Effects of preoperative short term use of atorvastatin on endothelial progenitor cells after coronary surgery: A randomized, controlled trial

We investigated the effects of short-term use of atorvastatin on CD34+/VEGF-R2+/CD133+/CD45- endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) count after on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Between Feb-2010 and May-2010, we randomly assigned, in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 60 consecutive patients who underwent isolated, first-time CABG to receive either 14-day atorvastatin (40 mg/day) or placebo preoperatively. Urgent CABG and recent myocardial infarction were excluded. EPCs were quantified (cells/mu l) by flow cytometric phenotyping obtained from venous blood samples collected preoperatively (T-1), 6-hours (T-2), and on the 5th day postoperatively (T-3). Levels of markers of inflammation and serum cardiac troponin I were also measured preoperatively and daily until day-5 after surgery. There were no differences in baseline risk factors including cholesterol profiles, and EuroSCORES between the groups. The composite primary end-point, favored statin group with higher amount of circulating, early EPC count (cells/mu l) at all time points compared with placebo (T-1, 2.30 +/- 0.02 versus 1.58 +/- 0.03, p < 0.001; T-2, 5.00 +/- 0.06 versus 2.19 +/- 0.06, p < 0.001; T-3, 3.03 +/- 0.08 versus 1.78 +/- 0.02, p < 0.001). Postoperative hsCRP rise were inversely correlated with EPC count, and were significantly lower in the statin group (T-1, 0.8 +/- 0.1 versus 2.2 +/- 1.5, p < 0.001; T-2, 72.9 +/- 3.2 versus 96.0 +/- 3.6, p < 0.001; T-3, 4.3 +/- 1.2 versus 11.4 +/- 4.1, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in the statin group compared to placebo (3.3% versus 23%, p = 0.02). Short-term atorvastatin use increases circulating early EPCs both pre- and post-operatively and is associated with better preservation of sinus rhythm and reduced hsCRP levels.Ankara University School of Medicine Research Council - BAP - B.30.2.ANK.0.05.02.0

Baseline clinical characteristics and patient profile of the TURKMI registry: Results of a nation-wide acute myocardial infarctionregistry in Turkey

Objective: The TURKMI registry is designed to provide insight into the characteristics, management from symptom onset to hospital discharge, and outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) in Turkey. We report the baseline and clinical characteristics of the TURKMI population. Methods: The TURKMI study is a nation-wide registry that was conducted in 50 centers capable of percutaneous coronary intervention selected from each EuroStat NUTS region in Turkey according to population sampling weight, prioritized by the number of hospitals in each region. All consecutive patients with acute MI admitted to coronary care units within 48 hours of symptom onset were prospectively enrolled during a predefined 2-week period between November 1, 2018 and November 16, 2018. Results: A total of 1930 consecutive patients (mean age, 62.0 +/- 13.2 years; 26.1\% female) with a diagnosis of acute MI were prospectively enrolled. More than half of the patients were diagnosed with non-ST elevation MI (61.9\%), and 38.1\% were diagnosed with ST elevation MI. Coronary angiography was performed in 93.7\% and, percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 73.2\% of the study population. Fibrinolytic therapy was administered to 13 patients (0.018\%). Aspirin was prescribed in 99.3\% of the patients, and 94\% were on dual antiplatelet therapy at the time of discharge. Beta blockers were prescribed in 85.0\%, anti-lipid drugs in 96.3\%, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in 58.4\%, and angiotensin receptor blockers in 7.9\%. Comparison with European countries revealed that TURKMI patients experienced MI at younger ages compared with patients in France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The most prevalent risk factors in the TURKMI population were hypercholesterolemia (60.2\%), hypertension (49.5\%), smoking (48.8\%), and diabetes (37.9\%). Conclusion: The nation-wide TURKMI registry revealed that hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and smoking were the most prevalent risk factors. TURKMI patients were younger compared with patients in European Countries. The TURKMI registry also confirmed that current treatment guidelines are largely adopted into clinical cardiology practice in Turkey in terms of antiplatelet, anti-ischemic, and anti-lipid therapy

Disappearance of Biodiversity and Future of Our Foods

“I. Uluslararası Organik Tarım ve Biyoçeşitlilik Sempozyumu 27-29 Eylül Bayburt