Atherogenic Index of Plasma Predicts Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris.

Aims: Chronic coronary syndrome is associated with several risk factors, such as dyslipidemia and hypertension. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been demonstrated to be a biochemical risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to determine whether the AIP is an effective parameter for estimating obstructive CAD.

Impact of serum erythropoietin level on collateral vessel development in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: Experimental data have shown that Erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates angiogenesis and neovascularization which may result in improved collateral development. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum EPO levels and the extent of coronary collaterals. Patient characteristics possibly related with coronary collaterals were also sought.

Assessment of efficacy of single dose acetylsalicylic acid over a 24-hour period.

Objective: Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) has a half-life of less than 30 minutes in the human body. This study aimed to test whether the effects of a single dose of ASA wane over a 24-hour period due to the daily release of new reactive blood platelets into the bloodstream.

Methods: The study included 30 patients (10 female and 20 male, mean age: 62.

The relationship between coronary collateral artery development and inflammatory markers.

Objective: This study aims to show the effect of myeloperoxidase (MPO), hsCRP, TNF-alpha values and leukocyte count on the development of coronary collateral arteries in patients with severely diseased coronary arteries.

Methods: Current study is an observational cross-sectional study. In the study, 295 patients who had functional obstruction or total coronary occlusion at least 1 month on their angiograms were included.

Effect of hypertension on coronary remodeling patterns in angiographically normal or minimally atherosclerotic coronary arteries: an intravascular ultrasound study.

Whether there is any particular role of hypertension in remodeling process has not been completely understood yet. The aim of this study was to assess the association between hypertension and remodeling patterns in normal or minimally atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Seventy-nine patients who were free of significant coronary atherosclerosis were divided into two groups according to the absence (n = 39) or presence (n = 40) of hypertension; and standard intravascular ultrasound examination was performed in 145 segments.

Intracoronary versus intravenous high-dose bolus plus maintenance administration of tirofiban in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction.

We aimed to examine whether intracoronary high-dose bolus of tirofiban plus maintenance would result in improved clinical outcome in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI in this pilot trial. A total of 56 patients were enrolled to receive either intracoronary high-dose bolus plus maintenance (n = 34) or intravenous high-dose bolus plus maintenance (n = 22) of tirofiban. Pre and post intervention TIMI flow grades, myocardial blush grades, peak CKMB and troponin levels, time to peak CKMB and troponin, time to 50% ST resolution and major composite adverse cardiac event rates at 30 days were recorded.

Anticalcifying nanoparticle antibody titer is an independent risk factor for coronary artery calcification.

Background: Calcium phosphate deposition is present even in the early phases of the atherosclerotic plaque formation. Calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs), previously known as nanobacteria, have emerged as a potential causative agent for pathological calcification in human vasculature. This study investigates the relationship between the anti-CNPs antibody titers and the extent of coronary calcification.

Association between antibodies against calcifying nanoparticles and mitral annular calcification.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Mechanisms leading to vascular and tissue calcification are not yet fully understood. Previously, an association has been demonstrated between a controversial calcifying nanoparticle (CNP; also known as 'nanobacteria') and vascular calcification and kidney stone formation. The study aim was to evaluate a possible association between mitral annular calcification (MAC) and CNP infection.

Prediction of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction with longitudinal two-dimensional strain and strain rate imaging in patients with mitral stenosis.

Longitudinal two-dimensional strain deformation is a novel technique which evaluates global and regional left ventricular (LV) function with high reproducibility. The aim of the study was to investigate the global and regional systolic function using this method in patients with pure mitral stenosis (MS). Conventional echocardiography and longitudinal two-dimensional strain analysis were performed in 60 patients (41 +/- 5 years, 48 women) with mild to moderate MS (mitral valve area: 1.

Two-dimensional longitudinal strain and strain rate imaging for assessing the right ventricular function in patients with mitral stenosis.

Background: Longitudinal two-dimensional strain (L2DS) deformation is a novel technique that evaluates global and regional right ventricular (RV) function. The aim of the study was to investigate the systolic function of RV by using this method in patients with pure mitral stenosis (MS).

Methods: Conventional echocardiography and L2DS analysis were performed in 45 MS patients and 21 healthy controls.

Facilitation of radial artery cannulation by periradial subcutaneous administration of nitroglycerin.

Purpose: To determine whether subcutaneous administration of nitroglycerin mixed with local anesthetic agent results in effective vasodilation of the radial artery, and whether this technique improves access time and decreases complications.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study consisted of two consecutive investigations. In the first (n = 30), only local anesthetic agent (prilocaine 2%) was injected into one arm, and local anesthetic agent plus 500 microg nitroglycerin was injected into the other arm.

