Mustafa Tuncer

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with metabolic syndrome rather than insulin resistance

The aim of this study was to investigate cross-sectionally the prevalence and covariates of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and its relationship to metabolic syndrome (MS), insulin resistance (IR), and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a population sample of 1,946 men and women representative of Turkish adults. OSAS was identified when habitual snoring and episodes of apnea were combined with another relevant symptom. MS was diagnosed based on modified criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III and IR by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA). OSAS was identified in 61 men (6.4%) and 58 women (5.8%), at a similar prevalence, after adjusting for covariates. Among individuals with OSAS, significantly higher odds ratios (ORs), adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), and waist girth, were observed for MS, hypertension, and prevalent CHD, but not for HOMA or menopause. Significantly higher C-reactive protein existed only in women with OSAS who were also more frequent smokers. In logistic regression models, waist circumference, but not BMI nor hypertension, was significantly associated with OSAS among men. In women, by contrast, current cigarette smoking and hypertension were the significant independent covariates. Regression models controlling for sex, age, and smoking revealed that MS (and not IR per se) was associated significantly with OSAS (OR 1.94) in nondiabetic individuals. To conclude, abdominal rather than overall obesity in men and smoking among women are significant independent determinants of OSAS in Turkish adults. OSAS is associated with MS rather than IR per se. Relatively high prevalence of OSAS is observed in Turkish women in whom it is significantly associated with CHD.

Improved left and right ventricular functions with trimetazidine in patients with heart failure: a tissue Doppler study

Downregulation of glucose and fatty acid oxidation occurs in heart failure (HF). Trimetazidine reduces fatty acid oxidation and increases glucose oxidation. In this single-blind study, trimetazidine, 20 mg three times per day (n = 51) or placebo (n = 36) was added to treatment of 87 HF patients receiving optimal HF therapy. Etiology of heart failure was coronary artery disease in 35 patients (68.6%) in the trimetazidine group and 22 (62.9%) in the placebo group. Fourteen (27.5%) patients in the trimetazidine group and 11 (31.4%) patients in the placebo group had diabetes. Peak systolic velocity (Vs), and the peak early diastolic (Vd) and late diastolic (Va) velocities of various segments left and right ventricles (RV) were obtained with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and averaged. Patients were re-evaluated three months later. Significant increases in mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (33.3% ± 5.6% to 42.4% ± 6.3%, P < 0.001 and 30.6% ± 8.2% to 33.2% ± 6.6%, P = 0.021) and LV and RV myocardial velocities and mitral and tricuspid annular TDI velocities were observed in both groups. However, compared to placebo, increments in LVEF (9.1% ± 4.2% vs. 2.5% ± 1.4%, P < 0.001) and myocardial velocities were significantly higher with trimetazidine (P < 0.001 for LV Vs, Vd, Va; P = 0.035 for RV Vd; and P < 0.001 for RV Va and Vs). Increase in LVEF with trimetazidine was significantly correlated with presence of diabetes (r = 0.524, P < 0.001). With trimetazidine LVEF increased significantly more in diabetic patients compared to nondiabetics (P < 0.001). Also, patients having both diabetes and ischemic HF tended to have greater improvement in LVEF compared to ischemic HF patients without diabetes (P = 0.063). Addition of trimetazidine to current treatment of HF, especially for those who are diabetic, may improve LV and RV functions.

Oxidative Stress and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Is Independently Associated with Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Backgrounds: Oxidative stress (OS) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are accepted as nonclassical cardiovascular risk factors in end-stage renal disease patients. To clarify the role of these factors in the atherosclerotic process, we investigated if OS and ADMA are associated with common carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods: Thirty PD patients without known atherosclerotic disease and classical cardiovascular risk factors as well as age- and gender-matched 30 healthy individuals were included. We measured serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced glycation end product (AGE), pentosidine, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ADMA and CIMT in each subjects. Results: TBARS, MDA, AOPP, AGE, pentosidine and ADMA levels were significantly higher in PD patients than in controls (p < 0.001). CIMT in patients was higher than in the control group (0.83 ± 0.09 vs. 0.77 ± 0.06 mm; p < 0.01). CIMT was independently correlated with TBARS (β = 0.33, p < 0.01), MDA (β = 0.27, p < 0.01), AOPP (β = 0.22, p < 0.02), AGE (β = 0.45, p < 0.01), pentosidine (β = 0.56, p < 0.01) and ADMA (β = 0.54, p < 0.01). Conclusions: OS markers and serum ADMA levels independently predict the CIMT level in PD patients.

Management of traumatic brachial artery injuries: a report on 49 patients.

