Can the development of atrial fibrillation in patients with ischemic heart failure with low ejection fraction be predicted?

Objective: Our aim is to determine the triggering factors of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in ischemic heart failure (HF) patients with low ejection fraction (EF).

Methods: Sixty patients were included in this study. Echocardiography and 24-hours Holter monitoring were performed after measurement of serum NT-pro BNP concentration.

APJ receptor A445C gene polymorphism in Turkish patients with coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. Apelin is a novel endogenous peptide with inotropic and vasodilatory properties and is the ligand for the angiotensin receptor-like 1 (APJ) receptor. We aimed to determine genotype and allele frequencies of APJ receptor A445C gene polymorphism in Turkish patients with CAD and healthy controls by RFLP-PCR.

Serum neurokinin B levels in newly diagnosed nondipper hypertensive patients.

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are more common in patients with nondipper hypertension (NDHT) compared with those with dipper hypertension (DHT). The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum neurokinin B levels in DHT and NDHT patients.

Methods: The study population included newly diagnosed hypertensive patients who were not under antihypertensive treatment.

Characterization of the apelin -1860T>C polymorphism in Turkish coronary artery disease patients and healthy individuals.

To evaluate the association between the apelin -1860T>C polymorphism and plasma apelin levels in Turkish patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 276 individuals were enrolled in the present study, including 158 patients with CAD and 118 individuals without CAD as controls. The presence of the apelin -1860T>C gene polymorphism and plasma apelin levels were determined using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.