The effects of perindopril on aortic elasticity and inflammatory markers in hypertensive patients.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in hypertension and in atherosclerosis. Inflammatory changes induced even in prehypertensive subjects can lead to increased arterial stiffness. The effects of perindopril on both inflammatory and aortic elasticity markers were tested in hypertensive patients.

Levosimendan has an inhibitory effect on platelet function.

Levosimendan enhances cardiac contractility by increasing myocyte sensitivity to calcium, and induces vasodilatation. Although studies have evaluated the efficacy of levosimendan in heart failure, it is not clear whether it might produce functional influence on platelet response. In this study, the effect of levosimendan on platelet aggregation was investigated.

Evaluation of plasma adiponectin levels in young men with coronary artery disease.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the relation between plasma adiponectin levels and other risk factors in a young patient population.

Material And Results: We enrolled consecutively 69 young patients (< 45 years) with coronary artery disease in the study group. he patient enrollment period was between February 2003 and November 2004.

Coronary angiography for follow-up of heart transplant recipients: insights from TIMI frame count and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (TIMI FC) and myocardial perfusion grade (TIMI MPG) in heart transplant recipients and whether these parameters could predict mortality.

Methods: Sixty-two heart transplant recipients were enrolled in this study. All patients had coronary angiography at baseline and at 1 year, which were evaluated for TIMI FC and TIMI MPG.

Left ventricular function in male patients with secondary hypogonadism.

Background: In addition to the effects on ventricular repolarization, testosterone could also affect left ventricular performance. The enhancement of left ventricular contractility in testosterone-deficient rats following testosterone replacement implies to the possible testosterone effect.

Objectives: The aim of the current study is to reveal the alterations of left ventricular functions, if any, in secondary hypogonadal male patients.

[Relationship between coronary risk calculation and distribution of the coronary artery lesions and risk factors].

Objectives: Early diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease is gaining more importance because of its increasing incidence. The calculation of coronary risk score is one of the most important approaches. The aim of the study is to find out the relation between coronary risk score and vessel distribution of the coronary heart disease.

[The value of augmentation index and myocardial performance index obtained from cardiac catheterization pressure recordings in predicting coronary artery disease].

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the relation between some parameters, which can be obtained from cardiac catheterization pressure records, and coronary artery disease.

Methods: The study included 65 patients, in whom coronary angiography was performed by the cardiologists of the study. The parameters could be obtained in 40 patients (59+/-6 years; 28 male), and statistical analysis included the data of these patients.

Being well-informed about statin is associated with continuous adherence and reaching targets.

Background: Statins are life saving drugs in cardiovascular practice. However, they still are underprescribed in many situations despite their well-established benefits. Adherence may be improved by increased comprehension of the patients.

Univentricular heart and supramitral ring: an unusual association.

Univentricular heart, which is rarely seen cardiac anomaly, is associated with various cardiac anomalies. The presence of supramitral ring and univentricular heart in the same patient is very interesting association which, to the best of our knowledge, was not reported previously.

A simple different method to use proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) for measuring mitral valve area.

Background: Angle-correction is an important limiting factor for using proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method in measuring mitral valve area (MVA). In this study, we derived a novel formula, which simplifies the angle-correction, and tested its use in patients with mitral stenosis (MS).

Methods: The study included 30 MS patients without concomitant aortic or mitral regurgitation.

Primary chylopericardium.

Primary chylopericardium is a rare entity. Here we describe a 36-year-old, asymptomatic male in whom pericardial effusion was detected by chest X-ray and echocardiography on routine health control. After pericardiocentesis that revealed the chylous nature of the fluid, partial pericardiectomy without duct ligation was carried out.

Effect of macro-creatine kinase and increased creatine kinase BB on the rapid diagnosis of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction in the emergency department.

Although there are more sensitive and earlier diagnostic markers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), measurement of creatine kinase (CK) MB isoenzyme (CKMB) using the immunoinhibition method is still widely used in stat laboratories. In this study, 3,290 patients with the prediagnosis of AMI underwent physical examinations, electrocardiography, and repetitive measurements of CK, CKMB activity, and CKMB mass, and 304 of them were diagnosed as having AMI. Electrophoresis of CK and CKMB mass was performed for the samples from 415 patients whose CKMB activity values were found to be increased and were not correlated with total CK levels.

Utility of myocardial performance index measured by left ventricular catheterization.

Background: Myocardial performance index (MPI) is a valuable index of global ventricular performance. It is almost always measured by Doppler echocardiography. The purposes of this study were (I) to compare MPI measured by catheterization (MPIc) and that measured by Doppler echocardiography (MPId), and (2) to compare it with the functional status.

