786T/c endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism and coronary collateral circulation.

Introduction: In this study, we investigated the association between -786T/C polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide (NOS3) gene in which thymidine is replaced by a cytosine at nucleotide -786 (rs 2070744) and coronary collateral circulation (CCC) in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Materials And Methods: 286 patients having a critical stenosis (> 95%) in at least one major epicardial coronary vessel were included in the study. CCC was defined according to the Rentrop classification (R).

Association of Serum Cholesterol Levels with Short-term Mortality in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Serum cholesterols play an important role in pathophysiology and prognosis of acute thrombotic diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of serum lipid parameters in acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Methods: From January 2008 to January 2014 a total of 275 patients who were hospitalised with a diagnosis of APE were retrospectively screened.

Sublingual vs. Oral Captopril in Hypertensive Crisis.

Background: There are confusing data in literature regarding oral and sublingual captopril effects over blood pressure (BP) decrease.

Objectives: In our study we compared oral and sublingual captopril effectiveness over BP decrease in patients admitted to our Emergency Department with hypertensive urgency.

Methods: Our study was conducted from January 2012 to January 2013 in patients with hypertensive urgency.

Immediate electrical storm of Torsades de Pointes after CRT-D implantation in an ischemic cardiomyopathy patient.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (CRT-D) is the preferred treatment for patients with severe heart failure, dyssynchrony, and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death or for primary ventricular arrhythmia survivors. Rarely, left ventricular epicardial pacing can induce ventricular tachyarrhythmia rather than a beneficial effect. We describe an ischemic cardiomyopathy patient who underwent CRT-D therapy and developed sustained torsades de pointes (TdP) immediately after switching to biventricular pacing (BVP) mode.

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with bare-metal stent restenosis in STEMI patients treated with primary PCI.

Background: The clinical importance of complete blood count (CBC) parameters such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown in cardiovascular diseases. Stent restenosis (SR) is a major adverse event after stent implantation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of CBC parameters with SR rates after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Sustained ventricular tachycardia as the first manifestation of hydatid cyst located in the interventricular septum.

Echinococcus granulosus infection may manifest with cardiac involvement causing various symptoms. Here, we discuss a case of a young patient who presented with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) causing hemodynamic compromise. Diagnosis of cardiac hydatid cyst was established with echocardiography, computed tomography imaging, and serological examination.

The independent assocıatıon of plateletcrıt wıth long-term outcomes in patıents undergoıng prımary percutaneous coronary interventıon.

Purpose: Platelets play a key role in the genesis of thrombosis. Plateletcrit (PCT) provides complete information on total platelet mass. The relationship between PCT values and long-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who undergo primary angioplasty is not known.

Altered diastolic function and aortic stiffness in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is closely linked to cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: Echocardiographic studies were performed, including left ventricular diastolic functions, left and right atrial conduction times, and arterial stiffness parameters, namely stiffness index, pressure-strain elastic modulus, and distensibility, on 29 patients with AD and 24 age-matched individuals with normal cognitive function.

Results: The peak mitral flow velocity of the early rapid filling wave (E) was lower, and the peak velocity of the late filling wave caused by atrial contraction (A), deceleration time of peak E velocity, and isovolumetric relaxation time were higher in the AD group.

The relationship between platelet to lymphocyte ratio and the clinical outcomes in ST elevation myocardial infarction underwent primary coronary intervention.

The platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been investigated as a new predictor for cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic role admission PLRat admission in predicting in-hospital and early mortality in patients presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A total of 639 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included.

The relationship between fragmentation on electrocardiography and in-hospital prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: In patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), QRS fragmentation was determined as one of the indicators of mortality and morbidity. The development of fragmented QRS (fQRS) is related to defects in the ventricular conduction system and is linked to myocardial scar and fibrosis.

Material And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 355 consecutive patients hospitalized in the coronary intensive care unit of our hospital with STEMI between the years 2010 and 2012 and their electrocardiographic features and the frequency of in-hospital cardiac events were evaluated.

Red cell distribution width is increased in patients with ascending aortic dilatation.

