We demonstrated that an increased NLR was related with higher cardiovascular mortality in patients with PAOD, who were admitted with critical limb ischemia or intermittent claudication. NLR, which reflects the patient's inflammatory status, is an inexpensive and readily available biomarker that provides an additional level of risk stratification beyond that provided by conventional risk scores in predicting long-term cardiovascular mortality in PAOD.

CIN was observed in 20.5% of patients. Advanced age, male gender, elevated creatinine, uric acid and phosphate levels, and low glomerular filtration rate were correlated with the development of CIN. Correlation analysis also showed a significant association between the ALP level and the development of CIN (126.1 ± 144.9 vs. 97.2 ± 46.9, p = 0.004). Univariate regression analysis also showed the impact of ALP on the development of CIN (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.001–1.007, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our outcomes indicate a possible active role of ALP in the mechanism of CIN. An elevated ALP level may predict the development of CIN.

041). MetS was associated with subclinical LV systolic and LV diastolic dysfunctions. In subgroup analyses of MetS patients, the presence of fQRS on ECG had a higher E/E' ratio and lower E' velocity, indicating pronounced diastolic dysfunction, as well as lower isovolumic acceleration (IVA), indicating profound subclinical LV systolic dysfunction. E/E' ratio and IVA were independent predictors of fQRS presence in patients with MetS. Conclusions: Fragmented QRS is more common among MetS patients compared to non--MetS patients. The presence of fQRS is associated with pronounced subclinical LV systolic and diastolic dysfunctions in MetS patients. (Cardiol J 2015; 22, 6: 691-698)

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Background: The Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), which is obtained from a combination of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum albumin level, predicts poor prognoses in many cancer types. Systemic inflammation also plays an important role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of inflammation-based GPS on in-hospital and long-term outcomes in patients hospitalized in intensive cardiovascular care unit (ICCU). Methods: A total of 1004 consecutive patients admitted to ICCU were included in the study, and patients were divided into three groups based on albumin and CRP values as GPS 0, 1, and 2. Patients’ demographic, clinic, and laboratory findings were recorded. In-hospital and one-year mortality rates were compared between groups. Results: Mortality occurred in 109 (10.8%) patients in in-hospital period, 82 (8.1%) patients during follow-up period, and thus, cumulative mortality occurred in 191 (19.0%) patients. Patients with a high GPS score had a higher rate of comorbidities and represented increased inflammatory evidence. In the multivariate regression model there was independent association with in-hospital mortality in GPS 1 patients compared to GPS 0 patients (Odds ratio, (OR); 5.52, 95% CI: 1.2–16.91, p = 0.025) and in GPS 2 patients compared to GPS 0 patients (OR; 7.01, 95% CI: 1.39–35.15, p = 0.018). A higher GPS score was also associated with a prolonged ICCU and hospital stay, and increased re-hospitalization in the follow-up period. Conclusion: Inflammation based GPS is a practical tool in the prediction of worse prognosis both in in-hospital and one-year follow-up periods in ICCU patients.

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Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have caused radical changes in the treatment scheme of many types of cancer in the past 10 years. ICIs are specific monoclonal antibodies that increase T-cell mediated immune response against cancer cells. Despite important advances in cancer treatment, uncontrolled activation of cytotoxic T cells has brought along many autoimmune clinical side effects, especially acute myocarditis. Although the incidence of ICI-related myocarditis is about 1%, it is remarkable in terms of mortality rate reaching 46% and demonstrating the necessity of rapid diagnosis and multidisciplinary approach. The present review aimed to summarize the heterogeneous symptomatology of ICI-associated myocarditis, clinical presentation ranging from elevated asymptomatic cardiac enzyme levels to cardiogenic shock, prominent diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and current information on the effectiveness of immunosuppressants in therapy.

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults, and is encountered in 10-15% of the patients with hyperthyroidism. Unless euthyroidism is restored, pharmacological or electrical cardioversion is controversial in patients with AF who remain hyperthyroid.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of electrical cardioversion and predictors of AF recurrence in hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients.MethodsThe study included 33 hyperthyroid (21 males) and 48 euthyroid (17 males) patients with persistent AF. The patients were sedated with intravenous midazolam before undergoing electrical cardioversion delivered by synchronized biphasic shocks. Rates of AF recurrence were recorded.ResultsMean follow-up was 23.63 ± 3.74 months in the hyperthyroid group and 22.78 ± 3.15 months in the euthyroid group (p = 0.51). AF recurred in 14 (43.8%) and 21 (44.7%) patients in each group, respectively (p = 0.93). Multivariate regression analysis in each group showed that AF duration was the only predictor of AF recurrence, with odds ratios of 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 - 1.82, p = 0.02) in the hyperthyroid group and 1.42 (95% CI = 1.05 - 1.91, p= 0.02) in the euthyroid group.ConclusionRates of long-term AF recurrence were similar in successfully cardioverted hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients. The only predictor of AF recurrence in both groups was AF duration.