Attractive Versus Golden Ratios: Formula of Utopian Beauty through Comparison of Facial Proportions among Worldwide Celebrities and Average People.

Introduction: Beauty criteria change according to trends, cultures, and expectations. So, the golden ratios are not enough to understand the actual beauty concept.

Objective: It is aimed to create a method and formula to define beauty in terms of different facial measurements and ratios as variables.

An echocardiographic predictor of contrast-induced nephropathy following percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndrome: aortic valve sclerosis.

Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is closely related to endothelial dysfunction. The association of AVS with contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is unknown. We planned to investigate the relationship of AVS besides known parameters with CIN.

Hair whitening and obesity are independently related to ascending aorta dilatation in young-middle aged men.

Objective: Hair whitening (HW) is strongly linked with aging. Ascending aortic dilation (AAD) and HW share common etiologic factors. We investigated the association of HW with ascending aortic diameters.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Predicts Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Independently of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference.

Background: Visceral obesity is strongly associated with atherosclerosis. Even though waist circumference (WC) is the most common assessment method of total visceral adipose tissue and cardiometabolic risk, this method lacks direct measurement of adipose tissue and has better correlation to subcutaneous fat rather than visceral fat. We intended to investigate whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is clinically superior to body mass index (BMI) and WC in predicting Framingham risk score (FRS) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

An increase in epicardial adipose tissue is strongly associated with carotid-intima media thickness and atherosclerotic plaque, but LDL only with the plaque.

Objective: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is reliable marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Until today, there was no study that investigated whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), which is a surrogate for lipid depot in a special visceral tissue or circulating lipids, is more important for CIMT and atherosclerotic plaque.

Methods: Our study, having cross-sectional and prospective observational design, included 252 patients who were admitted to our outpatient clinic.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness Is an Independent Predictor of Critical and Complex Coronary Artery Disease by Gensini and Syntax Scores.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness is associated with the severity and extent of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. We prospectively investigated whether epicardial adipose tissue thickness is related to coronary artery disease extent and complexity as denoted by Gensini and Syntax scores, and whether the thickness predicts critical disease. After performing coronary angiography in 183 patients who had angina or acute myocardial infarction, we divided them into 3 groups: normal coronary arteries, noncritical disease (≥1 coronary lesion with <70% stenosis), and critical disease (≥1 coronary lesion with <70% stenosis).

The relationship of plasma catestatin concentrations with metabolic and vascular parameters in untreated hypertensive patients: Influence on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Objective: Catestatin has several cardiovascular actions, in addition to diminished sympatho-adrenal flow. Decreased plasma catestatin levels may reflect a predisposition for the development of hypertension and metabolic disorders. We planned to investigate the possible roles of catestatin in untreated hypertensive patients.

Bilirubin Level is Associated with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Independent of Blood Pressure in Previously Untreated Hypertensive Patients.

Background And Objectives: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a sign of subclinical cardiovascular disease, is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to determine the association of left ventricular mass (LVM) with possible causative anthropometric and biochemical parameters as well as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) as surrogates of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction, respectively, in previously untreated hypertensive patients.

Subjects And Methods: Our study included 114 consecutive previously untreated hypertensive patients who underwent echocardiography and ultrasonography to evaluate their vascular status and function via brachial artery CIMT and FMD.

The effect of irritable bowel syndrome on carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, and heart rate variability.

Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a subgroup of functional somatic disorders, may be associated with autonomic dysfunction (AD). Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of autonomic dysfunction, may predict survival. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of IBS on HRV parameters, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) as surrogates of AD, subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness, respectively.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness is associated with myocardial infarction and impaired coronary perfusion.

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with the presence, severity and extent of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) in addition to subclinical atherosclerosis. We investigated if EAT thickness is related to acute myocardial infarction in patients with CAD. We also searched for the association between EAT thickness and objective coronary flow and myocardial perfusion parameters such as Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Frame count (TFC) and myocardial blush grade (MBG).

Comparison of radiation-induced damage between CT angiography and conventional coronary angiography.

Objective: Both computed tomography (CTA) and conventional angiography (CCA) can provide direct visualization of the coronary arteries. The aim of the present study was to compare the radiation exposure between CTA and CCA and to search whether this amount of radiation causes significant DNA damage.

Method: Seventy-two patients who underwent CTA or CCA were enrolled prospectively.

Relationship of the angiographic extent of peripheral arterial disease with coronary artery involvement.

Objective: To determine the co-incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients investigated for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and to establish the relationship between the risk factors in the two groups of patients.

Methods: The prospective study, done from January 2005 and April 2009, at the Cardiology Clinic of Rize Education and Research Hospital, Rize and John F. Kennedy Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, had a cohort of 307 patients who had been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease either clinically or by ultrasonography for the arteries of the lower extremities and had undergone coronary angiography and peripheral angiography in the same or different sessions.

Increased YKL-40 levels in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia: an observational study.

Objective: YKL-40, a new biomarker of localized inflammation, is secreted by macrophages within the atherosclerotic plaques. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a clinical entity with unclear etiopathogenesis. Some studies have revealed that CAE may be a form of atherosclerosis that has more localized and intense inflammatory properties than atherosclerosis.

Epicardial adipose tissue is independently associated with increased left ventricular mass in untreated hypertensive patients: an observational study.

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) secretes various inflammatory mediators and growth factor, and has endocrine and paracrine effects on myocardium and body. We planned the present study in order to evaluate the possible relationship between EAT and left ventricular mass (LVM), a potent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, independent of age, blood pressure and the metabolic parameters in patients with hypertension (HT).

Methods: The present study was cross-sectional and observational, including consecutive 107 untreated essential hypertensive patients who underwent a complete transthoracic echocardiographic examination as well as measurements of LVM and EAT.

Increased pulse-wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Objective: Vascular risk factors frequently coexist with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in both men and women, suggesting that atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction may play a major role in the development of LUTS. Arterial stiffness owing to decreased arterial compliance is one of the major signs of vascular ageing, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) can be used in establishing the extent and severity of vascular impairment. This study investigated the association of arterial stiffness and vascular atherosclerotic involvement with LUTS in men and overactive bladder (OAB) in women.

Increased pulse wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of our study was to determine whether carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), as surrogates of cardiovascular disease and arterial stiffness, are increased in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: Forty patients with CTS and 40 gender- and age-matched controls underwent cf-PWV assessment, CIMT measurement, and nerve conduction study.

A rare sign of ischemia during exercise ECG: PR interval lengthening in the recovery period.

Exercise electrocardiography (ECG) is one of the most commonly utilized tests in cardiology. Despite the drawbacks, exercise ECG is widely preferred due to low cost, standardization, and strong prognostic information. A prolonged PR interval during recovery has recently been proposed as an indicator of mortality.