Epicardial fat thickness is associated with aortic intima-media thickness in patients without clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Background: Although the relationship between epicardial fat thickness (EFTh) and coronary atherosclerosis is well established, this relation in the early periods of atherosclerosis has not been fully demonstrated. On the other hand, thoracic aortic intima-media thickness (IMT) rather than carotid IMT was reported as an earlier marker of preclinical atherosclerosis.

Objective: We aimed to assess the relationship between thoracic aortic IMT and EFTh in patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination for different indications.

Morning blood pressure surge and arterial stiffness in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the morning blood pressure (BP) surge and arterial stiffness in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension.

Subjects And Methods: Three hundred and twenty four (mean age 51.7 ± 11.

Assessment of myocardial performance index and its association with aortic elasticity in patients with ascending aortic aneurysm.

Objective: Ascending aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, their effects on global cardiac functions are yet to be fully understood. Myocardial performance index (MPI) has been widely used to quantitatively assess myocardial functions.

Modified flower petal technique in the treatment of Medina type 0,0,1 or 0,1,0 lesions.

Aims: The optimal strategy for patients with isolated ostial bifurcation lesions has not yet been determined. We propose the modified flower petal technique for the treatment of Medina type 0,0,1 or 0,1,0 coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods And Results: We selected 64 patients who had Medina type 0,0,1 or 0,1,0 coronary bifurcation lesions.

Both Systemic and Pulmonary Artery Stiffness Predict Ventricular Functional Recovery after Successful Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defects in Adults.

Background: Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) has become the preferred method in treatment of the majority of cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the echocardiographic effects of percutaneous closure of secundum ASD in adults and assess which parameters predict good response to closure.

Design: We prospectively included 42 patients with secundum ASD treated successfully with percutaneous device closure.

Coronary flow velocity reserve in donor artery and myocardial performance index after successful recanalization of chronic total coronary occlusions.

Background: Percutaneous recanalization of chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO) tends to show a positive effect on left ventricular remodeling and ejection fraction (LVEF). Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) is an important diagnostic index of the functional capacity of coronary arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by non-invasive CFVR, whether the blood flow of donor artery reverts to normal after CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Left ventricle geometry affects coronary flow reserve in diabetic patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between coronary flow reserve (CFR) and left ventricle (LV) geometric patterns in patients with newly-diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM).

Study Design: We studied 116 patients with newly-diagnosed DM and 31 healthy control subjects. Echocardiographic examination was performed on all subjects.

Relationship between extent and complexity of coronary artery disease and different left ventricular geometric patterns in patients with coronary artery disease and hypertension.

Objective: The relationship between severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricler (LV) hypertrophy in hypertensive patients is well known. However, the association between the extent and complexity of CAD assessed with SYNTAX score (SS) and different LV geometric patterns has not been investigated. We aimed to investigate the association between SYNTAX score and different LV geometric patterns in hypertensive patients.

Mean platelet volume is associated with aortic intima-media thickness in patients without clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Objective: Mean platelet volume (MPV) plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease. Thoracic aortic intima-media thickness (IMT) was reported as an earlier marker of preclinical atherosclerosis than carotid IMT. However, the relationship between MPV and aortic IMT was not investigated.

Lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is associated with impaired myocardial performance and left ventricle hypertrophy in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. The relationship between vitamin D level and left ventricle (LV) myocardial performance index (MPI=Tei index), which incorporates both LV systolic function and diastolic function, was not investigated in previous studies. We hypothesized that vitamin D level may be associated with LV function and geometry.

Impaired kidney function is associated with SYNTAX score in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The strong relationship between severe renal dysfunction and coronary artery disease (CAD) is well-known. However, the association between kidney function with SYNTAX Score (SS) has not been investigated in patients with stable CAD with normal to mildly impaired renal function. We aimed to investigate the association between kidney function with SS.

Coronary flow velocity reserve in patients with ascending aorta aneurysm.

Background: Ascending aorta aneurysms (AAA) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Impairment in coronary flow may contribute to cardiovascular consequences in AAA patients. Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) has been considered an important diagnostic index of the functional capacity of coronary arteries noninvasively.

Gamma glutamyl transferase activity is independently associated with oxidative stress rather than SYNTAX score.

Background: Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) is involved in the pathophysiologic process of coronary atherosclerosis. GGT activity plays a role in the catabolism of glutathione which is known as one of the major antioxidants. However, there is a lack of research on direct examination of relevance between serum GGT activity with systemic oxidative stress.

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Aortic Intima-Media Thickness in Patients Without Clinical Manifestation of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

Objectives: Existing evidence suggests that impaired vitamin D metabolism contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Aortic intima-media thickness (IMT) is an earlier marker than carotid IMT of preclinical atherosclerosis. However, there is a lack of researches on direct investigation of relevance between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and thoracic aortic IMT.

The association between aortic distensibility and coronary flow reserve in newly diagnosed diabetic patients.

Introduction: Aortic distensibility (AD) is an important parameter affecting coronary hemodynamics. Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) is a reliable marker of coronary endothelial function in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between AD and CFVR in newly diagnosed diabetic patients.

Evaluation of left ventricle functions by tissue Doppler, strain, and strain rate echocardiography in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are increased in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We aimed to evaluate left ventricle systolic and diastolic functions with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and strain and strain rate echocardiography in patients with PHPT. Thirty-one patients with PHPT and 29 healthy controls were evaluated with conventional and pulse Doppler echocardiography, TDI and strain and strain rate echocardiography.

Automated functional imaging in atrioventricular delay time optimisation in patients with dual chamber pacemakers.

Background: Optimisation of atrioventricular (AV) delay time has positive effects on left ventricular (LV) functions in patients with a DDD pacemaker. However, the method used for optimisation is still debated.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of different AV delay times on various LV systolic performances by using automated functional imaging (AFI) in patients with a DDD pacemaker and preserved LV systolic function.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and extent and complexity of coronary artery disease.

Background: There are limited number of studies about relationship between serum vitamin D level and presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). We assessed the relationship between the extent and complexity of CAD assessed by SYNTAX score and 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in patients with stable CAD.

Methods: In the study, 209 consecutive patients with stable CAD (age: 63.

Serum bilirubin level and aortic intima-media thickness in patients without clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

We investigated the association between serum bilirubin level and thoracic aortic intima-media thickness (IMT). The study population consisted of 417 patients without coronary artery disease, who underwent transesophageal echocardiography examination for various indications. The highest aortic IMT values were observed in the bilirubinlow group compared with the bilirubinhigh group (P < .

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with both arterial and ventricular stiffness in healthy subjects.

Background: Vitamin D regulates the renin-angiotensin system, suppresses proliferation of vascular smooth muscle and improves endothelial cell dependent vasodilatation. These mechanisms may play a role on pathogenesis of arterial and left ventricular stiffness.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with arterial and left ventricular stiffness in healthy subjects.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is associated with arterial stiffness, left ventricle hypertrophy, and inflammation in newly diagnosed hypertension.

Objectives: Vitamin D may modulate vascular inflammation, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, the renin-angiotensin system, and cardiomyocyte proliferation, myocardial fibrosis, and proliferation. These mechanisms may play a role on arterial stiffness and left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive patients. We aimed to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D with arterial stiffness and LVH in patients with hypertension.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is associated with aortic distensibility and left ventricle hypertrophy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

We aimed to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D status and elastic properties of aorta in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We studied 136 patients with newly diagnosed DM (mean age: 62.9 ± 10.