Predictors of Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris and Coronary Slow Flow.

: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is an angiographic phenomenon characterized by the slow progression of an injected contrast agent during diagnostic coronary angiography in the absence of significant stenosis. Although CSF is a common angiographic finding, the long-term outcomes and mortality rates are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the underlying causes of mortality over a 10-year period in patients diagnosed with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and CSF.

Value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting left ventricular recovery in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting left ventricular (LV) recovery in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

Methods: Patients with PPCM (n = 40), who were admitted to our tertiary reference hospital between 2007 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed-up for at least 12 months after the diagnosis.

Could ivabradine challenge be helpful for the diagnosis of intermittent sinoatrial node dysfunction in suspected patients?

Sinoatrial node dysfunction (SND) is an important cause of syncope in the elderly. Though the diagnosis can be relatively straightforward in the persistent form of SND, it can be elusive when the dysfunction is intermittent. For intermittent SND, the diagnosis may require prolonged electrocardiographic recordings with an external or internal loop recorder, or an invasive electrophysiologic study.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with atrial electrical and mechanical dysfunction.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the left atrial (LA) electrical and mechanical functions in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Subjects And Methods: The study population consisted of 87 patients with MetS and 67 controls. Intra-atrial and interatrial electromechanical delays (EDs) were measured with tissue Doppler imaging.

Severity of periodontitis in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.

The concept that coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is an inflammatory-related disease has been increasingly recognized. Periodontitis induced low-grade chronic systemic inflammation has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and CAE.

Is left ventricular diastolic dysfunction independent from presence of hypertension in metabolic syndrome? An echocardiographic study.

Background: It has been shown that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) develops in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, there is not sufficient evidence in the literature to determine whether this condition is due to increase in blood pressure, which is frequently encountered in MetS. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis whether LVDD in MetS is independent from the presence of hypertension.

The presence of fragmented QRS on 12-lead ECG in patients with coronary slow flow.

Background: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is characterised by delayed opacification of coronary arteries in the absence of epicardial occlusive disease. It has been reported that CSF may cause angina, myocardial ischaemia, and infarction. Fragmentation of QRS complex (fQRS) is an easily evaluated non-invasive electrocardiographic parameter.

Assessment of tenascin-C levels in ventricular noncompaction/hypertrabeculation patients: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Ventricular noncompaction/hypertrabeculation (NC/HT) is a rare form of congenital cardiomyopathy. We aimed to investigate the presence of serum tenascin-C (TN-C) in adult patients with NC/HT and evaluate its value.

Methods And Results: Serum TN-C levels were measured by ELISA in 50 NC/HT patients both with/without systolic dysfunction and in 23 normal controls.

Prognostic value of serum resistin levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Resistin is a novel adipokine that is suggested to be involved in inflammatory conditions and atherosclerosis.

Aim: To investigate the prognostic importance of resistin in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients.

Methods: Resistin levels were measured in a population of 132 patients with AMI, of whom 72 (54%) had a diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and 60 (46%) had non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function before and after surgery in patients with pectus excavatum and right ventricular compression.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the effect of surgical repair on right ventricular (RV) function in patients with pectus excavatum (PE) and RV compression by Doppler echocardiography.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three patients who were admitted to our hospital for surgical correction of PE between 2009 and 2012 were included in the study. After transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation, 16 patients with RV compression were enrolled.

The relationship between coronary artery ectasia and eNOS intron 4a/b gene polymorphisms.

Background: Little is known about the pathogenesis and genetics of coronary artery ectasia (CAE). We studied eNOS gene intron 4a/b polymorphism in this patient population.

Methods: The study group included 30 patients with non-obstructive CAD besides CAE on coronary angiogram performed due to positive non-invasive diagnostic test results.

Oxidative stress and severity of coronary artery disease in young smokers with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Cigarette smoking increases the oxidative stress mediated vascular dysfunction in young adults. We aimed to investigate the relation between the oxidative stress indices and coronary artery disease (CAD) severity in young patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: Young patients (aged 〈 35 years) who were admitted consecutively to our hospital with a diagnosis of AMI were included in the study.

Coronary artery fistula: review of 54 cases from single center experience.

Background: Demographic and clinical characteristics and angiographic findings of Turkish patients with coronary artery fistula have been investigated in this study and diagnostic tests and treatment methods used in these patients have also been evaluated in detail.

