Cardiovascular risk scores for coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare frequently used cardiovascular risk scores in predicting the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and 3-vessel disease.

Methods And Results: In 350 consecutive patients (218 men and 132 women) who underwent coronary angiography, the cardiovascular risk level was determined using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), the Modified Framingham Risk Score (MFRS), the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) score, and the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE). The area under the curve for receiver operating characteristic curves showed that FRS had more predictive value than the other scores for CAD (area under curve, 0.

Aortic flow propagation velocity as an early predictor of high coronary risk in hypertensive patients.

Aim: To assess the value of aortic flow propagation velocity (Vp) in detecting hypertensive patients with coronary risk.

Methods: The study included 120 patients with hypertension. According to the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease the patients were categorized in the three groups: 10-year risk < 10% (I),10 - year risk=%10 - 20 (II), and 10-year risk > 20% (III).

Comparison of clinical risk assessment systems in predicting three-vessel coronary artery disease and angiographic culprit lesion in patients with non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction/unstable angina pectoris.

Background: We wanted to compare the values of clinical risk assessments and scoring systems for predicting three-vessel diseases and culprit lesions by coronary angiography in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), or non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Methods: A total of 154 consecutive patients, (42 [27.3%] female, and 112 [72.

CA-125 level is associated with right ventricular echocardiographic parameters in patients with COPD.

Objective: A few studies have shown that elevated CA-125 levels are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are no data concerning the associaton between serum CA-125 levels and right ventricular (RV) function in COPD patients. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between CA-125 level and RV echocardiographic parameters in COPD patients.

A simplified proximal isovelocity surface area method for mitral valve area calculation in mitral stenosis: not requiring angle correction and calculator.

Aim: To simplify proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method for mitral valve area (MVA) calculation that does not necessitate the usage of a calculator and angle correction, and to compare values estimated using this novel method with the values obtained by the conventional PISA, planimetry and pressure half-time (PHT) methods.

Methods: We evaluated patients with a wide range of mitral stenosis (MS) severity. The MVA was measured by the methods of PHT (MVA PHT), planimetry (MVApl), conventional PISA (MVAC-PISA) and the novel method of simple PISA (MVAS-PISA).

Increased P wave dispersion in patients with liver steatosis.

Aim: Hepatic steatosis is associated with metabolic and hemodynamic abnormalities induced by insulin resistance and inflammatory state. Since abnormalities of P wave dispersion may be accompanied with latter issues we evaluated this subject in patients with hepatic steatosis.

Methods: Total of 106 patients and 56 healthy subjects were enrolled and performed hepatic ultrasonography, echocardiography, electrocardiogram, and biochemistry tests.

ST elevation in the lead aVR during exercise treadmill testing may indicate left main coronary artery disease.

Background: exercise treadmill testing (ETT) is the most widely used method for evaluating patients with coronary artery disease. Predicting the left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease before invasive procedures is very important in risk assessment because of its severe clinical outcome.

Aim: To examine whether ST elevation in lead aVR during ETT may suggest LMCA disease since the lead aVR is the reciprocal lead of LMCA.

Abnormal aortic elasticity in patients with liver steatosis.

Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be associated with insulin resistance. We aimed to evaluate elastic properties of aorta in patients with NAFLD.

Material And Method: Ninety-two patients with NAFLD and 47 healthy subjects were performed ultrasonographic and echocardiographic examination.

An overlooked diagnosis on transthoracic echocardiography: apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may be overlooked during routine echocardiography. A 54-year-old male patient with dyslipidemia and positive family history presented with atypical chest pain. The 12-lead electrocardiogram showed increased QRS voltage and deep T-wave inversions in precordial leads.

Allopurinol improves endothelial function and reduces oxidant-inflammatory enzyme of myeloperoxidase in metabolic syndrome.

Objective: In this study, we tested in patients with metabolic syndrome whether allopurinol through decreasing oxidative stress improves endothelial function, and ameliorates inflammatory state represented by markers of myeloperoxidase, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind fashion; subjects with metabolic syndrome were treated with allopurinol (n = 28) or placebo (n = 22) for one month. Before and after treatment, blood samples were collected and the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN)-mediated dilation of the brachial artery were performed.

Prognostic significance of ischemia-modified albumin in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

To improve prognosis in acute coronary syndrome, new clinical applications in terms of diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment strategies are still under investigation. Ischemia-modified albumin was one of the novel markers of myocardial ischemia. In our study, we aimed to determine the prognostic significance of the albumin cobalt binding capacity test in patients with acute coronary syndromes.