Assessment of the relationship between endocan and obstructive sleep apnea severity.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and endothelial dysfunction are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and the development of atherosclerosis. Endocan is a marker of endothelial dysfunction, while obstructive sleep apnea is one of the causes of endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the relationship between endocan and obstructive sleep apnea severity.

Decreased neurotensin levels as a biomarker in resistant hypertension.

: Although neurotensin is found throughout the body including cardiovascular structures, the correlation of plasma neurotensin levels with resistant hypertension (RH) has never been examined. Therefore, we aimed to compare plasma neurotensin concentration, between patients with RH and those with controlled hypertension (CH).: Forty-one patients with RH and 45 patients with CH who had undergone outpatient ambulatory blood pressure measurements were prospectively recruited.

Visfatin levels are increased in patients with resistant hypertension and are correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation of serum visfatin levels with resistant hypertension (RHT).

Patients And Methods: Patients who had undergone ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) during the outpatient controls were prospectively recruited. Seventy-one patients with RHT and 94 patients with controlled hypertension (CHT) were included in the study.

Galectin-3 is associated with coronary plaque burden and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome severity.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is reported to be associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Galectin-3 plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation, development of cardiac fibrosis, and remodelling. A significant relationship between galectin-3 and the total number of coronary plaques and the macrocalcified plaque structures of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus has been reported.

Assessment of the Relationship Between Serum Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1) and Severity of Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Background: Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1), a dual-function glycoprotein, is secreted by endothelial cells, adipocytes, and kidney and vascular smooth muscle cells. It has been reported to participate in the development of atherosclerosis as an adhesion molecule and a pro-inflammatory enzyme. Increased VAP-1 levels are related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, stroke and chronic renal failure.

Assessment of relationship between galectin-3 and ambulatory ECG-based microvolt T-wave alternans in sustained systolic-diastolic hypertension patients.

Objectives: Galectin-3 is a marker associated with myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular myocardial index (LVMI). Myocardial fibrosis and LVMI have been reported in many studies to be associated with microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) positivity. In this study, galectin-3 levels of normotensive individuals and sustained systolic-diastolic hypertensive patients were compared and the association between galectin-3 levels and ambulatory ECG-based MTWA was investigated.

The prognostic value of admission mean platelet volume to platelet count ratio in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Mean platelet volume to platelet count (MPV/Plt) ratio has been demonstrated to be a good indicator of long-term mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, the prognostic value of MPV/Plt in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not reported.

Aim: To determine whether the MPV/Plt ratio on admission has any predictive value for major adverse cardiac events including short- and long-term mortality in STEMI.