A case report of superior vena cava obstruction.

We report herein an 83-year-old gentleman with lung cancer who presented with nausea, complete atrioventricular (AV) block and presyncope. Despite a present temporary pacemaker, which had been inserted through the femoral vein 5 days previously, the patient had asystole attacks that resolved with atropine administration. Coronary angiography demonstrated no critical stenosis.

Angiographic evaluation of the radial artery diameter in patients who underwent coronary angiography or coronary intervention.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the radial artery diameter of patients through angiography and evaluate the feasibility of using wider sheaths for radial interventions. In addition, any parameters that could affect the radial artery diameter were also evaluated.

Background: The radial artery is a suitable, beneficial route for coronary procedures and is considered a good alternative to transfemoral access.

Quantitative evaluation improves specificity of myocardial perfusion SPECT in the assessment of functionally significant intermediate coronary artery stenoses: a comparative study with fractional flow reserve measurements.

Objective: Myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) is a noninvasive method commonly used for assessment of the hemodynamic significance of intermediate coronary stenoses. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement is a well-validated invasive method used for the evaluation of intermediate stenoses. We aimed to determine the association between MPS and FFR findings in intermediate degree stenoses and evaluate the added value of quantification in MPS.

The particular interactions of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors with different circulating specific leukocyte subtype counts in blood: an observational study.

Objective: The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, however the impact of inflammatory cells in this process is well known. Different traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) may have specifically different effects on leukocyte subtype. Thus, these special interactions may induce different vascular involvement forms due to the altered endothelial damage and vascular repair mechanisms.

[The relation of serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 level with coronary atherosclerotic burden and collateral degree in stable coronary artery disease].

Objectives: We investigated whether serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) level predicted coronary atherosclerotic burden in patients with stable coronary artery disease and its relationship with coronary collateral grade.

Study Design: We prospectively included 196 patients (103 males, 93 females; mean age 59 ± 11 years) who underwent coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris. Serum MCP-1 levels were determined before coronary angiography.

Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in acute myocardial infarction and stable coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Inflammation and polymorphonuclear neutrophils are shown to be important in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is secreted from neutrophils and may increase the proteolytic activity within the atherosclerotic plaque. We aimed to investigate whether the plasma levels of NGAL are higher in patients with AMI compared with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Endothelial progenitor cells (CD34+KDR+) and monocytes may provide the development of good coronary collaterals despite the vascular risk factors and extensive atherosclerosis.

Objective: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) have a regenerative role in the vascular system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate simultaneously the effects of EPC and inflammatory cells on the presence and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the grade of coronary collateral growth in patients with clinical suspicion of CAD.

Methods: This study has a cross-sectional and observational design.

Relation between serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and coronary collateral development.

Background: The degree of coronary collateral development is not same in every patient with similar degree of coronary stenosis. In animal studies monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) has been found to be related to collateral vessel development. In this study we investigated whether a higher serum MCP-1 level is related to better coronary collateral vessel development in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

[What is renin inhibition? Mechanism of action].

After discovery of the first direct renin inhibitor, aliskiren, which blocks the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the first rate limiting step, in addition to angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB), renin has become an important target nowadays. The scope of this review is to give a detailed information regarding renin which has an important regulatory function in the body. It is crucial to understand renin and related structures in order to understand its functions in the organ systems.

[Transradial approach in diagnostic and therapeutic interventional coronary artery procedures].

Transradial access was first used in 1989 for diagnostic coronary angiography. With further improvements in the technique, it has gained wide popularity in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and percutaneous coronary interventions including stenting. When performed with appropriate indications, transradial approach is a preferable technique for coronary interventions due to lower rate of bleeding complications, increased patient comfort, shorter hospital stay and follow-up period, and decreased workload.

Impact of the lesion location on fractional flow reserve.

Introduction: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a method to determine the significance of a lesion. Although an FFR measurement of < 0.75 is accepted to show ischaemia, the effect of the location of the lesion on the coronary artery is not known.

The comparison of early and late outcome of direct and conventional stenting of patients with st elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare direct and conventional stenting procedure in the subacute stable phase on short- and long-term results in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods: Eighty-eight clinically stable ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients were enrolled into the study. The patients were classified as group I (direct stenting) and group II (conventional stenting - stenting after balloon dilatation).

