The role of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis as an indicator of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast.

Background: Although it has declined in developed countries, mitral valve stenosis is problematic in developing countries; its main cause is rheumatic fever. In patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS), ongoing chronic inflammation may resultin the progression of valvular damage and the formation of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC).

Aim: We investigated the role of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an indicator of ongoing inflammation and independentpredictive risk factor for SEC in RMS patients.

The Effect of Slow Coronary Artery Flow on Microvolt T-Wave Alternans.

Background: Slow coronary artery flow (SCF) is characterized by angiographically confirmed delayed vessel opacification in the absence of any evidence of obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) is defined as beat-to-beat changes in shape, amplitude, or timing of ST segments and T waves, and is utilized in predicting sudden cardiac death and life-threatening malign ventricular arrhythmias in high-risk patients. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of slow coronary artery flow on MTWA.

Effects of verapamil and adenosine in an adjunct to tirofiban on resolution and prognosis of noreflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the effects of verapamil and adenosine in an adjunct to intravenous tirofiban on management and prognosis of no-reflow phenomenon during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and to compare their efficacies on reversing of no-reflow phenomenon and short and midterm survival.

Methods: We included 46 patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and occurrence of no-reflow phenomenon after PPCI. All patients received intravenous tirofiban and then randomized into one of the following 3 groups: intracoronary adenosine (N.

Predictive value of elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for long-term cardiovascular mortality in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Background: Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), which is common in male gender and elderly population, is related with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been found to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between NLR and cardiovascular mortality both in patients with intermittent claudication and critical limb ischemia.

Comparison of different strategies of ivabradine premedication for heart rate reduction before coronary computed tomography angiography.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of different strategies of ivabradine therapy by comparing the effects on heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and image quality of coronary CT angiography (CTA).

Methods: A total of 192 consecutive patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups of oral premedication with ivabradine 15 mg (single dose), 10 mg (single dose), and 5 mg twice daily for 5 days, prospectively. Patients using HR-lowering drugs and patients with β-blockade contraindication were excluded.

Predictive Value of Elevated Uric Acid in Turkish Patients Undergoing Primary Angioplasty for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Uric acid (UA) is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. Serum UA levels have been correlated with all major forms of death from cardiovascular disease, including acute, subacute, and chronic forms of coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, and stroke. However, its value in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear.

Coronary artery ectasia is associated with the c.894G>T (Glu298Asp) polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene.

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is characterized by inappropriate dilation of the coronary vasculature. The underlying mechanisms of CAE formation are not yet entirely known. A polymorphism in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene, which reduces eNOS activity, might be a risk factor for coronary heart diseases.

The effects of resveratrol on tissue injury, oxidative damage, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory condition that results from the digestion of pancreatic tissue by its own enzymes released from the acinar cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol on oxidative damage, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and tissue injury involved with AP induced in a rat model using sodium taurocholate (n = 60). There were three treatment groups with 20 rats per group.

A comparative analysis of leukocyte and leukocyte subtype counts among isolated systolic hypertensive, systo-diastolic hypertensive, and non-hypertensive patients.

Background: Isolated systolic hypertension (ISHT) is a subtype of hypertension (HT) that often exhibits wide pulse pressure, and pulse pressure has a strong predictive value for future adverse cardiovascular events. Previous studies have shown the effects of leukocyte count on the prognosis of ischaemic heart disease and HT.

Aim: Thus, in this cross-sectional study, we analysed the relationship between leukocyte counts and subtypes in HT and non-HT groups.

Comparison of subclinical left and right ventricular systolic dysfunction in non-dipper and dipper hypertensives: impact of isovolumic acceleration.

Unlabelled: Abstract Objectives: To evaluate subclinical left ventricular and right ventricular systolic impairment in dipper and non-dipper hypertensives by using isovolumic acceleration.

Methods: About 45 normotensive healthy volunteers (20 men, mean age 43 ± 9 years), 45 dipper (27 men, mean age 45 ± 9 years) and 45 non-dipper (25 men, 47 ± 7 years) hypertensives were enrolled. Isovolumic acceleration was measured by dividing the peak myocardial isovolumic contraction velocity by isovolumic acceleration time.

Is there a correlation between coronary artery ectasia and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio?

We aimed to investigate the association between the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and coronary artery ectasia (CAE). The study included 198 patients who had undergone coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). The patients were divided into the following 4 groups: group 1, 44 patients with normal coronary arteries; group 2, 61 patients with CAD; group 3, 40 patients with isolated CAE; and group 4, 53 patients with CAE coexisting with CAD.

High sensitive troponin-I in patients with slow coronary flow pattern.

