We assessed the relationship between the severity of coronary artery disease assessed by SYNTAX score (SS) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N:L ratio) in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In total, 840 patients with STEMI in whom primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed were prospectively included (622 male, 218 female; mean age 58.6 ± 12.4 years). Total and differential leukocyte counts and other biochemical markers were measured at admission. Patients were categorized into tertiles on the basis of SS. The N:L ratio of SShigh group was higher compared with SSlow and SSmid groups (P < .001 for all). Multivariate regression analysis showed that N:L ratio (β = .277, P < .001), ejection fraction (β = -.086, P = .012), age (β = .104, P = .004), and diabetes (β = .152, P < .001) were the independent predictors for SS in patients with STEMI.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk increases with the elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and low level high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. However, the magnitude at which CAD risk increases with every lipid parameter is controversial. We developed a new index called CHOLINDEX, in order to evaluate CAD risk, and investigated its reliability. Methods: Three hundred and seven patients (190 males and 117 females, aged between 26-80 years, mean 53.6±10.2 years) who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography were included in the study. Risk factors and lipid profiles of all patients were noted. CHOLINDEX was calculated by using a formula as follows: CHOLINDEX=LDL-C-HDL-C (TG < 400 mg/dL), LDL-C-HDL-C + 1/5 of TG (TG ≥ 400mg/dL). Results: Of the 307 patients, 180 had CAD. We found that age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and CHOLINDEX were independent predictors of CAD. The logistic regression analysis showed that the CHOLINDEX had a much more significant relation with CAD (odds ratio=1.011, 95% CI=1.003-1.019) compared with other lipid parameters. Conclusion: CHOLINDEX is a simple index which can be used reliably in prediction of CAD like other lipid parameters in daily clinical practice. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2013; 13: 315-9)

Genetic factors are important in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion(I)/deletion(D) polymorphism is one of the genetic factor found to be related with CAD. We investigated the association between I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and the presence of CAD. Three hundred and seven patients (187 males and 120 females, aged between 35-80, mean 54.3 +/-9.8 years) who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography were included in the study. ACE I/D polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Of the 307, 176 had CAD. The most frequently observed genotype in all subjects was ID (47.9 %). However, in patients with CAD the frequency of II genotype was lower whereas DD genotype was higher compared to the controls (p < 0.05). The number of D allele carrying subjects were also higher (p < 0.05) in CAD patients. The logistic regression analysis indicated that the ACE D allele is an independent risk factor (odds ratio = 1.48, 95 % CI = 1.01-2.18, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene (carrying D allele) is an independent risk factor for CAD in the studied Turkish population.

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The results show that chronic cigarette smoking is associated with a prolonged Tp-e interval, increased Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio. These observations may indicate that there may be a relationship between smoking and altered ventricular repolarization. Abnormal ventricular repolarization values on an ECG may explain the increased cardiovascular event risk in long-term heavy cigarette smokers.

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Beta-thalassaemia major is a chronic haemolytic anaemia, and congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common cause of death in this disease. N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) increases with the severity of CHF and predicts the prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between left ventricular systolic and diastolic function determined by standard pulsed wave Doppler (PWD), tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and NT-proBNP in patients with beta-thalassaemia major. Thirty-four patients with beta-thalassaemia major and 34 healthy individuals were included in the study. Blood samples were taken for NT-proBNP. All patients and controls underwent echocardiographic examination. All cardiac chambers were significantly increased in the patient group. Left and right ventricular (LV, RV) ejection fractions and all diastolic parameters were normal in the patients and controls. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) showed a significant decrease in LV and RV Sm velocities in patients compared to the controls. NT-proBNP levels were also significantly higher in the patient group. There was a negative correlation between serum NT-proBNP levels and LV Sm and RV Sm velocities in patients (r = -0.426, P = 0.006 and r = -0.409, P = 0.009, respectively). Linear regression analysis showed that LV Sm and RV Sm were independent predictors for NT-proBNP. Our findings suggest that although iron overload in patients with beta-thalassaemia major impairs the systolic and diastolic functions of both ventricles, it impairs the systolic function earlier than diastolic function. Tissue Doppler imaging is an easy and reliable method in the early determination of ventricular dysfunction in these patients.