Galectin-3: A biochemical marker to detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of arrhythmia. AF leads to electrical remodelling and fibrosis of the atria; however, the mechanism(s) remain poorly understood. Galectin-3 is a potential mediator of cardiac fibrosis.

The relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and ambulatory arterial stiffness index in newly diagnosed and never-treated hypertensive patients.

Objectives: Vitamin D insufficiency has been shown to be associated with cardiac dysfunctions, such as cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension, in animal studies. Arterial stiffness is a prognostic marker for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were negatively correlated with arterial stiffness index.

Adropin: a new marker for predicting late saphenous vein graft disease after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Purpose: Saphenous vein graft disease (SVGD), defined as an occlusion of 50% or more of the SVG excluding distal anastomotic occlusion, is an important predictor of morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Late graft occlusion is a serious complication that often limits the use of the saphenous vein as a coronary bypass graft. Late graft occlusion is particularly common in old, degenerated venous grafts with advanced atherosclerotic plaques.

Epicardial adipose tissue and pericoronary fat thickness measured with 64-multidetector computed tomography: potential predictors of the severity of coronary artery disease.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between pericoronary fat and the severity and extent of atherosclerosis, quantified using 64-multidetector computed tomography, in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Methods: The study population consisted of 131 patients who were clinically referred for noninvasive multislice computed tomography coronary angiography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease. Patients were classified as follows: no atherosclerosis, Group 1; nonobstructive atherosclerosis (luminal narrowing <50% in diameter), Group 2; and obstructive atherosclerosis (luminal narrowing ≥ 50%) in a single vessel or obstructive atherosclerosis in the left main coronary artery and/or multiple vessels, Group 3.

Hand and heart, hand in hand: is radiological hand osteoarthritis associated with atherosclerosis?

Aim: Increasing evidence suggests that atherosclerosis contributes to the initiation or progression of osteoarthritis (OA). It has been suggested that atherosclerosis may cause vascular insufficiency which may lead to or progress OA. In this study, the association between the severity of radiologic hand OA and atherosclerosis was analyzed in women.

Serum uric acid level is an independent risk factor for presence of calcium in coronary arteries: an observational case-controlled study.

Objective: A link between uric acid levels and cardiovascular diseases has been previously reported. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a marker of atherosclerotic disease and a predictor of cardiovascular events. We sought to determine if serum uric acid level is an independent risk factor for the presence of calcium in coronary arteries.

Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on proteinuria: a prospective study.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections, seen in humans worldwide and its possible relationship to different diseases is a focus of attention nowadays. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of H. Pylori eradication on proteinuria.

Association between gamma-glutamyltransferase and coronary artery calcification.

Background: The exact mechanisms behind the association between atherosclerosis and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) are unclear. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) detected by computerized tomography is an important marker of atherosclerosis and its severity correlates with coronary plaque burden. The aim of this study was to investigate if serum GGT levels are associated with CAC in patients without known coronary heart disease (CHD) who had low-intermediate risk for CHD.

Association of serum calcitonin with coronary artery disease in individuals with and without chronic kidney disease.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent data implicate disordered bone and mineral metabolism, including changes in serum levels of calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), and fetuin A, as novel risk factors for arterial calcification. The potential role of calcitonin, another hormonal regulator of mineral and bone metabolism, has not been studied in detail.

[Frequency of sublingual nitroglycerin prescription in patients with coronary artery disease and angina and awareness of patients about the shelf life of the drug].

Objectives: ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines recommend sublingual nitroglycerin (SNG) in patients with stable angina pectoris and coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the shelf life of SNG following first use is six months for SNG tablets and two years for SNG sprays. We investigated the frequency of prescription of SNG tablets/sprays in patients having anginal symptoms and documented CAD and the awareness levels of patients about appropriate use of SNG.

Effect of pseudoephedrine on cardiac rhythm of children with rhinitis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of pseudoephedrine on heart rhythm of children with rhinitis.

Methods: The study included 25 children diagnosed with rhinitis from March 2009 through February 2010 in the Department of Pediatrics. Holter records were obtained for 24 h before and at the fourth day of pseudoephedrine treatments.

Uric acid and pentraxin-3 levels are independently associated with coronary artery disease risk in patients with stage 2 and 3 kidney disease.

