Effects of ivabradine therapy on heart failure biomarkers

Background: Heart rate (HR) reduction is associated with improved outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and biomarkers can be a valuable diagnostic tool in HF management. The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the short-term (6 months) effect of ivabradine on N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), CA-125, and cystatin-C values in systolic HF outpatients, and secondary aim was to determine the relationship between baseline HR and the NT-proBNP, CA-125, cystatin-C, and clinical status variation with ivabradine therapy. Methods: Ninety-eight patients (mean age: 65.81 ± 10.20 years; 33 men), left ventricular ejection fraction < 35% with Simpson method, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II–III, sinus rhythm and resting HR > 70/min, optimally treated before the study were included. Among them, two matched groups were formed: the ivabradine group and the control group. Patients received ivabradine with an average (range of 10–15) mg/day during 6 months of follow-up. Blood samples for NT-proBNP, CA-125, and cystatin-C were taken at baseline and at the end of a 6-month follow-up in both groups. Results: There was a significant decrease in NYHA class in the ivabradine group (2.67 ± ± 0.47 vs. 1.85 ± 0.61, p < 0.001). When ivabradine and control groups were compared, a significant difference was also found in NHYA class 6 months later (p = 0.013). A significant decrease was found in HR in the ivabradine and control groups (84.10 ± 8.76 vs. 68.36 ± ± 8.32 bpm, p = 0.001; 84.51 ± 10 vs. 80.40 ± 8.3 bpm, p = 0.001). When both groups were compared, a significant difference was also found in HR after 6 months (p = 0.001). A significant decrease was found in cystatin-C (2.10 ± 0.73 vs. 1.50 ± 0.44 mg/L, p < 0.001), CA-125 (30.09 ± 21.08 vs. 13.22 ± 8.51 U/mL, p < 0.001), and NT-proBNP (1,353.02 ± 1,453.77 vs. 717.81 ± 834.76 pg/mL, p < 0.001) in the ivabradine group. When ivabradine and control groups were compared after 6 months, a significant decrease was found in all HF parameters (respectively; cystatin-C: p = 0.001, CA-125: p = 0.001, NT-proBNP: p = 0.001). Creatinine level was significantly decreased and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was significantly increased in the ivabradine group (1.02 ± 0.26 vs. 0.86 ± 0.17, creatinine: p = 0.001; 79.26 ± 18.58 vs. 92.48 ± 19.88, GFR: p = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between NYHA classes (before and after ivabradine therapy) and biochemical markers, or HR. Conclusions: In the outpatients with systolic HF, persistent resting HF > 70/min with optimal medical therapy, the NT-proBNP, CA-125, and cystatin-C reductions were obtained with ivabradine treatment. Measurement of NT-proBNP, CA-125, and cystatin-C may prove to be useful in biomarker panels evaluating ivabradine therapy response in HF patients.

Lithium intoxication related multiple temporary ecg changes: A case report

Lithium is a widely used mood stabilizer, which may cause cardiac side effects. In this article, we present the case of a 39-year-old woman who had presented with pre-syncope and developed multiple ECG abnormalities that are caused by lithium intoxication and are disappeared after hemodialysis

Survival results according to Oncotype Dx recurrence score in patients with hormone receptor positive HER-2 negative early-stage breast cancer: first multicenter Oncotype Dx recurrence score survival data of Turkey

BackgroundThe Oncotype Dx recurrence score (ODx-RS) guides the adjuvant chemotherapy decision-making process for patients with early-stage hormone receptor-positive, HER-2 receptor-negative breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate survival and its correlation with ODx-RS in pT1-2, N0-N1mic patients treated with adjuvant therapy based on tumor board decisions.Patients and methodsEstrogen-positive HER-2 negative early-stage breast cancer patients (pT1-2 N0, N1mic) with known ODx-RS, operated on between 2010 and 2014, were included in this study. The primary aim was to evaluate 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates according to ODX-RS.ResultsA total of 203 eligible patients were included in the study, with a median age of 48 (range 26-75) and median follow-up of 84 (range 23-138) months. ROC curve analysis for all patients revealed a recurrence cut-off age of 45 years, prompting evaluation by grouping patients as ≤45 years vs. >45 years. No significant difference in five-year DFS rates was observed between the endocrine-only (ET) and chemo-endocrine (CE) groups. However, among the ET group, DFS was higher in patients over 45 years compared to those aged ≤45 years. When stratifying by ODx-RS as 0-17 and ≥18, DFS was significantly higher in the former group within the ET group. However, such differences were not seen in the CE group. In the ET group, an ODx-RS ≥18 and menopausal status were identified as independent factors affecting survival, with only an ODx-RS ≥18 impacting DFS in patients aged ≤45 years. The ROC curve analysis for this subgroup found the ODx-RS cut-off to be 18.ConclusionThis first multicenter Oncotype Dx survival analysis in Turkey demonstrates the importance of Oncotype Dx recurrence score and age in determining treatment strategies for early-stage breast cancer patients. As a different aproach to the literature, our findings suggest that the addition of chemotherapy to endocrine therapy in young patients (≤45 years) with Oncotype Dx recurrence scores of ≥18 improves DFS

The Prognostic Importance of Cystatin C in Stable Heart Failure Without Chronic Kidney Disease

