Relationship Between Heart Rate Recovery and Mean Platelet Volume in Healthy Individuals

Heart rate recovery index (HRRI) and mean platelet volume (MPV) are two cardiovascular prognostic markers. Low HRRI and high MPV values have been observed in several diseases and conditions. However, the relationship between these two markers is unclear. In this study, the relationship between HRRI and MPV in healthy individuals is examined. Materials and Methods: The exercise tests performed between January and December 2020 were evaluated, and 120 individuals who met the study criteria were included in the present study. An abnormal HRRI was defined as a decrease in heart rate of 12 beats or more until one minute after the peak of exercise. Those with abnormal HRRI were defined as the study group (n=60), and those with normal HRRI as the control group (n=60). Results: A total of 120 healthy individuals were included in the study (54% female; mean age 40.14±7.90 years). High- er MPV values were detected in the study group when compared to the control group (10.27±0.10 fl vs. 9.44±0.12 fl; p<0.001). This significance continued in the logistic regression analysis (odds ratio=3.78, p<0.001). In addition, a moderate negative correlation was found between HRRI and MPV (r=-0.404, p<0.001). The MPV value of 10.25 fl was identified as an effective cutoff point for the prediction of abnormal HRRI (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.758; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.674–0.843). Conclusion: Healthy individuals with abnormal HRRI have elevated MPV levels. Additionally, a negative correlation be- tween MPV and HRRI in healthy subjects indicates a causal relation between MPV and autonomic dysfunction

Effects of CdTe Quantum Dot Dispersal on Current-Voltage Characteristics in Liquid Crystalline Mediums of E63, E7 and SCLP

The usage of nano-sized quantum dots (QDs) particularly in guest-host based hybrid mediums revealed enhancements in electro-optical properties of the mediums, therefore the focus of considerable amount of contemporary studies has been about dispersal of QDs for improvements in medium. This study investigates the effects of CdTe QD dispersal on current-voltage characteristics of some liquid crystalline materials such as E63, E7 and SCLP. Current is increased for all samples due to QD dispersal, however the best improvement is obtained for E7. Hence, current-voltage characteristics of E7 and QD dispersed E7 mediums were also investigated under UV light exposure. Current values of both mediums were found to increase with increasing UV light power due to generation of electron-hole pairs. Photocurrent’s dependence on light power revealed that QD dispersal does not affect recombination mechanism in the medium. On the other hand, UV light responsivity of QD dispersed E7 was obtained approximately twice of that of E7. Thus, it was concluded that CdTe QDs make considerable contribution to current-voltage and photoconductivity characteristics of E7 in dark and under UV light illumination

Angio-seal used as a bailout for incomplete hemostasis after dual perclose ProGlide deployment in transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Background: The failure rate of vascular closure devices remains a significant cause of major vascular complications in contemporary transcatheter aortic valve implantation practice. Methods: This research aimed to evaluate use of the Angio-Seal device in a bailout context in the setting of incomplete hemostasis following use of dual Perclose ProGlide devices in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation. A total of 185 patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation with either dual Per-close ProGlide (n = 139) or a combination of dual Perclose ProGlide and Angio-Seal (n = 46) were retrospectively analyzed. The baseline, procedural characteristics, and all outcomes (defined according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 criteria) were compared. Results: No significant differences were seen between the dual Perclose ProGlide vs dual Perclose ProGlide+Angio-Seal groups with regard to the in-hospital Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 primary end points of major vascular complications (n = 13 [9.4%] vs n = 2 [4.3%]; P =.36), minor vascular complications (n = 13 [9.4%] vs n = 8 [14.7%]; P =.14), major bleeding (n = 16 [11.5%] vs n = 2 [4.3%]; P =.25), and minor bleeding (n = 9 [6.5%] vs n = 5 [10.9%]; P =.34), with higher rates of hematoma in the dual Perclose ProGlide+Angio-Seal group (n = 4 [2.9%] vs n = 5 [10.9%]; P =.044). Conclusion: Finding from the current study suggest that adjunctive Angio-Seal deployment may be feasible and safe, especially in patients with incomplete hemostasis following dual Perclose ProGlide use, and can be an optimal “bailout” procedure. (Tex Heart Inst J. 2022;49(6):e217684)

