Elevated levels of vitamin B12 in chronic stable heart failure: a marker for subclinical liver damage and impaired prognosis.

Background: Elevated vitamin B12 is a sign for liver damage, but its significance in chronic stable heart failure (HF) is less known. The present study investigated the clinical correlates and prognostic significance of vitamin B12 levels in stable systolic HF.

Methods: A total of 129 consecutive patients with HF and 50 control subjects were enrolled.

A simple discharge risk model for predicting 1-year mortality in hospitalised acute decompansated heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Objective: The risk stratification for prognosis in heart failure is very important for optimal disease management and decision making. The aim of this study was to establish a simple discharge 1-year mortality prediction model by integrating data obtained from demographic characteristics, clinical evaluation, laboratory biomarkers and echocardiographic evaluation of hospitalised heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients with acute decompensation.

Methods And Results: A risk score model was developed based on β-coefficient number of variables in a multivariable logistic regression model which was created with the use of data on clinical, laboratory, imaging and therapeutic findings of 670 patients (65.

Predictors of Long-Term Mortality and Frequent Re-Hospitalization in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Kidney Dysfunction Treated with Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers.

BACKGROUND Assessment of risk for all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization is an important task during discharge of acute heart failure (AHF) patients, as they warrant different management strategies. Treatment with optimal medical therapy may change predictors for these 2 end-points in AHF patients with renal dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors for long-term outcome in AHF patients with kidney dysfunction who were discharged on optimal medical therapy.

Effect of Oral Nitrates on All-Cause Mortality and Hospitalization in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Background: Hydralazine-nitrate combination is recommended for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)/systolic heart failure who are symptomatic despite guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Use of nitrates alone for this indication is not well-established. This study aims to evaluate the effect of oral nitrates on all-cause mortality and hospitalization in HFrEF patients using GDMT.

Post-discharge heart failure monitoring program in Turkey: Hit-PoinT.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and feasibility of an enhanced heart failure (HF) education with a 6-month telephone follow- up program in post-discharge ambulatory HF patients.

Methods: The Hit-Point trial was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of enhanced HF education with a 6-month telephone follow-up program (EHFP) vs routine care (RC) in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction. A total of 248 patients from 10 centers in various geographical areas were randomized: 125 to EHFP and 123 to RC.

Discharge risk scoring method for predicting mortality in hospitalized chronic heart failure patients with severe systolic dysfunction.

Objective: Prognostic risk stratification in heart failure is crucial to guide clinical decision-making.The aim of our study was to develop a prognostic discharge risk score model to predict all-cause mortality for chronic heart failure patients with multiple co-morbidities and severe systolic dysfunction.

Methods And Results: A multivariable logistic regression model was developed with the use of data on clinical, laboratory, imaging and therapeutic findings of 630 patients with advanced systolic heart failure.

Major depressive disorder in chronic heart failure patients: Does silent cerebral infarction cause major depressive disorder in this patient population?

Objective: Depression frequently occurs in patients with heart failure as similar pathophysiological mechanisms present in both these diseases. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have a high incidence of clinically asymptomatic silent cerebral infarction (SCI). This study aimed to evaluate the relation between SCI and major depressive disorder (MDD), and between MDD and clinical and biochemical parameters in DCM patients.

Could decreased vitamin D levels be related with impaired cardiac autonomic functions in patients with chronic heart failure: an observational study.

Objective: Vitamin D status has been implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vitamin D levels with heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence in patients with heart failure whom had ischemic and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Study designed as an observational cross-sectional study.

Low radioiodine uptake in congestive heart failure.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare the radioiodine uptake (RAIU) of congestive heart failure (CHF) patients with that of a control group and investigate the prognostic value. We also assessed correlations of RAIU with other clinical parameters.

Methods: A total of 32 CHF patients and 14 controls were included in this study.

Low serum triglyceride levels as predictors of cardiac death in heart failure patients.

Understanding the influence of sex differences on predictors of cardiac mortality rates in chronic heart failure might enable us to lengthen lifetimes and to improve lives. This study describes the influence of sex on cardiovascular mortality rates among chronic heart failure patients. From January 2003 through December 2009, we evaluated 637 consecutive patients (409 men and 228 women) with chronic heart failure, who ranged in age from 18 through 94 years (mean age, 64 ± 13 yr) and ranged in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class from II through IV.

Treatment with enhanced external counterpulsation improves cognitive functions in chronic heart failure patients.

Objectives: Chronic heart failure (CHF) has been associated with an increased risk of poorer cognitive performance in older adults. Reversibility of cognitive impairment after medical treatment has been reported, although the restorative effects of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on cognitive performance have not been studied. We investigated the effect of EECP on cognitive functions in CHF patients.

[The value of serum homocysteine in predicting one-year survival in patients with severe systolic heart failure].

Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates. Thus, the importance of survival predictors in directing the treatment of HF is gradually increasing. In some recently published studies, plasma homocysteine has been presented as a newly recognized risk factor for development of HF.