Background and Objective: The brachial artery is the most frequently injured artery in the upper extrem--ity due to its vulnerability. The purpose of our study was to review our experience with brachial artery injuries over a 9-year period, describing the type of injury, surgical procedures, complications, and associated injuries. Patients and Methods: Forty-nine patients with brachial artery injury underwent surgical repair procedures at our hospital, from the beginning of May 1999 to the end of June 2008. The brachial artery injuries were diag--nosed by physical examination and Doppler ultrasonography. Depending on the mode of presentation, patients were either taken immediately to the operating room for bleeding control and vascular repair or were assessed by preoperative duplex ultrasonography. Results: This study group consisted of 43 males and 6 females, ranging in age from 6 to 65 years with a mean (SD) age of 27.9 (6.7) years. The mechanism of trauma was penetrating in 45 patients and blunt in the remain--ing 4 patients. Stab injury was the most frequent form of penetrating trauma (24 of 45). Treatment included primary arterial repair in 5 cases, end-to-end anastomosis in 28 cases, interposition vein graft in 15 cases, and interposition-ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft in 1 case. Associated injuries were common and included venous injury (14), bone fracture (5), and peripheral nerve injury (11). Fifteen patients developed postoperative complications. One patient underwent an above-elbow amputation. Conclusions: Prompt and appropriate management of the brachial artery injuries, attention to associated injuries, and a readiness to revise the vascular repair early in the event of failure will maximize patient survival and upper extremity salvage.

The effects of iron deficiency anemia on p wave duration and dispersion

OBJECTIVES: The association between P wave dispersion and iron deficiency anemia has not been documented in the literature. In this study, we evaluated P wave dispersion in patients with iron deficiency anemia and the possible relationships between P wave dispersion and other echocardiographic parameters. INTRODUCTION: The iron status of an individual may play an important role in cardiovascular health. Anemia is an independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. P wave dispersion is a simple electrocardiographic marker that has a predictive value for the development of atrial fibrillation. Apart from cardiovascular diseases, several conditions, such as seasonal variation, alcohol intake and caffeine ingestion, have been demonstrated to affect P wave dispersion. METHODS: The study included 97 patients who had iron deficiency anemia and 50 healthy subjects. The cases were evaluated with a clinical examination and diagnostic tests that included 12‐lead electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, patients with iron deficiency anemia showed significantly longer maximum P wave duration (Pmax) (91.1±18.0 vs. 85.8±6.7 msec, p = 0.054), P wave dispersion (PWD) (48.1±7.7 vs. 40.9±5.6 msec, p<0.001), mitral inflow deceleration time (DT) (197.5±27.9 vs. 178.8±8.9 msec, p<0.001) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) (93.3±9.2 vs. 77.4±8.2 msec, p<0.001); they also showed increased heart rate (85.7±16.1 vs. 69.0±4.4, p<0.001) and frequency of diastolic dysfunction (7 (7.2%) vs. 0). Correlation analysis revealed that PWD was significantly correlated with IVRT, DT, heart rate, the presence of anemia and hemoglobin level. CONCLUSIONS: Iron deficiency anemia may be associated with prolonged P wave duration and dispersion and impaired diastolic left ventricular filling.

Regional functions of the left ventricle in patients with coronary slow flow and the effects of nebivolol

Background: Microvascular and endothelial dysfunction have been implicated for coronary slow flow (CSF). Nebivolol, besides its beta-receptor blocking activity, causes an endothelium-dependent vasodilatation through increased nitric oxide release. Methods: This study included 27 patients with CSF and 27 subjects with normal coronary arteries. Segmental functions of the left ventricle (LV) were assessed using myocardial tissue Doppler velocities before and 3 months after treatment with nebivolol 5 mg/day. Results: Compared with the control group, mitral deceleration time (DT) was significantly longer, and E/A ratio, systolic velocity of lateral mitral annulus (Sm) and regional myocardial peak systolic and early diastolic velocities (V s, Vd) were significantly lower in patients with CSF. The reason for coronary angiography was typical angina in 21 (77.8%) and positive treadmill test in six (22.2%) CSF patients. There were significant correlations between presence of CSF in left anterior descending artery (LAD) with S m (r =-0.404, p =0.002) and Vs in anterior (r =-0.531, p < 0.001 ) and lateral (r =-0.495, p < 0.001 ) segments and between presence of CSF in RCA and Vs in posterior segments (r =-0.501, p < 0.001). Treatment with nebivolol significantly decreased blood pressures (128.5±12.5/82.5±8.8 to 119.8± 12.6/76.4± 7.4 mmHg, p < 0.001), DT (252.3±53.6 to 222.0±41.0 ms, p < 0.001 ) and IVRT (115.7±19.9 to 103.3±17.0 ms, p <0.001), and increased exercise capacity (8.7±1.3 to 10.4±0.9 METs, p < 0.001), E/A ratio (0.87±0.26 to 1.08±0.23, p <0.001) and myocardial velocities (p < 0.001). All the patients were free of angina after treatment. Patients with CSF had impaired diastolic and regional LV functions. Conclusions: Nebivolol may therefore be useful in improving angina, exercise capacity and LV functions in patients with CSF.

