Presence of fragmented QRS is associated with increased epicardial adipose tissue thickness in hypertensive patients.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a cardiometabolic risk factor, and its possible relationship with hypertension has been reported previously. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) detected on electrocardiography (ECG) has been demonstrated to be a marker of myocardial fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the thickness of EAT, and presence of fQRS in hypertensive patients.

Comparison of Changes in Anxiety and Depression Level Between Dabigatran and Warfarin Use in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

We hypothesized that patients taking warfarin require frequent hospital follow-up and they are at higher risk for complications, so the incidence of depression and anxiety is higher in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the period of taking warfarin compared to the period of taking dabigatran. Fifty patients having AF without valvular diseases under treatment of warfarin in whom a transition to dabigatran was planned were consecutively enrolled in this study and followed up prospectively between July 2013 and July 2014. All patients completed Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) at the initiation of study and 6 months after initiation of study.

Relationship Between Tei Index and PEP-Derived Myocardial Performance Index in Sinus Rhythm.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the preejection time (PEP)-derived myocardial performance index (MPI) in hypertensive (HT) patients with sinus rhythm and its relationship to the classic Tei index. One hundred five patients were enrolled in the study (65 HT and 40 control subjects). The mean age of all patients was 50.

High levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and uric acid can predict disease severity in patients with mitral regurgitation.

Introduction: Both high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and uric acid (UA) levels are known to be increased in heart failure patients and are associated with poorer functional capacity and adverse outcome. The role of these markers in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) is less clear. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between hs-CRP, UA and organic MR.

Detection of left ventricular asynchrony and its relationship with the Tei index in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

Objective: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic asynchrony and its relationship with the Tei index using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI); and to evaluate the relationship of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC) and Tei index with LV asynchrony in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE).

Methods: A total of 50 CAE patients and 40 control subjects were evaluated. Diagnosis of CAE was made angiographically and TFC was calculated.

The relationship between acute coronary syndrome and sildenafil.

Sildenafil is a drug used for male erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil's fatal cardiac effects except due to hypotension with simultaneous nitrate use have not been reported.We reported in this case a 70-year-old man admitted to the emergency service with chest pain, which occurs in an hour after sildenafil use.

Elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure in patients with mild-to-moderate mitral stenosis: a useful predictor of worsening renal functions?

Objective: Renal dysfunction commonly accompanies the course of cardiac disorders and strongly associates with increased morbidity and mortality. Elevated central venous pressure is related to worsening renal function in patients with heart failure. However, predictors of worsening renal function in mitral stenosis-whose pathophysiologic process is similar to heart failure with regard to right heart dysfunction-are unknown.

Heart rate recovery index in patients with psoriasis.

Objectives: In clinical practice, autonomic functions are indirectly investigated with heart rate recovery (HRR) index measurements. Our aim was to evaluate the HRR index in patients with psoriasis, which is a systemic inflammatory disease.

Study Design: The study population included 39 psoriasis patients (18 female, mean age 48±15 years) and 40 control group (18 female, mean age 44±9 years) healthy individuals.

Usefulness of admission matrix metalloproteinase 9 as a predictor of early mortality after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cardiac arrest patients.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have a central role in disease progression after ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, its prognostic significance in cardiac arrest (CA) patients having cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between admission MMP-9 level and early mortality in CA patients.

Relation between indices of end-organ damage and mean platelet volume in hypertensive patients.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recognized as an independent risk factor of hypertension. Hypertensive end-organ damage worsens the prognosis in hypertensive patients. We aimed to investigate the relationship between MPV levels and subclinical end-organ damage in hypertensive patients.

Impact of body mass index on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the developed and developing world. It is an independent risk factor for heart failure. Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been demonstrated to be a strong predictor of heart failure.

The relationship between mean platelet volume with metabolic syndrome in obese individuals.

The metabolic syndrome is closely associated with atherosclerotic risk factors and increased mortality. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation which also shows a close relationship with cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlates of metabolic syndrome, its components and MPV adjusted for obesity in a large population study.