Clinical practices of the management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and outcome of treatment: A representative prospective survey in tertiary healthcare centers across Turkey.

Objective: The goal of this study was to define clinical practice patterns for assessing stroke and bleeding risks and thromboprophylaxis in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and to evaluate treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.

Methods: A clinical surveillance study was conducted in 10 tertiary healthcare centers across Turkey. Therapeutic approaches and persistence with initial treatment were recorded at baseline, the 6th month, and the 12th month in NVAF patients.

P wave dispersion in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Background: P wave dispersion (Pd) is defined as the difference between the maximum and the minimum P wave duration. It has recently been associated with increased anxiety levels, thereby predisposing affected individuals to fatal heart disease. Despite of evidence of this autonomous nervous system (ANS) relationship, there are no electrocardiography (ECG) studies in the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Relationship between mean platelet volume elevation and left ventricular mass index in hypertensive patients.

Objectives: To compare the mean platelet volume (MPV; a general marker of platelet activation) in groups of patients with and without hypertension and to analyse its relationship with left ventricular mass index (LVMI).

Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study enrolled newly diagnosed patients with untreated stage I-II hypertension and healthy control subjects without hypertension. MPV was measured using a haematology analyser.

Effects of high loading dose of clopidogrel in ST elevated myocardial infarction treated with fibrinolytic agent.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different loading doses of clopidogrel on ST segment resolution on ECG, changes in cardiac enzyme levels and serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) in patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with fibrinolytic therapy.

Methods: Patients admitted to our cardiology clinic with a diagnosis of STEMI and treated with fibrinolytic therapy were included: Group 1 (n=58) received a 300 mg loading dose of clopidogrel, Group 2 (n=55) a 450 mg loading dose and Group 3 (n=59) a 600 mg loading dose. A 75 mg/d maintanence dose of clopidogrel was given in all groups.

QT wave dispersion in patients with panic disorder.

Objective: QT dispersion (QTd), defined as the maximal inter-lead difference in QT intervals on 12 leads of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG), reflects the regional heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization and has been suggested as an important marker for risk of arrhythmia in addition to the QT interval. Some investigators proposed that it might be a predisposing factor for arrhythmic events and sudden death. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether QTd differs in patients with panic disorder from that in healthy controls.

The investigation of serum vaspin level in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

Background: It was speculated that fatty tissue originated adipocytokines may play role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. These adipocytokines may alter vascular homeostasis by effecting endothelial cells, arterial smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Vaspin is a newly described member of adipocytokines family.

The effect of strict volume control on cognitive functions in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Cognitive dysfunction is a well-known complication of chronic renal failure that is evident in 30% of hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the pathogenesis of this dysfunction is unknown. Left ventricular hypertrophy could develop in hypertensive HD patients without establishing normovolemia.

Adiponectin levels in coronary artery ectasia.

Etiopathogenesis of coronary artery ectasia (CAE), which is defined as abnormal dilatation of a segment of the coronary artery to 1.5 times of an adjacent normal coronary artery segment, is unclear. However, it is speculated that CAE develops in the atherosclerosis process through degeneration of coronary artery media layer.

Insulin resistance is related with oxidative stress in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) that cannot be fully explained by the traditional risk factors. Metabolic alterations like oxidative stress and insulin resistance may be additional risk factors to contribute early and accelerated atherosclerosis in SLE. Our aim was to evaluate malondialdehyde (MDA) level, oxidative stress indicator, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and possible relationship between oxidative stress and insulin resistance, in SLE.

The effect of rapid blood pressure control on P-wave dispersion in hypertensive urgency.

Introduction: A sharp increase in blood pressure, increase in atrial pressure and atrial strain, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) lead to heterogeneity and instability in atrial conduction. The resulting physiopathological situation may elevate maximum Pwave duration (P(max)) and P-wave dispersion (PWD) in electrocardiography. The objective of our study was to explore the effect of the sudden change in atrial hemodynamics on P(max) and PWD, which may indicate the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) development in hypertensive urgency.

Effect of sertindole on QTc interval in patients with schizophrenia.

Sertindole has been marketed and offered daily clinical practice only for 9 months in our country, so no data has been its QTc prolongation potential. In the present study, we performed a clinical trial to investigate the effects of sertindole on QTc in patients with schizophrenia. The study comprised 21 patients with schizophrenia.

Are maximum P wave duration and P wave dispersion a marker of target organ damage in the hypertensive population?

