This study showed that endothelial functions were impaired in patients with chronic periodontitis and that they improve following initial periodontal therapy.

In our pilot trial, the administration of low-dose intracoronary streptokinase immediately after primary PCI improved myocardial reperfusion but not long-term left ventricular size or function. These findings require clarification in a larger trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00302419.)

Subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism are two frequently occurring conditions for which exact therapeutic approaches have not yet been established. The aim of this study was to compare the endothelial function and carotid artery intimae-media thickness (IMT) of these two groups of patients to euthyroid subjects and to assess the effects of these conditions on endothelial function. Study groups comprised of 25 subclinical hypothyroid patients (mean age, 32.28 +/- 9.67 years), 13 subclinical hyperthyroid patients (mean age, 35.69 +/- 9.67 years), and 23 euthyroid subjects (mean age, 35.87 +/- 7.93 years). They were evaluated for flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and carotid artery IMT. The groups were matched strictly for atherosclerotic risk factors. The subclinical hypothyroid group was found to have significantly lower FMD values. No significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to other vascular parameters. The only discriminative factor between the groups was the state of their thyroid function. Therefore, subclinical hypothyroidism may have adverse effects on endothelial function independent from other well-known atherosclerotic risk factors.

Background: In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), increased neutrophil count has been associated with more severe coronary artery disease and larger infarct size. Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is also associated with poor clinical outcome and impaired angiographic reperfusion in patients with AMI. However, the associations of neutrophil count and MPV with the indices of tissue level reperfusion were not fully elucidated. Aim: To elucidate the relationship between baseline neutrophil count and MPV on presentation and microvascular injury in patients with anterior AMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Methods: 41 patients with anterior wall AMI treated successfully with pPCI were included. The leucocyte count, neutrophil count and MPV were obtained on admission, and the percentage of neutrophils was calculated. After PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction, grade 3 flow was established in all patients. The coronary flow velocity pattern (diastolic deceleration time (DDT)) was examined with transthoracic echocardiography and measured intracoronary pressures with fibreoptic pressure-temperature sensortipped guidewire in the left anterior descending artery within 48 h after pPCI. Thermodilution-derived coronary flow reserve (CFR) was calculated. Index of microvascular resistance (IMR) was defined as simultaneously measured distal coronary pressure divided by the inverse of the thermodilution-derived hyperaemic mean transit time. Subsequently, a short compliant balloon was placed in the stented segment and inflated to measure coronary wedge pressure (CWP). Conclusion: Absolute and relative neutrophilia and higher MPV on admission were independently associated with impaired microvascular perfusion in patients with anterior AMI treated with pPCI. It is possible that neutrophilia and high MPV are simple surrogate markers of worse microvascular injury in patients with AMI.

TDI-derived right ventricular IVA may be used as an adjunctive, reliable, noninvasive parameter for the early detection of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with MS but without signs of systemic venous congestion.