Determination of Myocardial Scar Tissue in Coronary Slow Flow Phenomenon and The Relationship Between Amount of Scar Tissue and Nt-ProBNP.

Background: Pathophysiology and prognosis are not clearly determined in patients with the coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP). These patients present with various clinical conditions ranging from being asymptomatic to being admitted with sudden cardiac death.

Objectives: We aimed at assessing the findings of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) as an indicator of myocardial fibrosis.

Relationship of serum HLA-B alleles and TNF-α with rheumatic heart disease.

Background/aim: Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are major causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Genetic studies have determined that the immune response in rheumatic heart disease is genetically controlled and that there is a close relationship between the gene of concern and the class II human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of serum HLA-B alleles and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) with rheumatic heart disease.

[As cardioprotective and angiogenic biomarker, can ghrelin predict coronary collateral development and severity of coronary atherosclerosis?].

Objective: Ghrelin exerts protective effects on cardiovascular system by inhibiting progression of atherosclerosis, supression of vascular inflammation, and stimulating angiogenesis. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of serum ghrelin on coronary collateral development and SYNTAX score in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Methods: Total of 91 patients who had ≥90% stenosis in at least one major coronary artery were prospectively included in this cross-sectional, observational study.

Comparison of three diuretic treatment strategies for patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: There are few prospective data available for establishing a standard diuretic administration regimen for patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of three regimens of furosemide administration in patients with ADHF with regard to diuresis, renal functions, and in-hospital outcomes.

Methods: A total of 43 patients who presented with ADHF were randomized into three groups: (a) continuous infusion (cIV) of 160 mg furosemide for 16 h/day (n = 15); (b) bolus injections (bI) of 80 mg furosemide twice a day (n = 14); (c) and administration of 160 mg furosemide plus hypertonic saline solution (HSS) as an infusion for 30 min once a day (n = 14).

The Assessment of Atrial Electromechanical Delay in Patients With Acromegaly.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), which is an indicator for structural and electrical remodelling of the atria, is prolonged in patients with active or inactive acromegaly, or both, compared with a control group.

Methods: A total of 34 patients with acromegaly (18 active/16 inactive) and 35 patients as a control group were enrolled. Both intra- and inter-AEMD were calculated by TDI.

Relationship between plasma apelin level and coronary collateral circulation.

Objective: Coronary collaterals play a crucial role during an acute ischemic attack. Angiogenesis has an important role in the formation of coronary collateral vessels. Previously, it was shown that apelin is a potential angiogenetic factor.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and plasma homocysteine in patients with metabolic syndrome and normal coronary arteries.

Background: Increased epicardial adipose tissue thickness and plasma homocysteine levels are associated with Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and coronary artery disease. The majority of patients with MS have subclinical or manifest coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MS and plasma homocysteine levels and epicardial adipose tissue thickness in subjects without epicardial coronary artery disease.

Efficacy and safety of valsartan and amlodipine single-pill combination in hypertensive patients (PEAK study).

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the safety, compliance and efficacy of amlodipine (Aml) and valsartan (Val) single-pill combination (SPC) in a large hypertensive patient population.

Study Design: This is a non-interventional, observational, open label study conducted in 166 centers in Turkey with a 24-week follow-up period.

Results: Of the 1184 enrolled patients, two-thirds were female (62.

Comparison of radiation-induced damage between CT angiography and conventional coronary angiography.

Objective: Both computed tomography (CTA) and conventional angiography (CCA) can provide direct visualization of the coronary arteries. The aim of the present study was to compare the radiation exposure between CTA and CCA and to search whether this amount of radiation causes significant DNA damage.

Method: Seventy-two patients who underwent CTA or CCA were enrolled prospectively.

The Relationship of Serum Soluble Fas Ligand (sFasL) Level with the Extent of Coronary Artery Disease.

Fas/Fas ligand system contributes to the programmed cell death induced by myocardial ischemia. We investigated whether serum soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) level is independently related with the severity and extent of angiographically assessed coronary artery disease (CAD). We included 169 patients in this study.

