Ecchymosis and Coldness in Peripheral Varicose Vein Patients: Observations From VEIN-TURKEY Study.

The purpose of this subgroup analysis is to investigate and analyze the venous leg symptoms including sense of coldness and sign of ecchymosis in patients with or without peripheral varicose veins (PVVs) from VEIN-TURKEY study population. A total of 600 patients, who were enrolled to VEIN-TURKEY study recently, were included in this subgroup analysis. Patients were examined clinically for the presence and severity of PVV and varicocele.

Venous leg symptoms in patients with varicocele: A multicenter assessment study (VEIN-TURKEY study).

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate chronic venous disease symptoms by using the Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study-Quality of Life/Symptoms (VEINES-QoL/Sym) questionnaire in varicocele patients.

Material And Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, case controlled study and conducted in four hospitals from Turkey. A total of 600 patients who admitted to urology outpatient clinic were enrolled to the study.

Bleeding complications during cardiac electronic device implantation in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy: is there any value of local tranexamic acid?

Background: The perioperative use of antithrombotic therapy is associated with increased bleeding risk after cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation. Topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) is effective in reducing bleeding complications after various surgical operations. However, there is no information regarding local TXA application during CIED procedures.

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.

Central diastolic blood pressure is associated with the degree of coronary collateral development.

Coronary collaterals (CCs) serve as alternative conduits for blood flow in obstructive coronary artery disease. We investigated the association of various components of blood pressure (BP) parameters with the the degree of coronary collateralization. Patients (n = 245) who underwent coronary angiography were included.

Determinants of coronary collateral circulation in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objective: This study aims to identify possible determinants of coronary collaterals in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Methods: The current study has a retrospective cohort design. Seventy four patients with ≥90% stenosis or total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) were enrolled; coronary collateral grades, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, protein C and S, lipids, uric acid levels and medications applied before coronary angiography were noted and compared.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased mean platelet volume in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Platelet abnormalities in diabetes mellitus (DM) and atrial fibrillation (AF) may underline the etiology of a prothrombotic state in these conditions. Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of abnormal platelet function and activation. We aimed to investigate the possible association of chronic AF with MPV in patients who have type 2 DM.

Effect of levosimendan in patients with severe systolic heart failure and worsening renal function.

Background: Levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, increases the sensitivity of the heart to calcium, thus increasing myocardial contractility without a rise in intracellular calcium. It was recently shown that levosimendan is beneficial in improving renal function. However, it remains to be established that the beneficial effect is differentially related to renal status during index event.

The product of eGFR and hemoglobin may help predict mortality in systolic heart failure patients without severe anemia and renal failure.

Objectives: Cardiorenal anemia syndrome is defined in patients with heart failure (HF). Although individual influences of renal impairment and anemia were shown previously, complex interaction between the kidney, bone marrow, and the heart renders decision making relatively inefficient in patients with milder forms of these diseases. We aimed to investigate whether product of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hemoglobin (Hb) predicts outcomes in patients with HF.

Increased γ-glutamyl transferase levels predict early mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Increased γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level is associated with increased oxidative stress, all-cause mortality, the development of cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. However, its role in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between GGT and early mortality in patients with acute PE.

Contrast-induced nephropathy: controlled study by differential GFR measurement in hospitalized patients.

Background: Without appropriate control measures, contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) incidence has been claimed to be overestimated.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship and the difference between differential serum creatinine (DsCr), which is currently surrogating as a marker of CIN, and measured differential GFR values as a control measure (DGFR) in hospitalized patients.

Material And Methods: GFR was measured two times by Tc-99m DTPA, before and 48 h after contrast media (CM), along with sCr and BUN in 35 inpatients (22 men, 13 women, mean age ± SD = 61 ± 14) with no known chronic kidney disease.

The relationship between D-dimer level and the development of atrial fibrillation in patients with systolic heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common and leading cause of death worldwide. Clinical trials provide evidence that the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a marker of poor prognosis in patients with HF. Furthermore, elevated D-dimer level is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality independent of AF in HF patients.

Relationship between red cell distribution width and right ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressively debilitating disease limiting patients' survival. The prognosis of COPD worsens with the addition of right ventricular (RV) failure. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of variability in the size of circulating erythrocytes, and is a powerful predictor of outcomes in patients with both chronic and acute left heart failure.

The relationship between mean pulmonary artery pressure and quality of life in patients with mitral stenosis.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate echocardiography-guided hemodynamic determinants of quality of life (QoL) via the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire in patients with mild to moderate mitral stenosis (MS).

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with rheumatic MS, who were admitted to the outpatient department, were enrolled into the study upon obtaining informed consent. Forty age-sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled as a control group.

Usefulness of admission red cell distribution width as a predictor of early mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is strongly associated with prognosis in cardiopulmonary disorders such as coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, acute and chronic heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension. However, its prognostic significance in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between admission RDW and early mortality in patients with acute PE.

Increased d-dimer levels predict cardiovascular mortality in patients with systolic heart failure.

D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product, and is implicated in pathologies of cardiovascular system. Thrombosis within the vascular system in relation with inflammation and stasis might be associated with poor prognosis in patients with systolic heart failure (HF). In this study we aimed to investigate for relationship between d-dimer levels and cardiovascular mortality in patients with systolic HF.

Cardiac findings in children with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) involves the multi-organ systems. The involvement of the heart in adult patients has been described previously. We investigated the electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings of pediatric patients with CCHF.

[Ventricular tachycardia caused by a left ventricular aneurysm in a patient with previous surgery for ventricular septal defect].

Ventricular mural aneurysms especially in the left ventricle represent an increased risk for life-threatening arrhythmias. We present a case of ventricular tachycardia originating from an inferobasal left ventricular aneurysm. A 25-year-old male patient presented with complaints of palpitation, breathlessness, and dizziness of two-hour onset.

Role of CA-125 in identification of right ventricular failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating disease. Cor pulmonale, characterized by right ventricular (RV) failure, can severely influence prognosis in these patients. Hence, early recognition might be important for tailoring therapy.