Association of subclinical carotid artery atherosclerosis assessed by carotid ultrasound with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score in young and middle-aged men.

Background: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a widespread liver disorder caused by excess fat accumulation in the liver with no significant alcohol consumption. This condition has been linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaques, which are established markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, were used to assess CVD risk.

FIB-4 liver fibrosis index correlates with aortic valve sclerosis in non-alcoholic population.

Aim: Hepatic fibrosis, a progressive scarring of liver tissue, is commonly caused by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index is a non-invasive tool used to assess liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS), a degenerative disorder characterized by thickening and calcification of valve leaflets, is prevalent in the elderly and associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Presystolic wave as a predictor of interatrial block in patients with supraventricular tachycardia.

The identification of interatrial block (IAB) through electrocardiography (ECG) has been correlated with an elevated likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke. IAB is diagnosed by evaluating P-wave prolongation on a surface ECG. The presystolic wave (PSW) is an echocardiographic marker determined by pulse-wave examination of the aortic root during late diastole.

Liver fibrosis scores and coronary artery ectasia.

Background: Although scoring systems showing liver fibrosis using non-invasive methods have been accepted as effective tools for predicting cardiovascular risk, their role in predicting coronary ectasia (CAE) has not been evaluated. This study investigated whether aprison (APRI) and fibrosis-4 indices (FIB-4), which are indicators of fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are associated with CAE.

Material And Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study consisted of 215 patients, 108 with CAE and 107 without CAE, as diagnosed by angiography.

The relationship between ascending aortic diameter with left atrial functions and left ventricular mass index in a population with normal left ventricular systolic function.

Aim: Ascending aortic dilatation is a common clinical issue. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between ascending aortic diameter with left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) functions, and LV mass index (LVMI) in a population with normal LV systolic function.

Methods: A total of 127 healthy participants with normal LV systolic function took part in the study.

Non-alcoholic faty liver disease and liver fibrosis score have an independent relationship with the presence of mitral annular calcification.

Non-alcoholic faty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis score (FIB 4) are associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular causes. NAFLD and cardiac diseases are different manifestations of systemic metabolic syndrome. In this study, we aimed to reveal the relationship between NAFLD and FIB 4 liver fibrosis scores and mitral annular calcification (MAC).

The relationship between intracoronary thrombus burden and atherogenic index in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: Increased coronary thrombus load is a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. Identifying predictors of intracoronary thrombus burden may contribute to the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed at evaluating the relationship between the atherogenic index (ATI) and coronary thrombus burden in patients presenting with STEMI.

Effect of Coronavirus Disease-2019 Infection on Left Atrial Functions.

Objective: Left atrial (LA) dysfunction is a crucial risk factor for cardiovascular events, and various pathologies may affect LA function. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic causing morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate LA functions in patients who recovered from COVID-19.

The relationship between nondipper hypertension and triglyceride glucose index.

Nondipper hypertensive patients have an increased incidence of damage to end organs, including the brain, heart, and kidney, and a worse cardiovascular prognosis. The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a reliable indicator of insulin resistance (IR) and is closely related to the traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease. To the best of our knowledge, whether there is a relationship between the TyG index and impaired diurnal blood pressure (BP) has not been investigated.

Could the systemic immune-inflammation index be a predictor to estimate cerebrovascular events in hypertensive patients?

Background And Objectives: Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Inflammatory processes occupy an important place in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Many studies have studied inflammatory markers responsible for the onset of hypertension and organ damage.

The relationship between uric acid to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and collateral index in patients with chronic total occlusion.

Background    High serum uric acid (UA) levels and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are accepted as risk factors for cardiovascular mortality. Hyperuricemia and low HDL-C levels were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and the development of diabetes and hypertension. However, the association of UA with cardiovascular (CV) mortality,collateral index are undetermined in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO).

COVID 19 disease independently predicted endothelial dysfunction measured by flow-mediated dilatation.

The systemic effects of COVID-19 disease are still largely uncertain and needs to be scrutinized with further trials. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is responsible for the majority of adverse cardiovascular events. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is easily obtainable method to assess ED accurately.

Time delays in each step from symptom onset to treatment in acute myocardial infarction: Results from a nation-wide TURKMI registry.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to analyze the TURKMI registry to identify the factors associated with delays from symptom onset to treatment that would be the focus of improvement efforts in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Turkey.