Three Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of LOXL1’ in a Turkish Population with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Objectives: To investigate the three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3825942, rs1048661, and rs2165241) of the LOXL1 gene in pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS) and pseudoexfoliation glucoma (XFG) in the Turkish population. Materials and Methods: DNA was obtained from blood samples of 48 XFS, 58 XFG, and 171 control subjects. Three LOXL1 SNPs (rs3825942, rs1048661, rs2165241) were investigated with real time PCR, a probe-based genotyping method, and melting curve analysis. Results: All three SNPs of LOXL1 were significantly associated with XFS (rs3825942 p=3.54x10-6, odds ratio [OR]=∞; rs1048661 p=0.008, OR=2.18; rs2165241 p=8.69x10-9, OR=4.30) and XFG (rs3825942 p=3.41x10-7, OR=∞; rs1048661 p=1.75x10-5, OR=3.78; rs2165241 p=3.85x10-11 OR=4.90). No significant differences were observed between the XFS and XFG groups for any of the SNPs. The GG genotype of rs3825942 was more valuable for distinguishing pseudoexfoliative cases from healthy individuals. The homozygous TT genotype of rs2165241 was associated with 6-fold increased XFS risk (p=8.15x10-8, OR=6.32) and 7-fold increased XFG risk (p=1.45x10-10 OR=7.95). The GGT haplotype consisting of all three risk alleles was associated with a 7.45-fold higher risk of XFS/XFG (p=8.65x10-14, OR=7.45). Presence of T allele of rs2165241 conferred 3 times higher risk for men than women (p=6.78x10-5, OR=3.202). Conclusion: LOXL1 SNPs are associated with increased risk for pseudoexfoliation in the Turkish population. T allele of rs2165241 was found to be the most important characterized risk factor for our cohort. All SNP distributions were similar to other European and American populations

Partial Atrophy of The Pancreas in Endoscopic Ultrasonography may be a Sign of Pancreatic Cancer

Introduction:Solid and/or cystic lesions of the pancreas can range from benign to malignant, and the differential diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma (PC) is of uttermost importance. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is frequently used and is helpful in detecting small (37 U/mL, and partial atrophy in the pancreas were independently associated with PC. For solid lesions, age and size >24 mm; and for cystic lesions, male gender and mucinous pathology were independently associated with PC. Thirty-six of the cystic lesions had mucinous pathology. Cyst and serum CEA, string sign, wesung connection, and tail location was associated with mucinous pathology. Cyst CEA cut-off for mucinous pathology was 80 ng/mL (AUC: 0.89). CEA >80 ng/mL was found to be associated with mucinous pathology in multivariate analysis.Conclusion:High CA19-9, solid lesion, and lesion-related partial atrophy of the pancreas are associated with PC, and these should be alarming for clinicians in practice. The mucinous character, which is a significant risk of PC for cystic lesions, can be optimally defined with the CEA cut-off value of 80 ng/mL

In a real-life setting, direct-acting antivirals to people who inject drugs with chronic hepatitis c in Turkey

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) should be treated in order to eliminate hepatitis C virus in the world. The aim of this study was to compare direct-acting antivirals treatment of hepatitis C virus for PWID and non-PWID in a real-life setting. Methods: We performed a prospective, non-randomized, observational multicenter cohort study in 37 centers. All patients treated with direct-acting antivirals between April 1, 2017, and February 28, 2019, were included. In total, 2713 patients were included in the study among which 250 were PWID and 2463 were non-PWID. Besides patient characteristics, treatment response, follow-up, and side effects of treatment were also analyzed. Results: Genotype 1a and 3 were more prevalent in PWID-infected patients (20.4% vs 9.9% and 46.8% vs 5.3%). The number of naïve patients was higher in PWID (90.7% vs 60.0%), while the number of patients with cirrhosis was higher in non-PWID (14.1% vs 3.7%). The loss of follow-up was higher in PWID (29.6% vs 13.6%). There was no difference in the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after treatment (98.3% vs 98.4%), but the end of treatment response was lower in PWID (96.2% vs 99.0%). In addition, the rate of treatment completion was lower in PWID (74% vs 94.4%). Conclusion: Direct-acting antivirals were safe and effective in PWID. Primary measures should be taken to prevent the loss of follow-up and poor adherence in PWID patients in order to achieve World Health Organization’s objective of eliminating viral hepatitis