Can aortic atherosclerosis or epicardial adipose tissue volume be used as a marker for predicting coronary artery disease?

AbstractPurposeTo investigate whether aortic atherosclerosis or epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume on multidetector computed tomography (CT) can predict the presence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD).Materials and methodsCoronary CT angiography was performed in 202 cases of CAD that were known or based on suspicion. Based on coronary CT angiography results, the patients with significant stenosis (≥50%) and without significant stenosis (<50%) were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, aortic atherosclerosis, and EAT volume.ResultsSignificant coronary artery stenosis was detected in 92 cases (45.5%). Although EAT volume was higher in the patients with significant stenosis, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. The presence of calcification in the descending aorta was significantly higher in the patients with significant stenosis than the patients without significant stenosis (50.4% and 15.4%, respectively, p=0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy rates of the presence of calcification in the descending aorta in predicting the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis were respectively found as 53.8%, 84.4%, 74.6%, 68.1%, and 70.3%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy rates of the ≥2.45mm wall thickness of the descending aorta in predicting the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis were respectively found as 75.3%, 74.3%, 71.4%, 77.9%, and 74.8%.ConclusionThere is a strong relationship between thoracic aortic atherosclerosis and CAD. However, the relationship between EAT volume and CAD is not significant. The presence of aortic atherosclerosis can be used as an additional marker together with traditional cardiovascular risk factors for predicting CAD

Clearlumen-II thrombectomy system for treatment of acute lower limb ischemia with underlying chronic occlusive disease

We aimed to present a case of effective and successful endovascular treatment of acute lower limb thromboembolism with Clearlumen-II, a new aspiration thrombectomy device. Also, we emphasize the superiority of endovascular treatment compared with surgery, especially together with acute and chronic occlusive diseases, as in our case

The protective effect of infliximab against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute lung injury

cure, erkan/0000-0001-7807-135X; Cure, Medine Cumhur/0000-0001-9253-6459WOS: 000380177400015PubMed: 27482351Objective(s): Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) causes pulmonary toxicity. Infliximab (Ib) is a potent inhibitor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). We aimed to investigate whether Ib has a protective effect on CCl4 induced lung injury. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into control, CCl4, and CCl4+Ib groups. A single dose of 2 ml/kg CCI4 was administered to CCI4 group and a single dose of 7 mg/kg Ib was given to CCl4+Ib group 24 hr before applying CCI4. Results: TNF-alpha, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and caspase-3 levels of the CCl4 group were markedly higher than both the control and CCl4+Ib groups. the CCI4+Ib group had lower histopathological injury than the CCl4 group. Conclusion: Ib as a strong TNF-alpha blocker decreases the production of proinflammatory cytokines, MDA, and oxidative stress leading to a protective effect against CCl4 induced lung tissue injury

Total endovascular aortic arch repair using chimney and periscope grafts for treatment of ruptured aortic arch pseudoaneurysm

Aortic arch pseudoaneurysms are rare but quite fatal when ruptured. Owing to its less morbidity and mortality compared with the surgical approach, endovascular and hybrid treatment methods are increasingly preferred. In this report, we present a 58-year-old male patient who has a ruptured saccular aortic arch pseudoaneurysm treated by endovascular approach using parallel grafts

REAL-TIME WATER QUALITY MONITORING OF AN ARTIFICIAL LAKE USING A PORTABLE, AFFORDABLE, SIMPLE, ARDUINO-BASED OPEN SOURCE SENSOR

Water quality assessment is vital to identify existing problems and any changes that emerge in water sources over a period of time. Conventional water quality monitoring systems remain to be limited to on-site sample collection and further analysis in environmental laboratories. The progress in Arduino-based low-cost and open-source hardware has paved the way for the development of low-cost, portable, and on-site measuring platforms. In this work, we have assembled an Arduino-based open-source water testing platform out of commercially available sensors and controllers. The water testing system was powered by a 9 V battery and had the capability of measuring water turbidity, acidity, and temperature on-site in real-time. The calibration and validation studies were carried out to assess the measurement capabilities of turbidity and pH sensors in the lab using calibration samples and UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. The water quality platform was tested in an artificial lake that is located at Sabanci University Campus (Istanbul, Turkey), which serves as a reservoir for treated wastewaters and rainwater. Untreated wastewater samples were collected from the wastewater treatment station of the university for comparison. The measurements performed on several locations along the coast of the artificial lake were also validated in the laboratory. The water testing platform showed significant potential for miniaturization and portability of such analytical platforms for on-site environmental monitoring

Validation of the Eortc Qlq-Oes18 Questionnaire in Patients Treated with Radiotherapy

Esophagitis is a very common toxicity of radiotherapy (RT). European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire (QLQ)-OES18 can be used to measure the quality of life (QoL) associated with esophageal symptoms. We aimed to translate and validate this questionnaire in Turkish patients. Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), lung cancer (LC) or esophageal cancer (EC) were administered the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OES18 on the 1st, 15th, and last days of RT and at the 3rd month follow-up. Psychometric properties of reliability, validity, scale structure and responsiveness to change were analyzed. Ninety-seven patients were included in the study. All scores in the QLQ-C30, and all but the reflux scores in the QLQ-OES18 were found to change significantly during and after treatment. All correlations of the QLQ-OES18 scale between the 1st and 15th days, 15th and last days, and all but the trouble with coughing score between the last day and follow-up were significantly different. Correlation levels ranged between 33.5-79.9%, 48.7-87.2%, and 0.6-74.8% at each comparison period, respectively. The reliability was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha at each assessment period, and the result was 0.824, 0.889, 0.898, and 0.824 for treatment start, mid-treatment, treatment end, and 3rd month follow-up, respectively. The Turkish version of QLQ-OES18 is a valid tool which can be used independently from the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. It is highly reliable to evaluate health-related QoL in patients with esophageal symptoms that are treated for HNC, LC, or EC.WoSScopu

The Place of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Rib Fractures

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether ultrasonography is superior to chest x-ray in detecting rib fractures in patients with minor blunt chest trauma and chest pain. Materials and Methods: Ultrasonography findings of 32 patients with minor blunt chest trauma showing no evidence of a rib fracture on anteroposterior chest x-rays, were documented. Presence of cortical discontinuities, acoustic shadows, reverberation artifacts, and hematoma by ultrasonography was proposed as the diagnostic criteria for detecting the rib fracture. Results: Rib fracture was detected in 20 patients (62.5%) according to ultrasonography results. A mildly displaced fracture was detected in 7 patients (35%), hematoma was detected in 3 patients (15%) and multiple fractures (in 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th ribs) were detected in 1 patient (5%). Conclusion: The results of our study showed that ultrasonography is superior to chest x-ray, in detecting rib fractures