Prognostic value of sst2 in long-term mortality in acute heart failure.

Background: The use of biochemical markers in ADHF is considered valuable both in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and in follow-up. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic power of serum sST2 and NT-proBNP levels in predicting long-term mortality in patients with ADHF using serial measurement.

Methods: A total of 122 patients with ADHF were included in this prospective study.

Is there a difference between aortic and brachial vein blood lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels?

Objective: Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries that is not practically observed in veins. There are a lot of proposed mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. We aimed to compare the lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels in aortic and venous blood samples.

Increased discharge heart rate might be associated with increased short-term mortality after acute coronary syndrome.

Background: In acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients there are mostly studies evaluating prognostic value of admission heart rate. We tried to understand the prognostic value of discharge heart rate in a spectrum of ACS patients.

Methods: A total of 473 consecutive ACS patients were included in the study.

Comparison of IQOS (heated tobacco) and cigarette smoking on cardiac functions by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Aims: IQOS is a novel tobacco product claimed to be safer than conventional cigarette smoking due to the heat-not-burn system. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of IQOS smoking on myocardial systolic and diastolic functions and also compare the acute impacts of IQOS with cigarette smoking.

Methods: In this prospective study, twenty-seven healthy participants who were using IQOS were included.

The beneficial effect of low-intensity exercise on cardiac performance assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Regular physical activity is associated with cardiovascular health; however, intensive exercise can have harmful effects on the heart. Two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a well-established diagnostic tool to evaluate subclinical myocardial dysfunction and has been widely used in athletes in recent years. This study is designed to evaluate whether low-intensity exercise has beneficial effects on myocardial performance.

Is there any Link Between Vitamin D and Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Cardioversion?

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic arrhythmia in the elderly population. In symptomatic patients, restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm improve quality of life. Unfortunately, AF recurrence still occurs in a considerable number of patients after cardioversion (CV).

Is there any link between vitamin D deficiency and vasovagal syncope?

Background: This study aimed to investigate serum 25[OH]D levels between patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS) diagnosed with head-up tilt table test (HUTT) and age-matched healthy people.

Methods: The study included 75 consecutive patients (32.3 ± 10.

Effects of chronic cigarette smoking on myocardial deformation parameters by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Background: Cigarette smoking causes myocardial damage with several mechanisms such as sympathetic nervous system activation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Chronic smokers have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac events. We aimed to compare the myocardial deformation parameters between chronic smokers and nonsmoker healthy population.

Improvement of abnormal systolic motion of the interventricular septum with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: There is no consensus in the literature regarding what is the responsible mechanism of left ventricular dyssynchrony; septal dyskinesia or late movement of left ventricle (LV) lateral wall. We aim to evaluate the abnormal systolic motion in each myocardial segment and the improvement of LV systolic function with pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with left bundle branch block (LBBB).

Methods: A total of 26 patients undergoing CRT implantation with LBBB, wide QRS duration (≥120 ms), and low ejection fraction (EF) (<35%) were included.

A case of coronary microfistula: A newborn microfistula.

Coronary artery fistula is an abnormal connection between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber, a great artery or the vena cava. Although coronary artery fistulas are known to be congenital malformations they might occur due to infection, trauma or may be iatrogenic. We present a case with acquired coronary microfistula, without any history of interventional procedure.

The Effects of Cigarette Smoking on the Tp-e Interval, Tp-e/QT Ratio and Tp-e/QTc Ratio.

Background: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of sudden cardiac death. Smoking may predispose individuals to ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death by altering ventricular repolarization and stimulating sympathetic nervous system activity.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the instantaneous effects of smoking on ventricular repolarization.

Gene-gene interaction of ACE I/D, endothelial nitric oxide synthase 4 a/b and ApoE does not affect coronary artery disease severity.

Objectives: Previous studies have shown the impact of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms and ApoE genotypes on coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the genetic polymorphisms and the severity of CAD and to evaluate their potential interactions.