Methods: We have examined the cardiac catheterization laboratory database retrospectively between March 2006 and July 2010. Among 49,567 patients, we have noted 60 patients diagnosed as coronary artery fistula.

Myocardial ischemia in severe aortic regurgitation despite angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Patients with severe aortic regurgitation frequently present with angina pectoris. The exact pathophysiology for angina in aortic regurgitation is not clear. Left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial blood supply-demand mismatch have been the suggested mechanisms to explain ischemia.

Serum paraoxonase 1 activity in women with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a leading risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. Reduced paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through increased susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in patients with MetS.

Aim: To examine whether there is a relationship between serum PON1 activity and MetS in women.

The mitral late diastolic flow acceleration slope after the restoration of sinus rhythm in acute atrial fibrillation: relationship to atrial function and change over time.

Objective: This study was prospectively designed to evaluate the relationship between the mitral A wave acceleration slope (AWA-slope) and the left atrial ejection fraction (LA-EF) after the restoration of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and also to evaluate the change in the AWA-slope between the sequent second day and first month.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients (16 female, mean age 56 ± 13 years) with unknown cause of AF (except for age) converted to sinus rhythm within the first 48 hours were included into the study. A transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients on the second day and the first month after restoration of the sinus rhythm.

The effects of blood pressure lowering on P-wave dispersion in patients with hypertensive crisis in emergency setting.

Hypertensive emergency refers to a severe hypertension (HT) that is associated with new or progressive end-organ damage. In these clinical situations, blood pressure (BP) should be reduced immediately to prevent or minimize organ dysfunction. The present study evaluated the diagnostic value of two electrocardiographic indices in detecting patients, who are at risk for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), in the setting hypertensive crisis.

The impact of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic polymorphism and patient characteristics upon warfarin dose requirements in an adult Turkish population.

In this study, we investigated the contribution of vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1) and cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) genotypes, age, and body surface area (BSA) on warfarin dose requirements and in an adult Turkish population. Blood samples were collected from 100 Turkish patients with stable warfarin dose requirements and an international normalized ratio (INR) of the prothrombin time within the therapeutic range. Genetic analyses for CYP2C9 genotypes (*2 and *3 alleles) and VKORC1 -1639 G>A polymorphism were performed and venous INR determined.

Impact of the metabolic syndrome on aortic pulse pressure and ascending aortic pulsatility in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Background: Large artery stiffness is a major determinant of pulse pressure (PP), and PP at baseline has been associated with future coronary events.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the metabolic syndrome on aortic PP and ascending aortic pulsatility (AP) in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Methods: Forty-two patients with the metabolic syndrome and 40 age matched control subjects without the metabolic syndrome were included in the study.

Metastatic adenocarcinoma in the right atrium and secondary Budd-Chiari syndrome (a case report).

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare clinical syndrome which is characterized by the occlusion of the major hepatic veins or the inferior vena cava at the suprahepatic level. Metastatic cardiac tumors (MCT) are much more common than the primary cardiac tumors. Although MCT are frequently clinically silent, rarely pericardial tamponade or effusion may be the first clinical sign of MCT.

Impact of early tirofiban administration on myocardial salvage in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing infarct-related artery stenting.

Background/aims: The timing of GpIIb/IIIa inhibitor administration may be important in achieving early epicardial and myocardial reperfusion. We evaluated the effect of early tirofiban on myocardial salvage and cardiovascular outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing infarct-related artery stenting.

Methods: Patients (n = 66) with a first AMI presenting <6 h from onset of symptoms were randomized to either early administration of tirofiban in the emergency room (n = 32) or later administration in the catheterization laboratory (n = 34) (tirofiban bolus dose of 10 microg/kg, followed by 0.

Effect of hormone replacement therapy on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, endothelial function and myocardial perfusion in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-alpha IVS1-397 C/C genotype and established coronary artery disease.

Unlabelled: Effect of hormone replacement (HRT) therapy on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, endothelial function and myocardial perfusion in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) IVS1-397 C/C genotype and established coronary artery disease.

Background/aims: Associations between various ER-alpha polymorphisms and clinical phenotypes have been studied, including lipid levels and coronary atherosclerosis. We studied 48 postmenopausal women to determine the effect of ER-alpha IVS1-397 polymorphism on the response to treatment with HRT.