The correlation between plasma human neutrophil peptide 1-3 levels and severity of coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis, and discovering new biomarkers of inflammation is becoming important in order to uncover the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent studies have focused on polymorphonuclear neutrophils. It has been suggested that human neutrophil peptide 1-3 (HNP1-3) is proatherogenic.

Is there any association between vitamin D levels and isolated coronary artery ectasia?

Introduction: It has been postulated that low vitamin D levels are associated with coronary artery diseases. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is associated with atherosclerosis, congenital cardiac defects, immunological diseases and connective tissue diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there is an association between vitamin D and parathormone levels and isolated coronary artery ectasia and its extent.

Assessment of right heart function in preeclampsia by echocardiography.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystemic disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria that is specific to pregnancy and associated with maternal and fetal morbidity-mortality.

Aim: To assess right heart structure and function in PE by echocardiography using conventional and tissue Doppler techniques.

Methods: In total, 67 women with untreated PE and 46 matched healthy pregnant women were included.

The Association Between α-Antitrypsin and Coronary Artery Ectasia.

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The underlying pathophysiology of CAE is not fully understood. α-antitrypsin (A1AT) plays a role in the tissue protease system, and AAT-1 deficiency (A1ATD) has been shown to be related to CAD.

The effect of sedation during transoesophageal echocardiography on heart rate variability: a comparison of hypnotic sedation with medical sedation.

Background: There is no ideal sedation technique that can be used during transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and the data concerning the effects of available sedation techniques on heart rate variability (HRV) are limited.

Aim: To compare the effects of sedation through hypnotherapy with medical sedation achieved by midazolam on HRV.

Methods: We recruited 76 patients with an indication of TEE; the age range was 18-83 years.

The Association between the Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Isolated Metabolic Syndrome Patients: A Multimarker Approach.

The risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly increases in the patient population with metabolic syndrome (MeS). The present study aimed to investigate the association between the epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and the oxidative stress parameters in MeS patients. The study included 181 patients as a patient group of 92 consecutive patients with MeS and a control group of 89 consecutive patients with similar age and gender.

Single therapeutic catheterization for treatment of late diagnosed native coarctation of aorta using a covered stent.

Here in we are reporting a 35-year-old pregnant, hypertensive woman with a strict descending aorta coarctation. She had two missing pregnancies which were complicated with hypertension, but which were not diagnosed for any pathologies before. We diagnosed coarctation of aorta, but however postponed her treatment after delivery of baby, because hypertension was under control with medical treatment and she had no complication.

Contrast layering: late clearance of contrast dye--a novel angiographic phenomenon of early atherosclerosis.

Patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries sometimes exhibit delayed clearance of contrast medium. This contrast layering (CL) was tested with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and markers of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The study group (n = 26) consisted of patients with CL and the control group (n = 32) comprised patients with normal coronary arteries despite angina symptoms.

Elevated serum gamma-glutamyltransferase levels in patients with dilated ascending aorta.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels as an indirect marker of elevated oxidative stress in patients with dilated ascending aorta.

Methods: The study was designed as an observational cross-sectional controlled study. One hundred consecutive patients with dilated ascending aorta and 50 consecutive controls with normal ascending aorta diameter were selected for the study by comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Combination of capecitabine and phenytoin may cause phenytoin intoxication: a case report.

Capecitabine is an oral antineoplastic agent, and phenytoin is an anticonvulsant drug with a narrow therapeutic index. Although the interaction between capecitabine and phenytoin is rare, it may be potentially fatal. This interaction is thought to be at the level of CYP2C9 isoenzyme system in the liver.