Impact of Admission Blood Glucose on Coronary Collateral Flow in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

In patients with acute myocardial infarction, glucose metabolism is altered and acute hyperglycemia on admission is common regardless of diabetes status. The development of coronary collateral is heterogeneous among individuals with coronary artery disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether glucose value on admission is associated with collateral flow in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Effects of glomerular filtration rate on the severity of coronary heart disease.

Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered to be one of the most common risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best method of testing level of kidney function and determining stage of kidney disease. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of renal function on severity of coronary heart disease (CHD).

The effects of the duration of mobile phone use on heart rate variability parameters in healthy subjects.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the influence of the duration of mobile phone use on heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy individuals.

Methods: One hundred forty-eight individuals without any established systemic disease and who had undergone 24-h ambulatory ECG monitoring were included in the case-control study. All the individuals had been using mobile phones for more than 10 years.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness Is an Independent Predictor of Critical and Complex Coronary Artery Disease by Gensini and Syntax Scores.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness is associated with the severity and extent of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. We prospectively investigated whether epicardial adipose tissue thickness is related to coronary artery disease extent and complexity as denoted by Gensini and Syntax scores, and whether the thickness predicts critical disease. After performing coronary angiography in 183 patients who had angina or acute myocardial infarction, we divided them into 3 groups: normal coronary arteries, noncritical disease (≥1 coronary lesion with <70% stenosis), and critical disease (≥1 coronary lesion with <70% stenosis).

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness can be used to predict major adverse cardiac events.

Objective: Increase in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness is associated with subclinical and manifest coronary artery disease. In addition, it is associated with the severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate whether increased EAT thickness is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Do pre-procedural laboratory parameters predict drug-eluting stent restenosis?

Objective: Drug-eluting stents (DES) have considerably reduced the rates of in-stent restenosis (ISR). Several studies reported pre-procedural C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, red cell distribution width (RDW), serum uric acid (UA), and mean platelet volume (MPV) as independent predictors of ISR using bare metal stents. This study investigates whether any laboratory parameter obtained before the coronary stenting procedure is associated with ISR using DES in stable coronary artery disease.

[Cardiac and respiratory changes in the medium term after lung resection].

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the cardiac and respiratory functions at the 6th postoperative month, in lung cancer patients undergoing segmentectomy/lobectomy or pneumonectomy.

Methods: Thirteen segmentectomy/lobectomy and 5 pneumonectomy patients with lung cancer were consecutively enrolled between April 2012 and February 2014. All patients underwent respiratory function tests and transthoracic echocardiography preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively.

Electrocardiographic P-Wave Duration, QT Interval, T Peak to End Interval and Tp-e/QT Ratio in Pregnancy with Respect to Trimesters.

Background: P-wave duration helps to determine the risk of atrial arrhythmia, especially atrial fibrillation. QT interval, T peak to end interval (Tp-e), and Tp-e/QT ratio are electrocardiographic indices related to ventricular repolarization which are used to determine the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. We search for any alterations in electrocardiographic indices of arrhythmia in the pregnancy period with respect to trimesters.

Blood pressure morning surge, exercise blood pressure response and autonomic nervous system.

Objective: We investigated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise with respect to BP morning surge (MS), and the association between MS, exercise treadmill test (ETT) and heart rate variability (HRV) indices.

Design: Eighty-four healthy subjects without hypertension were enrolled. Ambulatory BP monitoring and 24-hour Holter recordings were obtained for sleep-trough MS and HRV indices: low-frequency (LF) component, high-frequency (HF) component and LF/HF ratio.

[Use of "Vaptans" in treatment of hyponatremia].

Hyponatremia is the most prevalent electrolyte imbalance, and may be present in up to 30% of hospitalized patients. It is an important predictor of in-hospital mortality. Irrespective of the reason underlying hyponatremia, water metabolism plays an important role.

Arterial stiffness and central arterial wave reflection are associated with serum uric acid, total bilirubin, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: Total bilirubin (TB) was recently recognized as an endogenous anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant molecule. Uric acid (UA) takes part in cardiovascular diseases by inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. We assessed the relationship between serum TB levels, serum UA levels, and inflammatory status assessed by neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and arterial stiffness and arterial wave reflection in patients with a clinical diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Tp-e/QT ratio and QT dispersion with respect to blood pressure dipping pattern in prehypertension.

Introduction: Tp-e/QT, the ratio of the interval between the peak and the end of T wave to the QT interval, is a novel index of arrhythmogenesis. We investigate Tp-e/QT and QT dispersion (QTd) in prehypertensive and normotensive patients with different patterns of nocturnal blood pressure dipping.

