Parathyroid hormone is associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a novel promising biomarker that can predict hospitalization, functional status and mortality in patients who suffered heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association of serum PTH levels and measures of disease severity (NYHA functional class, NT-proBNP, CRP, EF, Troponin I) in patients with HFpEF. METHODS: A total of consecutive 58 outpatients with HFpEF and 30 controls were prospectively studied. All patients underwent laboratory tests, including NT-proBNP and PTH analyses. RESULTS: PTH, NT-proBNP, troponin I, and CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with HFpEF when compared with control group (54.61 ± 31.02 vs 40.40 ± 14.22 pg/ml, p < 0.05; 126.05 ± 162.94 vs 44.57 ± 14.95 pg/ml, p < 0.01; 0.011 ± 0.013 vs 0.004 ± 0.001 ug/L, p < 0.01; 4.65 ± 4.24 vs 1.63 ± 0.97 mg/L, p < 0.01, respectively). Left atrium was found to be more enlarged in HFpEF patients (LAVI = 36 ± 18 vs 28 ± 11 ml/m², p < 0.01). Most indices of left ventricular diastolic function were more severely impaired compared to controls (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between PTH and CRP, troponin I, LVMI, LV volumes, LV diameters, E/E', age, and BMI in both groups (p = NS). There was strong positive correlation between PTH and NT-proBNP levels in all study participants (r = 0.359; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PTH together with other markers of heart failure may provide valuable information both in the diagnosis and staging of heart failure syndromes (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 40).

Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in diabetic patients and its association with retinopathy: A 2D speckle tracking echocardiography study.

AIM: It is important to diagnose diabetic cardiomyopathy in the early stages to prevent development of evident heart failure in the future. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and the secondary objective was to compare retinopathy-positive and -negative diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 82 patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) and 90 gender-matched healthy controls were included. Retinopathy was present in 55 patients in the study group. All study participants underwent conventional 2D echocardiography and STE. RESULTS: All diabetic patients had preserved LV ejection fraction (LV-EF ≥ 50). Compared with the control group, diabetic patients had a larger left atrium (47.3 ± 19.9 mm vs. 36.9 ± 17.8 mm, p < 0.001) and a higher E/Em ratio (12.0 ± 2.9 vs. 10.5 ± 3.7, p = 0.004). The LV-EF, LV end diastolic and end systolic volumes, E/A ratios, deceleration times, and tissue Doppler parameters were compared between groups. The study group was observed to have statistically significant lower four-chamber (4C; 17.7 ± 3.0 % vs. 19.3 ± 3.5 %, p = 0.002), three-chamber (3C; 17.5 ± 3.0 % vs. 19.2 ± 3.4 %, p = 0.001), and two-chamber (2C; 18.5 ± 3.5 % vs. 20.1 ± 2.4 %, p = 0.001) peak longitudinal strain values compared with the control group. Moreover, LV global strain values were found to be significantly lower in the DM group than in the control group (17.9 ± 2.7 % vs. 21.1 ± 3.2 %, p < 0.001). By contrast, basal rotation (4.9 ± 3.3° vs.2.8 ± 4.5°, p = 0.001), apical rotation (15.3 ± 6.7° vs. 12.1 ± 5.3°, p = 0.001) and LV twist (20.2 ± 7.2° vs. 16.9 ± 6.5°, p = 0.002) in the DM group were significantly increased compared with those of controls. CONCLUSION: The STE procedure can be a useful novel technique in the determination of subclinical LV dysfunction in diabetic patients. Diabetic patients have lower longitudinal myocardial mechanics, and circumferential and rotational mechanics are impaired. There was no significant association between diabetic retinopathy and LV function.