Association of fragmented QRS complex with myocardial reperfusion in acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between TIMI myocardial perfusion (TMP) grade, as an indicator of myocardial reperfusion, and fragmented QRS (fQRS) in standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. Also, we evaluate fQRS is an additional indicator of myocardial reperfusion. One hundred patients admitted with first STEMI to Coronary Intensive Care Unit and who were used thrombolytic therapy was included in this retrospective study.

Inverse relationship between serum total bilirubin levels and severity of disease in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objective: Many studies have shown that bilirubin may protect against atherosclerosis. In the present study, we assess the association between serum total bilirubin levels and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) assessed by angiography and the Syntax score.

Methods: Patients from our center, who visited the center for a coronary angiography, from January 2008 to January 2011, were eligible for this analysis.

Atrial electromechanical delay and diastolic dysfunction in primary Sjögren syndrome.

Purpose: In this study we aimed to investigate myocardial function and atrial electromechanical properties by conventional and tissue doppler echocardiography in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.

Methods: Forty patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Using transthoracic echocardiography, myocardial performance index and atrial electromechanical properties were measured.

Potential role of plasma myeloperoxidase level in predicting long-term outcome of acute myocardial infarction.

We investigated the prognostic importance of plasma myeloperoxidase levels in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at long-term follow-up, and we analyzed the correlations between plasma myeloperoxidase levels and other biochemical values. We evaluated 73 consecutive patients (56 men; mean age, 56 ± 11 yr) diagnosed with acute STEMI and 46 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median myeloperoxidase level (Group 1: plasma myeloperoxidase ≤ 68 ng/mL; and Group 2: plasma myeloperoxidase > 68 ng/mL).

Correlation of the myocardial performance index with plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance.

Background And Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate myocardial functions in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We also aimed to investigate the relationship between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and myocardial performance index (Tei index) in these patients.

Methods: A total of 38 patients with DM, 34 patients with IGT, and 40 healthy volunteers were recruited to the study.

Relationship between plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine level and autonomic dysfunction in diabetic patients.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and heart rate variability (HRV) in diabetic patients.

Study Design: The study included 100 patients (44 men, 56 women) with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patients were divided into two groups based on the use of oral antidiabetics (n=67; mean age 54.

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.

Incremental effects of serum uric acid levels, autonomic dysfunction, and low-grade inflammation on nocturnal blood pressure in untreated hypertensive patients and normotensive individuals.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the associations between nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and serum uric acid (SUA) level, low-grade inflammation, and cardiac autonomic function in untreated dipper and nondipper hypertensive patients and normotensive individuals.

Study Design: The study included 92 consecutive patients (44 men, 48 women; mean age 51.6 ± 9.

The particular interactions of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors with different circulating specific leukocyte subtype counts in blood: an observational study.

Objective: The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, however the impact of inflammatory cells in this process is well known. Different traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) may have specifically different effects on leukocyte subtype. Thus, these special interactions may induce different vascular involvement forms due to the altered endothelial damage and vascular repair mechanisms.

The relationship of serum erythropoietin level with coronary collateral grade.

Background: Erythropoietin has been shown to induce neovascularization and protect against ischemic vascular injury. We investigated whether a higher serum erythropoietin (EPO) level is related to better coronary collateral vessel grade.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with stable angina pectoris who have at least 1 coronary stenosis of equal to or greater than 70% at coronary angiography were prospectively enrolled.

Fungal endocarditis involving rheumatic mitral valve in a young man.

Fungal endocarditis is a relatively rare condition with particular difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. These difficulties lead to higher rates of mortality and morbidity. We report the successful treatment of a patient with rheumatic mitral valve who had fungal endocarditis due to Cushing syndrome caused by iatrogenic corticosteroid supplement.

Plasma osteopontin levels in prediction of prognosis in acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: We sought to explain the clinical importance of the osteopontin (OPN) in the setting of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients (55 = 11 years, 12 women and 68 men) and sixty healthy control subjects were included in the study. In all patients, plasma OPN levels were assessed on admission and on the third day (peak value).

Endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+KDR+) and monocytes may provide the development of good coronary collaterals despite the vascular risk factors and extensive atherosclerosis.

Objective: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) have a regenerative role in the vascular system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate simultaneously the effects of EPC and inflammatory cells on the presence and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the grade of coronary collateral growth in patients with clinical suspicion of CAD.

Methods: This study has a cross-sectional and observational design.

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.