The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a serious global pandemic. Although an oxidative stress imbalance occurs in COVID-19 patients, the contributions of thiol/disulphide homeostasis and nitric oxide (NO) generation to the pathogenesis of COVID-19 have been poorly identified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of antiviral drug therapy on the serum dynamics of thiol/disulphide homeostasis and NO levels in COVID-19 patients. A total of 50 adult patients with COVID-19 and 43 sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in this prospective study. Venous blood samples were collected immediately on admission to the hospital within 24 h after the diagnosis (pre-treatment) and at the 15th day of drug therapy (post-treatment). Serum native thiol and total thiol levels were measured, and the amounts of dynamic disulphide bonds and related ratios were calculated. The average pre-treatment total and native thiol levels were significantly lower than the post-treatment values (P < 0.001 for all). We observed no significant changes in disulphide levels or disulphide/total thiol, disulphide/native thiol, or native thiol/total thiol ratios between pre- and post-treatments. There was also a significant increase in serum NO levels in the pre-treatment values when compared to control (P < 0.001) and post-treatment measurements (P < 0.01). Our results strongly suggest that thiol/disulphide homeostasis and nitrosative stress can contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19. This study was the first to show that antiviral drug therapy can prevent the depletion in serum thiol levels and decrease serum NO levels in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that leads to mortality and morbidity by affecting arterial vascular structures. Carotid artery is one of these arterial structures and occlusive disease of carotid artery may cause stroke or cranial ischemic infarction. Inflammation plays a role in the atherosclerotic process. In this study, we aimed to discuss the relationship between the severity and side of carotid artery occlusion and novel inflammatory parameters include platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios. Methods: One-hundred-fifteen patients who had carotid artery stenosis between 50%-99% and 115 healthy subjects with no carotid artery stenosis or additional disease were included in the study. The relationship between the side and degree of the lesion and platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios were studied in the patient group. The patients with carotid artery stenosis and the healthy subjects were compared, in the terms of same parameters. Data were evaluated statistically. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups, in the terms of platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios and the degree of stenosis. There was no statistically significant difference between the sides of the lesions and the parameters above except lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. It was statistically significantly higher in left-sided lesions. Aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios were markedly higher in the patient group, when compared to controls. Conclusion: Platelet-to-lymphocyte, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte, and aspartate-to-alanine aminotransferase ratios are inexpensive, easy, fast, and reproducible parameters that can be used in determining the prediction of carotid artery stenosis.

Gunshot injuries are one of the penetrating traumas of the heart and that require urgent intervention. Localization of the cardiac injury is important in terms of appropriate treatment approach. For this reason, rapid diagnosis and surgical intervention is life-saving in such patients. In our study, we present a surgical intervention of a patient with lesion on the right coronary artery that doesn't allow blood flow in coronary angiography due to cardiac injury with gunshot injury.

Arteriovenous fistula due to coronary angiography intervention is rarely seen. Arteriovenous fistulas may be asymptomatic according to the size of the shunt, as well as to the heart failure. In this case report, we aimed to share gradual transition from endovascular methods to surgery and why surgical treatment is required for a patient who developed arteriovenous fistula after coronary angiography.

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Background: Serious coronary artery diseases including left main coronary artery disease, proximal left anterior descending artery disease, and three-vessel coronary artery disease with carotid artery stenosis are required simultaneous operations. By using complete arterial revascularization technique for coronary artery bypass graft operation, radial artery can be used safely as a patch material for carotid endarterectomy in combined surgery. Methods: Between 2016 and 2018, 14 patients who had serious coronary artery disease with the stenosis of unilateral carotid artery equal/over 70% were included in the study. Complete arterial revascularization was performed in all patients and radial artery was used as a patch material in carotid endarterectomy. Results: All patients were discharged without any complication and carotid artery colored Doppler ultrasound was performed to the patients in the 3rd months, 6th months, and first year of the operation. There was no restenosis detected. Conclusion: In conclusion, radial artery is useable for carotid patch angioplasty in patients who underwent simultaneous carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass graft operation with complete arterial revascularization. Further studies including a large number of patients are needed to examine the long-term patency of this graft.

Amaç: Diyabetik koroner arter hastalarının baypaslarında kullanılan safen ven greftleri normal hasta popülasyonundan daha erken tıkanır. Bu çalışmada, diyabetik hastalarda operasyon sırasında alınan safen ven greftlerinin oksidatif hasara karşı korunmasında endotel koruma solüsyonunun etkileri araştırıldı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Hastanemizde 2021-2022 yılları arasında koroner bypass ameliyatı olan 50 diyabet hastasının operasyonu sırasında alınan safen ven greftlerinin kalan kısımları üç parçaya bölündü. Her parça salin (grup 1), heparinize otolog kan (grup 2) ve endotel koruma solüsyonu (grup 3) olmak üzere farklı bir solüsyona yerleştirildi. Çözeltilerde 4 saat bekletildikten sonra hücresel ve DNA oksidatif stres belirteçleri araştırıldı. Bulgular: Toplam antioksidan kapasite (TAC) açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark yoktu (p&gt;0.05). Toplam oksidatif durum (TOS) seviyeleri, endotel solüsyonu olmayan grup 1 ve 2'de (1,57±0,46'ya karşı 1,55±0,19) grup 3'ten (1,31±0,11) anlamlı olarak yüksekti (p&lt;0,05). Ayrıca oksidatif stres indeksi (OSI) grup 3'te anlamlı olarak daha düşüktü (p&lt;0.05). Öte yandan nükleer oksidatif stresi gösteren 8-hidroksi-2'-deoksiguanozin (8-OHdG) düzeyleri de grup 3'te düşük bulundu (p&lt;0.05). Sonuç: Sonuçlarımız diyabetik hastalarda kullanılan safen ven greftlerinde endotel solüsyonu kullanımının oksidatif hasarı önlediğini desteklemektedir.

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