Hypothesis: We examined the hypothesis that a specific myocardial injury marker, namely high sensitive cardiac troponin-I (HsTn-I), is elevated in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF) pattern.

Aim: To examine the above hypothesis by studying a group of patients who had undergone coronary angiography for the detection of their chest pain aetiology with SCF pattern despite an angiographically normal coronary arteriogram.

Methods: We evaluated and performed coronary angiography (CAG) of 97 patients with chest discomfort.

Does intravenous or oral high-dose N-acetylcysteine in addition to saline prevent contrast-induced nephropathy assessed by cystatin C?

Aims: The objective of this study is to determine the effect of intravenous (i.v.) or oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with moderate-to-severe renal insufficiency undergoing intra-arterial interventions.

Utility of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for predicting in-hospital mortality after levosimendan infusion in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a levosimendan infusion on hematological variables in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The predictive value of these variables for in-hospital mortality was also evaluated.

Methods: A total of 553 patients (368 males; mean age, 63.

Aspirin resistance in patients with impaired renal functions.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Aspirin resistance (AR) worsens prognosis in CVD.

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect AR prevalence in this patient group.

Single dose ivabradine versus intravenous metoprolol for heart rate reduction before coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients receiving long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy.

Background: In patients with contraindication for beta-blockers who are also under long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy for any reason, ivabradine may be used as an alternative treatment to achieve the target heart rate.

Purpose: To assess whether single dose oral ivabradine in patients referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is safe and can significantly decrease heart rate compared to intravenous (i.v.

Evaluation of the effect of mitral stenosis severity on the left ventricular systolic function using isovolumic myocardial acceleration.

Background: Isovolumic acceleration (IVA) is a new tissue Doppler parameter in the assessment of systolic function of both left and right ventricles. It remains unaffected with the changes in pre- and after-load within the physiological range. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of mitral stenosis degree, which is determined by echocardiography, on the left ventricular (LV) function using IVA.

7 Tesla MRI with a transmit/receive loopless antenna and B1-insensitive selective excitation.

Purpose: Use of external coils with internal detectors or conductors is challenging at 7 Tesla (T) due to radiofrequency (RF) field (B1 ) penetration, B1 -inhomogeneity, mutual coupling, and potential local RF heating. The present study tests whether the near-quadratic gains in signal-to-noise ratio and field-of-view with field-strength previously reported for internal loopless antennae at 7T can suffice to perform MRI with an interventional transmit/receive antenna without using any external coils.

Methods: External coils were replaced by semi-rigid or biocompatible transmit/receive loopless antennae requiring only a few Watts of peak RF power.

Effects of curcumin on proinflammatory cytokines and tissue injury in the early and late phases of experimental acute pancreatitis.

Background & Aims: Acute pancreatitis (AP) varies from mild to severe necrotizing changes with high mortality. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on tissue injury and proinflammatory cytokines in the early and late phases of AP.

Methods: AP was induced by sodium taurocholate in rats (n = 140).

Prognostic value of elevated mean platelet volume in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 495 consecutive STEMI patients.The study population was divided into tertiles based on admission MPV values.

High BNP level as risk factor for acute kidney injury and predictor of all-cause mortality in STEMI patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and 6-month all-cause mortality after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a modest-risk population.

Background: The prognostic value of BNP has been well documented in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, its value in development of AKI and 6-month all-cause mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI remains unclear.

Selective transitional zone sampling approach versus random biopsy in cases with malignant liver masses: is there any superiority?

Background/aims: Currently, the diagnostic sensitivity of malignant liver mass biopsies is an important problem in the definitive diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of selective peripheral approach to lesion biopsies for diagnostic sensitivity of liver masses.

Materials And Methods: Between June 2007 and March 2011, totally 88 patients (50 male, 38 female), referred to our Interventional Radiology Department for sonographically guided Tru-cut biopsies for liver lesions, were examined.

Proteus syndrome: report of intra-abdominal lipomatosis.

Proteus syndrome (PS) is an extremely rare sporadic disorder that manifests as an asymmetric, disproportionate overgrowth of any connective tissues, such as bone, fat, or epidermal nevi, in a mosaic or patchy pattern. This hamartoneoplastic syndrome was first described by Cohen and Hayden. Its prevalence is approximately 1 per 1,000,000 live births, and intra-abdominal expansion has been reported in no more than 20 cases in the literature.

The role of electrocardiography in evaluation of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in daily clinical practice.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality. Bronchial obstruction and increased pulmonary vascular resistance impairs right atrial functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of bronchial obstruction on p wave axis in patients with COPD and usefulness of electrocardiography (ECG) in the evaluation of the severity of COPD.