The Relation between the Color M‐Mode Propagation Velocity of the Descending Aorta and Coronary and Carotid Atherosclerosis and Flow‐Mediated Dilatation

Background: To improve clinical outcomes, noninvasive imaging modalities have been proposed to measure and monitor atherosclerosis. Common carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) and brachial artery flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD) have correlated with coronary atherosclerosis. Recently, the color M‐mode‐derived propagation velocity of descending thoracic aorta (AVP) was shown to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: CIMT, FMD, and AVP were measured in 92 patients with CAD and 70 patients having normal coronary arteries (NCA) detected by coronary angiography. Patients with acute myocardial infarction, renal failure or hepatic failure, aneurysm of aorta, severe valvular heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, atrial fibrillation, frequent premature beats, left bundle branch block, and inadequate echocardiographic image quality were excluded. Results: Compared to patients with normal coronary arteries, patients having CAD had significantly lower AVP (29.9 ± 8.1 vs. 47.5 ± 16.8 cm/sec, P < 0.001) and FMD (5.3 ± 1.9 vs. 11.4 ± 5.8%, P < 0.001) and higher CIMT (0.94 ± 0.05 vs. 0.83 ± 0.14 mm, P < 0.001) measurements. There were significant correlations between AVP and CIMT (r =−0.691, P < 0.001), AVP and FMD (r = 0.514, P < 0.001) and FMD and CIMT (r =−0.530, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The transthoracic echocardiographic determination of the color M‐mode propagation velocity of the descending aorta is a simple practical method and correlates well with the presence of carotid and coronary atherosclerosis and brachial endothelial function. (Echocardiography 2010;27:300‐305)

Long‐term Follow‐up of P‐wave Duration and Dispersion in Patients with Mitral Stenosis

Background: Patients with mitral stenosis have prolonged P‐wave duration and increased P‐wave dispersion (PWD) that have been associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation.

Effects of ankylosing spondylitis on the heart.

Background — Various cardiac pathologies have been linked to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in various conflicting reports. Objectives — A pilot exploration is done to search frequencies of structural heart involvement, arrhythmias and heart rate variability (HRV) in AS patients. Methods — Thirty-five AS patients and 25 healthy people were evaluated with 12-lead electrocardiography, echocardiography and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Results — No patient had significant valvular heart disease except one.Ventricular and supraventricular premature beat counts were significantly higher in AS patients compared to the control group (P=0.002 and 0.01). Frequency of ventricular premature beats was significantly correlated with isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) (r=0.291, P=0.025). Abnormal ECG was defined in 4 AS patients; 2 incomplete right bundle-branch block (RBBB), one left axis deviation and one complete RBBB and left anterior hemiblock. QT and P wave dispersions were not significantly different between AS patients and the control group. Although mitral inflow deceleration time (DT) and IVRT were significantly longer in AS patients (P<0.001, both), frequency of diastolic dysfunction was not significantly different. Among HRV parameters rMSSD (day time), PNN50 (day time) and SDSD (day and night time) were significantly lower than the control group.There were weak to moderate but significant negative correlations of IVRT and DT with these parameters. Conclusions — In this small sample there is no significant increase in structural heart disease in patients with AS. Diastolic functions may be affected in the course of disease and this may be associated with increased frequency of premature beats. Day time heart rate variability is decreased and associated with diastolic function parameters of IVRT and DT in AS patients. Abbreviations — AS: ankylosing spondylitis, ECG: electrocardiography, PWD: P wave dispersion, QTD: QT dispersion, LV: left ventricle, DT: deceleration time, IVRT: isovolumetric relaxation time, TDI: tissue Doppler imaging, HRV: heart rate variability, VPB: ventricular premature beat, SVPB: supraventricular premature beat, RBBB: right bundle-branch block.

Comparison of the effects of quinapril and irbesartan on P-wave dispersion in hypertensive patients.

IntroductionP-wave dispersion (PWD) has been shown to be a non-invasive electrocardiographic predictor for development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Thus, it may be possible to attenuate AF risk through improvement of PWD. In this study, we compared the effects of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, quinapril, and an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), irbesartan, on PWD.MethodsA total of 38 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either irbesartan (150–300 mg) or quinapril (20–40 mg). P-wave durations and PWD were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Echocardiographic examinations were performed at baseline and after 12 months of treatment.ResultsBoth drugs significantly reduced blood pressure to a similar degree (P<0.001). Deceleration time (both P<0.001) and isovolumetric relaxation time (both P=0.007) were also significantly reduced, whereas there was no significant change in the early diastolic flow/atrial contraction signal ratio. Both irbesartan and quinapril significantly decreased maximum P-wave duration (Pmax) (P<0.001 and P=0.002, respectively) and PWD (from 68.0±22.1 to 41.0±25.1 msec for irbesartan, and from 70.5±20.4 to 46.6±13.3 msec for quinapril; both P<0.001). Baseline and follow-up blood pressure, heart rate, echocardiographic findings, and P-wave values were not significantly different between the irbesartan and quinapril groups. No patient developed AF during follow-up. There was no significant correlation between PWD and blood pressure or diastolic function parameters.ConclusionAntihypertensive treatment with either irbesartan or quinapril is associated with significant reductions in Pmax and PWD.