Clinical efficacy, safety, tolerability, and survival outcome of long-term inhaled iloprost treatment in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension: Data from prospective multicenter observational OPTION study.

Objective: To evaluate clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of long-term inhaled iloprost treatment in the daily practice for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: A total of 115 patients with PAH on inhaled iloprost treatment were included. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were recorded at baseline and at 3rd to 24th month visits.

The Effect of Smoking on Endothelial Dysfunction in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients with Preserved Renal Function.

Background: In autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), endothelial dysfunction (ED) is common and occurs much earlier than kidney function impairment. The impact of smoking on ED in ADPKD patients has not been previously studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential contribution of smoking habits to ED and subclinical atherosclerosis in these patients.

Morning blood pressure surge in early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and its relation with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Introduction: The activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which usually leads to a swift surge in blood pressure in the morning hours (MBPS) may be the cause of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and endothelial dysfunction (ED) in early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. We studied the association between MBPS and LVH in ADPKD patients with preserved renal functions.

Methods: Patients with ADPKD with preserved renal functions were enrolled.

The association between cardiac valvular calcification and fetuin-A levels in kidney transplant recipients.

Objectives: Low fetuin-A levels in hemodialysis patients can be associated with development of vascular and valvular calcifications. The mechanisms underlying vascular and valvular calcifications are multifactorial. There are a few studies showing the relationship between low fetuin-A levels and valvular calcification after kidney transplantation.

Preliminary results from a nationwide adult cardiology perspective for pulmonary hypertension: RegiStry on clInical outcoMe and sUrvival in pulmonaRy hypertension Groups (SIMURG).

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the characteristics of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and adult cardiology practice patterns for PH in our country.

Methods: We evaluated preliminary survey data of 1501 patients with PH (females, 69%; age, 44.8±5.

[Approach to aortic aneurysms in the elderly].

There is an increase in the number of older persons worldwide. Because of this in the future we will much more manage the diseases which are more commonly seen in elderly in daily practice. One of the mortal diseases commonly seen in elderly patients is aortic aneurysm.

Serum paraoxonase activity in patients with ischaemic and nonischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: This study examined whether the serum PON1 activity is different in patients with ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and nonischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NDCM) and the relation between the serum PON1 activity and serum pro-BNP levels.

Methods And Results: In this study, we enrolled 60 patients with left ventricular systolic failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III-IV) and a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) < 40% as determined by echocardiography and 30 healthy subjects. The patients with systolic heart failure were divided into two groups: patients with IDCM and patients with NDCM.

Use of tolvaptan in patients hospitalized for worsening chronic heart failure with severe hyponatremia: The initial experience at a single-center in Turkey.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan for severe hyponatremia (SH) in hypervolemic heart failure (HF) patients within daily clinical practice.

Methods: We restrospectively reviewed our database on tolvaptan as an add-on treatment in hypervolemic patients admitted to our clinic due to deterioration of HF and having hyponatremia resistant to standard therapy. Severe hyponatremia was defined as serum sodium concentration ≤125 mEq/L.

Catheter-directed ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis may be life-saving in patients with massive pulmonary embolism after failed systemic thrombolysis.

The treatment options for high risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients with failed systemic thrombolytic treatment (STT) is limited. The clinical use of catheter directed thrombolysis with the EkoSonic Endovascular System (EKOS) in this population has not been evaluated before. Catheter directed thrombolysis is an effective treatment modality for high risk PE patients with failed STT.

The relationship between serum lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 levels and systolic heart failure.

Objectives: Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) appears to be involved in atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and rupture. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the utility of serum LOX-1 levels in the diagnosis and assessment of left ventricular systolic HF and LOX-1’s relationship with serum pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).

Design And Settings: This was a cross-sectional study of all eligible patients admitted to the department of cardiology of the University Hospital between July 2011 and April 2012.

Early atherosclerosis in normotensive patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: the relation between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and carotid intima-media thickness.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) is suggested as a novel marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Despite increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients, the extent of the relationship between CIMT and EATT is unknown. The main purpose of our study was to evaluate the relation between EATT and CIMT in normotensive ADPKD patients with well-preserved renal function.

Correlation between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients with preserved renal function.

Aim: To evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients with preserved renal function.

Methods: A total of 52 ADPKD patients [mean (SD) age 38.2 (12.

[Management of multivalvular heart disease].

