Sabri Seyis

The relationship between paraoxonase-1 activity and coronary artery disease in patients with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVES We investigated the correlation of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity with coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). STUDY DESIGN The study included 21 patients (mean age 55 ± 9 years) with MetS, stable angina pectoris, and angiographically shown CAD, 24 patients (mean age 51 ± 10 years) with MetS and angiographically normal coroner arteries, and 28 healthy controls (mean age 49 ± 12 years). Demographic and clinical characteristics, insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index, and PON-1 activity were assessed in all the groups. Severity of CAD was assessed using the Gensini score. RESULTS Paraoxonase-1 activity was significantly lower in patients with MetS compared to the control group (p=0.02). The two MetS groups with and without CAD exhibited similar characteristics in all the parameters including PON-1 activity (p>0.05). Univariate correlation analysis performed in MetS-CAD patients showed a significant negative correlation between the Gensini score and PON-1 activity (r=-0.48, p=0.02). The overall PON-1 activity of all the subjects showed no correlation with the parameters examined. CONCLUSION Decreased PON-1 activity in patients with MetS compared to the control group suggests increased oxidative stress in MetS. Detection of similar PON-1 activity levels in MetS groups with and without CAD suggests that disturbance of oxidative-antioxidative balance occurs before the development of CAD. The negative correlation between the Gensini score and PON-1 activity implies that decreased PON-1 activity may be one of the etiologic causes of atherosclerotic progress in MetS.

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

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.

The Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Premature Ventricular Contractions and Ventricular Wall Stress in Patients with Heart Failure and Sleep Apnea

Background We aimed to investigate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on electrocardiography (ECG), premature ventricular contraction load on 24-hour Holter recordings, and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and heart failure. Methods Patients with heart failure and ICD and patients with newly diagnosed OSAS were divided into two groups according to CPAP treatment. To compare the impact of CPAP on ECG parameters, both baseline and 6-month ECG, 24-hour Holter ECG, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography, polysomnography, and laboratory parameters were collected. Results CPAP treatment significantly reduced the frequency of premature ventricular contractions, T-peak to T-end, corrected QT, corrected QT dispersion, and T-peak to T-end/corrected QT ratio in the study group (p < 0.001 for all). Although the baseline NT-pro-BNP levels were similar between study and control groups, after six months, the NT-pro-BNP levels of the study group were significantly lower than that of the control group (39.18 ± 7.57 versus 46.11 ± 7.65; p < 0.001). Conclusions CPAP treatment in patients with heart failure and ICD and in patients with newly diagnosed OSAS may have beneficial effects on premature ventricular contractions and electrocardiographic arrhythmia indices and NT-pro-BNP levels. However, these results are needed to be clarified with further studies.

The effect of continuous positive airway pressure treatment on P-wave dispersion and intrinsicoid deflection time in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on intrinsicoid deflection time (R wave peak time) and P wave discrimination in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: Fifty-five patients with severe OSAS (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 30) and a healthy control group were included. Baseline electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (ECHO), and polysomnography parameters were recorded. All patients received CPAP treatment. ECG and ECHO echocardiography tests were repeated after one-year of CPAP therapy. RESULTS: A total of 55 OSAS patients (36 M, 19 F) with a mean age of 56.9 ± 7.6 years and 54 healthy controls (31 M, 23 F) with a mean age of 56.6 ± 5.7 years were included. There was a significant improvement in terms of intrinsicoid deflection time in lead V1 (76.2 ± 8.3 vs. 59.8 ± 7.2) and lead V6 (58.5 ± 8.0 vs. 49.8 ± 7.1), and P-wave dispersion (95.2 ± 12.8 vs. 39.8 ± 6.4) after one-year CPAP treatment (p<0.001). Cardiac volumes and diameters improved significantly. CONCLUSION: CPAP treatment significantly decreases intrinsicoid deflection time in leads V1 and V6, and improves P-wave dispersion. The results of this study indicate that long-term CPAP treatment had a strong protective effect on right or left cardiac functions in severe OSAS patients without any cardiac and pulmonary disease.

The Importance of Inflammation Markers in Heart Failure Patients With Appropriate Or Inappropriate ICD Shock

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are associated with the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, their prognostic significance is unknown in the heart failure patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) devices. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of inflammation markers (CRP, NLR, and PLR) in patients with ICD who have received no shock during 3 years of follow-up and in those who have received appropriate or inappropriate shock, and to determine importance of inflammatory markers in ICD patients who received shock delivery. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of gender and age (p=0.013, p<0.001, respectively). Patients who have received appropriate or inappropriate shock were older and mostly male. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of mean NLR and PLR values (p>0.05). In ICD patients who have received appropriate or inappropriate shock, the highest AUC value was found for CRP in the receiver operating characteristic curve assessment. Conclusion: Our results show that the NLR, PLR, WBC values cannot be used to determine ICD shock while it suggests CRP may be.

Analysis of geographical variations in the epidemiology and management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation: results from the RAMSES registry

Objective: This study aimed to determine the differences in terms of demographic characteristics and preferred stroke prevention strategies for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation living in seven geographical regions of Turkey. Methods: In total, 6273 patients were enrolled to this prospective, observational RAMSES study. The patients were divided into seven groups based on the geographical region of residence. Results: In terms of the geographical distribution of the overall Turkish population, the highest number of patients were enrolled from Marmara (1677, 26.7%). All demographic characteristics were significantly different among regions. Preferred oral anticoagulants (OACs) also differed between geographical regions; non-vitamin K OACs were preceded by warfarin in East Anatolia, Aegean, Southeast Anatolia, and Black Sea. Nearly one-third of the patients (28%) did not receive any OAC therapy. However, the number of patients not receiving any OAC therapy was higher in Southeast Anatolia (51.1%) and East Anatolia (46.8%) compared with other geographical regions of Turkey. Inappropriate use of OACs was also more common in East and Southeast Anatolia. Conclusion: This study was the first to show that the demographic differences among the geographical regions may result in different preferences of stroke prevention strategies in Turkey. OACs are still under- or inappropriately utilized, particularly in the eastern provinces of Turkey.