Usefulness of admission hematologic parameters as diagnostic tools in acute pulmonary embolism.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the diagnostic phase of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We screened 248 consecutive patients who were admitted to the emergency service with PE foremost in the differential diagnosis. Based on spiral computed chest tomography, the patients were divided into two groups.

In planta expression or delivery of potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae effectors Me10 and Me23 enhances aphid fecundity.

The interactions between aphids and their host plants seem to be analogous to those of plant-microbial pathogens. Unlike microbial pathogen effectors, little is known about aphid effectors and their ability to interfere with host immunity. To date, only three functional aphid effectors have been reported.

NT-Pro-BNP levels and their response to exercise in patients with slow coronary flow.

Background: Natriuretic peptides are released by the heart in response to wall stress.

Objective: The NT-Pro-BNP concentrations in slow coronary flow (SCF) patients were assessed before and after the exercise test and compared with the values of healthy controls.

Methods: The study population was 34 patients with SCF [22 males (64.

The role of light on foliage colour development in coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd).

Many coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides (L). Codd) varieties change pigmentation when exposed to high light intensity: they increase anthocyanin amount and decrease chlorophyll content. The physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in this phenomenon have been investigated in two independent experiments using two related coleus varieties 'Royal Glissade' (RG) and 'UF06-1-06' (UF).

Flavour compounds in tomato fruits: identification of loci and potential pathways affecting volatile composition.

The unique flavour of a tomato fruit is the sum of a complex interaction among sugars, acids, and a large set of volatile compounds. While it is generally acknowledged that the flavour of commercially produced tomatoes is inferior, the biochemical and genetic complexity of the trait has made breeding for improved flavour extremely difficult. The volatiles, in particular, present a major challenge for flavour improvement, being generated from a diverse set of lipid, amino acid, and carotenoid precursors.

Ethylene receptor degradation controls the timing of ripening in tomato fruit.

Fruit ripening in tomato requires the coordination of both developmental cues and the phytohormone ethylene. The multigene ethylene receptor family has been shown to negatively regulate ethylene signal transduction and suppress ethylene responses. Here we demonstrate that reduction in the levels of either of two family members, LeETR4 or LeETR6, causes an early-ripening phenotype.

Angiographic and clinical outcome following sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher) implantation. A single center experience.

Objectives: To investigate the late outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Drug-eluting stents reduce intimal hyperplasia, which is the main cause of in-stent restenosis. Sirolimus-eluting stents significantly reduce clinical and angiographic restenosis and improve event-free survival.

Coronary angioplasty induced oxidative stress and its relation with metoprolol use and plasma homocysteine levels.

Objective: Short episodes of myocardial ischemia during coronary angioplasty may induce oxidative stress and increase lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of metoprolol on lipid peroxidation by measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TRAP) in patients undergoing angioplasty. The relations between homocysteine level and lipid peroxidation were also studied.

Cutting balloon angioplasty for the treatment of in-stent restenosis in diabetics: A matched comparison of 6 months' outcome with conventional balloon angioplasty.

Ranging from 24% to 55%, angiographic in-stent restenosis (ISR) rates in diabetics are higher than the 17% to 28% rates observed in nondiabetics. There are controversies regarding optimal treatment for ISR. Recently, cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA) emerged as a tool in management.

Angiographic and clinical outcome following paclitaxel-eluting stent (taxus) implantation: a single center experience.

Coronary stents dramatically improve acute outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions but also induce abundant intraluminal neointimal growth. Drug-eluting stents reduce intimal hyperplasia, the main cause of in-stent restenosis. The safety and beneficial effects of paclitaxel-eluting stents (Taxus) in patients treated in daily practice remains to be defined.

Ethylene biosynthesis and perception in apple fruitlet abscission (Malus domestica L. Borck).

Abscission was studied in immature apple fruits (cv. Golden Delicious) during the physiological drop. Fruitlet populations, characterized by different abscission potential, were analysed.

FX minirail balloon angioplasty for the treatment of patients with in-stent restenosis: a matched comparison of 6 months' outcome with conventional balloon angioplasty.

The optimal treatment for in-stent restenosis (ISR) is a subject of controversy. Recently, FX minirail balloon angioplasty (BA) has emerged as a management tool for ISR. We assessed the hypothesis that the FX minirail BA has advantages over conventional percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTCA) in the treatment of ISR.

Impact of invasive strategy for the management of patients with cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: This study evaluates the influence of early revascularization (with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary surgery) on short- and long-term survival in patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: In-hospital and 6-month survival were retrospectively determined on day 193 (65-270, median +/- 25th and 75th percentiles) in 87 patients who either underwent early invasive reperfusion (group A, n=60) or those who were treated conservatively (group B, n=27). In-hospital mortality was 37% in group A and 56% in group B (P=0.

