Our work suggests that the FRS system is a simple and feasible method that can be used for prediction of CAD severity. As the sample size was small in our study, further large-scale studies are needed on this subject to draw solid conclusions.

Results of our study suggest that RV-IVA may be a useful parameter to detect subtle alterations in RV and may predict the presence of APE in hemodynamically stable patients.

The left ventricular diameter and ejection fraction did not exhibit circadian variations. However, our data indicate that some parameters reflecting diastolic function, systolic myocardial velocities and MPI, as well as left atrial diameter change at different times of the day, independent of blood pressure and heart rate.

Introduction:The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the extend and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) determined by the Gensini score and complete blood count parameters (white blood cell, hemoglobin, platelet, mean platelet volume, lymphocyte, neutrophil).Patients and Methods: Ninety patients with CAD underwent coronary angiography (40 females, mean age 61 ± 1.2 years) were included in this study. Patients with acute coronary syndrome and prior cardiovascular disease excluded from the study. The association between the extent and severity of CAD, which were assessed by the Gensini score, and complete blood count parameters was analyzed by a correlation analysis.Results: Coronary angiography revealed, 6 (6.7%) patients had three, 16 (17.8%) patients had two, and 24 (26.7%) patients had single-vessel disease; 44 (48.9%) patients had non-critical stenosis. The mean Gensini score was 19.1 ± 2.1. We found a relationship between white blood cell and neutrophil counts and the Gensini score. There was no relationship between Gensini score and the mean platelet volume and other parameters. Conclusion:The present study supports the hypothesis that inflammation is one of the main component in the pathogenesis of CAD.

According to our results, hFABP was rarely positive in normotensive patients with APE. An elevated D-dimer alone was not significant in predicting RVD. Eccentricity indexes revealed significant relationship with BNP and troponin I values. The results obtained indicate that early echocardiographic evaluation is important in patients with abnormal cardiac biomarkers.

Objective:Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) has been reported in various atherosclerotic diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between the atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) and various hematological parameters including MPV.Methods:This study was performed with a retrospective review of the angiographic images of patients who underwent renal angiography at Bülent Ecevit University catheter laboratory between January 2004 and December 2009. The patients were trichotomized into three groups based on the presence and severity of renal artery stenosis (RAS). Group 1 included patients with a critical RAS (33 patients; 18 female (F), 15 male (M); mean age 61.6±11.5 years), group 2 consisted of patients with non-critical RAS (26 patients; 15 F, 11 M; mean age 58.1±11.3 years), and group 3 was composed of patients without RAS (69 patients; 38 F, 31 M; mean age 53.5±11.9 years). Demographic data, complete blood count, and biochemical parameters were compared between the groups.Results:Comparison of the hematological parameters revealed that MPV and platelet distribution width were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 and 3 (8.96±0.99 fL versus 8.35±0.76 fL, 8.31±0.79 fL, respectively; p=0.001; 16.53±0.58% versus 16.19±0.56%, 16.29±0.53%, respectively; p=0.04).Conclusion:MPV levels are higher in patients with ARAS. Considering both the effect of platelets on atherosclerosis and their close association with other risk factors, MPV level may be an important factor in pathogenesis of ARAS.

Background: We aimed here to investigate hydration status by echocardiography in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Methods: 25 ESRD patients [15 males; mean age: 54.0±16.6 years; 13 hemodialysis; 12 peritoneal dialysis] were considered eligible for this study. We also examined 29 healthy volunteers as a control group (17 males; mean age: 46.5±12.8 years). Body composition analysis using the bioimpedance spectroscopy technique was performed for volume overload diagnosis. The ratio of extracellular water (ECW) to height was used as volume indices. The aortic elastic parameters were calculated by echocardiography. A correlation analyses was performed between the ratio of ECW to height indicating the volume overload and the aortic elastic parameters e.g. Aortic strain (AS), Aortic distensibility (AD) and Aortic stiffness index (ASI). Results: The ratio of ECW to height that indicates volume overload in ESRD patients was considerably higher than that in the control group (10.25±1.98 L/m vs 8.66±1.22 L/m, p=0.001). There was a negative correlation between the ratio of ECW to height and AS and AD and a positive correlation between the ratio of ECW to height and ASI. Conclusion: Given the importance of the diagnosis and follow up of volume overload, the results show that aortic elasticity measurements, being easy to perform and replicate, can be used for this purpose.

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