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Introduction The relationship between inflammation and mortality after acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has previously been investigated with different variables (platelet/lymphocyte ratio, etc). Objectives We investigated the predictive value of lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) for mortality in first 30 days after APE. Methods The study population included 264 APE patients of which 230 patients were survivors, 34 patients were non-survivors. Results LMR was significantly lower in non-survivors after APE (P

The SYNTAX score (SX score) is a useful score for assessing the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Previous studies have demonstrated a close relationship between SX score and inflammation. Procalcitonin (PCT) is an early inflammatory marker, especially during sepsis. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between SX score and serum PCT levels. A total of 545 patients were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study and were divided into 2 subgroups, according to their SX score. Serum PCT and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were measured. Serum PCT levels were higher in the high SX score group compared to the low–intermediate SX score group ( P < .001). Serum PCT levels were an independent predictor of a high SX score in patients with acute coronary syndrome ( P = .001). As patients with a higher SX score had increased serum PCT levels on admission, serum PCT may be useful for identifying patients with severe CAD.

Background: The SYNTAX score is an angiographic score that predicts coronary artery disease (CAD) complexity. It has been shown to be useful for decision making about percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting among patients with CAD. Higher SYNTAX scores are indicative of more complex disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by limitation of airflow. Measurement of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in spirometry is used for diagnosis and to determine the severity of the disease. Aim: To evaluate the relationship between FEV1 and SYNTAX score in patients with COPD. Methods: Seventy-eight patients with a previous diagnosis of COPD and 48 patients without COPD were enrolled. Spirometry and coronary angiography were performed in all patients. SYNTAX score was calculated and compared between the two groups. The correlation between FEV1 and SYNTAX score was analysed. Results: SYNTAX score was higher in patients with COPD than in patients without COPD (23.22 ± 12.10 vs. 17.92 ± 11.21, respectively; p = 0.013). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that COPD was independently predictive for intermediate and high SYNTAX score (odds ratio 4.833; 95% confidence interval 2.228–10.485; p < 0.001). Mean FEV1 (% predicted) was 64.7 ± 11.4 and negatively correlated with SYNTAX score in COPD group (r = –0.266 and p = 0.018). The receiver operating characteristic analysis yielded a cutoff value of 65.5 for the FEV1 to predict SYNTAX score ≥ 23, with sensitivity and specificity being 78.6% and 70%, respectively. Conclusions: COPD is a predictor of higher SYNTAX scores. FEV1 is associated with more severe and complex CAD.

Objective The purpose of this research was to study P wave parameters to determine the association between preeclampsia and future cardiovascular risk and to study the possible correlation between P waves and severity of preeclampsia. Study design In this case-control study 58 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 30 normal pregnant women were compared by measuring maximum and minimum P -wave durations and P -wave dispersion (Pd) in the late third trimester. Results Minimum P wave values were lower and Pd values were higher, both significantly, in the preeclampsia groups than in the control group. In addition, the Pd values of the severe preeclampsia group were higher compared to that of the mild preeclampsia group. Conclusion Preeclampsia predisposes the patient to future cardiovascular complications including atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, but validated tools to assess the risks are yet not available. P -wave duration and Pd constitute a recent contribution to the field of noninvasive electrocardiology. Our data clearly demonstrated that minimum P wave and Pd values were significantly altered in preeclamptic pregnant women when compared to the controls. This important association can be used to screen women for increased risk in order to better target counseling regardinglifestyle modifications and to follow up and manage women with a history of preeclampsia more closely.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to investigate P-wave dispersion (PWD) in patients with MS. Methods: The study population included 66 patients with MS (21 men, 45 women; mean age, 49.7 ± 9.1 years) and 63 control subjects without MS (26 men, 37 women; mean age, 47.0 ± 10.6 years). The diagnosis of MS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. A 12-lead electrocardiogram was recorded for each subject. The difference between maximum and minimum P-wave duration was calculated and defined as PWD. An echocardiographic examination was also performed for each subject. Results: Maximum P-wave duration and PWD were found to be significantly higher in patients with MS compared with the control subjects (Maximum P-wave duration: 113.5 ± 9.7 ms vs 101.0 ± 8.1 ms, PWD: 37.8 ± 7.6 vs 23.3 ± 5.9, respectively, P < 0.001 for both). However, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding minimum P-wave duration (75.6 ± 6.9 ms vs 77.6 ± 7.8 ms, respectively, P = 0.18). In addition, PWD was positively correlated with age, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride level, deceleration time, isovolumetric relaxation time and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and early-to-late diastolic velocity ratio. Conclusion: We have shown that patients with MS have higher PWD, indicating increased risk for AF, compared to the control subjects without MS.

OBJECTIVE Mean platelet volume (MPV), one of the indices of platelet reactivity has been shown to be related to impaired angiographic reperfusion in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary angioplasty or thrombolytics. However data regarding MPV and its association with ST-segment resolution; an indicator of epicardial and tissue level reperfusion in the setting of STEMI are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether MPV on admission is associated with ST-segment resolution in STEMI patients treated with thrombolytics. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 232 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of first STEMI who were administered thrombolytic therapy within 12 hours of onset of chest pain. ST segment resolution based on baseline and 90 minute electrocardiographies were measured. Patients were grouped into two as with

Stent fracture (SF) was suggested to be an unusual cause of restenosis after drug eluting-stent implantation. However, angiographically visible complete SF after bare metal stent (BMS) implantation is extremely rare. Here we report a case of SF of a BMS representing with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). To our knowledge, this is the first report of early fracture of a BMS in the right coronary artery, resulting in ACS.