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Objectives We investigated epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and lipid profile in adult patients with epilepsy (PWE) taking anti-seizure medication(s) (ASM) and compared with those of the healthy population. We also investigated whether duration of follow-up and number of ASM(s) (mono- vs. polytherapy) affect these risk factors. Methods Twenty PWE older than 18 years of age were recruited at the outpatient epilepsy clinic and compared to twenty controls. Patients who were 18 years old and younger, those with cardiovascular risk factors, and patients with follow-up duration less than 2 years were excluded from the study. Results Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and CIMT were thicker compared to controls. While patients’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were higher than controls, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were lower, the levels were in normal ranges. Those patients with duration of follow-up more than five years had thicker EATT. The 5-year LDL was in normal ranges while HDL was abnormally low. Number of ASM(s) was not associated with increased risks of atherosclerosis. Increased CIMT in patients taking ASM(s) was independent of their lipid profile. Conclusion Anti-seizure medications contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in people with epilepsy. Chronic use of ASMs may increase this chance. It is appropriate to use ASM(s) with lower chances of atherosclerosis in people with epilepsy and encourage them to change their lifestyle in order to modify cardiovascular risk factors. Meantime, it is reasonable to assess the risk of atherosclerosis periodically in these patients by noninvasive methods including lipid profile, CIMT, and EATT.

Background: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) occurs in 2% of the population, and is divided into 3 morphological groups: right and leftcoronary cusp (RL), right coronary and non-coronary cusp (RN), and left coronary and non-coronary cusp (LN) fusion patterns.Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between bicuspid aortic valve morphology and ascending aortamorphology.Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study carried out in 200 patients. A questionnaire collected echocardiographic findingsand variables. SPSS 22 was used for statistical analysis.Results: The study enrolled 139 men (69.5%) and 61 women (30.5%). Right and left coronary cusp fusion (69%) and total dilation ofthe ascending aorta (44.5%) were the most common morphologies.Conclusion: Right and left coronary cusp fusion was the most prevalent morphology and total dilation of the aorta and abnormalaortic valve function were more frequent in RL cusp fusion.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease. Diastolic dysfunction is an important risk factor result in development of advanced cardiovascular disease. Fibroblast growth factor- 23 (FGF23) secretes in response to hypophosphatemia as a result of renal excretion of phosphate. Elevation of serum FGF23 is one of the possible causes of diastolic dysfunction. The aim of the current study was to investigate association between Serum levels of FGF23 and diastolic dysfunction in hemo dialysis patients. Methods: 100 hemodialysis patients were enrolled in the study between October 2015 and February 2016. Cardiac diastolic function was assessed by tissue Doppler imaging and ejection fraction>50% considered to be investigated. Serum FGF23, cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar, 25(OH)vitD3, Phosphorus, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, PTH and hemoglobin were measured in all patients. Statistical analysis preformed using SPSS version 16(Chicago, USA). Results: FGF 23 was elevated in 69% (52/75) of patient and had correlation with serum levels of phosphor and PTH, while Serum levels of FGF23 was not significantly difference between patients whit diastolic dysfunction versus other cardiac problem (p=0.158). Conclusions: After elimination of secondary causes of diastolic dysfunction, no association was found between serum FGF23 levels and diastolic dysfunction among hemodialysis patients.