Impaired global and segmental myocardial deformation assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency

Background: Contrary effects of vitamin B12 deficiency have been shown on the cardiovascular system. Aim of our study was to analyze left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation, by using the two dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and normal LV ejection fraction.Methods: Twenty-five patients with vitamin B12 deficiency (B12 levels < 200 pg/mL; meanage: 29.6 ± 8.2 years, 15 female), and 27 healthy controls (B12 levels > 200 pg/mL; meanage: 30.1 ± 6.9 years, 13 female) were included in the study. 2D echocardiography images were transferred to a workstation for further offline analysis. Longitudinal peak systolic (LPSS) and global strain (LGS) was obtained from 4 chamber and apical long axis (APLAX) views.Results: Standard echocardiographic parameters and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) velocities were compared between the groups. All LPSS values in the patient group except for apical 4C septal wall longitudinal strain were significantly decreased than those in the control group. There was a positive correlation between B12 levels and strain values except apical 4C septal wall strain values.Conclusions: We found that in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, global and segmental myocardial deformation was impaired and this impairment was correlated with the levels of vitamin B12

Relationship Between Oxidative Stress Parameters and Cystatin C Levels in Patients With Severe Preeclampsia

Background and Objective. Oxidative stress is believed to play a role in the development of preeclampsia (PE). It is known that an increased cystatin C level is also associated with PE. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress parameters and cystatin C levels in patients with severe PE. Material and Methods. Forty-four patients with severe PE and 40 healthy pregnant women were recruited for the study. All study subjects were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n=44) consisted of patients with severe PE, and group 2 (n=40) included healthy pregnant subjects. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects in order to measure the cystatin C level, total antioxidant status, and total oxidant status. The oxidative stress index was calculated. Results. The group 1 had significantly higher cystatin C, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index levels and lower total antioxidant status level as compared with the group 2 (P=0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.036, respectively). The serum cystatin C level was significantly correlated with the oxidative stress index (r=0.609, P<0.001). Conclusions. The present study demonstrated that both oxidative stress and cystatin C levels were increased in patients with PE, and the increased cystatin C levels seem to be a consequence of oxidative stress. Correspondence t