Material And Methods: All patients underwent coronary angiography; coronary score (CS) and severity score (SS) were calculated for them.

Severity of coronary artery disease and echocardiographic parameters of ventricular diastolic function.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relation between the severity of the coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patient with stable CAD and normal LV ejection fraction.

Methods: Sixty patients with stable CAD were included in the study. All angiographic variables pertinent to SYNTAX Score (SS) and Gensini score (GS) calculation were computed by two experienced interventional cardiologists.

The prognostic value of arterial stiffness in systolic heart failure.

Background: Increased arterial stiffness is an indicator of mortality. This study consists of an 18-month follow-up of the mortality in advanced heart failure patients with increased arterial stiffness.

Methods: The study followed up 98 patients with a diagnosis of heart failure in NYHA class III and IV (76 males, 22 females and mean age of 60 ± 12 years) with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35% as determined by the Simpson method.

[Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia during the ajmaline test].

A 44-year-old male patient admitted with palpitations was diagnosed with tachycardia with wide QRS, but recovered after being treated with amiodarone. The patient's coronary angiography was normal. As the patient's resting ECG was compatible with Brugada type 2, an ajmaline challenge test was scheduled.

Determination and comparison of microbial loads in atmospheres of two hospitals in Izmir, Turkey.

Introduction And Objectives: Nosocomial infections, also known as hospital-acquired infections, has become one of the most important health problems in health care units worldwide. The presented study aims to determine the average amount of microorganism loads and to show that the atmospheres of the two hospitals can be a potential source regarding nosocomial infections. The effect of surface and floor disinfection processes in the two hospitals and the antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates were also evaluated.

A new index (CHOLINDEX) in detecting coronary artery disease risk.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk increases with the elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and low level high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. However, the magnitude at which CAD risk increases with every lipid parameter is controversial. We developed a new index called CHOLINDEX, in order to evaluate CAD risk, and investigated its reliability.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

We assessed the relationship between the severity of coronary artery disease assessed by SYNTAX score (SS) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N:L ratio) in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In total, 840 patients with STEMI in whom primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed were prospectively included (622 male, 218 female; mean age 58.6 ± 12.

ST elevation in inferior derivation, coronary ectasia, and slow coronary flow following ceftriaxone use.

A 24-year-old male patient presented with acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation following an allergic reaction to ceftriaxone. A coronary angiogram revealed ectasia and slow coronary flow in the right coronary artery, whereas the left coronary system was found to be normal. The patient was transferred to the coronary intensive care unit and given steroids, antihistamines, acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel, low–molecular weight heparin, and diltiazem.

Evaluation of the hypertensive patients in southeastern Anatolia; demographic features and target organ damage.

We investigated the socio-demographic characteristics, blood and pulse pressure, and end organ damage of hypertensive patients applying to an outpatient cardiology clinic in southeastern Anatolia. End organ damage in 100 consecutive hypertensive patients was defined by left ventricular hypertrophy, retinopathy, and albuminuria. The determined independent risk factors of left ventricular hypertrophy were advanced age and low educational level; of nephropathy were high pulse pressure and unawareness of the name of anti-hypertensive drug; and for retinopathy were high pulse pressure and female gender.

H-FABP in cases of carbon monoxide intoxication admitted to the emergency room.

Introduction: Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication causes cardiovascular problems as a result of diffuse tissue hypoxia. Cardiac biochemical markers and electrocardiographic changes have been reported in CO intoxications. Human fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) has been recently used as a reliable marker in identifying early cardiac damage.

[The levels of the leptin and adiponectin according to body mass index and their relationship with oxidative parameters].

Objective: Obesity is an important risk factor of atherosclerosis and its prevalence in humans is increasing. Recent studies suggest that the leptin and adiponectin play important roles in obesity, and they are associated with complications of obesity. However, the mechanism of effects has not been outstandingly established.