Senol Tayyar

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. Results: The MPV was significantly higher among patients with infective endocarditis when compared with the control group (9.86 ± 1.1 vs. 8.0 ± 1.0 fl, respectively; p < 0.01). The MPV values of patients with infective endocarditis decreased significantly after treatment from 9.86 ± 1.1 to 7.86 ± 1.0 fl (p < 0.01). Total platelet counts increased significantly after treatment from 193.4 ± 96.5 × 109 to 243.7 ± 92.4 × 109 (p = 0.04). Conclusion: MPV values were higher in patients with infective endocarditis and decreased significantly after treatment. Elevated MPV values indicate that patients with infective endocarditis have increased platelet activation and infective endocarditis treatment decreases this platelet activation by decreasing MPV.

Oxidative Stress Status Increase in Patients with Nonischemic Heart Failure

Objective: It was the aim of this study to investigate the serum oxidative stress level in nonischemic patients with heart failure (HF). Subjects and Methods: The study included 37 patients who presented to the Department of Cardiology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, with a diagnosis of asymptomatic HF (New York Heart Association class I-II). The patients had a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) of ≤40% and normal coronary arteries or nonsignificant stenosis (stenosis <40%). In addition, 30 age- and sex-matched normal patients were selected as the control group. Clinical and laboratory characteristics presumed to be associated with oxidative stress were evaluated. Results: Demographic characteristics were comparable. However, creatinine and potassium levels were higher in the HF than in the control group. Total oxidative status [2.42 μmol H2O2 Eq/l (range 0.74-5.86) vs. 1.81 μmol H2O2 Eq/l (range 0.42-3.45); p < 0.01], oxidative stress index [2.24 (range 0.63-5.33) vs. 1.53 (range 0.28-2.51); p < 0.01] and uric acid (6.1 ± 1.8 vs. 4.4 ± 1.1 mg/dl; p < 0.01) levels were significantly higher in the HF than in the control group. The total antioxidant capacity was similar in both groups [1.22 mmol Trolox Eq/l (range 0.61-1.99) vs. 1.18 mmol Trolox Eq/l (range 0.82-1.80); p = 0.77]. The γ-glutamyltransferase levels were also comparable in both groups [32 U/l (range 11-106) vs. 23 U/l (range 11-72); p = 0.10]. Conclusion: The oxidative stress levels were higher in HF patients, and hence, oxidative stress may play an important role in poor prognosis of HF. Therefore, antioxidant treatment might be reasonable.

Elevated mean platelet volume is associated with impaired coronary microvascular function in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Attenuated coronary flow reserve (CFR) has been reported in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). On the other hand increased platelet activity has been demonstrated in patients with congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate whether mean platelet volume (MPV) is increased in patients with IDC and increased MPV correlates with the degree of coronary microvascular dysfunction. MPV was measured in 37 patients with IDC. Each patient with IDC also underwent echocardiographic examination including CFR measurement. Patients with IDC were divided into two groups based on median CFR value (lower CFR group and normal CFR group). MPV was significantly higher in the lower CFR group than in the normal CFR group (9.00 ± 0.56 vs. 8.25 ± 0.76 fl; respectively, p = 0.001). CFR correlated significantly and inversely to MPV (r = −0.475, p = 0.003). Logistic regression analysis revealed that MPV level was the independent predictor of lower CFR (β = −0.750, p = 0.002). Furthermore, MPV was an accurate predictor of low CFR (p = 0.001); Area under the curve was 82% (95% CI 0.67–0.96). The best cut-off value of MPV to predict low CFR was 8.3 fl with 95% sensitivity and 69% specificity. In conclusion, the present study showed a negative correlation between MPV and CFR in patients with IDC.

The effects of carvedilol and nebivolol on oxidative stress status in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure

BACKGROUND Carvedilol and nebivolol have favourable properties such as anti-oxidative effects in addition to other beta-blockers. However, which of these drugs is more effective on oxidative stress is unclear. AIM To compare the effects carvedilol and nebivolol on oxidative stress status in non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS We included 56 symptomatic non-ischaemic HF patients with ejection fraction ≤ 40%. The patients were randomised to carvedilol (n = 29, 18 male) or nebivolol (n = 27, 18 male) groups. They were evaluated clinically and echocardiographically after target dose. We evaluated parameters associated with oxidative stress, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), uric acid, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI). RESULTS TAC, TOS, GGT, and ALP levels and OSI were comparable in both groups. Uric acid levels were lower in the carvedilol group compared with the nebivolol group (5.8 ± 1.6 vs. 7.0 ± 1.7 mg/dL, p = 0.01). In correlation analysis, uric acid (p < 0.001, r = 0.50) and TOS level (p < 0.001, r = 0.73) were positively correlated with OSI. CONCLUSIONS Carvedilol and nebivolol have similar effects on oxidative stress status in patients with non-ischaemic HF.

List of Reviewers Vol. 23, 2014

Abboud, M. Abdel Moneim, A. AbuRuz, S. Abu-Zidan, F. Acar, B. Adams, H. Adler, I. Ager, A. Aggarwal, A. Agrawal, M. Alameddine, A. Albert, M. Alessandro, D. Almas, K. Al-Sarraf, N. Alston, T. Anand, A. Ansari, H. Araj, G. Arboix, A. Armanini, D. Aronoff, D. Arroyo, A. Assimakopoulos, S. Atabai, K. Atanasov, G. Attarian, M. Bailey, D. Bain, B. Balconi, G. Ban, I. Baqain, Z. Baraboutis, I. Basson, M. Bebbington, P. Becker, A. Bednarczuk, T. Ben Dhifallah, I. Bener, A. Bennett, N. Berend, K. Bernard, G. Berney, C. Bernstein, H. Betterle, C. Bhangu, A. Bhat, S. Bhawal, U. Bizzaro, N. Blondeau, J. Boezaart, A. Boffano, P. Bopassa, J.