Familial Mediterranean fever gene mutations as a risk factor for early coronary artery disease.

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are very common in the general population. Atherosclerosis is the main pathogenesis. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease.

Usefulness of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio to predict in-hospital outcomes in infective endocarditis.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an independent predictor of worse prognosis in both infectious and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that an increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at admission would predict in-hospital unfavourable outcomes in patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic data in a total of 121 consecutive adult patients (64 men; mean age, 54.

Mean platelet volume could be possible biomarker in early diagnosis and monitoring of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer and the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The early diagnosis of gastric cancer is fundamental in decreasing the mortality rates. It has been shown that MPV level is a sign of inflammation in hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Increased epicardial fat thickness is associated with low grade systemic inflammation in metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: Epicardial fat tissue is a type of visceral adipose tissue that functions as a metabolically active endocrine organ. Most components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), especially visceral obesity, are associated with a low-grade systemic inflammatory state. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT), MetS, the components of MetS, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with MetS.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was associated with impaired myocardial perfusion and long term adverse outcome in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary intervention.

Objectives: In the present study we aimed to reveal any probable correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) and the occurrence of no-reflow, along with assessment of the prognostic value of N/L ratio in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: The N/L ratio stands practically for the balance between neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in the body, which can also be utilized as an index for systemic inflammatory status.

Methods: In our study, we included 204 consecutive patients suffering from STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Impaired coronary flow reserve evaluated by echocardiography is associated with increased aortic stiffness in patients with metabolic syndrome: an observational study.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events and coronary flow reserve (CFR), an indicator of microvascular function, has been found to be impaired in MetS. Aortic stiffness (AS) is a simple and effective method for assessing arterial elasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is an independent association of impaired coronary flow and aortic elasticity in patients with MetS.

[Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction in elderly aged 75 years and over: in-hospital mortality and clinical outcome].

Objectives: We aimed to determine the in-hospital mortality and clinical outcome of patients older than 75 years who were admitted to our high-volume tertiary center with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and treated with primary percutaneous intervention (PCI).

Study Design: Our study included patients over 75 years old who were admitted with STEMI and underwent primary PCI at our center between January 2008 and September 2011. We retrospectively collected data from our hospital records for 1165 patients with STEMI.

Evaluation of biochemical, hematological, and thyroid function parameters in nondipper and dipper hypertensive patients.

Aim Of The Study: In this study we investigated the effects of biochemical, hematologic, and thyroid function parameters on the circadian rhythm of hypertensive patients whose 24-h ambulatory blood pressure was being followed.

Methods: We studied the fasting glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total protein, albumin, lipid profiles, sodium, potassium, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelet count, mean platelet volume, thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroid hormone values obtained simultaneously with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure results, as documented in the case records of 470 patients.

Patients: Of the patients, 398 were in the nondipper hypertensive group and 72 in the dipper hypertensive group.

Extremely rare cardiac involvement: recurrent pericardial hydatid cyst.

Echinococcus granulosus is a common infestation in sheep and cattle raising countries. Although it is typically encountered in liver and lung, rare cardiac involvement of this infestation has very important clinical complications such as heart failure, valve regurgitation, pericardial effusion-tamponade and arrhythmia. In addition, pericardial infestation is an extremely rare condition of Echinococcus granulosus.

Bronchogenic cyst of interatrial septum.

Bronchogenic cyst, also known as inclusion cyst, is a type of congenital endodermal heterotropia derived from an abnormal development of the ventral diverticulum of the foregut or the tracheobronchial tree during embryogenesis. Its interatrial localization is extremely rare and making a final diagnosis without surgery challenges the clinician. Herein, we report a 58-year-old male patient who had an interatrial bronchogenic cyst related to transient ischemic attack.

Rare postsurgical complication of atrial septal defect closure: right inflow obstruction due to inadvertent suturing of eustachian valve to interatrial septum.

We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who received corrective surgery for a secundum atrial septal defect, during which right atrial inflow obstruction developed because of inadvertent suturing of the eustachian valve to the interatrial septum. Although reliable cardiac surgical techniques are available, this rather rare complication may have deleterious results for patients. If a previously absent murmur is detected in the lower left parasternal border after atrial septal defect surgery, right atrial inflow obstruction caused by the eustachian valve should be kept in mind and further careful examination undertaken.