Background: High blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction may cause hemodynamic and morphological changes in the left atrium, consequently instability and heterogeneity in atrial conduction. This is seen as an increase in maximum P wave duration (P(max)) and P wave dispersion (PD) on the electrocardiogram (ECG). P wave dispersion on ECG has been encountered as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF).

B-type natriuretic peptide level in the diagnosis of asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction.

Objective: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) reflects the left ventricular pressure and volume overload. It is known that it increases in systolic dysfunction proportionally with left ventricular pressure increase. The BNP levels are well correlated with NYHA classification and prognosis.

The effects of high dose pravastatin and low dose pravastatin and ezetimibe combination therapy on lipid, glucose metabolism and inflammation.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is presently the major cause of mortality and morbidity. Anti-hyperlipidemic treatment is one of the main treatment steps in the management of CAD. Statins are the cornerstones in this treatment.

P-wave dispersion in panic disorder.

Background: P-wave dispersion (PWD) is defined as the difference between the maximum and the minimum P-wave (Pmax and Pmin, respectively) duration. Significant variation in cardiac atrial PWD has been correlated with changes in systemic autonomic tone such as during periods of anxiety. It is also known that the degree of PWD seen on 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) may be a predictor of susceptibility of the atrial myocardium to future atrial fibrillation (AF).

Effect of diltiazem and metoprolol on left atrial appendix functions in patients with nonvalvular chronic atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Thrombo-embolic events are the important cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF). The origin of thromboembolism is often the left atrial appendix (LAA). Flow rate velocity (FRV) inside the LAA is the major determinant of thrombus formation.

Oral mycophenolate mofetil prevents in-stent intimal hyperplasia without edge effect.

Neointimal hyperplasia is in the forefront in in-stent restenosis. Prevention of in-stent restenosis is possible by reducing and inhibiting the hyperplasia of smooth muscle cells. The authors planned this study to test the hypothesis that when administered orally, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) could inhibit in-stent neointimal hyperplasia.

N-terminal proBNP plasma levels correlate with severity of mitral stenosis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a neurohormone, is secreted predominantly from the ventricular myocardium. Studies investigating BNP secretion in diseases affecting the right side of the heart are scarce. The relationship between N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic and clinical findings was studied in cases with isolated moderate to severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), and in patients with previous mitral valve replacement (MVR).

The effect of interventional treatment in acute myocardial infarction on ST resolution: a comparison of coronary angioplasty with excimer laser angioplasty.

The treatment methods for acute myocardial infarction (MI) have started to change in the new millennium. Myocardial perfusion (ST-segment resolution) is the target rather than achieving TIMI-III flow in the infarct-related artery. In this study the authors compared the effect of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and excimer laser angioplasty (ELCA), which was accepted as one of the thrombolysis methods, on ST-segment resolution.

Excimer laser coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction.

We evaluated the short-term results of percutaneous excimer laser angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. Of the 18 patients studied, 2 were female and 16 male with a mean age of 56.6 +/- 12.

Should the preservation of residual renal function cost volume overload and its consequence left ventricular hypertrophy in new hemodialysis patients?

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important predictor of mortality in dialysis patients. The loss of residual renal function (RRF) appears to occur more rapidly in hemodialysis than continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). It is more likely that volume expansion in patients on CAPD may preserve RRF.

Effect of renal artery stenting on renal function in patients with ischemic nephropathy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of stenting on blood pressure and renal functions in azotemic patients with proximal/ostial atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. Thirteen azotemic patients (5 females, 8 males, average age, 62.7 +/- 8.

The effect of ST resolution on QT dispersion after interventional treatment in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: It has been reported that reperfusion treatment reduces QT dispersion (QTD) in cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Successful myocardial perfusion is not synonymous with Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) III flow. It has been demonstrated that in AMI, the grade of ST-resolution correlates strongly with left ventricular (LV) function, enzyme elevation, and mortality after primary angioplasty.

Use of excimer laser for thrombus containing lesion.

The presence of thrombus in the lesion before balloon angioplasty increases the complications arising from mechanical intervention. It is known that the use of Gp llb/llla receptor blockers before the intervention enhances the reliability of the procedure. Laser thrombolysis was applied to a patient who underwent coronary angiography due to recurrent chest pain after thirty six hour administration of tirofiban and who was found to have a thrombus so large as to block the distal vessel bed of the right coronary artery.