Telomerase activity and hTERT gene expression in patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable coronary artery disease.

Background: In this study, we aimed to examine the telomerase activity and hTERT gene expression in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and those with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) and compare the results to controls. Additionally, we compared overall mortality rates relative to the telomerase activity.

Methods: A total of 211 patients (78 ACS and 71 SCAD patients) were included in the study.

Assessment of triglyceride/glucose index with respect to coronary slow flow.

Background: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is determined by delayed opacification of the epicardial coronary arteries without obstructive disease. The triglyceride glucose index (TGI) has been suggested as a useful marker of insulin resistance. Previous studies have shown that TGI is associated with cardiovascular disease, but no study has examined the relationship between TGI and CSF.

Is serum fibroblast growth factor 21 associated with the severity or presence of coronary artery disease?

Background: Recent studies have shown that increased circulating concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) are associated with obesity, metabolic disorder, and atherosclerosis. However the relationship between FGF21 and coronary artery disease (CAD) is controversial This study was planned to investigate the role of FGF21 in CAD development and CAD severity.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) (lesion positive) and 40 control patients (lesion negative) with similar cardiovascular risk factors were included in the study.

Triglyceride glucose index reflects the unfavorable changes of left ventricular diastolic functions and structure in uncomplicated newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

Introduction: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and structural abnormalities are common cardiac changes in hypertension (HTN), and several factors other than high blood pressure (BP) may play a role in these changes. The aim of this study was to reveal the relationship between triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, a novel parameter for insulin resistance (IR), with LV diastolic function and structure in hypertensive patients.

Material And Method: A total of 119 newly diagnosed, untrated hypertensive patients free of diabetes and/or cardiovascular complications were included in this study.

Relationship between circulating serum omentin-1 levels and nascent metabolic syndrome in patients with hypertension.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is more common in patients with hypertension and is associated with an increased risk of target organ damage and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD). Omentin-1 is a beneficial adipokine considered to play a role in MetS and MetS-related states such as obesity, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between circulating omentin-1 levels and MetS uncomplicated by diabetes or CVD (nascent MetS) in patients with hypertension.

Retinol binding protein 4 levels relate to the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.

Background: The previous studies have showed that serum retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels increase in metabolic disorders which are closely associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, the human studies investigating the role of RBP4 in CVD are conflicted. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between RBP4 with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in this study.

Clinical significance of chitotriosidase in outpatients with advanced heart failure.

The previous studies have shown that plasma chitotriosidase (CHIT) levels increase in many diseases with inflammation. However, there are no reported studies investigating the relationship between CHIT and chronic heart failure (CHF) which is an inflammatory process. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of CHIT in diagnosis and severity of CHF in this study.

Serum omentin-1 levels in hypertensive patients.

Hypertension (HT) is a disease that can cause death due to multiple target organ damage and eventually related vascular system damage. High blood pressure is known increased inflammatory activity and to cause endothelial dysfunction has been showed in HT patients. Omentin-1 is a glucoprotein of the adiponectin family released from visceral adipose tissue, endothelial cells, and visceral fat stromal-vascular cells.

Evaluation of ivabradine in left ventricular dyssynchrony and reverse remodeling in patients with chronic heart failure.

Objectives: Ivabradine is a pharmacological agent used in patients with heart failure and sinus rhythm. Its only known pharmacological effect is to slow the heart rate. In this study, we investigated the impact of ivabradine on dyssynchrony parameters in heart failure patients.

Morning blood pressure surge and diastolic dysfunction in patients with masked hypertension.

Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the association between morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) levels and diastolic function parameters in patients with masked hypertension (MH).

Methods: A total of 92 patients with diagnosis of MH were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into three groups according to their MBPS levels.

Evaluation of inhomogeneities of repolarization in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Introduction: The arrhythmia potential has not been investigated adequately in psoriatic patients. In this study, we assessed the ventricular repolarization dispersion, using the Tp-e interval and the Tp-e/QT ratio, and investigated the association with inflammation.

Material And Methods: Seventy-one psoriasis vulgaris patients and 70 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in the study.

