Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor for patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: Real-world experience from Turkey (ARNi-TR).

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) has emerged as a promising treatment for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Here, we shared our experience with the use of ARNi in HFrEF from multiple centers in Turkey.

The role of serum interleukin-37 levels, inflammation and blood pressure in patients with preeclampsia.

Aim: Preeclampsia is one of the major causes of perinatal, fetal, and maternal mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum interleukin 37 (IL 37) with preeclampsia.

Methods: 39 women with preeclampsia were included as the study group.

An echocardiographic predictor of contrast-induced nephropathy following percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndrome: aortic valve sclerosis.

Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is closely related to endothelial dysfunction. The association of AVS with contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is unknown. We planned to investigate the relationship of AVS besides known parameters with CIN.

Evaluation of serum apelin-13 and apelin-36 concentrations in preeclamptic pregnancies.

Aim: Recent studies suggest that apelin can be a novel potential therapeutic mediator to improve the diagnosis, and treatment of preeclampsia. This study aimed to investigate the association of serum apelin-13 and apelin-36 with preeclampsia and to detect their relationship with preeclampsia-associated perinatal morbidity.

Methods: Forty-four women with preeclampsia were included as the study group.

The relationship between total atrial conduction time and left atrial global strain in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Introduction: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic, multisystem disease that results in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) over time. In this study, our goal was to assess predictors of AF in patients with psoriasis, including total atrial conduction time (TACT) and left atrial global longitudinal strain (LAGLS).

Material And Methods: A total of 80 individuals, including 40 psoriasis patients and 40 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study.

Hair whitening and obesity are independently related to ascending aorta dilatation in young-middle aged men.

Objective: Hair whitening (HW) is strongly linked with aging. Ascending aortic dilation (AAD) and HW share common etiologic factors. We investigated the association of HW with ascending aortic diameters.

The role of serum bilirubin levels in determining venous thromboembolism.

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease that includes both deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Bilirubin is an endogenous anti-inflammatory marker associated with atherothrombosis. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association of serum bilirubin levels with the presence of VTE.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Predicts Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Independently of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference.

Background: Visceral obesity is strongly associated with atherosclerosis. Even though waist circumference (WC) is the most common assessment method of total visceral adipose tissue and cardiometabolic risk, this method lacks direct measurement of adipose tissue and has better correlation to subcutaneous fat rather than visceral fat. We intended to investigate whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is clinically superior to body mass index (BMI) and WC in predicting Framingham risk score (FRS) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

The effect of epicardial adipose tissue thickness with irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the association of epicardial adipose tissue thickness with irritable bowel syndrome.

Methods: This case-control and observational study was conducted in Recep Tayyip Erdogan University between January and December 2014, and comprised patients of irritable bowel syndrome and healthy controls who underwent a complete transthoracic echocardiographic examination as well as measurements of epicardial adipose tissue. They were screened for psychiatric or organic bowel diseases for the sake of precise diagnosis.

The Relationship between Serum Apelin Levels and the Severity of Calcific Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Apelin, an endogenous peptide, has recently gained attention due to its positive inotropic effects in heart failure physiopathology. We investigated the relationship between serum apelin levels and the severity of calcific aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: A total of 68 consecutive patients diagnosed with calcific AS and a control group of 32 subjects were included in the study.

Prolonged QRS duration on surface electrocardiogram is associated with left ventricular restrictive filling pattern.

Background: Prolonged QRS duration is associated with decreased left ventricular (LV) systolic function. However, the relation between LV restrictive filling pattern (RFP) and QRS duration has not been investigated yet. The purpose of our study was to assess this relationship.

The role of urotensin II and atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with slow coronary flow.

Background: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is an angiographic finding characterized with delayed opacification of epicardial coronary arteries without obstructive coronary disease. Urotensin II (UII) is an important vascular peptide, which has an important role in hypertension, coronary artery disease, and vascular remodeling in addition to potent vasoconstrictor effect.

Objectives: We investigated UII levels, hypertension, and other atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with SCF, a variety of coronary artery disease.

