Type 2 myocardial infarction after ingestion of mad honey in a patient with normal coronary arteries

[No abstract available

Successful management of mad honey intoxication in a pregnant woman

[No abstract available

Early cardiac abnormalities and serum N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels in obese children

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate early cardiac abnormalities in obese children by the conventional echocardiography and to verify whether N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) differ between obese and healthy children. Methods: We started this study with 68 obese children and 35 healthy controls matched for age and sex. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Children with a BMI ?95th percentile were considered obese. Thirty children in the obese group were also diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Standard echocardiographic study was performed on each patient and control subject. Diastolic filling parameters were evaluated using pulsed-wave tissue Doppler method. Blood samples were taken at 8 a.m. to study blood biochemistry tests, including insulin, lipids, glucose, and NT-proBNP. Serum NT-proBNP levels were measured by a solid-phase, enzymelabeled chemiluminescent immunometric assay. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Children with HOMA-IR >3.16 were considered insulin-resistant. Results: There were diastolic filling abnormalities in obese children, as shown by a decreased mitral valve early filling (E) wave/late filling (A) ratio and a prolongation in E-wave deceleration time. The levels of NT-proBNP were not statistically different among the groups. The levels of NT-proBNP were not different between obese children with and without metabolic syndrome, those with and without hypertension, and those with and without insulin resistance, respectively. Conclusion: Although there were diastolic filling abnormalities in obese children, their NT-proBNP levels were not different from healthy controls. It seems that there is no diagnostic value in NT-proBNP levels between obese children and healthy controls © 2011 by Walter de Gruyter • Berlin • Boston

A rare cardiovascular cause of fever of unknown origin: Infected thoracal aortic aneurysm

Aortitis can cause fever of unknown origin. Those affected patients had presented with sepsis. It is an important consideration that when we could not identify the origin of transthoracic echocardiography. However it is difficult to be revealed of descending aorta by transthoracic echocardiography. Therefore, computed tomography angiography may be kept in mind for diagnosis in patients with aortitis. We report a patient presenting to our hospital with sepsis and detected a saccular aneurysm and periaortic abscess and air collection in thoracal aorta due to Staphylococcus aureus. © 2016 The Czech Society of Cardiolog

Aortic elastic properties : effects of carvedilol versus nebivolol

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the new generation ß-blocker anti-hypertensive drugs carvedilol and nebivolol on aortic elastic properties which are important indicators of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality.METHODS: A total of 50 patients who had been diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension according to the Joint National Committee (JNC) VII criteria and who had not received any anti-hypertensive treatment were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized to receive either 25 mg/day carvedilol (n=25) or 5 mg/day nebivolol (n=25) for 3 months at the beginning of the study. Three patients (1 in the carvedilol group, 2 in the nebivolol group) who did not attend 3 month follow-up measurements were excluded from the study. The study was completed with 47 patients (25 women; mean age: 49 ± 9 years). The aortic elastic parameters such as aortic strain (AS), aortic distensibility (AD), and aortic stiffness index (ASI) were measured by echocardiography.RESULTS: Carvedilol and nebivolol provided a similar decline in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures (-12/-7 mmHg, p<0.0001 and -12/-7 mmHg, p=0.002, respectively). Both carvedilol and nebivolol induced a significant decrease in heart rate (-15 bpm, p<0.0001, -17 bpm, p<0.0001, respectively). Even though the heart rate at the end of the treatment was lower for the nebivolol group, the rate of decrease of heart rates between carvedilol and nebivolol groups was not statistically significant (p=0.074). Both groups demonstrated improvements in the diastolic functions of the left ventricle where certain values showed more improvement for the nebivolol group. Both groups showed improvements in AS and AD rates compared to basal rates; however, these improvements were not statistically significant. Although the improvement rates in AS, AD, and ASI were higher in the nebivolol group compared to the carvedilol group, the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.091, p=0.095, p=0.259, respectively).CONCLUSION: Both carvedilol and nebivolol induced a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate and showed an improvement in left ventricular diastolic functions. It was observed that both drugs did not cause deterioration in the aortic elastic properties but a slight improvement was seen. However, this improvement was not statistically significant. The improvement was more explicit in the nebivolol group. It may be concluded that nebivolol is slightly superior to carvedilol in reducing heart rate and improving left ventricular diastolic functions. However, further long-term studies with larger sample sizes should be performed in order to better define the effects of both drugs

Right ventricular thrombus formation and pulmonary embolism as a complication of behçet disease: Case report

Behçet disease is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystemic vasculitis mainly characterized by orogenital ulcers. It is mainly observed in Turkey, other Mediterranean areas, and Japan. Viral, bacterial, genetic, immunologic, and environmental factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. Although disease is multisystemic, cardiac involvement is rare and often associated with poor prognosis. Hypercoagulopathy is one of the important manifestation of the Behçet disease. Thromboembolic events such as myocardial infarction, stroke and pulmonary embolism risk is higher in patients with Behçet compared to normal population. Right ventricular thrombus is a quite rare. In this paper we present a 26-year-old male patient who presented with pulmonary embolism and was subsequently diagnosed with a right ventricular thrombus and completely recovered after treatment. We also discussed diagnostic and therapeutic options. © 2015 by Turkiye Klinikleri

THE EFFECT OF NEBIVOLOL AND CARVEDILOL ON AORTIC ELASTIC PROPERTIES IN STAGE 1 HYPERTENSION

WOS: 00028928450004

Authors' response to the comments on automated platelet analyses by Dr Beyan

[No abstract available

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and its relationship with cardiovascular disease

Objective: To investigate the association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) severity and whether the NLR predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with OSAS. Background: OSAS is known as a risk factor for CVD. An increased NLR was strongly correlated with cardiovascular outcomes in several studies. Methods: We retrospectively examined the laboratory data for 289 patients with suspected OSAS evaluated using polysomnography. Results: The study included 171 OSAS patients and 118 controls. The NLR was higher in OSAS group than control group. The NLR was significantly higher in patients with CVD than in those without (3.31 ± 1.1 vs. 1.93 ± 0.8, p = 0.002). There were also significant correlations between the NLR and apnoea-hypopnoea index, mean SaO2, and oxygen desaturation index. Conclusions: There was a significant correlation between the NLR and OSAS severity and the NLR was independently associated with CVD in patients with OSAS. © 2016 Elsevier Inc