The aim of this study is to evaluate the influences of short-term treatment with levosimendan (chemical formula: C 14 H 12 N 6 O) on oxidative stress and some trace element levels in renal tissues of healthy rats. A total of 20 male Wistar-albino rats were randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 10 rats. Animals in the first group were not treated with levosimendan and served as control. Animals in the second group were injected intraperitoneally with 12 mg/kg levosimendan and served as levosimendan group. Animals in both the groups were killed 3 days after the treatment, and their kidneys were harvested for the determination of tissue oxidant/antioxidant statues and trace element levels in renal tissues. The tissue malondialdehyde level was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in levosimendan group than in controls. The protective enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and antioxidant glutathione level were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in levosimendan group than in controls. It was concluded that levosimendan reduced oxidative stress by avoiding lipid peroxidation and production of reactive oxygen species, and overactivating and/or increasing the protective antioxidant enzyme levels in renal tissues of rats. It is supposed that this experimental study provides beneficial data for clinicians in the management of renal tissue damage related to obstruction and/or ischemia.

No abstract

This report describes the first use of a new paravalvular leak (PVL) device designed specifically to close paravalvular mitral and paravalvular aortic leaks. The first patient had severe paravalvular mitral leak that was closed using the transapical route with a rectangular designed PVL device that has an oval waist for self-centering and the second patient had moderate paravalvular aortic leak that was closed with a square designed device that has a round waist for self-centering. Both patients had complete closure.

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the health-related quality of life of the patients who underwent mitral valve repair (MvRp) and mitral valve replacement (MVR). Methods: Within the scope of this prospective study design, 56 patients who had mitral valve operation between the years of 2011-2012 were enrolled in the study. 24 (42.8%) of these patients had MVR while 32 (57.1%) of them had MvRp. The health-related quality of life was evaluated according to the Turkey norms of Short Form 36 Quality-Of-Life Measures (SF-36), which were filled in by the patients before and 6 months after the operation. Moreover, preoperative risk factors affecting the quality of life (age, gender, functional capacity, rhythm, hypertension, diabetes, applied surgical method and echocardiographic results) were investigated for all the patients (n = 56) by using independent sample t test analysis. Results: When the pre and postoperative changes were compared between the two groups, it was found out that there were no significant difference between the groups in terms of restraints on physical role functioning (PR), and the social role functioning values (SF) (respectively; p = 0.097, p = 0.105). However, in the comparison of pre-/postoperative changes between the groups, the changes in physical functioning (PF), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT) and restraints on emotional role functioning (RE) and mental health (MH) values were found out to be significantly superior in the MvRp group than in the MVR group (respectively; p <0.01, p <0.05, p <0.01, p <0.01, p <0.05 and p <0.01). It was also confirmed that female gender, atrial fibrillation (AFR), and MVR method negatively affected the physical and mental components (respectively; p = 0.033, p = 0.003, p = 0.015). Conclusion: Results of the SF-36 quality of life measures show that quality of life may be better in patients that have had MvRp. It should be considered that the planned surgical treatment method can affect the patient's quality of life, and this effect can indicate the success of the surgical treatment.

No abstract

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of levosimendan injection on lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant glutathione (GSH) levels, and activities of antioxidant enzymes in myocardium of rats. Twenty male Wistar-albino rats were divided randomly into 2 study groups, each consisting of 10 rats. The animals in the first group were not treated with drug and served as control. It was found that the MDA and GSH levels decreased in levosimendan injected group. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and carbonic anhydrase enzyme activities were lower in levosimendan injected group than controls. It was concluded that lower tissue free radical level caused by levosimendan injection led to a lower antioxidant enzymes synthesis in the body and a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activity and free radical scavenger level in myocardium of rat.

Surgery is the definitive treatment for patients with cervical paragangliomas. Although, it may be difficult in patients with the advanced Shamblin types, in experienced hands, complication rates are very low.

Single coronary artery anomaly is rarely seen, and although it can present with sudden death, chest pain, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure, it can also be asymptomatic. We describe the case of a 58-year-old man with single coronary artery anomaly in whom the coronary artery stemmed from the left coronary sinus and caused ischemic mitral insufficiency due to left anterior descending artery stenosis. He underwent successful mitral valve repair and coronary bypass.