Performance of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for the prediction of long-term morbidity and mortality in coronary slow flow phenomenon patients presented with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to determine if neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio could predict long term morbidity and mortality in patients who hospitalized for non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and had coronary slow flow on coronary angiography. Methods: In this observational study, 111 patients who presented with NSTE-ACS and diagnosed with coronary slow flow phenomenon on angiographic examination were included. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) calculated as the ratio of the number of neutrophils to the number of lymphocytes. Patients classified into three groups according to NLR values. The term coronary slow flow phenomenon was depicted by calculating Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame count.Patients were followed up and the occurrence of recurrent angina, recurrent myocardial infarction, and long-term mortality was determined using medical records, phone calls, or face-to-face interviews. P values <0.05 considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: Recurrent angina and myocardial infarction occurred more frequently in the highest NLR tertile compared with middle and lowest NLR tertiles. High NLR group (NLR≥ 3.88 n=38) was significantly associated with younger age and smoking status. WBC, troponin I and CRP levels increased as the NLR tertile increased. Recurrent myocardial infarction and angina showed strong relationship with increasing NLR values. In multivariate regression analyses smoking and high NLR levels were independent predictors of recurrent myocardial infarction (HR:4.64 95%CI 0.95-22.52 P=0.04, HR: 1.48 95%CI 1.16-1.90 P<0.01 respectively) in the long term follow up. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that high NLR values can be a valuable prognostic tool in the long term follow up of patients who presented with NSTE-ACS and diagnosed with slow flow phenomenon on coronary angiography

Wpływ rosuwastatyny i atorwastatyny na zaburzenia erekcji u chorych z hipercholesterolemią

Background and aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on erectile dysfunction in hypercholesterolaemic patients.Methods: Ninety consecutive male hypercholesterolaemic patients (mean age 50.4 ± 7.9 years) who were otherwise healthy were included into the study prospectively. None of the patients had any cardiovascular risk factors except hypercholesterolaemia.The patients were divided into two groups. One group received atorvastatin while the other group was given rosuvastatin. All patients were followed for six months and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score and blood samples were re-evaluated.Results: Patients were in similar ages in both groups. There were also no statistical differences in terms of blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride and mean IIEF score in both groups at the beginning. After six months, no IIEF score changes were observed in the rosuvastatin group after the medication. However, the IIEF score was significantly lower in the atorvastatin group (p = 0.019).Conclusions: Rosuvastatin showed no effect on erectile dysfunction, while we observed increased erectile dysfunction with atorvastatin. Our study reveals that different statin types may have different effects on erectile dysfunction.Wstęp i cel: Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena wpływu atorwastatyny i rosuwastatyny na zaburzenia erekcji u chorych z hipercholesterolemią.Metody: Do badania włączono prospektywnie kolejnych pacjentów z hipercholesterolemią (średnia wieku 50,4 ± 7,9 roku), u których nie występowały inne choroby. U żadnego z pacjentów nie występowały inne czynniki ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego poza hipercholesterolemią. Uczestników badania podzielono na dwie grupy. Osoby z jednej grupy otrzymywały atorwastatynę, a osoby z drugiej grupy — rosuwastatynę. Wszystkich chorych obserwowano przez 6 miesięcy, po czym ponownie przeprowadzono ocenę zaburzeń erekcji z użyciem skali IIEF-5 oraz analizę próbek krwi.Wyniki: Pacjenci z obu grup byli w podobnym wieku. Nie stwierdzono również statystycznych różnic między grupami pod względem wyjściowych wartości stężenia glukozy we krwi, cholesterolu całkowitego, lipoprotein frakcji LDL, lipoprotein frakcji HDL, triglicerydów i średniej punktacji w skali IIEF. Po 6 miesiącach leczenia nie zanotowano zmian w punktacji IIEF w grupie przyjmującej rosuwastatynę, natomiast w grupie stosującej atorwastatynę punktacja IIEF była istotnie niższa (p = 0,019).Wnioski: Rosuwastatyna nie miała wpływu na zaburzenia erekcji, natomiast atorwastatyna spowodowała nasilenie tych zaburzeń. W badaniu wykazano, że różne rodzaje statyn mogą odmiennie wpływać na zaburzenia erekcji

Case Reports

Incremental utility of Live/Real time threedimensional transesophageal echocardiography in a case with ventricular septal aneurysm and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a case repor

Assessment of Atrial Conduction Times in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Parkinson’s Disease

Background. An increased risk of ischemic stroke has been reported in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is strongly associated with ischemic stroke. Prolonged atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) is an independent predictor for the development of AF. Aims. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the atrial conduction parameters in patients with PD and to assess their relation with the severity of PD. Study design. We prospectively enrolled 51 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed PD and 31 age- and sex-matched non-PD subjects. Methods. To assess atrial electromechanical coupling (PA), the time intervals from the onset of p wave on ECG to the late diastolic wave at the septal (PAs) and lateral (PAl) mitral annulus and lateral tricuspid annulus (PAt) were measured on Tissue Doppler Echocardiography (TDE). The difference between PAs-PAl, PAs-PAt, and PAl-PAt were defined as left intra-atrial, right intra-atrial, and interatrial EMD, respectively. P-wave dispersion (PWD) was calculated from the 12-lead ECG. Results. PWD, PAs, PAl, and PAt durations were significantly prolonged in the PD group (all p<0.001). Interatrial, right, and left intra-atrial EMD were also significantly longer in PD patients (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.002, resp.). There were significant positive correlations between disease severity (UPDRS score) and PWD (r=0.34, p=0.041), left intra-atrial (r=0.39, p=0.005), and interatrial EMD (r=0.35, p=0.012). By multivariate analysis, PWD (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02–1.25; p=0.017), LA volume index (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02–1.37; p=0.021), left intra-atrial (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01–1.24; p=0.041), and interatrial EMD (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.16; p=0.026) were found as independent predictors of PD. Conclusion. Atrial conduction times were longer and correlated with the severity of disease in PD patients. Prolonged inter- and intra-atrial-EMD intervals were also found as independent correlates of PD. These findings may suggest an increased predisposition to atrial fibrillation in PD

Anxiety, Depression, and General Psychological Distress in Patients with Coronary Slow Flow

Abstract Background: The relationship between psychiatric illness and heart disease has been frequently discussed in the literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety, depression and overall psychological distress, and coronary slow flow (CSF). Methods: In total, 44 patients with CSF and a control group of 50 patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA) were prospectively recruited. Clinical data, admission laboratory parameters, and echocardiographic and angiographic characteristics were recorded. Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scales were administered to each patient. Results: The groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors. In the CSF group, BAI score, BDI score, and general symptom index were significantly higher than controls (13 [18.7] vs. 7.5 [7], p = 0.01; 11 [14.7] vs. 6.5 [7], p = 0.01; 1.76 [0.81] vs. 1.1[0.24], p = 0.01; respectively). Patients with CSF in more than one vessel had the highest test scores. In univariate correlation analysis, mean thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame counts were positively correlated with BAI (r = 0.56, p = 0.01), BDI (r = 0.47, p = 0.01), and general symptom index (r = 0.65, p = 0.01). The psychiatric tests were not correlated with risk factors for atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Our study revealed higher rates of depression, anxiety, and overall psychological distress in patients with CSF. This conclusion warrants further studies