YÖK Tez No: 242934Amaç: Kronik kalp yetmezliği, toplumda genel olarak ölümlerin ve hastaneye yatışların başlıca sebebi olarak görünmektedir. Cystatin C böbrek yetmezliğini erken evrede saptamada kullanılabilecek başlıca belirteç olarak tanımlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, böbrek yetmezliği olmayan stabil kalp yetmezlikli hastalarda Cystatin C nin prognostik önemini araştırma hedeflenmiştir.Yöntem: Çalışmaya NYHA sınıf 1-3 semptomları olan ve ekokardiyografik incelemeyle ejeksiyon fraksiyonu 1.45 mg/dL Cystatin C seviyesi mortaliteyi %80 sensitivite, %63 spesifiteyle (şekil 1); major istenmeyen kardiyovasküler olay oranını %75 sensitivite, %81 spesifiteyle (şekil 2) öngörebilmektedir.Sonuç: Yüksek serum Cystatin C düzeyleri, ejeksiyon fraksiyonu 60 ml/dk/1.73m2 olan stabil kalp yetmezlikli hastalarda mortalite ve major istenmeyen kardiyovasküler olay oranının bağımsız prognostik belirtecidir.Background: Chronic heart failure represents the major cause of death and hospitalization in general population. Cystatin C has been identified as a novel biomarker that is sensitive in detecting early kidney dysfunction. Our aim was to investigate the prognostic importance of cystatin C in stable heart failure patients without renal insufficiency.Methods: We included 75 patients (50 males and 25 females, aged 67.6±10.6 years) who had been followed up with NYHA class 1-3 symptoms and who had an ejection fraction of 1.45 mg/dL could predict mortality with 80% sensitivity and 63% specificity. Furthermore, cystatin C levels >1.45 mg/dL could predict MACE rate with %75 sensitivity and %81 specificity.Conclusions: Elevation of serum cystatin C is an independent prognostic marker for mortality and MACE rate in stable heart failure who had an ejection fraction of 60 ml/min/ 1.73m2

A comprehensive analysis of histopathologic examination results of tonsillectomy specimens

This study aims to review the histopathologic results of tonsillectomy specimens, determine the rates of the tonsillectomy indications, and investigate the characteristics of asymmetric hypertrophy. Materials and Methods Medical records of 484 patients who underwent tonsillectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Descriptive data of adult and pediatric patients were presented as percentage. Comparisons between asymmetric and symmetric hypertrophy groups were performed to determine the features of asymmetric hypertrophy

Ostra zakrzepica w stencie skutecznie leczona dowieńcowym podaniem tirofibanu

Acute stent thrombosis (AST) is occasionally observed during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It may jeopardize hemodynamic status. Currently, there is no adequate solution for this problem. We report our experience with an ACS patient who developed AST associated with cardiogenic shock after percutaneous coronary stent deployment. Intracoronary administration of tirofiban immediately restored the coronary flow of the target vessel, and the disastrous condition was reversed. Our experience suggests that intracoronary administration of tirofiban can be considered as an option in cases of AST during percutaneous coronary intervention

A case of acute stent thrombosis treated successfully with intracoronary tirofiban

WOS: 000277384900017PubMed: 20425719Acute stent thrombosis (AST) is occasionally observed during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It may jeopardize hemodynamic status. Currently, there is no adequate solution for this problem. We report our experience with an ACS patient who developed AST associated with cardiogenic shock after percutaneous coronary stent deployment. Intracoronary administration of tirofiban immediately restored the coronary flow of the target vessel, and the disastrous condition was reversed. Our experience suggests that intracoronary administration of tirofiban can be considered as an option in cases of AST during percutaneous coronary intervention

Short and long term follow-up results of patients who are implanted with R-stent: A single center experience

World Congress of Cardiology -- MAY 18-21, 2008 -- Buenos Aires, ARGENTINAWOS: 000259224800392…World Heart Federat, Argentine Soc Cardiol, Argentine Federat Cardio

Myocardial performance index in patients with dipper and nondipper hypertension

WOS: 000339169500006PubMed: 24847725Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between left ventricular (LV) myocardial performance index (MPI) and nondipper pattern in hypertensive patients. Methods Between June 2012 and November 2012, patients admitted to the Cardiology Department of Duzce University Faculty of Medicine and diagnosed previously with essential hypertension were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups, nondippers and dippers, using ambulatory blood pressure measurement. All patients were evaluated by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. LV MPI was calculated from tissue Doppler imaging parameters. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in the proportion of each class of antihypertensive medications. Dippers and nondippers had similar age, BMI, lipid profiles, and smoking status. The MPI value was significantly higher in nondippers than in dippers, and was correlated negatively with the rate of systolic and diastolic blood pressure fall at night (P < 0.001). Conclusion Our study showed that MPI is disturbed in patients with nondipper hypertension. MPI may be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of global LV dysfunction in patients with a nondipper pattern, but further prospective studies are needed. (C) 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Correlation of preliminary and histopathologic diagnosis of head and neck lesions

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the correlation between preliminary diagnosis and pathological diagnosis of head and neck lesions after dermoscopic examination and excisional biopsy. Methods: We included 89 patients with head and neck lesions admitted to dermatology outpatient clinic. The correlation between preliminary diagnoses and pathology results of head and neck lesions were evaluated. Results: Lesions in 22 of 89 patients (24.7%) were melanocytic and 67 of 89 patients (75.3%) were nonmelanocytic. The number ofpreliminary diagnosis of all patients was no more than three. The clinicopathological correlation rate was 78.65% (70 patients) for the first preliminary diagnosis, 34.83% (31 patients) for the second preliminary diagnosis and 7.86% (7 patients) for the third preliminary diagnosis. Initial preliminary diagnosis and pathological diagnosis were found different in 13 cases. In 3 cases, nodular lesions were excised considering skin malignancy clinically and dermoscopically, but the histopathological results were reported as benign lesions. Conclusion: We think that the cooperation of clinicians and pathologists can increase the exact pathological diagnosis rate andclinicopathological correlation