A Case Report of Delayed Diagnosed Chronic Aortocaval Fistula: A Rare Complication of Penetrating Trauma to the Abdomen

Chronic aortocaval fistula (ACP) is a rare complication of penetrating trauma to the abdomen. We report a case of traumatic ACP presenting with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure symptoms 15 years after the initial penetrating injury. Although symptoms of pulmonary hypertension started 5 years ago, it was wrongly diagnosed and treated as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The presence of a continuous abdominal bruit and history of penetrating abdominal trauma gave rise to suspicion of a fistula, which was confirmed by computed tomography and angiography. Percutaneous closure of ACP was planned, but the patient died of severe pneumonia. The clinical presentation of chronic ACP can vary from being asymptomatic to symptoms related to pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and pulmonary embolism; thus, definitive diagnosis can be challenging

Associations between common 3435 C > T variants of the multi-drug resistance [MDR-1 (ABCB1)] gene and abdominal aortic aneurysm: a pilot study

Background: The aim of the study was to reveal the effect of the C3435T MDR-1 gene polymorphism in AAA, which has been postulated to play a role in the inflammatory process and protection against oxidative stress

The Role of the CCR2 Gene Polymorphism in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Objective: Chronic inflammation play an important role on abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) formation. Chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2) is involved in regulation of the inflammatory response. However, relation between CCR2 polymorphism and AAA formation in human has not yet been investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between AAA and CCR2-V64I gene polymorphism. Methods: In this study, 100 consecutive patients with AAA and 138 individuals with normal aortic diameter were included. CCR2-V64I gene polymorphism were analyzed by PCR-RFLP technique. Genotype distribution and allele frequencies of CCR2-V64I gene polymorphism in patients with AAA and healthy subjects were compared. Results: CCR2 heterozygote V64I polymorphism and allele frequency were more frequently observed in the AAA group (p = 0.01, p = 0.004). Significant relationship was observed between CCR2 V64I polymorphism (OR:2.31, 95% CI:1.19-4.46, p = 0.01) and presence of AAA in multivariate regression analysis. Conclusion: The present study, showed us a relationship between CCR2-V64I polymorphism and AAA

Association Between ApoE4 Allele and Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Pilot Study

Materials and Methods: We aimed to search the relative frequencies ApoE alleles among patients with DVT and healthy participants. We enrolled 59 consecutive patients with DVT and 59 age- and sex-matched healthy controls

Role of lncRNAs in Remodeling of the Coronary Artery Plaques in Patients with Atherosclerosis

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide according to World Health Organization (WHO) data. Atherosclerosis is considered as a chronic inflammatory disease that develops in response to damage to the vascular intima-media layer in most cases. In recent years, epigenetic events have emerged as important players in the development and progression of CVDs. Since noncoding RNA (ncRNAs) are important regulators in the organization of the pathophysiological processes of the cardiovascular system, they have the potential to be used as therapeutic targets, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In this study long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA gene expression were compared between coronary atherosclerotic plaques (CAP) and the internal mammary artery (IMA) which has the same genetic makeup and is exposed to the same environmental stress conditions with CAP in the same individual. Methods: lncRNA and mRNA gene expressions were determined using the microarray in the samples. Microarray results were validated by RT-qPCR. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs; lncRNAs and mRNAs) were determined by GeneSpring (Ver 3.0) [p values 2]. DAVID bioinformatics program was used for Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and enrichment analyses of statistically significant genes between CAP and IMA tissue. Results and Conclusions: In our study, 345 DEGs were found to be statistically significant (p 2) between CAP and IMA. Of these, 65 were lncRNA and 280 were mRNA. Thirty-three lncRNAs were upregulated, while 32 lncRNAs were downregulated. Some of the important mRNAs are SPP1, CYP4B1, CHRDL1, MYOC, and ALKAL2, while some of the lncRNAs are LOC105377123, LINC01857, DIO3OS, LOC101928134, and KCNA3 between CAP and IMA tissue. We also identified genes that correlated with statistically significant lncRNAs. The results of this study are expected to be an important source of data in the development of new genetically based drugs to prevent atherosclerotic plaque. In addition, the data obtained may contribute to the explanation of the epigenetic mechanisms that play a role in the pathological basis of the process that protects the IMA from atherosclerosis

Bleeding complications during cardiac electronic device implantation in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy: is there any value of local tranexamic acid?

Background: The perioperative use of antithrombotic therapy is associated with increased bleeding risk after cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation. Topical application of tranexamic acid (TXA) is effective in reducing bleeding complications after various surgical operations. However, there is no information regarding local TXA application during CIED procedures. The purpose of our study was to evaluate bleeding complications rates during CIED implantation with and without topical TXA use in patients receiving antithrombotic treatment

Treatment Strategies and Outcomes of Coronary Artery Fistulas in a Turkish Adult Population

Objective: Congenital coronary artery fistulas (CAF) are uncommon abnormalities that are known as abnormal communications between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or a major vessel. Incidence of CAF ranges between 0.1% and 0.2% 2 in literature,howeyer, there is no detailed data on the incidence of CAF in a Turkish population. In this article, we evaluated the clinical manifestations, symptoms, chosen treatment strategies, and long term follow-up results of GAF in Turkish adult population. Material and Methods: In this multicenter study carried out between 2001 and 2009, a total of 25 400 angiograms which were taken for various reasons were evaluated retrospectively. Sex, age, clinical manifestations, symptoms, number of the fistulas, chosen treatment strategies, and long term follow up results of the study population were recorded and analyzed. Results: CAF were found in 32 of these cases (0.13%). Eighteen of the cases were males, and 14 were females with a median age of 57.6 years. Fifteen cases had surgery, graft-stent was applied to two cases and coil embolization was preferred in two cases. Thirteen cases were followed up under medical treatment. Graft stents were occluded after 4 and 6 months following implantation in left anterior descending artery in both cases, and hence, these patients required surgery. Mean follow-up period was 48 +/- 27 months. All cases were asymptomatic (at the end of the follow-up period) and were doing well. Conclusion: In conclusion, incidence of CAF was found as 0.13% in the study population, and surgical treatment and coil embolization were considerably successful compared to stent graft application in CAF patients