An antibody of TNF-alpha did not prevent thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibodies have been shown to reduce liver damage in different models. We investigated the effects of infliximab (a TNF-α antibody) on liver damage in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Group 1 (n = 8) was the control group.

Rapid normalization of a highly thickened pericardium by chemotherapy in a patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.

The most common tumor that affects the pericardium is malign lymphoma. T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (TLL) is a rare type of malign lymphomas. In this manuscript, we are reporting a patient with TLL with pericardial involvement diagnosed incidentally during the evaluation of pleural effusion.

Diagnostic value of ischaemia-modified albumin for predicting myocardial ischaemia during myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

During acute ischaemia the N-terminal site of albumin is altered, reducing its binding capacity; the modified protein is termed ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA). IMA is a sensitive marker of acute myocardial ischaemia but its diagnostic value in chronic angina pectoris patients is unclear. We investigated changes in blood levels of IMA during myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients with chronic angina pectoris in a study including 26 male and 20 female patients, with mean age 60 years.

Prognostic significance of ischemia-modified albumin in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

To improve prognosis in acute coronary syndrome, new clinical applications in terms of diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment strategies are still under investigation. Ischemia-modified albumin was one of the novel markers of myocardial ischemia. In our study, we aimed to determine the prognostic significance of the albumin cobalt binding capacity test in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Abnormal elastic properties of the aorta in the mitral valve prolapse syndrome.

Background: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common valvular heart disease representing a generalized disease of connective tissue in the primary form. Elastic properties of the aorta with primary MVP may be expected to be increased. We aimed to determine the aortic elasticity in the primary form of MVP.

Relationship between P-wave dispersion and effective hemodialysis in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Objective: To investigate whether or not P-wave dispersion (PWD) can be used as a good indicator of effective hemodialysis.

Subjects And Methods: The study included 35 patients (20 males, 15 females, mean age 61 +/- 10 years) who regularly received hemodialysis treatment for chronic renal failure. Following hemodialysis, the patients whose hemodynamic parameters were preserved and who reached dry body weight were included.

P-wave dispersion is increased in pregnancy due to shortening of minimum duration of P: does this have clinical significance?

Most pregnant women complain of palpitation, and various kinds of arrhythmias can be observed during pregnancy. We investigated P-wave and QT dispersion during pregnancy. Healthy pregnant women (n=162) and healthy age-matched, non-pregnant women (n=150) were included.

P wave dispersion is increased in pulmonary stenosis.

Aim: The right atrium pressure load is increased in pulmonary stenosis (PS) that is a congenital anomaly and this changes the electrophysiological characteristics of the atria. However, there is not enough data on the issue of P wave dispersion (PWD) in PS.

Methods: Forty-two patients diagnosed as having valvular PS with echocardiography and 33 completely healthy individuals as the control group were included in the study.

QT dispersion in non-apneic simple snoring patients and the effect of surgical therapy on QT dispersion.

Aim: Increased QT dispersion in cases of obstructive sleep apnea, which may induce serious arrhythmias, is a well-known process. However, there is little information about the QT dispersion in patients with simple snoring without apnea. We investigated QT dispersion in snoring and the effect of surgical therapy on QT dispersion.

Papillary fibroelastoma of mitral papillary chordae in a young patient.

Our case is a 38-year-old man, admitted to Cardiology Department with shortness of breath. Echocardiography yields a hyperechogenic mass localized to papillary muscle with severe mitral regurgitation. Coronary angiography demonstrated radiopacity localized to the papillary muscle.

[Short-term effect of nebivolol on the left ventricular diastolic function].

Objective: To determine the effects of nebivolol on diastolic functions of the left ventricle in the hypertensive patients in the early treatment period.

Methods: Twenty patients with mild to moderate hypertension taking daily 5 mg of nebivolol were assessed by using Doppler echocardiography before and after 6-week drug treatment period. The results were analyzed with Wilcoxon test and p<0.

Assessment of interventricular septal motion using colour tissue Doppler imaging in adult patients with atrial septal defect.

We aimed to characterize changes in interventricular septum (IVS) motion and any relationship between them and the pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs) in adult patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). Patients and controls were studied using colour tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The septum length (SL) and distance from the colour change point (CCP) on the IVS to the aortic valve (the CCP distance) were measured on parasternal long axis views.

Wellens' syndrome: a case report.

The pattern of clinical findings and electrocardiography (ECG) changes known as Wellens' syndrome is associated with significant stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Cases can be classified according to the ECG pattern into type 1 (biphasic T waves) or type 2 (deeply inverted T waves, especially in leads V2 and V3). We present here an unusual case of Wellens' syndrome in which the ECG pattern changed from type 2 to type 1 during observation, and in which the coronary lesion was in the middle rather than the proximal part of the left anterior descending artery.

Role of homocysteine for thromboembolic complication in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrilation.

Thromboembolism is the most important complication in patients with atrial fibrilation (AF). Homocysteine is a toxic amino acid that has been recently accepted as a risk factor for atherosclerosis and stroke. The aim of the present study is to show whether there is a relation between hyperhomocysteinemia and thromboembolic complications in patients with non-valvular AF.