The association of plasma oxidative status and inflammation with the development of atrial fibrillation in patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia following ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Oxidative stress and inflammation may cause structural and electrical remodeling in the atria making these critical processes in the pathology of AF. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidative capacity (TAC) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the development of AF in patients presenting with STEMI.

Relationship between Fragmented QRS Complex and Aortic Stiffness in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between fragmented QRS complex (fQRS), aortic stiffness, and diastolic dysfunction in hemodialysis patients.

Subjects And Methods: A sample of 56 patients who received hemodialysis treatment was stratified into 2 groups according to their electrocardiography (ECG) patterns with or without fQRS. Baseline characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients were documented.

The effect of fixed-dose combination of valsartan and amlodipine on nighttime blood pressure in patients with non-dipper hypertension.

Objective: Failure to decrease blood pressure (BP) during the night is associated with higher cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. There is strong evidence that fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of antihypertensive agents are associated with significant improvement and non-significant adverse effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether FDC affected nocturnal BP favorably in patients with uncontrolled, non-dipper hypertension (HT).

Gamma glutamyltransferase, inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors in isolated coronary artery ectasia.

Introduction And Objective: There are conflicting data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in coronary artery ectasia (CAE). It is unclear whether CAE is associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). We therefore investigated major cardiovascular risk factors, serum GGT and hs-CRP levels in a large population of patients with CAE.

Relationship Between Mean Platelet Volume and Pulmonary Embolism in Patients With Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been demonstrated to be associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, its role in the prediction of pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a major complication of DVT, is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the association of MPV values with acute PE in patients with DVT.

Increased Mean Platelet Volume in Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder of lipoprotein metabolism and increases the risk of premature cardiovascular diseases. In patients with FH, platelet function may be activated; however, the extent of this activation and its etiology are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker of platelet activation, in patients with FH.

Ivabradine on aortic stiffness in patients with heart failure.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ivabradine treatment on aortic stiffness by measuring aortic elastic parameters in patients with heart failure (HF) receiving ivabradine treatment.

Materials And Methods: The study included clinical patients who were diagnosed with HF (ejection fraction, <35%), had sinus rhythm and persistent symptoms despite full medical treatment. The study group consisted of patients with a heart rate greater than 70 beats per minute and the control group consisted of patients with a heart rate less than 70 beats per minute.

The effects of good glycaemic control on left ventricular and coronary endothelial functions in patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Diabetics are at risk for developing overt heart failure and subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Also, impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) reflecting coronary microvascular dysfunction is common in diabetics. However, no substantial data regarding the effects of good glycaemic control on subclinical LV dysfunction and CFR are available.

Addition of N-acetyl cysteine to carvedilol decreases the incidence of acute renal injury after cardiac surgery.

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation during cardiac surgery may be associated with acute renal injury (ARI). N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and carvedilol have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hypothesis: A combination of carvedilol and NAC should decrease the incidence of ARI more than metoprolol or carvedilol.

Plasma lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with slow coronary flow.

Introduction: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is a microvascular disorder characterized by delayed opacification of coronary vessels with normal coronary angiogram. It may be due to endothelial dysfunction and diffuse atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is related to cardiovascular events.

Oxidative status, inflammation, and postoperative atrial fibrillation with metoprolol vs carvedilol or carvedilol plus N-acetyl cysteine treatment.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress.

Hypothesis: Carvedilol and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) combination decreases inflammation, oxidative stress, and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) rates more than metoprolol or carvedilol.

Methods: Preoperative and postoperative total oxidative stress (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and white blood cells (WBC) were measured in metoprolol, carvedilol, or carvedilol plus NAC groups, and association with POAF was evaluated.

Relationships of different blood pressure categories to indices of inflammation and platelet activity in sustained hypertensive patients with uncontrolled office blood pressure.

Failure to decrease blood pressure (BP) normally during nighttime (non-dipping) in hypertension is associated with higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition, non-dipping BP is associated with increased platelet activity and inflammatory response; however, there has been no study to evaluate the relationship of non-dipping BP to indices of platelet activity and inflammation in uncontrolled hypertensive patients. In the present study, hypertensive subjects with uncontrolled office BP were firstly divided into three groups: 84 subjects with white coat effect and 365 subjects with true uncontrolled hypertension.

Evaluation of plasma oxidative status in patients with slow coronary flow.

Background: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is a coronary microvascular disorder characterised by delayed opacification of coronary vessels in a normal coronary angiogram. Coronary endothelial dysfunction plays an important pathogenetic role in patients with SCF. Oxidative stress is associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Increased mean platelet volume in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Thromboembolic events may be seen in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We investigated the mean platelet volume (MPV), an indicator of platelet activation in patients with HCM. This study included 112 patients with HCM, in which 40 were patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), and 106 were control participants.

Effects of prediabetes and diabetes on left ventricular and coronary microvascular functions.

Background: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) provides independent prognostic information in diabetic patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. However, there have been no substantial data to evaluate CFR in prediabetics. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate CFR in subjects with prediabetes using second harmonic transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.

Strict heart rate control attenuates prothrombotic state and platelet activity in patients with non-valvular permanent atrial fibrillation.

Background: The underlying mechanisms of increased risk of thrombo-embolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) are not completely understood; however, substantial evidence supports that AF is associated with a prothrombotic state. Accordingly, we hypothesized that strict rate control could attenuate platelet activity and thrombotic state in patients with non-valvular AF.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with non-valvular AF were divided into 2 groups based on heart rate: (1) normal ventricular rate (n = 34, 18 female) and (2) high ventricular rate (n = 39).

Impaired heart rate recovery in patients with endemic fluorosis.

The objective of the present study was to determine the heart rate recovery index (HRRI), a marker of autonomic nervous system function in patients with endemic fluorosis. Forty patients with endemic fluorosis (16 men/24 women) and 40 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls (16 men/24 women) with normal fluoride intake were enrolled in this study. HRRI was calculated by subtracting the heart rate values at the first, second, and third minutes of the recovery phase from the peak heart rate (HRRI 1, HRRI 2, HRRI 3).

Metoprolol vs. carvedilol or carvedilol plus N-acetyl cysteine on post-operative atrial fibrillation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Aims: Carvedilol and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Aim was to evaluate the efficacy of metoprolol, carvedilol, and carvedilol plus NAC on the prevention of post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF).

Methods And Results: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery (n = 311) were randomized to metoprolol, carvedilol, or carvedilol plus NAC.

Mean platelet volume is increased in infective endocarditis and decreases after treatment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the mean platelet volume (MPV), an indicator of platelet activation in patients with infective endocarditis.

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-nine patients with infective endocarditis and 29 healthy subjects were studied. Plasma MPV values in patients and control subjects were measured on admission and after 2 weeks of specific treatment of infective endocarditis.

Mean platelet volume may be elevated in mitral valve prolapse and associated with the severity of prolapse.

Thromboembolic events can be seen in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). It is unclear whether platelet activation may contribute to these events in patients with MVP. Thus, we aimed to evaluate mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with MVP and its association with the severity of MVP.