Objectives: The prognostic importance of red cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in cardiovascular diseases has been shown. Ascending aortic dilatation (AAD) is a common cardiovascular disease and is associated with aortic wall inflammation and cystic degeneration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum levels of RDW, NLR and the presence of AAD.

Correlation between the serum alkaline phosphatase level and the severity of coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level has shown to be a prognostic factor in myocardial infarction and peripheral vascular disease by its promoting effect on vascular calcification. A few recent studies also showed that elevated ALP levels were associated with mortality and unfavorable prognosis in coronary artery disease (CAD). Herein, we aimed to investigate the correlation between serum ALP levels and the severity of CAD by assessing the Gensini score.

Contribution of platelets indices in the development of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) accounts for 10% of hospital-acquired renal failure, causes a prolonged in-hospital stay and represents a powerful predictor of poor clinical outcome. The underlying mechanism of the CIN development remains unclear and seems to be multifactorial. The potential link between platelet indices such as mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) with CIN is unknown.

Lower blood vitamin D levels are associated with an increased incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of renovascular disease. We assessed the correlation between vitamin D levels and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG).

Methods: Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were assessed before CAG in 403 patients.

Can the T-peak to T-end interval be a predictor of mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction?

Background: The interval between the peak and the end of the T wave (Tp-e interval) on 12-lead ECG is a measure of transmural dispersion of repolarization and may be related to malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the Tp-e interval predicts in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Methods: This study included 488 consecutive patients with STEMI treated with pPCI.

Presence of early repolarization on admission electrocardiography is associated with long-term mortality and MACE in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous intervention.

Background: Early repolarization (ER) is associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with/without structural heart disease. In this trial we examined the short- and long-term prognostic value of ER on admission electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Method: Consecutive 521 patients with acute STEMI who underwent primary PCI were enrolled prospectively.

Association between endothelial nitric oxide synthase intron 4a/b polymorphism and aortic dissection.

Objectives: The genetic risk factors that contribute to the risk of developing aortic dissection (AD) have been studied. We assessed the association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism with AD.

Study Design: Patients who underwent surgery with the diagnosis of AD and survived after the operation in our center between May 2007 and June 2011 were recruited retrospectively.

Presence of sigma shaped right coronary artery is an indicator of poor prognosis in patients with inferior myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The effectiveness of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is well established. The clinical variables associated with poor prognosis in patients with STEMI have been extensively investigated. Right coronary artery (RCA) has two anatomical variations detected on coronary angiography namely C-shaped and sigma shaped RCA.

Anaphylactic shock associated with intravenous amiodarone.

A 64-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency department with shortness of breath and palpitation which started 2 h before her admission. She had a history of rheumatic mitral valve disease and was on drug treatment with warfarin and metoprolol. The patient was orthopneic, blood pressure was 108/68 mmHg with an irregular pulse with a heart rate of 158 beats per minute, and respiratory rate was 23 times per minute.

The relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase 4a/4b gene polymorphism and premature coronary artery disease.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) plays a major role in the regulation of endothelial functions and reduced NO synthesis has been implicated in the development of coronary atherosclerosis. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) intron 4a/b polymorphism has been shown to be related to plasma nitric oxide concentrations and coronary artery disease in various population studies. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between eNOS 4a/b polymorphism and premature CAD.

Increased level of resistin predicts development of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Resistin is a peptide hormone that is secreted from lipid cells and is linked to type-2 diabetes, obesity, and inflammation. Being an important adipocytokine, resistin was proven to play an important role in cardiovascular disease. We compared resistin levels in patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) to demonstrate the relationship between plasma resistin levels and AF.

Pacemaker implantation complication rates in elderly and young patients.

Aims: To evaluate the complication rate differences between elderly and younger patients who receive a permanent pacemaker implantation.

Methods: We reviewed all cases admitted to our institution between January 2008 and June 2009 with symptomatic bradyarrhythmia for whom a permanent pacemaker was implanted. Beginning in June 2009, we prospectively collected data from all patients with the same diagnosis and procedure.