Elevated serum uric acid predicts angiographic impaired reperfusion and 1-year mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) is associated with microvascular disease that could alter coronary blood flow and prognosis. We evaluated the effects of admission SUA levels on coronary blood flow and prognosis in 185 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent acute primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Patients undergoing PCI for an acute STEMI were stratified into elevated SUA (>6.

Lower fetuin-A predicts angiographic impaired reperfusion and mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: Fetuin-A is an anti-inflammatory negative acute-phase glycoprotein, synthesized by the liver. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of admission fetuin-A levels on coronary and myocardial blood flow and short- and long-term prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods And Results: One hundred eighty consecutive patients admitted with diagnosis of STEMI and 55 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteer controls were enrolled in the study.

Upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis and downhill esophageal varices caused by long-term pacemaker implantation.

Upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis is common after pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. Only 1% to 3% of patients with upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis become symptomatic. Downhill esophageal varices develop in the upper third of the esophagus as a result of the obstruction of the superior vena cava.

Diagnostic accuracy of P-wave dispersion in prediction of maintenance of sinus rhythm after external cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Objective: P-wave dispersion (PWD) is an electrocardiographic measurement, which reflects a disparity in an atrial conduction. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the diagnostic accuracy of PWD in predicting recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with sinus rhythm restoration after external cardioversion.

Methods: This prospective, observational study consists of 26 patients, who underwent external cardioversion for non-valvular persistent AF and successfully cardioverted to sinus rhythm (13 men, mean age 58.

Association of serum fetuin-A with valvular calcium concentration in rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Fetuin-A is an acute-phase glycoprotein that inhibits ectopic calcification. The study aim was to assess serum fetuin-A levels in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease (RMVD), and to evaluate the association of fetuin-A with the extent of mitral valve calcification, determined either echocardiographically or by the measurement of calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the resected valve tissues.

Methods: The study group comprised 21 patients (14 females, seven males; mean age 48 +/- 12.

[The relation between exercise-induced myocardial ischemia and high-sensitive C-reactive protein and neopterin levels].

Objective: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and neopterin are associated with atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate the association between hsCRP and neopterin, and myocardial ischemia during exercise stress test (EST) in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and to assess the predictive value of these mediators in obstructive coronary artery disease.

Methods: Forty-five patients with SAP were included in this prospective observational study.

Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene mutation frequency is not increased in adults with rheumatic heart disease.

It is well established that there are people with higher risk of developing acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene mutations might be one of the genetic predisposition factors in the development of ARF/RHD since defect in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients is proposed to be heightened inflammatory response to certain stimuli. Previous clinical observations suggested a relationship between FMF and ARF/RHD.

Relationship between elevated serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity and slow coronary flow.

Objectives: We evaluated the relationship between coronary blood flow and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF).

Study Design: The study included 90 patients (47 men, 43 women; mean age 50.8+/-9.

Increased mean platelet volume in patients with slow coronary flow.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation, a central process in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease (CAD). The importance of slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon results from its association with angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, hypertension and sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study is to evaluate the values of MPV in patients with SCF.

Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity increased in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

Background: Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity, an enzyme responsible for the extracellular catabolism of antioxidant glutathione, may directly take part in atherogenesis and evolve as a potential biochemical risk indicator of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. An important characteristic of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is the fact that in 85% of the cases, atherosclerotic coronary disease accompanies it. The relation between CAE and serum GGT activity has not been studied so far.

Comparison of major coronary risk factors in female and male patients with premature coronary artery disease.

Objective: The present study was designed to analyse and compare the major coronary risk factors of female and male patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) aged < or = 45 years.

Methods: We evaluated 4613 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography at our institution; 572 symptomatic patients (489 men and 83 women) diagnosed as having premature CAD (age < or = 45 years) were included in our analysis. For each patient, the presence of major coronary risk factors such as family history of CAD, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cigarette smoking were recorded.