Validation of a new risk score to predict contrast-induced nephropathy after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a frequent, potentially lethal complication of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). We prospectively validated the diagnostic performance of a simple CIN risk score in a large multicenter international cohort of patients who underwent PCI. About 2,882 consecutive patients treated with elective or urgent PCI were enrolled.

Carotid intima-media thickness: a new marker of patients with uterine leiomyoma.

Objective: To determine whether or not there are any significant differences in carotid intima-media thickness between patients with uterine leiomyoma and controls.

Study Design: Patients whose ages were between 40 and 50 years, with body mass index <30kg/m(2), and with a pathological diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma constituted the study group. Control subjects had no uterine leiomyoma proven by sonography.

Statins decrease mean platelet volume irrespective of cholesterol lowering effect.

Background: Recent clinical observations have demonstrated that the beneficial effects of statins are not limited to LDL lowering effect. They have also favourable effects on platelet activation, endothelial function, inflammation, and coagulation cascade.

Aim: To investigate the effects of statins on mean platelet volume (MPV) which is a simple measure of platelet activation volume in patients who have been prescribed statins.

Anticoagulation in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and sinus rhythm: when?

Left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and chronic systolic heart failure (HF) predispose to intraventricular thrombus formation and embolization resulting in stroke. Current guideline recommends the use of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and history of previous thromboembolism. However, anticoagulant treatment in patients with LV systolic dysfunction with sinus rhythm and without history of previous thromboembolism is still on debate.

Copeptin and cardiovascular disease: a review of a novel neurohormone.

Neurohormones (NHs) in the cascade of the arginine vasopressin (AVP) system have drawn particular attention in the recent years. Copeptin, the C-terminal portion of provasopressin, is a novel NH of the AVP system, and is known to be co-released with AVP from hypothalamus (neurohypophysis). As a surrogate marker of the AVP system, copeptin has gradually replaced AVP in several clinical studies largely due to its structural and methodological advantages.

Incremental effects of restless legs syndrome on nocturnal blood pressure in hypertensive patients and normotensive individuals.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the role of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the development of nondipping 24 h blood pressure (BP) patterning/sleep-time hypertension, which has been shown to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. These were indirect studies that had reported the relation between BP and RLS attacks during polysomnographic investigations in the lab. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between RLS, which was diagnosed clinically, and night-time BP patterns in a relatively large young cohort who had not been treated before.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors in women with uterine leimyoma: is there a link with atherosclerosis?

Objective: Both uterine leimyoma (UL) and cardiovascular disease are public health problems affecting women at different age ranges. Smoking, obesity, and hypertension have been shown to be associated with UL in different random studies. However cardiovascular risk factors have not been evaluated systematically in patients with UL.

Mean platelet volume in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: does it have a role in left ventricular thrombus formation?

We assessed the clinical echocardiograhic, hematological, and biochemical parameters in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) and control individuals mainly focusing on the mean platelet volume (MPV) in terms of DCMP and left ventricle (LV) thrombus formation. Consecutive patients (n = 251) with DCMP and 266 patients without DCMP were studied. Mean platelet volume was significantly greater in patients with DCMP than in control patients (P < .