Prevention of doxorubicin-induced experimental cardiotoxicity by Nigella sativa in rats.

Introduction: Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drug that is commonly used in cancer treatment. A major side effect limiting the clinical use of DOX is cardiotoxicity due to oxidative injury. Nigella sativa (NS) is an annual flowering plant with antioxidant properties.

Copeptin levels in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

Background And Aims: The etiology and pathophysiology of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) has not been fully elucidated. A rapid rise in plasma copeptin has been observed in cardiovascular diseases, stroke, sepsis, and shock. This increase has diagnostic and prognostic value.

Effects of grapeseed extract on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Background: Doxorubicin (DX) is used for the treatment of many types of cancer; however, a side effect of this agent is cardiotoxicity, which may lead to cardiomyopathy or cardiac failure. Oxidative stress is thought to play a major role in the development of cardiotoxic effects. Proanthocyanidins found in grapeseed (GS) extract may inhibit chemically induced lipid peroxidation and apoptosis caused by oxidative stress.

Comparison of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients under Strict Volume Control with respect to Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of strict volume control and nondipper situation on cardiovascular disease in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods: This study is an observational and cross-sectional study including 62 patients with normotensive chronic hemodialysis using no antihypertensive drugs. A series of measurements including ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, left ventricular mass index by echocardiography, common carotid artery intima-media thickness by ultrasound, and body fluids by bioimpedance analysis were conducted for all subjects.

Focusing on a complete blood cell parameter: mean platelet volume levels may be a predictor of coronary slow flow.

Background: The relationship between increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and atherosclerosis is well known. In the present study, MPV in patients with coronary slow flow (CSF) and in cases with normal coronary anatomy (NCA) was investigated and compared with the aim of identifying the relationship between CSF and MPV.

Patients And Methods: We studied 40 patients previously determined via coronary angiography as having NCA and 40 patients with CSF in the coronary blood stream, as identified by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction square.

Carotid artery stiffness in Behçet's disease.

Objective: Increased carotid arterial stiffness (CAS) is a predictor of subclinical early atherosclerosis as well as carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). We aimed to determine CAS and cIMT in Behçet's disease (BD).

Material And Methods: BD (n=49) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n=64) patients and healthy controls (HC) (n=40) were included in the study.

QT dispersion and P wave dispersion in patients with fibromyalgia.

Objective: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease characterized by widespread pain. Somatic complaints associated with the cardiovascular system, such as chest pain and palpitations, are frequently seen in FM patients. P and QT dispersions are simple and inexpensive measurements reflecting the regional heterogeneity of atrial and ventricular repolarization, respectively.

The efficacy of CT for detection of right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism, and comparison with cardiac biomarkers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate results from computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) indicative of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), and to assess the relationship of these results with cardiac biomarkers and mortality among patients with acute PE.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study involved 118 patients with acute PE proved by CTPA. CTPA variables were analyzed and compared with cardiac biomarkers and echocardiography (ECHO) findings.

Serum salusin-α levels in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), chronic inflammatory diseases, demonstrate an increased incidence of cardiovascular manifestations and subclinical atherosclerotic disease. Salusin-α is a novel bioactive peptide that suppresses the formation of macrophage foam cells, and its serum level is significantly lower in patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease. The aims of the study were to assess serum salusin-α level and its potential association with the predictors of atherosclerosis in SLE and SSc.

The rs3768777-G allele of ITGAV gene is associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Integrin αvβ3 (vitronectin receptor) plays a prominent role in angiogenesis, a key pathogenic feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, integrin αV (ITGAV) subunit gene has been associated with a susceptibility to RA. The aim of the present study was to detect the potential association between ITGAV gene polymorphisms and a susceptibility to RA in a Turkish cohort.

The relationship between platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI and no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether admission soluble glycoprotein VI (sGP-VI) level is associated with no-reflow phenomenon (NRP) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: A total of 178 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital for a first STEMI and undergoing P-PCI within 12 hours of onset of symptoms were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups (NRP group and reflow group).