Multivalvular heart valve disease is not an uncommon situation. Although many studies include only patients with regurgitation or stenosis involving only one heart valve, several scenarios in which patients present with regurgitation and/or stenosis involving two or more valves exist. Data on multivalve disease are scarce because of a large number of possible combinations and also owing to difficulties of exact quantification and an overlap in surgical indications.

Myocardial performance is impaired in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Objective: To investigate whether the Tei index, which is an indicator of global myocardial function and an independent predictor of cardiac death, is increased in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: The Tei index was used to evaluate myocardial performance, in addition to conventional echocardiographic evaluation of myocardial structural and functional changes, in patients with BRVO, patients with hypertension and healthy controls.

Results: Out of 36 patients with BRVO (18 female, 18 male; 17 hypertensive, 19 normotensive), 29 patients with hypertension (15 female, 14 male) and 28 healthy controls (15 female, 13 male), there were no significant between-group differences in age and sex.

Arterial dysfunction in early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease independent of fibroblast growth factor 23.

Introduction: Recent studies report reduced vascular compliance and elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and preserved kidney function. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between vascular compliance and FGF23 in patients in early phases of ADPKD.

Materials And Methods: We studied 54 ADPKD patients with preserved kidney function and 24 healthy individuals.

Treatment with a combination of bosentan and sildenafil allows for successful liver transplantation in a patient with portopulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that occurs in the setting of cirrhosis and portal hypertension is referred to as portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN). Liver transplantation (LTx) is curative, but the presence of moderate-to-severe PPHTN may be a contraindication for transplantation because of the elevated risk of peri- and post-transplantation morbidity and mortality. We report a successful liver transplantation in a patient with liver cirrhosis after treatment of moderate-to-severe PPHTN with a combination of the dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan and the specific phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil.

Serum fetuin-A levels in patients with systolic heart failure.

Objective: Inflammation and dystrophic calcification have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential usefulness of fetuin-A as a biomarker in CHF.

Methods: Serum fetuin-A was measured in 66 CHF patients with left ventricular function < 50% and in 31 healthy controls at baseline.

[Impaired myocardial performance in sarcoidosis].

Despite myocardial sarcoid involvement has been reported in 20-27% in autopsy series, only 5% of the patients are clinically symptomatic. This study was planned to evaluate right and left ventricular functions in patients with early stage sarcoidosis (stage I and II) without any findings of cardiac involvement with Tei index which globally shows systolic and diastolic functions of the ventricles was used. Seventy-two patients under follow-up for sarcoidosis without cardiac involvement (53 women, 19 men; mean age 49.

Serum choline levels in patients with stable angina and acute coronary syndromes: relation to the severity of coronary artery disease.

Objective: We sought to investigate whether serum choline levels are increased across the spectrum of coronary artery disease (CAD) manifestations and correlate with the severity of coronary stenosis.

Methods: A total of 36 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [22 patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS and 14 patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI)], 22 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP), and 18 controls were recruited for the study. In ACS patients, serum choline levels were measured on admission, and at 24 and 48 h thereafter, using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions in patients with early grade pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Aims: Cardiac sarcoidosis is symptomatic in only 5% of patients, and it is an independent predictor of mortality and carries a very poor prognosis. In our study, we aimed to assess left ventricle (LV) systolic and diastolic functions with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with early grade pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Methods And Results: The study population included 55 patients with Grade I-II sarcoidosis (41 females, 14 males, mean age: 47.

Impaired aortic stiffness and pulse wave velocity in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Background: Aortic distensibility (AD) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) reflect arterial stiffness, which is linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in different diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, all of which are also common risk factors in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). In the present study, we aimed to determine whether arterial stiffness in different segments of the arterial tree is increased in patients with BRVO.

Methods: The study group consisted of 35 patients with BRVO (20 female, 15 male, mean age: 55.

Diffuse involvement of the heart and great vessels in primary cardiac lymphoma.

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is an extremely rare disorder. In this report, a 57-year-old male with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving the heart and great vessels is presented. Trans-thoracic echocardiography was the first modality used to establish the diagnosis.

Aortic distensibility and coronary artery bypass graft patency.

Background: Aortic distensibility is an elasticity index of the aorta, and reflects aortic stiffness. Coronary artery disease has been found to be substantially associated with increased aortic stiffness. In this study we aimed to retrospectively analyze the association of angiographically determined aortic distensibility with the patency rates of coronary bypass grafts

Methods: The study was conducted in the Cardiology department of the Applied Research Centre for Health of Uludağ University.