The effect of emotional status and health-related quality of life on the severity of coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease and a leading cause of death worldwide. Extensive clinical and statistical studies have identified several factors that increase the risk of CAD and myocardial infarction.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between severity of CAD, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels and endothelial vasodilator function in normotensive women.

Introduction: Vitamin D was shown to be related to endothelial function and blood pressure. Reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) measurement by pulse arterial tonometry is a new method to evaluate vasodilator function of endothelium. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and RHI in women.

Factors associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness and being nondipper in nonobese and normotensive young patients affected by PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by chronic unovulation, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance. We evaluated factors that affect "nondipper" status during 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in PCOS. Forty-two nonobese women newly diagnosed as PCOS and 32 healthy women were included.

Cardiac autonomic function and global left ventricular performance in autoimmune eauthyroid chronic thyroiditis: is treatment necessary at the euthyroid stage?

Objective: Autoimmune chronic thyroiditis (ACT) is characterized by lymphocyte infiltration in the thyroid gland and the presence of antithyroid antibodies in serum. Medical treatment does not affect antibody levels and treatment decision is not definite yet for the euthyroid patients. We aimed to evaluate cardiac autonomic function and global left ventricular performance in autoimmune euthyroid chronic thyroiditis and determine the need for medical treatment.

Increased high sensitive CRP level and its significance in pathogenesis of slow coronary flow.

Previous studies have suggested that microvascular abnormalities cause slow coronary flow (SCF). The role of inflammation has not been investigated, to date. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of inflammation in pathogenesis of SCF.

Role of novel biomarkers of inflammation in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Atherosclerosis is a dynamic chronic inflammatory process, and some inflammatory biomarkers have roles in this process. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with chronic stable coronary heart disease (CHD) have not been investigated well, and the levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) in patients with chronic stable CHD and the effects of these cytokines on atherogenesis are not known. To determine whether new inflammatory biomarkers have roles in atherosclerosis, the authors measured the levels of CRP, M-CSF, and IL-3 in patients with chronic stable CHD and in healthy controls.

Role of novel mediators of inflammation in left ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction: do they affect the outcome of patients?

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major mechanism for cardiovascular death and disability. A significant number of post-MI patients develop progressive left ventricular enlargement and heart failure and many require heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices. Understanding of the basic mechanisms regulating the reaction to injury is crucial for the development of site-specific cell biological strategies of intervention to both reduce injury and promote repair.

Trace element status (Se, Zn, Cu) in heart failure.

Objective: It has been speculated that trace elements may play a role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. In the present study, we aimed to assess serum concentrations of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in patients with heart failure (HF) and to compare idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients with healthy controls.

Methods: This study population included 54 HF patients (26 IDCM patients and 28 ICM patients) and 30 healthy subjects.

The effects of trimetazidine on heart rate variability in patients with slow coronary artery flow.

Objective: We sought to examine the effect of trimetazidine (TMZ) on heart rate variability (HRV), endothelin-1 (ET-1), NO, and anginal symptoms in patients with slow coronary artery flow (SCAF).

Methods: The 48 patients with SCAF (29 women and 19 men; mean age, 52 +/- 9 years) were included in the study. Twenty milligrams TMZ 3 times a day or matched placebo were given randomly in a double-blinded fashion for 4 weeks.

Increased aortic stiffness in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

Objective: Alterations in aortic stiffness may reflect the elastic properties of the larger arteries. In many diseases, aortic elastic properties have been investigated to show whether the larger arteries are involved. The elastic properties of aorta in patients with coronary artery ectasia, however, have not been studied yet.

Decreased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with coronary artery ectasia compared with patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Although atherosclerosis is supposed to be responsible for more than 50% of coronary artery ectasia, the precise pathology of coronary artery ectasia is not clearly understood. A histopathological examination of ectatic segments has revealed mainly destruction of the media layer of the artery. In the present study, we assessed carotid intima-media thickness and common carotid artery diameter in patients with and without coronary artery ectasia.

Significance of serum trace element status in patients with rheumatic heart disease: a prospective study.

It is known that certain trace elements can affect various heart diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the changes in concentrations of certain serum trace elements in patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Serum analysis of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) trace elements was assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Effect of ectasia size or the ectasia ratio on the thrombosis in myocardial infarction frame count in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.

Coronary blood flow was quantified using the thrombosis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame-count method. This measurement has been significantly correlated with flow velocity measured invasively by use of a Doppler flow wire. Coronary artery ectasia or aneurysm (CEA) is thought to be present in patients with a slow blood flow.

