Methylprednisolone Concentrations in Breast Milk and Serum of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Treated with IV Pulse Methylprednisolone.

Background: It is commonly known that women with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased risk for relapses during the post-partum period. High-dose IV methylprednisolone is the first-line treatment for acute relapses. Methylprednisolone is administered to lactating women although there is insufficient data as to the levels of concentration in breast milk and serum, and the calculated steroid exposure to infants.

Internal urethrotomy versus plasmakinetic energy for surgical treatment of urethral stricture.

Purpose: we aimed to compare the longterm outcome of surgical treatment of urethral stricture with the internal urethrotomy and plasmakinetic energy.

Material And Methods: 60 patients, who have been operated due to urethral stricture were enrolled in our clinic. None of the patients had a medical history of urethral stricture.

A giant dissecting aneurysm of ascending aorta following aortic valve replacement.

Ascending aortic dissection and aneurysm are rare but life-threatening complications after aortic valve replacement. Preoperative evaluation of risk factors such as aortic diameter, structural features of aortic wall, and associated diseases may decrease complication rate. We herein present analysis of risk factors of proximal aortic events following aortic valve replacement based on patient with giant dissecting aneurysm who underwent modified Bentall procedure.

[Assessment of coronary artery calcium scoring].

Objectives: Calcium accumulation in the coronary arteries is a known indicator of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of patients' demographic characteristics on calcium scoring and the topographic accumulation of calcium in the coronary arteries.

Study Design: Two-hundred ninety-nine patients were included in the study (192 male, 107 female; mean age 59.

First diagonal coronary artery: left ventricular fistula presenting as unstable angina.

Coronary artery fistulae are characterized by communications between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or another vascular structure. They are usually congenital, but acquired forms may occur. Most patients are usually asymptomatic.

Clinical spectrum, presentation, and risk factors for mortality in infective endocarditis: a review of 68 cases at a tertiary care center in Turkey.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate clinical, laboratory, microbiological, and echocardiographic characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) at a tertiary care center in Turkey and to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Study Design: Based on a systematic retrospective review of clinical records covering 1997 to 2007, we analyzed data and outcomes of 68 patients (40 males, 28 females; mean age 51+/-20 years) with definite or possible IE according to the modified Duke criteria.

Results: Native valve endocarditis (NVE) was seen in 28 patients (41.

Common variants in the ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 gene with decreased HDL-cholesterol levels and coronary artery disease.

Background: Our aim was to determine whether the common variants within the coding sequence of ABCA1 gene affects low plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in Turkish patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The study group was composed of 552 CAD patients, of which 251 had HDL-C levels < or =40 mg/dL, and 301 had HDL-C levels >40 mg/dL.

Methods: PCR-RFLP was used to determine the A2589G and G3456C DNA polymorphisms of the ABCA1 gene.

The relation between coronary flow rate, plasma endothelin-1 concentrations, and clinical characteristics in patients with normal coronary arteries.

Background: Coronary slow flow (CSF) is characterized by delayed opacification of epicardial arteries in the absence of occlusive disease. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relation between coronary flow rate, plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations, and clinical characteristics in patients with normal coronary arteries.

Methods: The study population included 77 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries who underwent coronary angiography on suspicion of ischemic heart disease due to typical chest pain or ischemic findings on treadmill exercise test or myocardial scintigraphy.

Combined periprostatic and intraprostatic local anesthesia for prostate biopsy: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial.

Purpose: Transrectal ultrasonography guided prostate biopsy is the principle procedure in the histological diagnosis of prostate cancer. Recently a trend toward increasing the number of cores has been popularized. This practice further increases the need for a proper anesthetic application.

Impact of anemia on nonfatal coronary events after percutaneous coronary interventions.

Anemia is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Although studies have focused on fatal coronary events in anemic patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), data is lacking regarding nonfatal coronary events. The aim of our study was to analyze the incidence of anemia in patients who developed nonfatal events after successful PCI, and to make a comparison with event-free patients.