Relationship between Fragmented QRS Complex and Aortic Stiffness in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between fragmented QRS complex (fQRS), aortic stiffness, and diastolic dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

Subjects And Methods: A sample of 56 patients who received hemodialysis treatment was stratified into 2 groups according to their electrocardiography (ECG) patterns with or without fQRS. Baseline characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients were documented.

Assessment of Atrial Electromechanical Delay and Left Atrial Mechanical Functions in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory bowel disease causing systemic inflammation, which may also affect the cardiovascular system, as well as other organ systems. The aim of the current study was to evaluate left atrial (LA) mechanical functions and duration of atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) with echocardiography in patients with UC.

Method: A total of 91 patients, 45 with UC (Group 1) and 46 healthy individuals as control (Group 2) were included in the study.

Is galectin-3 a biomarker, a player-or both-in the presence of coronary atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a complex process mediated by leukocytes, macrophages and various inflammatory markers. Galectin-3 is secreted by activated macrophages and is involved in cardiac fibrosis, cardiac remodeling, and inflammation. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and serum galectin-3 levels.

The importance of speckle tracking echocardiography in the early detection of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hormonal and metabolic abnormalities and is thought to increase a risk for cardiovascular diseases. In this study we use speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) to evaluate left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the early period of the disease. We enrolled 31 patients with PCOS and 32 healthy volunteers as a control group.

Evaluation of Electrocardiographic T-peak to T-end Interval in Subjects with Increased Epicardial Fat Tissue Thickness.

Background: The association between periatrial adiposity and atrial arrhythmias has been shown in previous studies. However, there are not enough available data on the association between epicardial fat tissue (EFT) thickness and parameters of ventricular repolarization. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the association of EFT thickness with indices of ventricular repolarization by using T-peak to T-end (Tp-e) interval and Tp-e/QT ratio.

P-Wave Dispersion and Atrial Electromechanical Delay in Patients with Preeclampsia.

Objectives: To investigate the duration of atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) and left atrial mechanical function in patients with preeclampsia.

Materials And Methods: This study included 26 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 24 age-matched pregnant women without preeclampsia (control group). Atrial electromechanical coupling (PA) and intra-atrial and interatrial EMD were measured using tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Exercise-Induced Repolarization Changes in Patients with Isolated Myocardial Bridging.

Background: Although myocardial bridging (MB) is defined as an angiographic phenomenon with a benign course, it has also been associated with adverse cardiovascular events. The effects of exercise on myocardial repolarization in patients with MB were tested in this study, with Tp-e and Tp-e/QT repolarization indexes.

Material And Methods: A total of 50 patients in whom isolated MB was diagnosed at coronary angiography (CAG) (Group I) and 48 patients with normal CAG results (Group II) were included in this study.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts coronary artery lesion complexity and mortality after non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: Inflammatory mechanisms are known to play an important role in coronary artery disease. The present study aimed to investigate the importance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in terms of in-hospital mortality and its association with currently used risk scores in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: Three hundred and seventeen patients with NSTE-ACS were included.

Relationship Between Mean Platelet Volume and Pulmonary Embolism in Patients With Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been demonstrated to be associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, its role in the prediction of pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a major complication of DVT, is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the association of MPV values with acute PE in patients with DVT.

Serum neutrophıl gelatınase-assocıated lıpocalın levels in patients with non-dipper hypertension.

Purpose: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein belonging to the lipocalin superfamily and plays a role in atherosclerosis, renal injury and inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate serum NGAL concentrations in groups of patients with dipper and non-dipper hypertension (HT) and to characterize the relationship between NGAL concentration and circadian blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Methods: A total of 41 (22 male, 19 female, mean age: 56.

Increased Mean Platelet Volume in Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder of lipoprotein metabolism and increases the risk of premature cardiovascular diseases. In patients with FH, platelet function may be activated; however, the extent of this activation and its etiology are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker of platelet activation, in patients with FH.

Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels and aortic stiffness in noncritical coronary artery disease.

Aim: The aim of this study was to establish the degree of aortic stiffness and levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in patients with stable ischemic heart disease.

Materials And Methods: Patients who were found to have stable, noncritical lesions on coronary angiography were included in the study [noncritical coronary artery disease (CAD)]. The control group consisted of those patients who had similar risk profiles and metabolic parameters without atherosclerosis on angiography.