An increase in epicardial adipose tissue is strongly associated with carotid-intima media thickness and atherosclerotic plaque, but LDL only with the plaque.

Objective: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is reliable marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Until today, there was no study that investigated whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), which is a surrogate for lipid depot in a special visceral tissue or circulating lipids, is more important for CIMT and atherosclerotic plaque.

Methods: Our study, having cross-sectional and prospective observational design, included 252 patients who were admitted to our outpatient clinic.

Total Bilirubin Levels Predict Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients With Prediabetes.

Bilirubin may have important antiatherosclerotic effects. Prediabetes (PD), the intermediate stage before diabetes mellitus, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), as a surrogate marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in patients with PD.

Relation of Angiographic Thrombus Burden with Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND We planned to investigate the relationship of thrombus burden with SYNTAX score in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively enrolled 780 patients who underwent PPCI in our clinic due to STEMI. Clinical, laboratory, and demographic properties of the patients were recorded.

The relationship between epicardial adipose tissue and P wave and QT dispersions.

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) secretes various pro-inflammatory and atherogenic mediators that have several endocrine and paracrine effects on heart. This study investigated the influence of EAT on QT and P wave dispersions (QTd, PWd), as simple, non-invasive tools of proarrhythmia on surface ECG.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and included 70 patients with normal coronary arteries who underwent 12-derivation electrocardiography, echocardiography and biochemical examinations in order for QTd, PWd, and EAT thickness to be measured.

Multiple simultaneous venous and arterial thromboses in a patient with factor V Leiden disorder: Detection by multislice computed tomography.

Arterial thrombosis is extremely rare in patients with factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation. Recent advances in multislice computed tomography (MSCT) technology facilitated diagnosis of thromboembolic events accurately without delay. We report a patient with FVL mutation and acute bilateral lower extremity deep venous thromboses, pulmonary thromboembolism, and acute left anterior descending artery thrombosis, all diagnosed by MSCT.

Relationship of fragmented QRS with prognostic markers and long-term major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex is associated with increased sudden cardiac death, recurrent cardiovascular events, morbidity and mortality. However, the prognostic role of fQRS has not been comprehensively studied in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In this study, we planned to investigate the relationship of fQRS with prognostic markers and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) following isolated CABG surgery.

The relationship of plasma catestatin concentrations with metabolic and vascular parameters in untreated hypertensive patients: Influence on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Objective: Catestatin has several cardiovascular actions, in addition to diminished sympatho-adrenal flow. Decreased plasma catestatin levels may reflect a predisposition for the development of hypertension and metabolic disorders. We planned to investigate the possible roles of catestatin in untreated hypertensive patients.

Bilirubin Level is Associated with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Independent of Blood Pressure in Previously Untreated Hypertensive Patients.

Background And Objectives: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a sign of subclinical cardiovascular disease, is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to determine the association of left ventricular mass (LVM) with possible causative anthropometric and biochemical parameters as well as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) as surrogates of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction, respectively, in previously untreated hypertensive patients.

Subjects And Methods: Our study included 114 consecutive previously untreated hypertensive patients who underwent echocardiography and ultrasonography to evaluate their vascular status and function via brachial artery CIMT and FMD.

The effect of irritable bowel syndrome on carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, and heart rate variability.

Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a subgroup of functional somatic disorders, may be associated with autonomic dysfunction (AD). Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic dysfunction, may predict survival. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of IBS on HRV parameters, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) as surrogates of AD, subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness, respectively.

Retrieval of embolized tip of port catheter from branch of right pulmonary artery using a macro snare catheter.

Rupture of the silicon port catheter is a relatively rare complication. Ruptured part usually embolizes; therefore, removal of foreign body may be difficult. These ports usually migrate to right-sided chambers, main pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary subbranches.

Successful thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in cases of severe pulmonary embolism with mobile thrombi in the right atrium.

Hereby, we report two cases of acute pulmonary embolism with concomitant right-sided thrombus, which were successfully treated using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). These patients had life-threatening acute right ventricular failure, which dramatically improved within hours following thrombolysis. These cases emphasize the clinical utility of rtPA for the treatment of life-threatening pulmonary embolism.