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Objective: Our aim was to investigate the possible relationship between myeloperoxidase (MPO) and myocardial damage markers such as heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and troponin T (TnT) in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). Materials and Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients (age range: 27-80 years) with chronic HF were enrolled in the study. Serum H-FABP, TnT and MPO levels were measured. Routine biochemical and clinical parameters were recorded. Echocardiographic examinations were performed on all patients. A linear regression analysis was performed to determine the correlates of serum H-FABP. Results: The MPO, H-FABP and TnT levels were 255 ± 227, 60.6 ± 48.5 and 0.07 ± 0.15 ng/ml, respectively. In multiple linear regression analysis, age (β = -0.36, p = 0.006), creatinine level (β = 0.3, p = 0.024) and serum MPO level (β = 0.41, p = 0.009) were significant determinants of H-FABP levels. Bivariate predictors were not significantly associated with TnT levels in linear regression analyses. Conclusions: The MPO was significantly associated with serum H-FABP levels but not with TnT.

Background Although the pathophysiology of coronary slow flow (CSF) has not been fully elucidated, emerging data increasingly support potential role for subclinical diffuse atherosclerosis in the etiology of CSF. We aimed to investigate relationship between atherogenic indices and CSF. Methods 130 patients with CSF diagnosed according to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI)-frame count (TFC) method and 130 controls who had normal coronary flow (NCF) were included in this retrospective study. Atherogenic indices (atherogenic index of plasma [AIP], Castelli risk indices I and II [CRI-I and II]) were calculated using conventional lipid parameters. Results The logistic regression analyses demonstrated that AIP (OR, 5.463; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.357–21.991; p = 0.017) and CRI-II (OR, 1.624; 95% CI, 1.138–2.319; p = 0.008) were independent predictors of CSF. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the optimal cutoff value to predict the occurrence of CSF was 0.66 for AIP (sensitivity, 59%; specificity, 73%; area under curve [AUC], 0.695; p < 0.001) and 3.27 for CRI-II (sensitivity, 60%; specificity, 79%; AUC, 0.726; p < 0.001). Conclusions AIP and CRI-II levels were independent predictors of CSF. Prospective studies in larger cohorts of patients may elucidate the role of atherogenic dyslipidemia in the pathophysiology of CSF.

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The single coronary artery, anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left anterior descending artery, is a benign and very rare coronary artery anomaly. We firstly present a case with this type of single coronary artery and congenital pulmonary valvular stenosis with large poststenotic dilatation.

Objective: Arterial stiffness (AS) is related with both AF and stroke. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between AS and CHA2DS2-VASc score in patients with AF-related stroke. Materials and Methods: Thirty stroke patients with non-valvular paroxysmal AF participated in this study. Calculations of the patients' CHA2DS2-VASc scores were made. The Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) measured with the SphygmoCor system was used as an indicator of arterial stiffness. It was determined whether or not there was a statistical connection between the CHA2DS2-VASc score and arterial stiffness. Results: Depending on their CHA2DS2-VASc values before to their stroke, the patients were divided into groups (group 1: score=0-1, group 2=score≥2.) The two groups' characteristics were comparable, with the exception of age and systolic blood pressure. Patients with high CHA2DS2-VASc scores ( group 2) demonstrated significantly greater CF-PWV values than those with low scores (group 1).In correlation analysis, the CHA2DS2-VASc score and the CF-PWV showed positive correlation. Conclusion: The CHA2DS2-VASc score and CF-PWV were substantially and linearly associated. Calculation of CHA2DS2-VASc and monitoring of arterial stiffness in stroke-prone individuals may be stimulus for taking preventive measures from stroke in these patients.

INTRODUCTION: The ATRIA risk score is a well‐validated risk stratification tool for predicting the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The modified ATRIA (M-ATRIA) risk score includes prognostic risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between the M-ATRIA risk score and the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A total of 595 patients with COVID-19 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into three groups according to the M-ATRIA score. Group 1 had a score of 0–5 (n = 269); group 2 a score of 6 (n = 64); and group 3 a score ≥7 (n = 162). The M-ATRIA score used the troponin I level as a parameter in place of the proteinuria criterion in the ATRIA score. Adverse clinical events were defined as in-hospital mortality, mechanical ventilation, and admission to the intensive care unit. RESULTS: The M-ATRIA risk score associated with adverse clinical events (all, p < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis displayed that an M-ATRIA score of 6, an M-ATRIA score greater than 7, procalcitonin, and C- reactive protein were independent predictors for in-hospital mortality. In the ROC analysis, an M-ATRIA score of 4.5 and over had a 90.2% sensitivity and a 58.9% specificity in predicting in-hospital mortality. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The M-ATRIA risk score calculated on admission may be a useful tool to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19, regardless of the presence of AF.