Background And Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Uric acid is increased in subjects with CKD and has been linked with cardiovascular mortality in this population. However, no study has evaluated the relationship of uric acid with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) in this population.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 and fetuin A are independent predictors for the coronary artery disease extent in mild chronic kidney disease.

Background And Objectives: Cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is explained in part by traditional cardiovascular risk factors; by uremia-specific factors; and by abnormalities of mineral metabolism, factors involved in its regulation, and in the vascular calcification process.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: In an unselected population of 177 patients with calculated GFR (eGFR) between 90 and 30 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), the link between the mineral metabolism abnormalities (calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product), regulatory factors (parathyroid hormone [PTH], intact PTH [iPTH], vitamin D, fibroblast growth factor 23 [FGF 23], and fetuin A), and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) assessed by coronary angiography were evaluated in three subgroups defined by tertiles of Gensini lesion severity score.

Association of polycystic ovary syndrome and a non-dipping blood pressure pattern in young women.

Objective: The association between polycystic ovarian syndrome and increased cardiovascular disease risk is still a controversial issue. In light of data documenting some common pathways or common end-points, the present study was undertaken to determine whether there is a relationship between sleep blood pressure pattern disturbances and polycystic ovarian syndrome in young women.

Method: The daytime and nighttime ambulatory blood pressures (BPs) were determined for each subject, according to the actual waking and sleeping times recorded in their individual diaries, in this cross-sectional study.

Cardiac flow parameters with conventional and pulsed tissue Doppler echocardiography imaging in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is independently associated with the major cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to examine the echocardiographic profiles of patients with PCOS using conventional echocardiographic methods and tissue Doppler imaging.

Methods: For this study, we have registered 48 women with PCOS and 21 healthy control subjects who were matched with respect to age and body mass index.

Diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography in patients with suspected or proven coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is a promising noninvasive method of detecting coronary artery disease. However, most data have been obtained in selected series of patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of 64-slice CT in consecutive patients with suspected or proven coronary artery disease.

T-wave depletion and bradycardia possibly secondary to acute pancreatitis: review of the literature.

Acute pancreatitis has frequently been reported to be associated with transient electrocardiography changes mimicking myocardial infarction despite normal epicardial coronary arteries. Although the origin of these findings is poorly understood, suggested mechanisms have included electrolyte abnormalities, a vagally mediated reflex, coronary vasospasm, and myonecrosis because of the release of pancreatic proteolytic enzymes. We report a case of acute pancreatitis with new-onset electrocardiography changes and bradycardia despite no evidence of coronary artery disease.

Increased thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor antigen levels as a clue for prothrombotic state in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objectives: Our study was undertaken to evaluate the levels of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) antigen and also its relationship with other hemostasis markers in a group of patients affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-under Diane-35 (ethinyl estradiol 0.035 mg/cyproterone acetate 2 mg) treatment or not-as compared with a group of healthy controls.

Methods: Forty-two women with PCOS and 30 age-matched healthy controls were involved in the study.

Cardioprotective effects of Nigella sativa oil on cyclosporine A-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Cyclosporine A is a well-known immunosuppressor agent universally used in allotransplantation. However, it has been demonstrated that this drug produces side-effects in several organs, particularly in the kidney and in the heart. Nigella sativa oil has long been used in folk medicine for a wide range of illnesses.

Amiodarone-induced keratopathy: full-thickness corneal involvement.

Purpose: To report a case of amiodarone-induced keratopathy involving the entire cornea, including the endothelium.

Methods: Clinical case description and documentation with confocal laser scanning microscopy using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomography II (HRT II).

Results: A 65 year-old man with a history of blurred vision and seeing halos around lights had been treated with amiodarone for 6 years.

Isotretinoin: is there any arrhythmic effect?

Oral isotretinoin is currently the most effective therapy for acne, but is associated with numerous adverse effects. To investigate the cardiac effects of isotretinoin, acne patients receiving isotretinoin for 6 months were studied. Methods Twenty-six patients with acne vulgaris were enrolled in the study.

Probrain natriuretic peptide for assessment of efficacy in heart failure treatment.

N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is elevated in patients with heart failure. Numerous clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of spironolactone in heart failure; however, no studies have directly examined the effects of spironolactone treatment on NT-proBNP level. This study investigated whether NT-proBNP levels decrease with daily spironolactone treatment.