Analysis of QT Dispersion, Corrected QT Dispersion, and P-Wave Dispersion Values in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients With Excessive Alcohol Use.

Objective: To identify the changes in QT dispersion (QTd), corrected QTd (QTcd), and P-wave dispersion (Pd) values with long-term alcohol abuse that could lead to severe ventricular arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and sudden death in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients with excessive alcohol use.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 48 individuals diagnosed with AUD based on DSM-5 criteria. Patients with a history of psychiatric diseases were not included.

Hepatitis B and C seroprevalence in patients with diabetes mellitus and its relationship with microvascular complications.

Introduction: Diabetic patients are susceptible to bacterial, viral and fungal infections because of various deficiencies in the immune system.

Aim: To investigate a possible link between hepatitis B/C prevalence and microvascular complications as well as duration of diabetes.

Material And Methods: In total 1263 diabetic patients (1149 type 2, 114 type 1) were enrolled in the study.

Evaluation of serum prolidase activity in patients with slow coronary flow.

Introduction: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is described as the slow passage of contrast to distal coronaries despite anatomically normal coronary arteries. It has been shown that increased serum prolidase activity (SPA) correlates with collagen turnover. Increased collagen turnover might be associated with the development of atherosclerotic plaques.

[The effects of smokeless tobacco "Maras powder" and smoking on aortic elasticity in young adults].

Objectives: Stiffness index beta (SIB), aortic strain (AS) and distensibility (AD) are the parameters used to assess elasticity of the aorta, and can be measured by non-invasive method such as echocardiography. In this study, we aimed to analyse the effects of Maraş powder and smoking on aortic stiffness by comparing young individuals.

Study Design: The study included 90 male subjects aged 18-40 years.

Heart rate variability in familial Mediterranean fever patients.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoimmune disease, presenting with the attacks of fever and inflammation of serous membranes. One of the leading causes of death in autoimmune rheumatologic diseases is cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of FMF on the autonomic nerve and cardiovascular systems by measuring the indices of heart rate variability (HRV).

The impact of isolated obesity on right ventricular function in young adults.

Background: Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The effects of obesity on left ventricular structure and function have been reported, but relatively little is known regarding right ventricular (RV) function in obesity.

Objective: To evaluate subclinical RV alterations in obese, but otherwise healthy, young adults by conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).

Evaluation of atrial electromechanical delay and diastolic functions in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Aim: Hyperthyroidism is a well-known cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) is a significant predictor of AF. The aim of this study was to assess the atrial EMD and diastolic functions in subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).

Relation of inflammatory and oxidative markers to the occurrence and recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: There is increasing evidence linking inflammation and oxidative stress to atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that C-reactive protein (CRP) and oxidative stress markers can predict the recurrence of persistent AF after successful pharmacological cardioversion. A possible relationship with AF occurrence was also investigated.

[Comparative effects of nebivolol and valsartan on atrial electromechanical coupling in newly diagnosed stage 1 hypertensive patients].

Objectives: Hypertension is an important cardiovascular risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Increased atrial electromechanical coupling time interval measured by tissue Doppler is accepted as an important factor for prediction of AF development in hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of valsartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, and nebivolol, a beta-blocker, on atrial electromechanical coupling in newly diagnosed stage 1 hypertensive patients.

An unusual appearance of double right coronary artery.

Double right coronary artery (RCA) is an extremely rare coronary artery anomaly. We aimed to report an atherosclerotic double RCA which appeared after primary percutaneous intervention performed to treat acute inferior myocardial infarction. This is the first case in the literature, which the coronary arteries that can be accepted as double RCA have been hidden by total atherosclerotic occlusion of the proximal part of the RCA.

The prevalence and predictors of atrial fibrillation in hemodialysis patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in long-term hemodialysis patients and to identify clinical and echocardiographic risk factors.

Study Design: The study included 183 patients (93 males, 90 females; mean age 52+/-17 years) who had been on long-term hemodialysis treatment (mean 41.6+/-39.

Significant stenosis of proximal left subclavian artery presenting with absence of left radial pulse and recurrent angina after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Stenosis of the subclavian artery, before the left internal mammary artery branch, is an important problem for patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting, with an incidence rate of 0.5-1.1%.

QT dispersion and transmural dispersion of repolarization in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a disease characterized by sporadic, paroxysmal attacks of fever and serosal inflammation. QT dispersion (QTd) and transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR), simple noninvasive arrhythmogenic markers, that can be used to assess homogeneity of cardiac repolarization, have not been studied in FMF patients before. The aim of our study was to evaluate the QTd and TDR in FMF patients without overt cardiac involvement.

Assessment of atrial conduction time in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Background: Increased inflammatory activity is known to be a pathophysiologic characteristic of atrial fibrillation. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a disease characterized by recurrent and sustained increased inflammatory activity. Atrial conduction abnormalities in these patients have not been investigated in terms of P-wave duration, P-wave dispersion (Pd), and atrial electromechanical delay measured by tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE).

A case of myocardial bridging of the left circumflex coronary artery.

Myocardial bridge is a cluster of myocardial fibers crossing over the epicardial coronary arteries at a distance. It is most frequently seen on the left anterior descending artery. Involvement of the left circumflex coronary artery is very rare.

Isolated single coronary artery: a series of 10 cases.

Background: Isolated single coronary artery (SCA) is an extremely rare congenital coronary anomaly. Some subgroups of SCA can lead to angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction or even sudden death in the absence of atherosclerosis. Young patients, especially, have the risk of serious clinical events, but middle-aged-to elderly patients have a variable clinical course.

A previously undescribed anomaly of left anterior descending artery: type V dual left anterior descending artery.

Dual left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is a group of rare congenital coronary artery anomalies and exhibits 4 different types. The goal of this article is to define a new, previously undescribed type of dual LAD anomaly.

The influence of ambulatory blood pressure profile on global and regional functions of the left and the right ventricles in orderly treated hypertensive patients.

Background: The association between nondipping profile and adverse cardiovascular outcome is still controversial. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), a new and useful addition to standard echocardiographic imaging techniques, permits a quantitative assessment of both global and regional function and timing of myocardial velocities. In this study, we aimed to assess whether a reduced nocturnal fall in blood pressure (BP) in orderly treated hypertensive patients with satisfactory BP control is related to more prominent structural and functional alterations of the ventricles.