Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index as a Potential Biomarker for Assessing Disease Activity and Predicting Proteinuria Development in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with varied clinical manifestations affecting multiple organ systems. This study aimed to investigate the association between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and disease activity, as well as proteinuria levels in patients with SLE. Methodology A total of 141 patients diagnosed with SLE and 99 control subjects were included in this retrospective study.

Association between syndecan-4 and subclinical atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the risk of cardiovascular complications in AS patients is still higher than in the general population. Macrophages are at the intersection of the basic pathogenetic processes of AS and atherosclerosis. Although syndecan-4 (SDC4) mediates a variety of biological processes, the role of SDC4 in macrophage-mediated atherogenesis in AS patients remains unclear.

Arterial Stiffness, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Endocan, and A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase With Thrombospondin Type I Motif 9 Levels and Their Relationship With Disease Activity in Patients With Acromegaly With and Without Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Objective: Cardiovascular complications such as cardiomyopathy and endothelial dysfunction, which are frequently seen in patients with acromegaly, are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness, endocan level, and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motif 9 level and their relationship with disease activity in patients with acromegaly with and without cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with acromegaly-25 with active disease, 26 with well-controlled disease, and 9 with newly diagnosed disease-and 60 age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study.

Association between fragmented QRS and postprocedural rhythm disturbances in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Introduction: According to recent studies, the rate of atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacing in patients following transcatheter aortic valve implantation varied between 5.7% and 42.5%.

Association between SYNTAX II Score and late saphenous vein graft failure in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Objective: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a well-established treatment modality for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Syntax II Score has been established as novel scoring system with better prediction of postprocedural outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of SYNTAX II Score for predicting late saphenous vein graft (SVG) failure in patients undergoing isolated CABG.

Hidden danger of COVID-19 outbreak: evaluation of subclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients with mild symptoms.

The COVID-19 infection, which is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has rapidly emerged as a global public health issue. Cardiac complications secondary to this infection are common and associated with mortality. This study aimed to evaluate whether subclinical myocardial dysfunction exists in non-hospitalized mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients using left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS).

Effects of oral colchicine administration as first-line adjunct therapy in myopericarditis.

Background: Although current guidelines recommend routine use of oral colchicine as a first-line adjunct therapy to aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for acute and recurrent pericarditis, there are insufficient data to recommend routine use of colchicine for the initial management of myopericarditis.

Methods: The records of 194 patients who were admitted for myopericarditis were investigated retrospectively. Patients receiving oral colchicine (n = 33) as an adjunct to aspirin/NSAIDs comprised the study group and patients who received conventional therapy (n = 31) formed the control group.

Time delays in each step from symptom onset to treatment in acute myocardial infarction: Results from a nation-wide TURKMI registry.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to analyze the TURKMI registry to identify the factors associated with delays from symptom onset to treatment that would be the focus of improvement efforts in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Turkey.

Methods: The TURKMI study is a nation-wide registry that was conducted in 50 centers capable of 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). All consecutive patients (n=1930) with AMI admitted to coronary care units within 48 hours of symptom onset were prospectively enrolled during a predefined 2-week period between November 1, 2018, and November 16, 2018.

Dynamic changes in aortic stiffness after substantial weight loss by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in patients with obesity: a 1-year follow-up study.

Arterial stiffness has been identified as a powerful and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of aortic stiffness (AS) and adverse cardiovascular events. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the effects of weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on AS in individuals with morbid obesity by using the transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Favorable electrocardiographic changes after substantial weight loss in patients with morbid obesity : Results of a prospective study.

Background: Obese patients have an increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden death, even in the absence of structural heart disease and cardiac dysfunction. This study aimed to determine whether weight loss by bariatric surgery has an effect on arrhythmia-related electrocardiographic (ECG) variables in morbidly obese patients.

Methods: In this prospective study, the data of 48 patients were analyzed.

Index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance and the effects of thrombolytic therapy on the electrocardiogram of patients with pulmonary embolism.

Objective: Different parameters on electrocardiograms (ECG) have been investigated to predict arrhythmia and mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). The acute effect of thrombolytic therapy (TT) on these parameters has not been investigated yet.

Methods: We examined the data of 83 patients who were evaluated as high-risk APE and discharged from the hospital after TT.

Effects of SGLT2 Inhibitors as an Add-on Therapy to Metformin on Electrocardiographic Indices of Ventricular Repolarization.

Background: According to EMPA-REG OUTCOME, trial use of empagliflozin in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease improves hospitalization for heart failure and decreases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have shown that a prolonged T-peak to T-end interval on the resting electrocardiography is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Tp-e/corrected QT interval (QTc) ratio is a reliable index of prolonged ventricular repolarization.

Short- and mid-term effects of sleeve gastrectomy on left ventricular function with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in obese patients.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate left ventricular functions of obese patients with no known heart disease who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy by speckle tracking echocardiography in their early and medium-term postoperative follow-up.

Patients And Method: Thirty-seven obese patients (10 M, 27 F) without coronary artery disease or heart failure who had undergone LSG were included in the study. Apical four-, three-, and two-chamber images were analyzed longitudinally by conventional methods and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) for left ventricle functions preoperatively, at the postoperative Month 1 and at the postoperative Month 6 (QLAB 6.

Association between depression and anxiety scores and inflammation in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.

Objective: Depression and anxiety disorders are frequently found in combination with obstructive coronary artery disease. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is an atypical form of coronary artery disease, the etiology of which has not yet been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to assess the existence of a relationship between anxiety/depression and CAE.

Prolonged pulmonary pulse transit time is associated with symptoms in patients with significant mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm.

Introduction: Pulmonary pulse transit time (pPTT) is a novel noninvasive echocardiographic measure to assess pulmonary arterial hemodynamics. It has been shown to be shorter in precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PHT). Mitral stenosis (MS) is one of the causes of postcapillary PHT.

A rare echocardiographic image of aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis complicated with paravalvular abscess, pseudoaneurysm and aorto-right atrial fistula.

Early infectious endocarditis (IE) occurs in 3% of prosthesis in the first 12 months. Early IE is more aggressive than late prosthetic valve endocarditis. Mortality remains high, despite combined medical and surgical treatment.

Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis and its prognostic value in patients with non-ST elevation-acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are still one of the leading causes of death in industrialised countries, and oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis plays an important role in maintaining the oxidant-antioxidant balance.

Aim: We aimed to demonstrate the relationship between dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters and non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS).

Electrocardiographic alterations in patients consuming synthetic cannabinoids.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the electrocardiographic parameters in patients consuming synthetic cannabinoids.

Methods: Thirty-five patients who were consuming synthetic cannabinoids were enrolled to the study, prospectively. The control group included 35 healthy age and sex-matched volunteers.

Quadricuspid Aortic Valve Associated with Aortic Regurgitation, Mitral Regurgitation, and Aortic Dilatation.

The quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a very uncommon congenital malformation with an estimated incidence of 0.003% to 0.043% of all congenital heart diseases.

Assessment of local carotid stiffness in seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Arterial stiffness (AS) is an independent predictor of CV events. This study aimed to analyse local carotid AS parameters in seronegative and seropositive RA patients.