Methods: The TURKMI study is a nation-wide registry that was conducted in 50 centers capable of 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). All consecutive patients (n=1930) with AMI admitted to coronary care units within 48 hours of symptom onset were prospectively enrolled during a predefined 2-week period between November 1, 2018, and November 16, 2018.

Prognostic nutritional index is related to myocardial performance index in newly diagnosed nondiabetic hypertensive patients.

: Arterial hypertension (AH) leads to systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV) by causing structural changes in the myocardium. Myocardial performance index (MPI) provides the evaluation of LV systolic and diastolic functions together. Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is an indicator of immunonutritional status.

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue is Associated with the Extent of Aortic Dissection.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a biologically active organ that has endocrine and paracrine functions. Endothelial dysfunction, systemic, and local inflammatory response, due to bio-active molecules produced by EAT, may affect aortic dissection propagation and extent. We investigated the association between EAT thickness and the extent of aortic dissection.

Endothelial dysfunction predicted increased left atrial volume index in newly diagnosed nondiabetic hypertensive patients.

Background: Arterial hypertension is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It was previously shown that left atrium volume increase associated with mortality and atherosclerotic heart disease. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the value of endothelial dysfunction in predicting left atrium volume increase in newly diagnosed hypertension patients.

Elevated serum YKL40 level is a predictor of MACE during the long-term follow up in hypertensive patients.

: YKL-40 (human cartilage glycoprotein 39, chitinase-3-like protein 1) is an inflammatory marker secreted mainly by macrophages and has distinctive roles on extracellular matrix remodeling, macrophage maturation, adhesion, and migration. Despite the presence of robust data suggesting the association of YKL-40 with variety of cardiovascular diseases (CV), there is no study up to date evaluating the role of YKL-40 on the long-term prognosis in patients with hypertension (HT).: A single center, prospective, observational cohort study that included 327 consecutive hypertensive patients which were presented to a cardiology outpatient clinic.

Relationship Between C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio and Thrombus Burden in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Increased coronary thrombus burden is known to be a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) can be used as a surrogate marker of pro-inflammation which is closely related to prothrombotic state. We aimed to evaluate the association between CAR and coronary thrombus burden in patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

The Effect of High Dose Cilostazol and Rosuvastatin on Periprocedural Myocardial Injury in Patients with Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: The aim of our study was to assess the effect of pretreatment with cilostazol and rosuvastatin combination before elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on peri-procedural myocardial injury (PPMIJ).

Methods: We randomly assigned 172 patients with stable angina pectoris scheduled for elective PCI to pre- treatment with Cilostazol 200mg and Rosuvastatin 40 mg (group 1), or to pretreatment with Rosuvastatin 40 mg group (group 2). The primary end-point was the occurrence of PPMIJ defined as any cardiac troponin I (Tn I) level elevated above the upper normal limit (UNL).

A Novel Index Combining Diastolic and Systolic Tissue Doppler Parameters for Prediction of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence.

Objective: Identification of patients at risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence with using simple and objective parameters may be helpful in tailoring the treatment. In this study, we investigated whether E/(Ea×Sa) and Ea/(Aa×Sa) could be a predictor of AF recurrence after cardioversion. (E = early diastolic transmitral velocity, Ea = early diastolic mitral annular velocity, Aa = late diastolic mitral annular velocity, Sa = systolic mitral annular velocity).

The REDUCED (a RandomisED stUdy Comparing standard systemic anticoagulation thErapy to low Dose intracoronary anticoagulation therapy for elective percutaneous coronary intervention) trial. A novel pharmacologic regime for elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: This study tried to determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose intracoronary unfractionated heparin (UFH) in elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Two-hundred patients who underwent elective PCI of an uncomplicated lesion were included into the study. The patients were assigned to either a control group (70-100 IU/kg intravenous UFH) or a low-dose intracoronary UFH (1,000 IU intracoronary UFH) group.

Predictive value of atrial electromechanical delay for atrial fibrillation recurrence.

Background: We investigated the predictive value of atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) for recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) at 1-month after cardioversion.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients with persistent AF were evaluated and finally 50 patients (12 men, 38 women) were included. All patients underwent transthoracic electrical DC cardioversion under amiodarone treatment.

A novel echocardiographic predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence: L-wave.

Diastolic dysfunction leads to atrial fibrillation (AF) by increasing left atrial pressure and also increases recurrence rate after cardioversion. So, L-wave, which is associated with severe diastolic dysfunction, could predict recurrent AF after cardioversion. The aim of this study was to investigate predictive value of L-wave for AF recurrence at first month after electrical cardioversion.