Tugba Kemaloglu Oz

Long-term prognostic significance of pentraxin-3 in patients with acute myocardial infarction: 5-year prospective cohort study

Objective: A predictive role of serum Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) for short-term adverse cardiovascular events including mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was reported in recent studies. The aim of the study was to investigate long-term prognostic significance of serum PTX3 in an AMI with 5-year follow-up period in this study. Methods: In this prospective study, 140 patients, who were admitted to the emergency department between January 2011 and December 2011 with acute chest pain and/or dyspnea and diagnosed with AMI and 60 healthy controls were included. PTX3 levels were measured at admission by using an ELISA method. The study group was divided into tertiles on the basis of admission PTX3 values: the high-PTX3 group (≥4.27 ng/mL), the middle-PTX3 groups (4.27–1.63 ng/mL), and the low-PTX3 group (≤1.63 ng/mL). Results: PTX3 level was significantly more greatly increased in the AMI group than in the controls (2.27±0.81 vs. 0.86±0.50 ng/mL, p<0.001). PTX3 level was found to be significantly positively correlated with TIMI score (r=0.368, p=0.037), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (r=0.452, p=0.024), pro-BNP (r=0.386, p=0.029), troponin I (r=0.417, p=<0.001), and GRACE score (r=0.355, p=0.045), and negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r=–0.203, p=0.016) and LVEF (r=–0.345, p=0.028). In multivariate analysis, PTX3 (OR=1.12, 95% CI 1.04–1.20; p=0.001) was a significant independent predictor of long-term cardiovascular mortality, after adjusting for other risk factors. Conclusion: PTX3 is a novel biomarker that may help to identify high risk individuals with AMI, who are potentially at risk of early major adverse cardiovascular events including mortality in the long-term period.

Association between Glycosylated Haemoglobin Level and Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: There are several reports suggesting that admission hyperglycaemia increases the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). However, it is not clear whether there has been an association between long-standing poor glycaemic control and the incidence of CI-AKI. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of poor glycaemic control or elevated glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) on the incidence of CI-AKI in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The present study prospectively enrolled 133 patients with T2DM undergoing elective coronary angiography (CAG) and/or intervention. All patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Patients were divided into two groups: those with an optimal HbA1c (<7%) and those with an elevated HbA1c (≥7%). All had similar baseline characteristics and were hydrated appropriately. The outcome was assessed by the incidence of CI-AKI. Results: CI-AKI occurred in 2 of 41 patients (4.9%) with optimal HbA1c levels and 5 of 92 patients (5.4%) with elevated HbA1c levels (p = 0.89). The cutoff point of HbA1c was set at 6.5%, but no statistically significant difference between the two groups was observed [1 of 24 patients (4.1%) vs. 6 of 109 patients (5.5%), p = 0.79]. However, despite a high variability in the incidence of CI-AKI, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups when varying CI-AKI definitions were considered. Conclusion: An elevated HbA1c level is not associated with a higher incidence of CI-AKI compared to optimal HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM (patients with an eGFR of ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2) undergoing CAG and/or intervention.

The effects of weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy on left ventricular systolic function in men versus women

To evaluate and compare the effects of weight lost after sleeve gastrectomy on left ventricular (LV) systolic function using both two‐dimensional speckle tracking (2D‐STE) and three‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in men versus women.

Torsades de pointes induced by concomitant use of chlorpheniramine and propranolol: An unusual presentation with no QT prolongation

Drug-induced torsades de pointes (TdP) is a rare but potentially fatal adverse effect of commonly prescribed medications including cardiac and noncardiac drugs. Importantly, many drugs have been reported to cause the characteristic Brugada syndrome-linked electrocardiography (ECG) abnormalities and/or (fatal) ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Chlorpheniramine and propranolol have the arrhythmogenic effects reported previously. A review of literature revealed a large number of case reports of chlorpheniramine or propranolol use resulting in QTc prolongation, TdP, or both. However, we wish to report the case of a patient who was treated with a combination of chlorpheniramine and propranolol, whose ECG showed no QT prolongation but who suffered from cardiac arrest due to TdP.

Usefulness of live/real time three/four-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the percutaneous closure of an iatrogenic aorto-right ventricular fistula

The development of an aorto‐right ventricular fistula is a rare complication of cardiac surgery. The most common treatment is surgical closure of the fistula, but percutaneous closure of the fistula has become an attractive alternative option. We present a case of successful utilization of live/real time three/four‐dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3/4DTEE) to select the correct device size for percutaneous closure of an adult patient presenting with an aorto‐right ventricular (AO‐RV) fistula following aortic valve replacement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in which 3/4DTEE was used to select the device size and guide percutaneous closure of an iatrogenic AO‐RV fistula.

Are biventricular systolic functions impaired in patient with coronoray slow flow? A prospective study with three dimensional speckle tracking

The newly developed three dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) technology provides quick and comprehensive quantitative assessment of biventricular myocardial dynamics. The impact of coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) on biventricular functions has not been comprehensively evaluated using this new technology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CSFP on biventricular systolic functions using 3D-STE. Forty patients with CSFP and otherwise normal coronary arteries (NCAs) and 40 age- and sex-matched controls with normal coronary angiograms (CAGs) were prospectively enrolled. Biventricular systolic function was evaluated by 3D-STE. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal, circumferential and radial strains, ejection fraction (EF) were significantly lower and LV end-systolic volume (ESV) was significantly higher in the CSFP group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in LV mass, LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) or LV stroke volume (SV). Additionally, Right ventricular (RV) free wall, septal wall and global longitudinal strains, and RV EF were significantly lower in the CSFP group, but there were no significant differences in RV EDV, ESV and RV SV. The present study demonstrated that CSFP has a notable negative effect on not only 3D strain parameters but also biventricular EF. There was a strong correlation between the strain parameters of the affected vessel’s myocardial area and the TIMI frame count of same vessel.

Elevated troponin levels and typical chest pain: Is always acute coronary syndrome?

Aortic dissection is a fatal disease that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of chest pain. If the diagnosis cannot be made in early period, mortality is very high. Here, we present a case of aortic dissection, clinically mimicking acute coronary syndrome.

Clinical usefulness of epicardial adipose tissue in patients with high-intermediate pre-test probability for coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is thought to be associated with the extension and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and echocardiographic measurement of EAT thickness is considered to be a possible cardiovascular risk indica-tor. The European Society of Cardiology Task Force recommends further non-invasive testing in patients with an intermediate pre-test probability (PTP) for the diagnosis of CAD. AIM We sought to evaluate the clinical usefulness of performing EAT measurements in patients with a high-intermediate PTP. METHODS Patients referred to an outpatient clinic with stable chest pain symptoms, with PTP for CAD between 66% and 85%, were included in the study. Echocardiographic measurement of the EAT was identified as the echo-free space between the outer wall of the myocardium and the visceral layer of the pericardium. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed in all patients. The diagnosis of CAD was based on the presence of reversible perfusion defects on SPECT. RESULTS A total of 126 patients (76 men, 60.3%) with a mean age of 65.3 ± 9.1 years were recruited. The EAT thickness was 7.3 ± 0.7 mm in patients with positive SPECT and 6.2 ± 0.6 mm in patients with negative SPECT (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed higher rates of positive SPECT in patients with higher EAT (odds ratio [OR] 9.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.72-25.79; p < 0.001), and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the greatest specificity was obtained when the cut-off value of EAT thickness was 6.75 mm (sensitivity 76%; specificity 74%). CONCLUSIONS In patients with high-intermediate PTP, EAT is a useful measurement that may assist in risk stratification.