Assessment of subclinical cardiac damage in chronic plaque psoriasis patients: a case control study.

Introduction: Epidemiological studies have suggested that patients with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Chronic inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients. Recent studies have evaluated the expression of plasma endocan and homocysteine levels.

A simple discharge risk model for predicting 1-year mortality in hospitalised acute decompansated heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Objective: The risk stratification for prognosis in heart failure is very important for optimal disease management and decision making. The aim of this study was to establish a simple discharge 1-year mortality prediction model by integrating data obtained from demographic characteristics, clinical evaluation, laboratory biomarkers and echocardiographic evaluation of hospitalised heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients with acute decompensation.

Methods And Results: A risk score model was developed based on β-coefficient number of variables in a multivariable logistic regression model which was created with the use of data on clinical, laboratory, imaging and therapeutic findings of 670 patients (65.

Prophylactic etanercept treatment in cisplatin ototoxicity.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the audiological protective effects of etanercept using distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) in rats with hearing loss due to cisplatin ototoxicity. The study began with 36 healthy female albino rats; 31 rats had good measurements in DPOAE and were included in the study. On day 0, a single dose of etanercept was given by intraperitoneal administration to 15 rats (etanercept group).

Predictors of Long-Term Mortality and Frequent Re-Hospitalization in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Kidney Dysfunction Treated with Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers.

BACKGROUND Assessment of risk for all-cause mortality and re-hospitalization is an important task during discharge of acute heart failure (AHF) patients, as they warrant different management strategies. Treatment with optimal medical therapy may change predictors for these 2 end-points in AHF patients with renal dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors for long-term outcome in AHF patients with kidney dysfunction who were discharged on optimal medical therapy.

Percutaneous renal sympathetic denervation in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation may be an alternative after unsuccessful conventional ablation attempts.

Real-World Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Individuals Aged 80 and Older with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke Study.

Objectives: To compare the clinical characteristics of and use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in individuals aged 80 and older with atrial fibrillation (AF) with those of individuals younger than 80 with AF in clinical practice.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: The ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke prevention strategies in Turkey trial (NCT02344901), a national observational registry.

Nickel sensitivity in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Objective: Various foods play important role in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These foods are shown to increase gastroesophageal reflux symptoms via various mechanisms and majority of these foods also contain nickel. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between Nickel sensitivity and GERD.

The role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and red blood cell distribution width in the classification of febrile seizures.

Objective: Most febrile seizures occur outside of hospitals, and in most cases, information about the characteristics of the seizures is obtained from the parents. This makes it difficult to differentiate between simple and complex seizures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and the red blood cell (erythrocyte) distribution width (RDW) in distinguishing between simple and complex febrile seizures.

Guideline-adherent therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in different health care settings: Results from RAMSES study.

Objective: No studies have been conducted in Turkey to compare the quality of stroke prevention therapies provided in different healthcare settings in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate possible differences between secondary (SH) and tertiary hospital (TH) settings in the effectiveness of implementing AF treatment strategies.

Methods: Baseline characteristics of 6273 patients with non-valvular AF enrolled in the RAMSES (ReAl-life Multicentre Survey Evaluating Stroke Prevention Strategies in Turkey) study were compared.

Effect of Oral Nitrates on All-Cause Mortality and Hospitalization in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Background: Hydralazine-nitrate combination is recommended for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)/systolic heart failure who are symptomatic despite guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Use of nitrates alone for this indication is not well-established. This study aims to evaluate the effect of oral nitrates on all-cause mortality and hospitalization in HFrEF patients using GDMT.

A Novel Deep Inspiration Maneuver for Difficult Transseptal Puncture.

Transseptal puncture (TSP) may not be possible in cases of an elastic, aneurysmal, or thickened interatrial septum (IAS). During deep inspiration (DI), the chest wall expands and the diaphragm descends. This makes intrapleural pressure to become more negative, which leads to movement of the IAS to the right side.

Factors affecting executive functions in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and volumetric changes in the prefrontal cortex.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cognitive changes and executive functions are among the cognitive domains most affected. However, it is not completely understood which of the factor(s) among hypoxemia, repeated arousal, and sleepiness affect the executive functions. This study aims to evaluate the possible relationship between the executive functions and nocturnal parameters, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) volumes.

Septal Ablation for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: Transcoronary and Endocardial Approach.

Septal reduction therapy is the gold standard treatment method for symptomatic, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Although surgical myectomy is a well-established and effective technique with decades of experience in its application, use of transcoronary alcohol septal ablation has increased precipitously owing to the less-invasive nature of the procedure. Moreover, endocardial septal ablation therapy is a relatively newly defined modality, and outcomes of the procedure are not clearly elucidated yet.

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome in children with aortic and pulmonary stenosis.

Introduction: This prospective study was planned to investigate the frequency and relationship of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) with aortic and pulmonary stenosis in patients.

Methods: A total of 84 children, ranging from two to 18 years of age, were enrolled in this study. Of these, 28 had isolated aortic stenosis, 32 had isolated pulmonary stenosis and 24 were healthy.

Laparoscopic Pectouteropexy: Alternative Technique for Uterine Preservation.

Study Objective: To show an alternative technique of laparoscopic pectouteropexy for uterine preservation in young women.

Design: A step-by-step explanation of the technique using videos (educative video).

Setting: In recent years, uterine preservation surgery for pelvic organ prolapse has become more popular.

Role of endocardial septal ablation in the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Septal reduction therapy is accepted as a first therapeutic option for symptomatic drug-resistant hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Although, surgical septal myectomy is the gold standard method, alcohol septal ablation is a well-studied alternative approach in the patients with suitable anatomy. Endocardial septal ablation (ESA) therapy was relatively new defined modality and outcomes of the procedure were not clearly elucidated yet.

Unanswered Questions in Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrogram Ablation.

Pulmonary vein isolation has been accepted as potential target for ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) given that the pulmonary veins are the main source of AF triggers. However, ablation strategies for persistent AF are less well defined. Mapping and ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) is one strategy that has been proposed as a strategy for substrate modification although there is no consensus on their definition and procedural end points.

Preoperative Low Serum Albumin Levels Increase the Requirement of Renal Replacement Therapy after Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Acute kidney injury is a common complication of cardiac surgery that increases morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study is to analyze the association of preoperative serum albumin levels with acute kidney injury and the requirement of renal replacement therapy after isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively collected data of 530 adult patients who underwent isolated CABG surgery with normal renal function.

The Influence of Metabolic Syndrome on Acute Kidney Injury Occurrence after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a cluster of systemic abnormalities: hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, and hypertension. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the devastating complications after cardiac surgery. Age, DM, preexisting renal dysfunction, hypertension, impaired left ventricular function, and severe arteriosclerosis of the aorta are the major risk factors for the development of AKI.