Number of leads with fragmented QRS predicts response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective option in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF) and wide QRS. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) on 12-lead electrocardiography has been shown to predict cardiac events in several patient populations. However, the relationship between the number of leads with fQRS and response to CRT has not been investigated.

Respiratory changes in the E/A wave pattern can be an early sign of diastolic dysfunction: an echocardiographic long-term follow-up study.

Background: The left ventricular filling pattern may show changes during respiration, which are generally used in the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction. The clinical importance of the respiratory E/A wave pattern change has been investigated in a limited number of studies. The aim of the present study was to assess the diastolic function of hypertensive patients with respiratory changes in mitral flow over a long-term follow-up period.

Relationship between endothelial functions and acetylsalicylic acid resistance in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

Background: We aimed to investigate the effects and dose dependency of aspirin on endothelial functions and prevalence of aspirin resistance in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without previous drug therapy and development of cardiac complications.

Hypothesis: Acetylsalicyclic acid improves endothelial function.

Methods: Fifty-eight hypertensive patients and 61 healthy subjects in the control group were included in the study.

Renal function has an effect on cardiovascular mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major and growing public health problem resulting from the cardiac damage caused by a variety of disease processes. CHF has many comorbid conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some of the chronic conditions may have an effect on cardiac mortality in CHF patients.

Reduced heart rate response to dipyridamole in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Objective: A mild decrease in blood pressure and increase in heart rate (HR) are considered normal hemodynamic responses to dipyridamole. In this study, we tried to investigate HR response to dipyridamole and its predictors in patients undergoing gated myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Methods: 201 consecutive patients undergoing dipyridamole stress Tc99m-MIBI or Tl-201 gated myocardial perfusion SPECT were prospectively enrolled.

Association between red blood cell distribution width and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) predicts adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of RDW on response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: Sixty-six consecutive patients (mean age, 57 ± 13 years; 42 men) undergoing CRT were included in the study.

Comparative analysis of apoptotic resistance of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human bone marrow and adipose tissue.

Aim: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from human bone marrow (hBM) and adipose tissue (hAT) are perceived as attractive sources of stem cells for cell therapy. The aim of this study was to compare MSCs from hBM and hAT for their immunocytochemistry staining and resistance to in vitro apoptosis.

Methods: In our study, we investigated the antiapoptotic ability of these MSCs toward oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and serum deprivation.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients.

Essential hypertension is characterized by a left ventricular dysfunction. However, the majority of the studies performed so far investigated patients under drug treatment and/or with concomitant diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome or coronary heart disease, which per se may affect diastolic function independently on the blood pressure elevation. The present study aimed at investigating left ventricular diastolic function in untreated, uncomplicated and newly diagnosed hypertensive patients by employing both routine echo-Doppler and pulse tissue-Doppler technique.

Clinical effects of enhanced external counterpulsation treatment in patients with ischemic heart failure.

Objective: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive treatment that is proven safe and effective in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF). The aims of this study are to investigate the clinical effects of EECP therapy in patients with symptomatic CAD and chronic HF, and to find out an answer to the question: Does EECP therapy have any effect on the prognostic markers of HF?

Methods: This study was designed as a prospective cohort study. A total of 68 consecutive patients with symptomatic CAD and chronic HF referred to EECP therapy were enrolled in this study between November 2007 and December 2010; 47 patients (39 males and 8 females, 65 ± 7, years), have undergone EECP treatment, and 21 patients (20 males and 1 female, 62 ± 10 years), who did not want to participate in the EECP program comprised the control group.

A Turkish perspective on coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary artery intervention in chronic heart failure patients.

The impact of coronary revascularization methods (coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery and stent implantation) on clinical outcome has not been determined yet in patients with systolic heart failure (SHF). We examined outcomes in patients discharged from our hospital after hospitalization for decompensated SHF. Of 637 patients with SHF (mean age, 64 ± 13 years; mean ejection fraction, 26.

An observational study to evaluate factors responsible and actions taken for hypertensive patients who are not at blood pressure goal: i-target Goal Study.

To evaluate the percentage of hypertensive patients who could achieve target blood pressure (TBP) according to the guidelines in the context of recommended measures and the factors responsible for failure. A total of 589 hypertensive patients (59.0% female; mean age: 57.

Relation of hs-CRP and BNP levels with the atrial spontaneous echo contrast and thrombi in permanent atrial fibrillation patients with different etiologies.

Background: Thromboembolic risk in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is strongly associated with the underlying etiology, and inflammatory parameters may contribute. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of hs-CRP and BNP levels with left and right atrial appendage (LAA and RAA) function, presence of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and thrombus.

Material/methods: Eighty-four permanent AF patients with different etiologies (20 mitral stenosis, 44 hypertension and 20 hyperthyroidism) and 23 patients with sinus rhythm were included.