Serum levels of trace minerals and heavy metals in severe COPD patients with and without pulmonary hypertension.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to assess the serum levels of trace minerals/heavy metals in COPD patients with and without pulmonary hypertension (PH) and to investigate their correlations to demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Van Yuzuncu Yil University Medical Faculty between April 2013 and July 2013. Cases were allocated into three groups: Group 1 consisted of severe COPD patients; Group 2 was made up of COPD patients with PH; and healthy controls constituted Group 3.

The relation of platelet-lymphocyte ratio and coronary collateral circulation in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Recently, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has emerged as a significant inflammatory marker and a novel predictor of major adverse consequences in cardiovascular disease.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between PLR and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Material And Methods: Clinical and laboratory data of 386 patients who underwent coronary angiography were evaluated retrospectively.

Sleep Apnea in Patients with Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: It was hypothesized that sleep disorders might be present due to functional heart failure in patients with mitral stenosis (MS), and might be accompanied by obstructive-type sleep disorders. To examine this hypothesis, non-smoker and non-obese patients with rheumatic MS and without concomitant diseases were investigated for sleep disorders.

Methods: Patients admitted to the cardiology outpatient clinic at the authors' institution for rheumatic MS during a one-year period were included in the study.

The effect of low-sodium dialysate on ambulatory blood pressure measurement parameters in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Background: End stage renal disease is related to increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disorder among hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-sodium dialysate on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels detected by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) in patients undergoing sustained HD treatment.

A Novel Echocardiographic Method for Assessing Arterial Stiffness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with increased arterial stiffness and cardiovascular complications. The objective of this study was to assess whether the color M-mode-derived propagation velocity of the descending thoracic aorta (aortic velocity propagation, AVP) was an echocardiographic marker for arterial stiffness in OSAS.

Subjects And Methods: The study population included 116 patients with OSAS and 90 age and gender-matched control subjects.

Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio May Predict the Severity of Calcific Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is an emerging inflammatory indicator which is closely associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between PLR and the severity of calcific aortic stenosis (AS).

Material And Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective study.

Oxidative stress parameters and their correlation with clinical, metabolic and polysomnographic parameters in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of oxidative stress markers, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in severe OSAS and to investigate any correlation between oxidative stress markers and clinical, metabolic and polysomnographic parameters. A total of 30 patients with severe OSAS and 30 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional, clinical study. Demographic data, polysomnographic, biochemical and clinical indices as well as serum levels of CAT, MDA and GPX were measured and compared in OSAS and control groups.

Acute vasoreactivity test results in severe pulmonary hypertension patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: our experience with 29 cases.

Aim: The aim of the current study is to evaluate acute vasoreactivity test (AVT) results in severe pulmonary hypertension patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to compare the demographical, clinical, and laboratory variables in positive and negative cases.

Methods: This retrospective, clinical study was performed on 29 cases in the departments of cardiology and chest diseases of our tertiary care center. AVT was positive in 12 (41.

An overlooked cause of resistant hypertension: upper airway resistance syndrome - preliminary results.

Objective: Upper airway resistance syndrome is a sleep-disordered breathing syndrome that is characterized by repetitive arousals resulting in sympathetic overactivity. We aimed to determine whether upper airway resistance syndrome was associated with poorly controlled hypertension.

Methods: A total of 40 patients with resistant hypertension were enrolled in the study.

Serum levels of trace minerals and heavy metals in severe obstructive sleep apnea patients: correlates and clinical implications.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of trace minerals and heavy metals in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients and to investigate whether there is a correlation between levels of trace minerals and demographic and biochemical variables.

Methods: This clinical, case-control study was performed on 61 OSA patients and 36 healthy controls. Demographic, radiological, biochemical variables, as well as serum levels of trace minerals (magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium) were compared in OSA and control groups.

Giant dumbbell-shaped schwannoma but not transforaminal: transdiaphragmatic.

A 31-year-old man reported a 3-month history of right upper abdominal pain and effort dyspnoea. The laboratory data demonstrated no abnormality. On abdominal ultrasound, a gross solid lesion with smooth borders was seen behind the liver.

Isovolumic contraction acceleration before and after percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects.

Aim: To compare systemic right ventricular function by isovolumic myocardial acceleration before and 6 months after the percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD).

Material And Methods: Patients admitted to our tertiary center for the percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects between January 2010 and August 2012 constituted the study group. Right ventricular function of patients was assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography before and after surgery.

Evaluation of airway wall thickness via high-resolution computed tomography in mild intermittent asthma.

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate bronchial thickness via thorax high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in subjects with mild intermittent asthma in comparison with healthy control subjects.

Methods: A total of 37 out-patients (mean ± SD age = 36.7 years (9.

Increased QT dispersion and P wave dispersion in major depressive disorder.

Background: QT and P wave dispersion parameters can indicate abnormalities in autonomic nervous system and cardiac functioning.

Objectives: To determine QT and P wave dispersion in patients with major depressive disorder compared with healthy volunteers.

Methods: Fifty newly diagnosed patients with major depressive disorder and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers underwent 12-lead electrocardiography.

A Behcet's Disease Patient with Right Ventricular Thrombus, Pulmonary Artery Aneurysms, and Deep Vein Thrombosis Complicating Recurrent Pulmonary Thromboembolism.

Intracardiac thrombus, pulmonary artery aneurysms, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism are rarely seen symptoms of Behcet's disease. A 20-year-old female patient was admitted for complaints of cough, fever, palpitations, and chest pain. On the dynamic thorax computed tomograms (CT) obtained because of significantly enlarged hilar structures seen on chest radiograms, aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary artery segments bilaterally, chronic thrombus with collapse, and consolidation substances compatible with pulmonary embolism involving both lower lobes have been observed.

Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome with an anomalous origin of coronary artery: Case report.

Swyer-James (Macleod) syndrome was first defined in the 1950s by Swyer, James and Macleod in patients with unilateral hyperlucent lungs. Coronary artery anomalies are congenital anomalies that affect a small part of the population. They constitute about 1-2% of congenital heart diseases.

Assessment of corneal endothelial cell density in patients with keratoconus not using contact lenses.

Purpose: To assess the corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) in keratoconus patients with no history of contact lens use.

Setting: Yuzuncu Yil University, School of Medicine and Van Training and Research Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Van, Turkey.

Design: Cross-sectional controlled study.

Multiparity and spontaneous coronary artery dissection in the postpartum period.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a deadly cause of myocardial infarction (MI) that mainly affects otherwise healthy, young females. Forty percent of patients die suddenly or within a few hours of symptom onset. We examine the case of a young female who presented with chest pain.

[Procedural success and short- and mid-term results of percutaneous closure of persistent arterial duct with the Amplatzer Duct Occluder II].

Objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness and reliability of percutaneous closure of persistent arterial duct (PAD) with the Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO II), together with short- and mid-term results.

Study Design: The study included 16 patients (10 girls, 6 boys; median age 6 years; range 5 months to 12 years) who underwent percutaneous PAD closure with the ADO II device. The ductus diameter was less than 6 mm in all the cases.

Aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva dissecting into interventricular septum: a late complication of aortic valve replacement.

A 43-year-old man who had a Carbomedics prosthetic aortic valve replacement in 1997 was admitted to our hospital with complaints of shortness of breath and dyspnea on exertion in 2000. The patient was hospitalized due to atrioventricular (AV) complete block and a permanent pacemaker was implanted. At that time echocardiography indicated an aneurysm at the left sinus of Valsalva.