Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ischemia severity and Castelli risk indices (CRI) levels in non-geriatric patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) referred to myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) with gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 417 non-geriatric patients referred to SPECT MPS for suspected CAD at the Cardiology Clinic between January 2019 and January 2021. Patients were divided into normal, mild, moderate, and severe ischemia groups according to MPS. CRIs were calculated as follows: CRI-I = total cholesterol / HDL ratio; CRI-II = LDL / HDL ratio. Results: The CRIs levels were higher in ischemia group than non-ischemia group. Increase in CRI-II level was associated with increased ischemia severity. Increased CRI-II level was found to be an independent predictor of mild, moderate and severe ischemia group, but CRI-I was similar in moderate and severe ischemia groups. The threshold value of CRI-II for predicting the presence of ischemia was >2.1 (AUC ± SE = 0.787 ± 0.02, sensitivity = 79.5%, specificity = 71.4%). The threshold values of CRI-II showed a gradual increase in predicting the severity of ischemia. Conclusion: CRI-II offers offers gradually increasing threshold values in distinguishing patients with suspected CAD but without perfusion defects or determining its severity in the case of ischemia. CRI-II can be a potential screening tool for patients with suspected CAD and it can be used for risk stratification.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of the left ventricular (LV) global function index (LVGFI) in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome after long-term follow-up. Methods: This retrospective study included 718 patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 781 patients with non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The LVGFI was calculated on echocardiography with the following formula: (LV stroke volume/[LV cavity volume + LV myocardial volume]) × 100. Results: Mean LVGFI was higher in the NSTEMI group than in the STEMI group. Decreased LVGFI levels were independent predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events in both the STEMI and the NSTEMI group. Conclusion: Echocardiographic LVGFI may be a useful prognostic screening tool for acute coronary syndrome cohorts.

Introduction: To compare radial artery (RA) diameters, intima-media thickness (IMT), and vascular functions before and after conventional and distal RA cannulation. It has been proposed that distal transradial (DTRA) cannulation can reduce RA complications. However, there has been no comparative study examining the effects of DTR and conventional transradial (CTRA) intervention on RA structure and function. Patients and Methods: Radial artery diameter, IMT, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) response were measured using conventional and Doppler RA ultrasonography before, and one day and one month after the procedure in patients who underwent CTRA or DTRA. Results: While baseline and first-day IMT values were similar between the groups, first-month IMT values in the CTRA group were found to be significantly increased compared to those in the DTRA group (CTRA= 0.39 ± 0.10 mm, DTRA= 0.32 ± 0.07 mm, p= 0.016). While proximal RA occlusion developed in three patients who underwent CTRA, it did not develop in any of the patients undergoing DTRA (p= 0.072). Conclusion: In patients who underwent CTRA, RA IMT increased significantly in the first month after the procedure, compared to patients who underwent DTRA. Proximal RAO was not observed in any of the patients who underwent DTRA.

Introduction: Introduction: Epidemiological studies indicated that patients suffering from coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) are predisposed to dyslipidemia. However, there are limited studies evaluating the relationship between atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), which is a novel indicator of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and CSFP. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of the AIP in predicting CSFP among patients with undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: Methods: This retrospective study included 110 patients with CSFP diagnosed by methods of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI)-frame count (TFC) and 110 controls with normal coronary flow (NCF). AIP obtained as the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of triglycerides to HDL.Results: Results: Mean AIP level was higher in the CSFP group than NCF group (0.6 ± 0.2 vs. 0.4 ± 0.2, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that AIP level (OR = 15.33, 95% CI = 4.11-57.18, p < 0.001), as well as neutrophil and platelets levels, were independent predictor of CSFP. The threshold value of the AIP in predicting CSFP was >0.7 with 64.5% sensitivity and 69.8% specificity (Area under the curve [AUC] = 0.714, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Conclusion: API was higher in CSFP patients and was determined as an independent predictor of CSFP. Prior to planned diagnostic coronary angiography, API exhibits significant diagnostic performance in predicting CSFP.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) on lipid levels at 12 weeks of follow-up in newly diagnosed hypertensive (NDHT) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methodsː This retrospective study, 236 NDHT patients with T2DM were included. The SGLT-2i group consisted of patients who received SGLT-2i (empagliflozin or dapagliflozin) in addition to stable triple combination treatment. The control group was selected over NDHT patients with T2DM who did not receive SGLT-2i and matched with the SGLT-2i group in terms of baseline risk factors by propensity score. The laboratory findings of the patients were compared retrospectively at the time of diagnosis of NDHT (baseline) and at 12-month followup. Resultsː The decrease in fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C levels was higher in the SGLT-2i group than control group. Although both groups received similar antihypertensive therapy, the improvement in lipid profile was higher in the SGLT-2i group. Glycemic control and side effects were similar in empagliflozin and dapagliflozin groups. However, greater improvement in lipid profiles was detected in dapagliflozin users. Conclusionsː In NDHT patients with T2DM, the addition of SGLT2i to treatment management in cases where glycemic control is not achieved is associated with more improvement of the lipid profile without significant side effects. However, the effects of various SGLT2i agents on this improvement may be different.