Relationship Between Preprocedural Lipid Levels and Periprocedural Myocardial Injury in Patients Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND: Periprocedural myocardial injury is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: The authors examined the effects of preprocedural lipid levels (low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides) in 977 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention. RESULTS: Elevated cardiac troponin I level (≥5× the upper limit of normal) was used to indicate periprocedural myocardial injury. Serum lipid samples were collected 12 hours preprocedurally. Cardiac troponin I was collected 1, 6, and 12 hours postprocedurally. Correlations between preprocedural lipid levels and postprocedural cardiac troponin I were studied. Low-density lipoprotein levels were less than 70 mg/dL in 70% of patients and greater than 100 mg/dL in only 7.4% of patients; 13% had triglyceride levels greater than or equal to 150 mg/dL, and 96% had high-density lipoprotein levels less than 40 mg/dL. Patients with elevated cardiac troponin I had significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction than did those with cardiac troponin I levels less than 5× the upper limit of normal (P = .01). Double-and triple-vessel disease were more common in patients with elevated cardiac troponin I (P \u3c .002). Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses revealed no statistically significant associations between lipid levels and postprocedural cardiac troponin I elevation, possibly because such large proportions of included patients had low levels of low-density lipoprotein (70%) and a history of statin intake (86%). CONCLUSION: The authors found no association between lipid profile and periprocedural myocardial injury

The level of Vitamin B12 and hemoglobin in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral cavity. Although many factors have been suggested as possible causes of RAS, its precise etiology is controversial. Vitamin B12 (vit B12) and iron deficiencies may cause RAS. Aims: We investigated the level of serum hemoglobin (Hb) and vit B12 in patients with RAS and to compare them with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Patients who had had at least one episode of oral ulcerations per month since childhood were diagnosed as having RAS. Blood samples were drawn from the RAS group and control group for measuring blood Hb and vit B12 concentrations. Results: Exactly 195 patients (62 men and 133 women) with RAS and 217 healthy controls (62 men and 155 women) were enrolled in the study. The RAS group had significantly lower mean Hb levels than the control group (P < 0.001). No significant difference in the mean vit B12 level was demonstrated between the study group and controls. Around 58 (29.7%) patients were diagnosed as Hb deficient in the RAS group and 21 (9.7%) patients in controls. Vit B12 deficiency was diagnosed in 63 (32.3%) individuals in the RAS group and 32 (14.7%) individuals among controls. Conclusions: In our study, vit B12 and Hb deficiency were found higher in patients with RAS compared to the control group. Therefore, we suggested the investigation of the level of vit B12 and Hb in patients with RAS

Concha Bullosa Mucopyocele: a Case Report

Concha bullosa (CB) is among the most common anatomic variations of sinonasal anatomy. Although usually asymptomatic, CB can occasionally cause nasal obstruction or headache. Obstructions within the mucociliary transport system can develop into a mucocele or mucopyocele. A 48-year-old female, with a history of progressive headache and nasal obstruction, was referred to our department. Paranasal sinus tomography revealed a nasal mass in the left nasal cavity resembling a mucopyocele in the middle turbinate. Under general anesthesia, the purulent material was aspirated, and the lateral part of the left turbinate was resected. Mucopyoceles are common within the paranasal sinuses, but uncommon with CB; thus, they should be considered in patients with a large hyperemic nasal mass

Transseptal Suturing Reduce Patient Anxiety after Septoplasty Compared to Nasal Packing

Background: We measured postoperative anxiety in patients who underwent transseptal suturing or nasal packing after septoplasty. Materials and Methods: Transseptal suturing was performed on Group 1 patients and nasal splints with airway were placed after septoplasty in Group 2 patients. Postoperative 48-h anxiety levels of both groups were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) clinical assessment scale, prior to removal of nasal packing in Group 2. Results: Transseptal suturing was performed after septoplasty in 28 patients and nasal packing in 34 patients. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory clinical assessment state (STAI-S) and trait (STAI-T) instruments were used to measure postoperative anxiety. The STAI-S scores were found 35.00 in the transseptal suturing group and 43.8 in the nasal packing group; the difference was found significant (p 0.05). The rate of minor hemorrhage was found 10.7% in Group 1 patients. Conclusions: Transseptal suturing is simple and reliable when performed after septoplasty. The technique is painless and comfortable, and reduces patient anxiety (compared to that associated with nasal packing) with only a minor increase in operating time and hemorrhage

The Correlation of Serum Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Level in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Purpose. Growth differentiation factor-(GDF-) is a prognostic biomarker in cardiovascular disorders (CVD). GDF-15 level was not studied in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) before. In this study, we investigated serum GDF-15 levels in OSAS patients and compared them with healthy controls. Material and Methods. Polysomnographically, confirmed forty consecutive OSAS patients (20 men and 20 women) and forty consecutive healthy controls (23 men and 17 women) were enrolled in the study. The samples in each group had similar demographic characteristics and body mass index (BMI) values. Results. In the study, no significant correlation was found about GDF-15 levels of OSAS group and healthy controls. However, there was a significant statistical correlation between age and GDF-15 level. In correlation analysis, there was not any significant correlation between age and BMI. Conclusion. Although various developing biomarkers have been studied in cardiovascular disorders, GDF-15 levels have attracted a widespread interest as predictors of cardiovascular risk. GDF-15 level has not been evaluated previously in patients with OSAS. A significant statistical correlation was found between age and GDF-15 level. To reveal close relation between OSAS and GDF-15, further studies are needed with combination of GDF-15 and other biomarkers in OSAS