Patients And Methods: Forty-seven prehypertensive and 37 normotensive adult patients were included.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness is associated with myocardial infarction and impaired coronary perfusion.

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with the presence, severity and extent of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) in addition to subclinical atherosclerosis. We investigated if EAT thickness is related to acute myocardial infarction in patients with CAD. We also searched for the association between EAT thickness and objective coronary flow and myocardial perfusion parameters such as Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Frame count (TFC) and myocardial blush grade (MBG).

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is associated with more extensive, severe and complex coronary artery disease and impaired myocardial perfusion.

Objectives: We investigated the relation between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and the extent, severity, and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial perfusion.

Study Design: One hundred and fifty-one patients who underwent coronary angiography with stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n=93) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n=58) were included in the study. Blood samples were drawn before coronary angiography.

Central pulse pressure amplification is associated with more extensive and severe coronary artery disease.

Objectives: We investigate the association between noninvasively determined central pulse waveform characteristics and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing coronary angiography with the clinical diagnosis of CAD.

Design: We included 145 consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP), unstable angina pectoris (USAP), or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who were decided to undergo coronary angiography. Gensini and SYNTAX scores were calculated.

Heart rate variability in patients hospitalized for decompensated diastolic heart failure at admission and after clinical stabilization.

Aims: We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) in patients hospitalized for decompensated diastolic heart failure and the effect of compensation course on HRV parameters. We also examined the association between the degree of diastolic dysfunction and HRV indices.

Patients & Methods: A total of 42 patients hospitalized for decompensated heart failure, who had a measured ejection fraction ≥ 50%, and ten age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled.

Red cell distribution width in patients with prehypertension and hypertension.

Objective: Red cell distribution width (RDW) which is reported as part of complete blood count in routine clinical practice, is a measure of variability in size of the erythrocytes in the circulation. It is a novel predictor of mortality both in unselected populations and in some selected group of patients. We aimed to search whether RDW values differ between the healthy population and the patients with pre-hypertension and hypertension who are otherwise healthy, considering the widely accepted role of RDW as a prognostic marker especially for mortality.

Troponin elevation in conditions other than acute coronary syndromes.

Acute coronary syndromes comprise a large spectrum of clinical conditions ranging from unstable angina pectoris to acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Chest pain is usually the major symptom of atherosclerotic heart disease; however, it may be challenging to diagnose correctly, especially in the emergency department, because of the ambiguous way that pain is characterized by some patients. Cardiac troponins are sensitive and specific biomarkers used in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction that are released into the bloodstream when cardiac myocytes are damaged by acute ischemia or any other mechanism.

Assessment of right ventricular functions during cancer chemotherapy.

Aims: Although systolic and diastolic left ventricular functions after cancer chemotherapy are well studied, there are a few investigations about the right ventricular functions. We aimed to investigate the early effects of chemotherapy on right heart, if any, in addition to the association between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and right heart echocardiographic indices.

Methods And Results: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were planned to receive either AC protocol [cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m(2)) + adriamycin (60 mg/m(2))] or CAF protocol [cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m(2)) + adriamycin (60 mg/m(2)) + 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m(2))] for six cures were enrolled between February 2009 and June 2010.

Relationship Between MMP-1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-6 and Risk Factors, Clinical Presentation, Extent and Severity of Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may be associated with atherogenesis and plaque rupture. We evaluated the relationship between MMP-1, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and IL-6 levels and risk factors, presentation, extent and severity of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography were randomly included.

Exercise electrocardiographic responses and serum cystatin C levels among metabolic syndrome patients without overt diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: An impaired heart rate response during exercise (chronotropic incompetence) and an impaired heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise are predictors of cardiovascular risk and mortality. Cystatin C is a novel marker for cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate exercise electrocardiographic responses in patients with metabolic syndrome who were without overt diabetes mellitus, in addition to the association of serum cystatin C levels with the exercise electrocardiographic test results.

Association of matrix metalloproteinase-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, and interleukin-6 with epicardial and myocardial perfusion.

Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are important regulators of extracellular matrix degradation, are known to induce atherosclerotic plaque rupture because of the degradation of collagen fibers in the fibrous cap. We aimed to investigate the possible association between these enzymes and objective coronary angiographic parameters of epicardial or myocardial perfusion.

Methods: A total of 140 patients with acute coronary syndromes or stable angina pectoris, who were advised to undergo coronary angiography, were included.