Utility of bispectral index monitoring during deep sedation in pediatric dental patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the total medicament doses and recovery profiles of patients for whom Bispectral Analysis (BIS) monitor was used to monitor sedation. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-four uncooperative paediatric patients aged 3-6 years who attended to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry for dental treatment were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 17 patients each. Physiological variables including oxygen saturation, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. In one group (BIS-monitored group), drugs were administered to maintain patients' BIS values between 60-70, while the other group (Non-BIS-monitored Group) was not monitored using BIS. Data was evaluated by Chi-square, Mann Whitney U, Independent Samples t, Paired Samples t and Wilcoxon signed tests, with a p-value of <0.05 considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in total anesthetic doses, incidence of adverse events or recovery profiles of patients between non- BIS-monitored and BIS-monitored groups (p ≥ 0.05). However, distinct correlation was determined among mean values of UMSS and BIS values (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: BIS represents no advantage over the current commonly accepted methods for monitoring sedation depth in children.

Concentrated platelet-rich plasma used in root canal revascularization: 2 case reports.

AIM: To present two case reports describing the treatment of immature teeth with necrotic pulps using concentrated platelet-rich plasma (cPRP) with 12-month clinical and radiographic follow-up. SUMMARY: Root canal revascularization was performed on immature permanent teeth clinically and radiographically diagnosed as requiring root canal treatment. Following disinfection of the canal space with triple antibiotic paste (1 : 1 : 1: ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and cefaclor), a tissue scaffold was created with cPRP prepared using 2-step centrifugation. The final restoration was completed with white mineral trioxide aggregate and composite resin. The patients were recalled for clinical and radiographic evaluations every 3 months. At the 12-month follow-up apical closure by narrowing of the apical foramen and convergence of the apical walls in the treated teeth was observed.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after bisoprolol withdrawal and open appendectomy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an acute cardiac syndrome characterized by transient regional wall motion abnormalities of the left ventricular apex or midventricle. Patients often present with chest pain or dyspnea, ST-segment elevation, and minor elevation of cardiac enzyme levels. TTC has been associated with severe emotional or physical stress such as severe burns, spinal cord injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, multiple traumas, and surgery. We report a case of TTC in a 45-year-old woman who had undergone appendectomy 2 days before presenting to our institution.

Pregnancy-associated myocardial infarction : case report and review of the literature.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare, but possibly catastrophic event during pregnancy, delivery, or puerperium, leading to a high mortality rate. It has different pathogenic mechanisms, such as atherosclerosis, vasospasm, thrombosis, and coronary dissection. Although MI has been reported in pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy and postpartum, it occurs more commonly in the third trimester. Pregnancy-associated MI most commonly involves the anterior wall. Pregnancy itself is an independent risk factor for MI, conferring a fourfold higher risk than that of nonpregnant women matched for age. We report the case of a 27-year-old primigravida at 30 weeks' gestation presenting with anterior MI, secondary to severe stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery, treated with emergency percutaneous coronary intervention.

Putative factors associated with molar incisor hypomineralisation: an epidemiological study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the aetiological factors involved in the development of molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH). METHODS: The study population comprised 4,049 children (2,029 girls, 2020 boys) aged 7-12 years. Children were examined for MIH in the school environment. Putative aetiological factors were evaluated using a questionnaire sent to children's families. The questionnaire included questions on prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal systemic conditions. Multivariate analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression, and Pearson's Chi-square test was used to evaluate nominal or ordinal variables with Fisher's exact test used in cases of small sample sizes. A level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: MIH was observed in 7.7 % of the study population. A total of 3,827 completed questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 95.3 %. MIH was found to be associated with prematurity (7 %), gastrointestinal problems (3.9 %), pneumonia (6.3 %), frequent fever (26.1 %), measles (14.7 %), and chickenpox (29.3 %) before age 4 years. STATISTICS: Prevalence did not vary significantly between girls and boys (p > 0.05). Prematurity, gastrointestinal problems, pneumonia, frequent high fever, measles, and chickenpox before age 4 years were found to be significantly related with MIH (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The aetiology of MIH is not clear yet, and the results of this study support the results of previous studies regarding the putative causal effect of several factors.