Relation of Epicardial Fat Thickness with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT) with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods and Results. A total of 139 patients with T2DM (mean age 54.3 ± 9.2 and 49.6% male) and 40 age and sex-matched control subjects were evaluated. Echocardiographic EFT and ultrasonographic CIMT were measured in all subjects. Patients with T2DM had significantly increased EFT and CIMT than those of the controls (6.0 ± 1.5 mm versus 4.42 ± 1.0 mm, P<0.001 and 0.76 ± 0.17 mm versus 0.57 ± 0.14 mm, P<0.001, resp.). EFT was correlated with CIMT, waist circumference, BMI, age, duration of T2DM, HbA1c in the type 2 diabetic patients. Linear regression analysis showed that CIMT (β=3.52, t=3.72, P<0.001) and waist circumference (β=0.36, t=2.26, P=0.03) were found to be independent predictors of EFT. A cutoff high risk EFT value of 6.3 mm showed a sensitivity and specificity of 72.5% and 71.7%, respectively, for the prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion. We found that echocardiographic EFT was significantly higher in patients with T2DM. Our study also showed that EFT was strongly correlated with waist circumference and CIMT as being independent of sex

Effects of Interactions among Gene Polymorphisms of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System on Hypertension in Turkish People from Southeast Anatolia

WOS: 000467103000005Introduction: Hypertension (HT) is characterized by high blood pressure. The reninangiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a crucial role in blood pressure (BP) regulation by maintaining vascular tone and the water-sodium balance. We aimed to investigate whether there is any relation between AGT (M235T), ACE (I/D), and AGTR1 (A1166C) genetic polymorphisms and hypertension among Turkish people from Southeast Anatolia. Method and Results: A total of 210 individuals, consisting of 102 healthy controls and 108 patients with essential hypertension admitted to the Cardiology Department of the Adiyaman University Research and Application Hospital were included the study. DNA isolation was performed from the blood samples via commercial kit. Genotype determination was determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Statistically significant differences were found between the control and patient groups in terms of genotype distribution and allelic frequencies of ACE I/D polymorphisms. Significant differences were found in the frequencies of ICM, DCM, DCT, DAT between the patient and control groups. Conclusions: In this study, we found a significant association of ACE I/D polymorphism with HT, and we showed that the I allele can increase the risk of HT in Turkish people from Southeast Anatolia. Although we did not find any association between independent AGT M235T and AGT1R A1166C polymorphisms and HT, we observed that the DCM, DCT, and DAT haplotypes of ACE/AGT1R/AGT polymorphisms reduced the risk of hypertension, while the ICM haplotype increased it.Research Foundation of Adiyaman UniversityAdiyaman University [TIPFBAP/2013-0004]This study was supported by a grant from the Research Foundation of Adiyaman University (TIPFBAP/2013-0004), Turkey

Effect of septoplasty on left ventricular myocardial performance in patients with nasal septum deviation

Introduction: Nasal septum deviation is the leading cause of upper airway obstruction. Chronic upper airway obstruction may cause myocardial injury due to chronic hypoxia. Effects of septoplasty on left venticular diastolic and sistolic functions are not well known. The myocardial performance index is an easy-to-apply and reliable parameter that reflects systolic and diastolic cardiac functions. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nasal septoplasty on the myocardial performance index in patients with nasal septal deviation. Methods: This prospective study consisted of 50 consecutive patients who underwent septoplasty due to symptomatic prominent C- or S-shaped nasal septal deviation. Transthoracic echocardiogarphy was performed in all patients before and 3 months after septoplasty. Calculated myocardial performance indices were compared. Results: Significantly higher left ventricular myocardial performance index (0.52 ± 0.06 vs. 0.41 ± 0.04, p <  0.001), longer isovolumic relaxation time (95.0 ± 12.5 vs. 78.0 ± 8.6 ms, p <  0.001), longer isovolumic contraction time (45.5 ± 7.8 vs. 39.5 ± 8.6 ms, p <  0.001), longer deceleration time (184.3 ± 32.5 vs. 163.6 ± 45.4 ms, p =  0.004), higher ratio of transmitral early to late peak velocities (E/A) (1.42 ± 0.4 vs. 1.16 ± 0.2, p =  0.006) and shorter ejection time (270.1 ± 18.3 vs. 286.5 ± 25.8 ms, p <  0.001) were observed before septoplasty when compared to values obtained 3 months after septoplasty. Left ventricular systolic ejection fraction was similar before and after septoplasty (63.8±2.8% vs. 64.6±3.2%, p  = 0.224). Conclusion: Septoplasty surgery not only reduces nasal blockage symptoms in nasal septal deviation patients but also may improve left ventricular performance. Thus, treatment of nasal septal deviation without delay is suggested to prevent possible future cardiovascular events