The relation between endothelial dependent flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery and coronary collateral development - a cross sectional study.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a potential mechanism for the decreased presence of coronary collaterals. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between systemic endothelial function and the extent of coronary collaterals.

Methods: We investigated the association between endothelial function assessed via flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery following reactive hyperemia and the extent of coronary collaterals graded from 0 to 3 according to Rentrop classification in a cohort of 171 consecutive patients who had high grade coronary stenosis or occlusion on their angiograms.

The association of elevated white blood cell count and C-reactive protein with endothelial dysfunction in cardiac syndrome X.

Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the association of inflammatory markers with endothelial function in syndrome X.

Methods: The study population consisted of 59 prospectively enrolled patients (28 women and 31 men; mean age, 50.29 +/- 6.

The impact of the distance between the atrial electrode and the atrial wall on atrial undersensing in patients with VDD pacemakers: long-term follow-up.

Aim: Atrial undersensing (AUS) in single-lead VDD pacemakers may be due to diminished P-wave amplitude secondary to local inflammation beneath the electrodes closer to atrial wall. The aim of this study was to assess the potential effect of distance between atrial electrode and atrial wall on immediate and long-term atrial sensing stability in VDD systems.

Methods: A total of 275 patients with normal sinus node function who received VDD pacemakers were enrolled into the study and were followed up for a median duration of 33 months.

Total blush score: a new index for the assessment of microvascular perfusion in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate tissue-level perfusion in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC), using the myocardial blush grade technique.

Method: The study population consisted of 26 prospectively enrolled IDC patients (15 women and 11 men; mean age, 59+/-8.8 years) and 26 control subjects (11 women and 15 men; mean age, 54.

Angiographic restenosis in ephesos coronary stents: experience from a large medical center in Ankara, Turkey.

Coronary stent restenosis, which emerges in late periods after implantation, has not been completely abolished. Our aim was to investigate the restenosis rates of Ephesos coronary stents. In all, 96 patients (66 men) with 135 Ephesos coronary stents were included.

Association between proliferative scars and in-stent restenosis.

Background: Keloid and hypertrophic scars are two types of proliferative scars at sites of cutaneous injury that form as a result of an abnormal wound-healing process. Proliferative scar formation after skin injury and restenosis after coronary stenting have common features. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of proliferative scars with coronary stent restenosis.

Glu298Asp polymorphism of the eNOS gene is associated with coronary collateral development.

Objective: We examined the endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) gene Glu298Asp polymorphism to assess its possible association with the extent of coronary collaterals.

Methods: A total of 473 consecutive patients who had high grade coronary stenosis or occlusion were evaluated for the extent of coronary collaterals by using Rentrop classification. Patients with grade 0 or 1 collaterals were identified as having poor collaterals.

Erectile dysfunction may predict coronary artery disease: relationship between coronary artery calcium scoring and erectile dysfunction severity.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) in terms of coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and to find out if ED severity may predict coronary heart disease risk.

Patients And Method: Sixty men with a mean age of 55.7 (41-77) years with ED and 23 men with a mean age of 53.

Relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and severity of aortic valve calcification.

Objective: To investigate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in patients with degenerative aortic valve calcification (AVC).

Patients And Methods: Our study consisted of 305 Turkish patients of European descent (139 male, 166 female; mean plus or minus age, 68 plus or minus 9 years) referred to our echocardiography laboratory for aortic valve evaluation between June 2, 2003, and April 29, 2005. The severity of AVC was graded from 1 to 6 by echocardiography.

The effect of high-dose aspirin pre-treatment on the incidence of myonecrosis following elective coronary stenting.

Background: Inadequate platelet response to aspirin is associated with increased incidence of peri-procedural myonecrosis. Antiplatelet activity of aspirin can be improved by increasing the dose. High-dose aspirin pre-treatment, therefore, may reduce the incidence of myonecrosis post stenting.

The association between androgen levels and premature coronary artery disease in men.

Objective: The relationship between androgens and the risk of development of coronary artery disease has not been clarified well. This study was planned to determine the relationship between serum androgen levels and premature development of coronary artery disease in men.

Methods: Sixty-nine men below 45 years of age with documented coronary artery disease (mean age 41.

Catheter-induced left main coronary artery dissection resulting in abrupt closure and cardiac arrest: successful stenting during resuscitation.

Catheter-induced left main coronary artery dissection is an uncommon but devastating complication of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. We present a case of left main coronary artery dissection induced with a guide catheter, which resulted in acute occlusion and cardiac arrest. Survival and complete functional recovery were achieved with bailout stenting.