Relationship Between Melatonin and Cardiovascular Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The coronary atherosclerotic process involves different pathological mechanisms; inflammation is one of the major triggers for the development of atherosclerotic plaque. Although several studies showed the favorable effects of melatonin on the cardiovascular system (CVS), melatonin seems not to take its rightful place in today's clinical practice.

Antithrombotic treatment patterns and stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation in TURKEY: inferences from GARFIELD-AF registry.

Unlabelled: The corner stone of atrial fibrillation therapy includes the prevention of stroke with less adverse effects. The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) study provided data to compare treatment strategies in Turkey with other populations and every-day practice of stroke prevention management with complications.

Methods: GARFIELD-AF is a large-scale registry that enrolled 52,014 patients in five sequential cohorts at >1,000 centers in 35 countries.

The Role of Osteoprotegerin as a Cardioprotective Versus Reactive Inflammatory Marker: the Chicken or the Egg Paradox.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most frequent causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Several variables have been identified as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Recently, the role of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, and the osteoprotegerin system has been recognized as more important in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between initial serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and right ventricular functions in inferior myocardial infarction (MI) with and without right ventricular involvement.

Methods: The study included 61 patients, who presented with acute inferior MI. Twenty-seven patients had right ventricular involvement.

Aortic flow propagation velocity, epicardial fat thickness, and osteoprotegerin level to predict subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver dysfunction in Western countries and an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic heart disease. Appropriate noninvasive parameters are lacking for optimal risk stratification of cardiovascular disease in these patients. We evaluated several recently discovered noninvasive parameters for atherosclerosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: epicardial fat thickness, aortic flow propagation velocity, and osteoprotegerin level.

Effects of Gender on Electrocardiography in Subjects with Shortened Ventricular Depolarization (QRS).

Background: Distinctions between electrocardiograms of female and male subjects have been recognized for many years. Due to these differences, arrhythmias in each gender have a tendency to differ. In our study, we aimed to compare electrocardiography intervals between men and women with short QRS durations.

Validation of a new risk score to predict contrast-induced nephropathy after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a frequent, potentially lethal complication of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). We prospectively validated the diagnostic performance of a simple CIN risk score in a large multicenter international cohort of patients who underwent PCI. About 2,882 consecutive patients treated with elective or urgent PCI were enrolled.

The relation between the levels of osteoprotegerin and the degree of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable angina pectoris.

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, has recently been under the spotlight in studies regarding the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.

Aim: To evaluate the value of serum OPG in the diagnosis and severity in patients with stable angina pectoris (SA) and unstable angina pectoris/non ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods: This study involved 160 patients, SA (n = 65), acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS; n = 65), and a control group (n = 30).

[Problems in cardiology specialty training in Turkey].

Cardiology Specialty Training in our country should be made in accordance with the law numbered 1219 on the Practice of Medicine and Related Arts, and according to the Medical and Dental Specialist Training Regulation which is published according to the 9th article of this law. The duration of Cardiology Specialist Training has been defined as 4 years in our country. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC), European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), and the European Cardiology Section Foundation (ECSF) define the duration of Cardiology Specialist Training as 6 years.

Coronary slow flow and acute coronary syndrome in a patient with spinal cord injury.

We report the case of a 55-year-old man who presented with acute coronary syndrome due to coronary slow flow after spinal cord injury. Data regarding the causes and clinical manifestations of coronary slow flow are inconclusive, but the autonomic nervous system is believed to be at least a contributing factor. The predominant vagal activity causes vasodilation and hemostasis, which can lead to acute coronary syndrome.

Assessment of ventricular and left atrial mechanical functions, atrial electromechanical delay and P wave dispersion in patients with scleroderma.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate ventricular functions and left atrial (LA) mechanical functions, atrial electromechanical coupling, and P wave dispersion in scleroderma patients.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with scleroderma and twenty-four controls were included. Left and right ventricular (LV and RV) functions were evaluated using conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).

Comparison of antihypertensive efficacy of carvedilol and nebivolol in mild-to-moderate primary hypertension: a randomized trial.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to compare the antihypertensive effects of carvedilol and nebivolol in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients.

Methods: It is a prospective; placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind, randomized, single-center clinical trial. Patients (n=20) who were first diagnosed with mild to moderate systemic hypertension according to mean ambulatory blood pressure measurements > 130/85 mmHg and no previous antihypertensive therapy were prospectively enrolled into the study.

Bidirectional tachycardia in a patient with pulmonary embolism.

We report a 55 year-old man with sudden cardiac arrest. Electrocardiography revealed runs of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, and transthoracic echocardiography showed indirect findings of pulmonary embolism.

Asymmetrical dimethylarginine and severity of erectile dysfunction and their impact on cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and vascular erectile dysfunction (ED) are related to endothelial dysfunction. Elevated asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and ED are common in patients with increased cardiovascular risk. Our aim was to investigate whether ADMA has a predictive role for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Assessment of the relationship between asymmetric dimethylarginine and severity of erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease.

The plasma concentration of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, has been linked to endothelial dysfunction. We investigated the relation between plasma ADMA concentration and severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) and coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured plasma levels of ADMA in 92 male patients.

May emergency hypertension be reason of spontaneous coronary artery dissection?

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an uncommon clinical condition. It has most often been described in healthy peripartum women with no risk factors for atherosclerosis. We present a patient of a 40 year-old man with emergency hypertension.

Long-term safety and efficacy of right ventricular outflow tract pacing in patients with permanent pacemakers.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate long-term safety and change in pacing parameters of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pacing.

Methods: This prospectively designed controlled clinical study comprised patients in Group 1 (n=16) and Group 2 (n=16) who were paced in RVOT and right ventricular apex (RVA), respectively, and were selected from patients with permanent pacemakers who were routinely followed up at our pacemaker clinic. Commercially available active fixation leads were used in all patients.

ST segment elevation following sinoventricular rhythm in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with insulin dependent diabetes. Myocardial infarction is an uncommon but well-recognised precipitating cause of diabetic ketoacidosis, accounting for 1% of cases. Many diabetic patients with ketoacidosis initially present with hyperkelamia, which may affect the electrocardiographic morphology.

The relationship between coronary artery disease and uric acid levels in young patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Serum uric acid concentrations are higher in patients with established coronary artery disease than in healthy controls. This study aimed to determine the role of uric acid in predetermining coronary artery disease in young patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: This study included 80 of 1612 patients who applied our hospital between January 2000 and December 2005.