Effects of Interactions among Gene Polymorphisms of the Renin–Angiotensin-Aldosterone System on Hypertension in Turkish People from Southeast Anatolia

Introduction: Hypertension (HT) is characterized by high blood pressure. The reninangiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a crucial role in blood pressure (BP) regulation by maintaining vascular tone and the water-sodium balance. We aimed to investigate whether there is any relation between AGT (M235T), ACE (I/D), and AGTR1 (A1166C) genetic polymorphisms and hypertension among Turkish people from Southeast Anatolia

A national survey of Turkish emergency physicians perspectives regarding family witnessed cardiopulmonary resuscitation

We investigated Turkish emergency physicians' views regarding family witnessed resuscitation (FWR) and to determine the current practice in Turkish academic emergency departments with regard to family members during resuscitation. A national cross-sectional, anonymous survey of emergency physicians working in academic emergency departments was conducted. Nineteen of the 23 university-based emergency medicine programs participated in the study. Two hundred and thirty-nine physicians completed the survey. Of the respondents, 83% did not endorse FWR. The most common reasons for not endorsing FWR was reported as higher stress levels of the resuscitation team and fear of causing physiological trauma to family members. Previous experience, previous knowledge in FWR, higher level of training and the acceptance of FWR in the institution where the participant works were associated with higher rates of FWR endorsement for this practice among emergency physicians

Perspectives on ENCODE

The Encylopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project launched in 2003 with the long-term goal of developing a comprehensive map of functional elements in the human genome. These included genes, biochemical regions associated with gene regulation (for example, transcription factor binding sites, open chromatin, and histone marks) and transcript isoforms. The marks serve as sites for candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) that may serve functional roles in regulating gene expression1. The project has been extended to model organisms, particularly the mouse. In the third phase of ENCODE, nearly a million and more than 300,000 cCRE annotations have been generated for human and mouse, respectively, and these have provided a valuable resource for the scientific community.11Nsciescopu

Expanded encyclopaedias of DNA elements in the human and mouse genomes

AbstractThe human and mouse genomes contain instructions that specify RNAs and proteins and govern the timing, magnitude, and cellular context of their production. To better delineate these elements, phase III of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project has expanded analysis of the cell and tissue repertoires of RNA transcription, chromatin structure and modification, DNA methylation, chromatin looping, and occupancy by transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins. Here we summarize these efforts, which have produced 5,992 new experimental datasets, including systematic determinations across mouse fetal development. All data are available through the ENCODE data portal (https://www.encodeproject.org), including phase II ENCODE1 and Roadmap Epigenomics2 data. We have developed a registry of 926,535 human and 339,815 mouse candidate cis-regulatory elements, covering 7.9 and 3.4% of their respective genomes, by integrating selected datatypes associated with gene regulation, and constructed a web-based server (SCREEN; http://screen.encodeproject.org) to provide flexible, user-defined access to this resource. Collectively, the ENCODE data and registry provide an expansive resource for the scientific community to build a better understanding of the organization and function of the human and mouse genomes.11Nsciescopu