aortic Structure and Causes Vasomotor Dysfunction-Brief Report.

Background: To test the hypothesis that smooth muscle cell (SMC) TGF-β (transforming growth factor beta) signaling contributes to maintenance of aortic structure and function beyond the early postnatal period.

Methods: We deleted the TBR2 (type 2 TGF-β receptor) in SMC of 11-month-old mice (genotype -CreER, termed TBR2) and compared their ascending aorta structure and vasomotor function to controls (-CreER, termed TBR2).

Results: We confirmed loss of aortic SMC TBR2 by immunoblotting.

A Rare Complication of Chylous Ascites Following Aortobifemoral Bypass Surgery.

Injury of the lymphatic trunk during abdominal aortic surgery causes leakage of chyle into the peritoneum, resulting in chylous ascites. A 53-year male, who underwent aortobifemoral bypass surgery for Leriche syndrome in our clinic, presented to the Emergency Department two months postoperatively, with complaints of abdominal discomfort, reduced appetite and weight loss. Computed tomography imaging and ultrasound of the abdomen revealed a retroperitoneal fluid collection.

Loss of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Signaling in Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells Causes Endothelial Dysfunction and Aortic Hypercontractility.

[Figure: see text].

Resveratrol ameliorates the cyclosporine-induced vascular and renal impairments: possible impact of the modulation of renin-angiotensin system.

Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive drug, exhibits a toxic effect on renal and vascular systems. The present study investigated whether resveratrol treatment alleviates renal and vascular injury induced by cyclosporine. Cyclosporine (25 mg/kg per day, s.

Usefulness of white blood cell count to mean platelet volume ratio in the prediction of SYNTAX score in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: White blood cell (WBC) count to mean platelet volume (MPV) ratio (WMR) is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEMI). We aimed to compare WMR between NSTEMI patients and matched-controls and to evaluate its predictive value on SYNTAX score.

Methods: Total 175 patients with NSTEMI and 160 age and co-morbidity matched subjects were recruited in our study.

Association between Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Non-Dipping Circadian Pattern in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Essential Hypertension.

Objective: Non-dipper hypertension (HT) confers greater risk compared with dipper HT. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) recently emerged as a novel and independent marker of cardiovascular disease, both in diagnostic and prognostic scopes. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship of circadian blood pressure (BP) pattern with serum GDF-15 level in newly diagnosed HT patients without left ventricular hypertrophy.

Relaxant effect of atorvastatin on isolated rat gastric fundus strips: implications for Ca-signalling mechanisms.

Statins are determined to have various pleiotropic effects apart from their lipid-lowering properties. Herein, we investigated the direct effects of atorvastatin on gastric smooth muscle tone. Atorvastatin effectively relaxed isolated rat gastric fundus strips precontracted with acetylcholine, potassium chloride, and serotonin.

Relaxant effect of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost on isolated human radial artery: An approach for the reversal of graft spasm.

Radial artery graft spasm in the perioperative or postoperative period of coronary bypass surgery necessitates urgent treatment due to risk of graft failure and mortality. Herein, we evaluated the effect of iloprost, a prostacyclin (PGI) analogue, against the contractions produced by noradrenaline and potassium chloride on isolated human radial artery. Following the determination of endothelial and vascular relaxing capacities of the arteries, iloprost (10M-10M) was cumulatively applied on rings precontracted submaximally with the spasmogens.

Vascular function and arginine and dimethylarginines in gentamicin-induced renal failure: a possible effect of heme oxygenase 1 inducer hemin.

Increased oxidative stress and disturbance in nitric oxide bioavailability lead to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complication in renal disease. Gentamicin (GM), a commonly used antibiotic, exhibits a toxic effect on renal proximal tubules. Prevention of its nephrotoxicity is important.

Evaluation of arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with Behçet's disease without cardiovascular involvement.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate arterial structure and function with assessment of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: Thirty patients (13 female, 17 male) with BD and 30 age, sex-matched healthy controls (12 female, 18 male) with no known cardiovascular disease were enrolled in this study. Carotid-femoral PWV and CIMT were measured.

Atorvastatin acutely reduces the reactivity to spasmogens in rat aorta: implication of the inhibition of geranylgeranylation and MYPT-1 phosphorylation.

Statins are known to display benefits in various diseases independently from their cholesterol lowering properties. In this study, we investigated the acute effects of atorvastatin on vascular reactivity to various spasmogens in isolated rat aorta. The responses to noradrenaline (NA, 10(-8) -10(-4) m), endothelin-1 (ET-1, 10(-10) -10(-7) m), and potassium chloride (KCl, 10-100 mm) were evaluated in aortic rings pretreated with atorvastatin (10(-7) -10(-4) m, 30 min).

Barnidipine ameliorates the vascular and renal injury in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of Barnidipine treatment on early stage hypertension by determining the function and morphology of the mesenteric and renal arteries as well as the kidney in N(ω)-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Barnidipine (3 mg/kg/day p.o) was applied to rats after 2 weeks of L-NAME (60 mg/kg/day) administration, and continued for the next 3 weeks concomitantly with L-NAME.