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Aim: The aim of the Melen Study was to investigate the cardiovascular risk profile of Turkish adults by utilizing newest techniques. Besides prevalence and types of endemic goiter will be established which was an important health problem in the Black sea region Method: The study was conducted on 2230 participants (1427 women, 803 men with a mean age of 49). The participants underwent a Doppler Ultrasound examination of carotid intima media thickness, echocardiographic examination, ECG recording, bioempedance meter analysis of body composition, pulmonary function test and various biochemical analysis. Result: Twenty nine percent of the population had hypertension, 12% had diabetes mellitus and 17% were smokers. Thyroid ultrasonography revealed that 29% of the cohort had goiter. Echocardiographic measurements showed that 39% of the participants had diastolic dysfunction. Comparison of males with females showed that men had significantly higher visceral fat, triglyceride, hemoglobin and CIMT whereas women had higher mean diastolic blood pressure, HDL and total cholesterol. Conclusion: According to the histories of patients, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking were very frequent among Turkish adults. Among the objectively measured variables, diastolic dysfunction, visceral adiposity and goiter were strikingly high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Idiopathic mitral valve prolapsus (MVP) is characterized by myxomatous degeneration of mitral valve. The most common determinant of cardiovascular mortality in patients with MVP is left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Therefore we aimed to evaluate LV functions of cases with isolated MVP by tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE). Method: Twenty five patients with MVP (mean age, 31±12 years) were enrolled the study as MVP group. Control group was consisted 20 age and sex matched patients (mean age, 34±9 years) were enrolled to this study. LV functions were detected by using conventional echocardiography and TDE. Myocardial peak systolic (Sm), early (Em) and late (Am) diastolic filling velocities, Em/Am, isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) and ejection time (ET) were obtained in the basal segments of the inferior-septal and lateral wall. Myocardial performance index (MPI) was calculated. Result: Mild degree mitral regurgitation was present in 10 (40%) of patients with MVP, and moderate degree mitral regurgitation was present in 2 (8%) of patients. No difference was found between the two groups with regard to diastolic parameters. TDE-derivated MPI values were similar in all segments in two groups. There was significant difference between the two groups with regard to LV mean Sm and lateral wall Sm (11.6±2.8 vs. 9.4±1.0, p=0.001; 13.0±3.9 vs. 9.2±2.3, p=0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Isolated MVP without significant mitral regurgitation does not affect LV diastolic functions and MPI. However, Sm of late ral wall and LV mean was higher in patients with MVP than patients without MVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The effects of chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) on coronary blood flow of systolic/diastolic phase and phase and coronary reserve have been shown. Whereas thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count, which incorporates coronary blood flow and a higher TIMI frame count (TFC) is reflect disordered resistance vessel function, has not yet been evaluated in chronic AR.Method: 33 patients with isolated chronic AR diagnosed by echocardiography and angiography, and 22 control groups with no coronary or valvular disease who underwent angiography for atypical chest pain were included in our study. Coronary blood flow was measured using TFC.Result: Coronary blood flow, echocardiographic and demographic parameters were compared between the two groups. The mean TFC is found to be higher in AR patients when compared to the control group. (left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) TFC, 43±7.3 vs. 30±5.9 frames/s, p<0.001; Corrected LAD (cLAD) TFC, 25.0±4.3 vs. 17.6 ± 3.5 frames/s, p< 0.001; Left circumflex artery (LCx) TFC, 27.0±6.4 vs. 19.9±3.4 frames/s, p<0.001; and Right coronary artery (RCA) TFC, 25.8±5.5 vs. 19.9±4.7 frames/s, p<0.001; mean TFC, 26.3±5.4 vs.19.1±3.9 frames/s, p<0.001).Conclusion: This is the first study showing increase of TFC in chronic AR patients without CAD. It is thought to show impaired coronary blood flow, and may explain angina symptoms in chronic AR patients. At the same time, it could be used as a parameter showing severe AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]