The reliability of fractional flow reserve measurement in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is an invasive method to assess the functional significance of coronary stenoses. The value of FFR in diabetic patients is controversial because of microvascular dysfunction. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on FFR measurements.

The impact of multiple vessel disease on fractional flow reserve.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a method for the assessment of intermediate lesions. The impact of lesions at other coronary arteries on the FFR is not clear. We aimed to investigate the impact of the lesions in the other coronary arteries on FFR measurement.

Long-term clinical effects of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with coronary artery stent implantation.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the early and late effects of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on stent thrombosis and major adverse coronary events after coronary artery stent (CAS) implantation at a long-term follow-up period.

Methods: Forty-three patients (28 men, mean age 63+/-10 years) who underwent CAS implantation before MRI examination were included. MRI was performed on a 1.

The association of circulating monocyte count with coronary collateral growth in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The status of inflammation may affect the collateral development in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Monocytes were found to have an important role in collateral growth in animal studies. We aimed to investigate the possible association of circulating monocyte count with collateral development in patients with DM and severe coronary artery disease (CAD).

Asymmetric dimethylarginine and coronary collateral vessel development.

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) plays a major role in collateral vessel development. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) that is an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthesis may impair the effective coronary collateral vessel development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma ADMA level and coronary collateral vessel development.

Intracoronary thrombus aspiration through a guiding catheter in a case with stent thrombosis.

A 50-year-old male with a history of inferior myocardial infarction and stent implantation to the right coronary artery 20 days prior this admission presented with acute inferior myocardial re-infarction. Diagnostic right coronary angiography revealed a massive thrombus within the previously implanted stent. After manual aspiration through a guiding catheter, a large, fresh thrombus was removed.

Corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts in diabetic patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries.

Objective: To evaluate corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) in patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and diabetes mellitus, a condition known to be associated with microvascular dysfunction.

Methods: Patients who underwent coronary angiography in Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between January 2000 and January 2005 were studied. Corrected TIMI frame count was calculated over the left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (Cx) and right coronary arteries (RCA) in 118 diabetic and 122 non-diabetic patients with normal coronary angiogram.

The delta fractional flow reserve can predict lesion severity and long-term prognosis.

Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a method which is used to identify the angiographically intermediate lesions requiring revascularization. However, physiological importance and clinical usability of delta (Delta) FFR, the difference between FFR in baseline conditions (FFRbase, resting) and after adenosine administration (FFRmin, hyperemic), is currently unknown. We aimed to investigate whether DeltaFFR may be helpful in the identification of the lesion severity and predictability of long-term prognosis.

Traditional risk factors are predictive on segmental localization of coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between established risk factors and segmental localization of coronary artery disease. A total of 2760 patients who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled into the study. Coronary angiographic segmental evaluation was performed according to the scheme of American Heart Association.

The optimal time of elective percutaneous coronary intervention for stable patients after ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: To find the optimal time (early: < or =3 days; late: >3 days) for revascularization in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in the subacute phase.

Methods: Ninety-nine STEMI patients who were admitted to Gazi University Faculty of Medicine between 2000 and 2004 were enrolled into this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to time from the beginning of symptoms to the percutaneous coronary intervention.

Plasma homocysteine level in cardiac syndrome X and its relation with duke treadmill score.

Objective: To investigate the plasma homocysteine level and the relationship between plasma homocysteine level and duke treadmill score (DTS) in cardiac syndrome X (CSX) patients.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients (36 male, 43 female, mean age: 50 +/- 8.8 years) admitted to Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey with typical effort angina, positive stress test, and angiographically normal coronary arteries between January and September 2006 were included in this prospective and controlled study.

Long term tirofiban infusion before percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with angiographically massive intracoronary thrombus.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of long term tirofiban infusion before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the angiographic results in the setting of visible intracoronary thrombus and compare this with conventional PCI performed without tirofiban.

Methods: Out of 2,835 PCI procedures performed in Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey between 1999 and 2006, 156 (5.5%) patients with massive thrombus in whom PCI were applied, were included in this retrospective study.