Elevated plasma endothelin-1 levels in coronary sinus during rapid right atrial pacing in patients with slow coronary flow.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether there was an imbalance between endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NOx) release and diffuse atherosclerotic changes existed in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF). Baseline and post-atrial pacing coronary sinus ET-1 and NOx levels were measured in 19 patients with SCF (11 female, 56 +/- 9 years) and in 14 control subjects (nine female, 54 +/- 7 years). All patients underwent subsequent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) investigation at the same setting with right atrial pacing.

Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide levels in patients with mitral annulus calcification.

Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is a chronic degenerative noninflammatory process. The goal of this study was to determine endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NOx) levels in patients with MAC and compare them with those in normal subjects. The study group included 39 patients [26 females (66%), age, 63 +/- 8 years] with MAC and 20 [11 females (55%), age, 61 +/- 7 years] healthy subjects.

Slow coronary flow may be a sign of diffuse atherosclerosis. Contribution of FFR and IVUS.

Objective: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is a phenomenon characterized by delayed opacification of coronary arteries in the absence of epicardial occlusive disease, in which many aetiological factors such as microvascular and endothelial dysfunction, and small vessel disease have been implicated. We aimed to investigate the epicardial resistance in relation with SCF by using fractional flow reserve (FFR) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Both have been combined to disclose the related epicardial flow resistance and the arterial anatomy.

[Femoral vascular complications after percutaneous coronary interventions].

Objective: We aimed to investigate peripheral vascular complications and their relation with treatment and clinical parameters in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) patients.

Methods: We included into the study 321 patients (aged 57+/-11 years) underwent PTCA between November 2001-August 2002. The age, gender, glycoprotein 2b/3a use, thrombolytic use, intraaortic balloon treatment, transient pacemaker treatment, reintervention history, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, family history and the correlations of these parameters with local vascular complications were assessed in all patients.

Early and late angiographic and clinical outcome following helistent stent implantation.

There is still a lack of data on the influence of different stent designs on long-term restenosis rates and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) with the use of new antithrombotic regimens. We evaluated the midterm (6 months) clinical and angiographic and lateterm (2 years) clinical outcome of Helistent stent implantation. The study population consisted of 150 patients with high risk factor rates who had single or multivessel disease and had undergone coronary Helistent stent implantation with new antiplatelet regimens.

The relationship between plasma endothelin-1, nitric oxide levels, and heart rate variability in patients with coronary slow flow.

Background: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is characterized by delayed opacification of coronary arteries in the absence of epicardial occlusive disease. In this study, we aimed to determine endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NOx) levels and time domain heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in patients with CSF and relationship among these parameters.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with CSF detected in the coronary angiography (17 females; mean age 55 +/- 7) and 19 patients with normal coronary flow (10 females; mean age 54 +/- 11) as a control group were enrolled in the study.

Diffuse intimal thickening of coronary arteries in slow coronary flow.

Intravascular ultrasound imaging can detect intimal thickening and is suitable for detection of early atherosclerosis, which cannot be detected by conventional angiography. The aim of the present study was to investigate the epicardial coronary morphology and intracoronary pressure in relation to slow coronary flow (SCF). The study population consisted of 19 patients with SCF [11 (57.

Endothelin-1 and nitric oxide concentrations and their response to exercise in patients with slow coronary flow.

In this study, the endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in slow coronary flow (SCF) patients were assessed before and at the peak of the exercise stress test and compared with the values from healthy controls. The study population was 25 patients who underwent coronary angiography and were diagnosed as SCF (11 females (44%), aged 56.7+/-9.

A comparison of 1-month and 6-month clopidogrel therapy on clinical and angiographic outcome after stent implantation.

In this study, we aimed to disclose the net effect of long-term (6-month) clopidogrel treatment as compared to that of short-term (1-month) treatment in the poststenting period. A total of 278 patients with successful stent implantation were involved in the study. After preloading with 300 mg of clopidogrel orally (p.

Long-term effects of beta blocker therapy on P-wave duration and dispersion in congestive heart failure patients: a new effect?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with heart failure in approximately 20%-50% of patients with increased morbidity and mortality. P-wave maximum duration (PWM) and P-wave dispersion (PWD) are recent ECG markers and reflect increased risk of AF. The aim of our study was to investigate the long-term effects of metoprolol on atrial conduction abnormalities as estimated by PWM and PWD, which were calculated on 12-derivation surface ECG in heart failure patients.

Relationship between QRS score and the extent of coronary artery disease.

We studied 92 patients to determine the relationship between the QRS treadmill score (QTS) and extent of coronary artery disease. The results were compared to those of ST segment deviation in a < (+)QRS score > population. A cut off point of < 5 mm was used for mild to moderate risk patients whereas a QTS of < 3 was considered high risk for the patients.

QT dispersion ratio in patients with unstable angina pectoris (a new risk factor?).

Background: QT dispersion has been shown to be associated with fatal arrhythmias and sudden death in coronary artery disease. A recent study indicated that marked QT dispersion in electrocardiograms (ECGs) obtained during acute ischemia demonstrated a significant correlation with ventricular fibrillation.

Hypothesis: This study investigated the ECG parameters for repolarization (QT dispersion, corrected QT, corrected QT dispersion, and QT dispersion ratio) and their interrelation with acute ischemia.