Brain natriuretic peptide and the severity of aortic regurgitation: is there any correlation?

We aimed to evaluate the correlation between aortic regurgitation severity and brain natriuretic (BNP) levels as a marker for left ventricular dysfunction. Sixty consecutive male patients (mean age 22 +/- 3 years) with isolated chronic aortic regurgitation were enrolled in the study together with a control group of 30 age-matched healthy volunteers (group A). Patients were classified with regard to aortic regurgitation vena contracta width as follows: group B, < 3 mm, mild (n = 16); group C, > or = 3 and < 6 mm, moderate (n = 26); group D, > or = 6 mm, severe (n = 18).

The effect of combined Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and calcium antagonism on allograft coronary vasculopathy validated by intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Hypertension is a potential risk factor for allograft coronary vasculopathy. We evaluated the efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium antagonists, and their combined use, on the development of coronary vasculopathy in hypertensive heart transplant recipients.

Methods: Eighty-two heart transplant recipients underwent serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis at baseline (within 1 month) and at 1 year after transplantation and were evaluated for the development of coronary vasculopathy.

Elongation index as a new index determining the severity of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and mitral regurgitation in patients with congestive heart failure.

The shape of the left ventricle is an important echocardiographic feature of left ventricular dysfunction. Progression of the mitral regurgitation and consequent left ventricular remodeling is unpredictable in heart failure. Elongation index is an index of left ventricular sphericity.

Chronic heavy ethanol consumption is associated with decreased platelet aggregation in rats.

Although moderate alcohol consumption seems to be protective against atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease rate increases with its higher doses. Platelet aggregation is an important process which contributes to the atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether heavy ethanol consumption stimulates or inhibits platelet aggregation.

The effect of tirofiban and clopidogrel pretreatment on outcome of old saphenous vein graft stenting in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

In spite of developments in interventional cardiology, the success rate of saphenous vein graft stenting is still low in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In this study, we aimed at finding out the effect of pretreatment with Tirofiban, a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, and clopidogrel, an adenosine diphosphate antagonist, on the outcome of saphenous vein graft stenting in patients with acute coronary syndrome. A total of 47 patients, who had lesions in saphenous vein grafts and acute coronary syndrome, could be randomized to treated group (n = 24), who received Tirofiban and clopidogrel for 48 hours before the intervention, and untreated group (n = 23), who did not receive Tirofiban and clopidogrel.

Left atrial functions after myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction results in not only left ventricular but also left atrial dysfunction. Left atrial function is important for optimal filling of the left ventricle. In this study, we aimed at evaluating left atrial functions 6 months after acute myocardial infarction in three different patient groups (thrombolytic therapy, primary percutaneous intervention, or no reperfusion strategies).

A giant dissecting aneurysm of ascending aorta.

Aortic aneurysm is a serious clinical challenge for the cardiologist. Aneurysm expansion frequently associated with significant dissection and rupture risk. Currently available diagnostic modalities make earlier diagnosis and therapy possible hence giant aneurysm with dissection is relatively rare.

The influence of donor gender on allograft vasculopathy: evidence from intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Allograft vasculopathy is a major risk factor for mortality following cardiac transplantation. Several immune and nonimmune factors have been evaluated as risk factors for the development of coronary vasculopathy.

Objective: We evaluated the influence of donor gender on the progression of coronary vasculopathy in heart transplant recipients.

Donor intracranial bleeding is associated with advanced transplant coronary vasculopathy: evidence from intravascular ultrasound.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of spontaneous intracranial bleeding (ICB) in the donor on transplant coronary vasculopathy using serial intravascular ultrasound examinations.

Materials And Methods: Between January 1995 and December 2000, 72 recipients underwent cardiac transplantation from donors who had experienced spontaneous ICB (ICB group). Their findings using serial intravascular ultrasound analysis at baseline (within 1 month) and 1 year after transplantation were compared with 90 recipients who had undergone transplantation from trauma donors (trauma group).

A novel method to estimate pulmonary artery wedge pressure using the downslope of the Doppler mitral regurgitant velocity profile.

Continuous-wave (CW) Doppler recording of mitral regurgitation (MR) is a reflection of the left ventriculoatrial pressure gradient. Accordingly, this jet may yield information about pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). In this study, we derived and then evaluated a novel method for prediction of PAWP.

A different method for measuring mitral valve area with special emphasis on concomitant aortic regurgitation: A new application of proximal isovelocity surface area method.

Measurement of mitral valve area is still a challenge for the echocardiographers. Each method has its own limitations. In this study we assessed a different method and compared it with the other methods.