Relationship between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Aortic Distensibility in Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients.

Aim And Objective: To evaluate the relationship between aortic distensibility (AD) and aortic stiffness B index (ASBI) with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured with HD-OCT in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six PAD patients and 22 age-matched healthy control were enrolled. Subjects with PAD were classified into two groups.

High incidence of co-existing factors significantly modifying the phenotype in patients with Fabry disease.

Fabry disease results from deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. The families of 11 index cases were screened by enzyme and molecular assays. Further clinical and laboratory investigations were carried out in all cases.

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.

The Relationship between Pre-Infarction Angina and Serum Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Levels.

Background: Pre-infarction angina reduces myocardial infarct size by preventing the myocardium from being subjected to ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Ischemic preconditioning is the proposed mechanism for this effect. Sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) activates ischemic preconditioning pathways and may play a role in the presence of cardioprotective effects of pre-infarction angina.

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.

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 evaluation of diastolic dysfunction with tissue Doppler echocardiography in women with subclinical hypothyroidism and the effect of L-thyroxine treatment on diastolic dysfunction: a pilot study.

Background. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) predominantly affects women. The necessity of treatment in SH is controversial.

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.

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.

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.

Nebivolol therapy improves endothelial function and increases exercise tolerance in patients with cardiac syndrome X.

Objective: We sought to determine whether nebivolol affects coronary endothelial function and exercise induced ischemia in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX).

Methods: The study protocol undertaken was based on a single-blind randomized controlled prospective study. After a 2-week washout period, 38 patients with cardiac syndrome X were randomized to receive either nebivolol 5 mg daily (n=19) or metoprolol 50 mg daily (n=19) in a single- blind design for 12 weeks.

Independent relationship of serum uric acid levels with leukocytes and coronary atherosclerotic burden.

Background And Aim: Epidemiological studies have shown that increased serum uric acid (SUA) level is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Leukocytes have been shown to play an important role in the atherosclerotic process. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is any relationship among SUA, leukocyte counts and coronary atherosclerotic burden in patients who are suspected of having CAD.

The effect of nebivolol treatment on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients with cardiac syndrome-X.

Background: Free radical-mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of several disorders. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of treatment with nebivolol on the metabolic state of oxidative stress, and antioxidant status markers in patients with cardiac syndrome-X (CSX), additionally, to compare with the effect of metoprolol treatment.

Methods: Thirty patients, 17 female and 13 male, with CSX were enrolled in the study.

Long-term clinical effects of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with coronary artery stent implantation.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the early and late effects of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on stent thrombosis and major adverse coronary events after coronary artery stent (CAS) implantation at a long-term follow-up period.

Methods: Forty-three patients (28 men, mean age 63+/-10 years) who underwent CAS implantation before MRI examination were included. MRI was performed on a 1.

Coronary vasospastic crisis leading to cardiogenic shock and recurrent ventricular fibrillation in a patient with long-standing asthma.

Acute myocardial infarction in patients with normal coronary arteries is a therapeutic dilemma. Coronary artery vasospasm and thrombosis are the most commonly encountered clinic problems and appear in localized coronary segments. The incidence of cardiovascular disease is increased in asthmatic patients.

Heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence in mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis.

Aims: To study heart rate (HR) variability and HR turbulence parameters in mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and to disclose whether any relationship exists between these parameters and echocardiographic findings.

Methods And Results: Forty-three asymptomatic patients with mild-to-moderate AS (AS group) were studied. Echocardiographic parameters and HR variability and HR turbulence indices obtained over 24 Holter ECG recordings were compared with those of an age and sex matched control population free of cardiovascular disease.

Assessment of aortic wall stiffness in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Introduction: To evaluate aortic wall stiffness and its relation between the aortic stiffness and the left ventricular function in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Methods: The study population was composed of 31 patients with FMF in attack-free period (12 men, 19 women; mean age: 36+/-7 years) and 27 healthy subjects (10 men, 17 women; mean age: 34+/-7 years) who had volunteered to participate. Aortic stiffness indices, aortic strain and distensibility, were calculated from the aortic diameters measured by echocardiography and blood pressure obtained by sphygmomanometry.

Relationship between N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide and extensive echocardiographic parameters in mild to moderate aortic stenosis.

Context: The N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide levels (NT pro-BNP) are increased in cases of volume or pressure overload.

Aims: To examine NT pro-BNP levels and enclose whether any relationship is present between the levels of NT pro-BNP and extensive echocardiographic parameters in asymptomatic patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS).

Settings And Design: A cross-sectional study about the NT pro-BNP levels was conducted in 37 asymptomatic AS patients and compared with 40 controls.

The detailed assessment of left and right ventricular functions by tissue Doppler imaging in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

In the contrary to other rheumatologic disorders, there have been limited numbers of studies investigating the cardiac involvement in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), although the disease may carry a potential for cardiovascular disorders because of sustained inflammation during its course. In the present study, we used high usefulness tissue Doppler echocardiography for detailed analysis of cardiac changes in FMF patients. The study population included 30 patients with FMF (11 men, 19 women; mean age, 35 +/- 7 years, mean disease duration, 15.

Effects of scaling and root planing and sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline on oral and systemic biomarkers of disease in patients with both chronic periodontitis and coronary artery disease.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of scaling and root planing (SRP) +/- sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD) on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -1, -8, -13 and on serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) and lipid fractions in patients with both chronic periodontitis (CP) and coronary artery disease (CAD).

Material And Methods: Thirty-six patients were randomly distributed into two groups (Placebo or SDD; 6 weeks) and both received two regimens of SRP. At baseline and 6 weeks, GCF and blood were collected and clinical indices were recorded.

LOAD limits for ambulatory pulse pressure and double product in normotensive and hypertensive subjects.

Objective: The aim of this study was to to determine possible daytime (awake hours) and nighttime (sleeping hours) LOAD limits for ambulatory pulse pressure (PP) and double product (DP) in hypertensive (HT) subjects and secondly to assess whether there were significant differences in the LOAD values between hypertensive (HT) and normotensive (NT) subjects.

Methods: Seventy-eight untreated essential HT (46 female, 32 male; mean age 51.9+/-1.

Huge biatrial cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma resulting in bilateral atrioventricular valve obstruction.

We present a case report of a 28-year-old man with a huge tumor that occupies both dilated atria almost completely but not extending into the ventricles. Cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma (CR) is extremely rare in adult patients. Its rarity and heterogenous clinical presentation make diagnosis difficult.