Effects of co-existence of coronary stenosis and the extent of coronary ectasia on the TIMI frame count in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

The measurement of the thrombosis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count is a simple method for evaluating coronary blood flow. Although it is well known that slow coronary flow is present in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE), the effects of coexisting stenosis and the severity of ectatic involvement on coronory flow have not been adequately studied. Thus, we examined (1) the effect of coexistence of obstructive coronary artery disease on TIMI frame count (TFC) and (2) the relation between the severity of ectatic involvement and TFC in patients with CAE.

Documentation of slow coronary flow by the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count in habitual smokers with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count is a simple clinical tool for assessing quantitative indexes of coronary blood flow. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term cigarette smoking on the TIMI frame count in patients with angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. Between May 2001 and January 2002, 41 habitual smokers and 41 sex-matched nonsmokers with angiographically proven normal coronary arteries were included in the study.

Acute myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries in a young man with the Behcet's disease.

Behcet's disease (BD) is an inflammatory disorder of unknown origin, which usually presents with mucocutaneous, ocular, articular, vascular, gastrointestinal and central nervous system manifestations. Although cardiac involvement is not infrequent as a manifestation of Behcet's disease, coronary arteritis is very rarely reported. We suggest that the diagnosis of coronary arteritis should be considered in patients presenting acute myocardial infarction especially in young patients as underlying cause.

Changes in plasma levels of adhesion molecules after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.

Background: Adhesion molecules are expressed on vascular endothelium and on immune and inflammatory cells. Recently increased levels of adhesion molecules have been shown in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. This study examined the serum levels of the adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis and the effects of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) on these adhesion molecules.

Increased thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.

The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count is a simple clinical tool for assessing quantitative indexes of coronary blood flow. This measurement has been significantly correlated with flow velocity measured with a flow-wire by several investigators during baseline conditions or hyperemia. In this study we aimed to evaluate the coronary flow in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia by means of the TIMI frame count and to compare the results with those of patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Comparison of P-wave duration and dispersion in patients aged > or =65 years with those aged < or =45 years.

P-wave dispersion (PWD) is a new electrocardiographic marker that reflects discontinuous and inhomogeneous propagation of sinus impulses, which has been studied in some cardiac conditions as a useful predictor of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the peresent study was to compare P-wave duration and PWD in patients < or =45 versus > or =65 years of age. The study consisted of 2 groups.

Increased systemic and regional coagulation activity in patients with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm.

A hypercoagulable state has been reported in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and sinus rhythm (SR). However it has been suggested that the coagulation activity may be increased only within the left atrium in MS, with normal peripheral blood levels. The aim of the present study was to assess regional left atrial and systemic coagulation activities by measuring PF1+2 in patients with severe mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm, normal blood clotting times, and no left atrial thrombus.

Decreased platelet activation and endothelial dysfunction after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the changes in platelet activation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and sinus rhythm (SR) following percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV).

Background: Systemic thromboembolism is a serious complication in patients with valvular heart disease, and its incidence is highest in those with mitral stenosis. A hypercoagulable state has also been reported in patients with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm.

Diagnostic value of aVL derivation for right ventricular involvement in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) involvement is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI). Although electrocardiography is probably the most useful, simple, and objective tool for the diagnosis of acute MI, there are no well-defined criteria in the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram to properly identify RV involvement in patients with acute inferior MI. Our objective was to evaluate the value of ST-segment depression in lead aVL in diagnosing RV involvement in patients with acute inferior MI.

Increased p-wave duration and p-wave dispersion in patients with aortic stenosis.

Background: P-wave dispersion (PWD), defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum P-wave duration, has been proposed as being useful for the prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common arrhythmia and an important prognostic indicator for clinical deterioration in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate PWD in patients with AS.

Accessory mitral valve tissue manifesting cerebrovascular thromboembolic event in a 34-year-old woman.

Accessory mitral valve tissue is an extremely rare congenital cardiac anomaly. Most of the cases reported in the medical literature were associated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The majority of cases of accessory mitral valve tissue, causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, occur in association with other congenital cardiac anomalies.

Vascular endothelial function in patients with slow coronary flow.

Background: Slow coronary flow (SCF) in a normal coronary angiogram is a well-recognized clinical entity, but its etiopathogenesis remains unclear.

Design: The aim of the study was to determine endothelial function in patients with SCF using a flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) technique in the brachial artery.

Methods: Coronary flow was quantified using the corrected thrombosis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) method.