The safety and adverse event profile of favipiravir in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Favipiravir (FVP) is an antiviral and used to treat COVID-19. We aimed to document the safety and adverse events associated with FVP on the outcome of COVID-19 treatment. METHODOLOGY: The study included 225 adult patients with moderate COVID-19 infection (World Health Organization scale-5). The adverse events (AEs) were evaluated using a grading scale supported by the Food and Drug Administration. Safety was assessed by the frequency of serious AEs. RESULTS: The AEs associated with FVP treatment were hepatotoxicity (87/225, 38.7%), weakness (32/225, 14.2%), nephrotoxicity (26/225, 11.6%), nausea (18/225, 8.0%), diarrhea (8/225, 3.6%), vomiting (5/225, 2.2%), and insomnia (4/225, 1.8%); rash was not detected. Hepatotoxicity was observed more frequently in patients who also developed nephrotoxicity (57.7% vs 36.2%, p = 0.03). The deceased patients were significantly older and had higher prevalence of hypertension, congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease, cancer, nephrotoxicity. and angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blocker use. While male gender (OR: 5.38 CI: 1.64-17.67) and CHF (OR: 6.8 CI: 1.92-24.74) were significantly associated with nephrotoxicity, age (OR: 1.06 CI: 1.02-1.10), cancer (OR: 3.9 CI: 1.10-14.22) and nephrotoxicity (OR: 5.5 CI: 1.74-17.74) were associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Serious AEs were detected at very low levels that would not require discontinuation of treatment or any AE-related death. Since SARS-CoV-2 itself and drug interactions may differ, FVP-related AEs might vary in COVID-19 patients. Our study shows that FVP can be used safely with a low AE profile. More extensive evidence is required to evaluate the long-term AEs of FVP.

The Impact of Cystic Fibrosis- and Noncystic Fibrosis-Bronchiectasis on Pulmonary Artery Wall Thickness and Right Heart Functions Assessed by Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Right heart functions are affected in patients with bronchiectasis as a result of pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxemia. Pulmonary artery wall thickness has recently been introduced as a sign of intensive and prolonged inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze right ventricular and right atrial functions and to mea-sure pulmonary artery wall thickness in patients with cystic fibrosis-bronch iecta sis in comparison to those with noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis and healthy individuals. METHODS: We studied 36 patients with cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis, 34 patients with noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis, and 32 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Lung function tests were performed. All subjects underwent comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation including conventional, tissue Doppler, speckle-tracking, and pulmonary artery wall thickness measurements. RESULTS: Right ventricular global longitudinal strain and global longitudinal right atrial strain during ventricular systole decreased in cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis group compared with noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis and control groups (P <.001, both). Conversely, pulmonary artery wall thickness was increased in cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis group in comparison to other groups (P <.001). Moreover, right ventricular global longitudinal strain was lower and pulmonary artery wall thickness was higher in patients with airflow obstruction (P <.001 and P =.025, respectively) than in those without. Only right ventricular global longitudinal strain was significantly correlated with pulmonary function test parameters. The negative effect of cystic fibrosis on right ventricular and right atrial functions was independent of age, gender, and disease duration. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that right ventricular and right atrial functions were deteriorated and pulmonary artery wall was thickened in cystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis patients more than noncystic fibrosis-bronchiectasis patients. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain detected subclinical right ventricular dysfunction and was associated with the severity of pulmonary disease.

The effect of paclitaxel plus carboplatin chemotherapy on subclinical cardiotoxicity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: A speckle tracking echocardiography-based study.

BACKGROUND: Although chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity is an emerging problem, limited information is available on the effects of chemotherapy on left ventricular (LV) mechanical functions in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore chemotherapy-induced alterations in cardiac mechanical functions in patients with NSCLC using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). METHODS: Seventy-one patients with NSCLC and 34 age and sex matched control subjects were consecutively included. Based on their good performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status), 39 patients were treated with paclitaxel plus carboplatin (PC) regimen and 32 patients were treated with vinorelbine plus cisplatin (VC) regimen. All patients and controls underwent conventional two-dimensional echocardiography and STE at baseline to assess their LV functions. The echocardiographic examinations of NSCLC patients were repeated after the chemotherapy regimens. RESULTS: None of the NSCLC patients developed any signs or symptoms of clinical heart failure during or after the chemotherapy. There were not any significant differences in LV ejection fraction between NSCLC patients and controls before and after chemotherapy. There were not any significant differences in baseline LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), radial strain (RS), and circumferential strain (CS) between NSCLC patients and controls. However, all LV GLS, RS and CS significantly decreased in patients treated with the PC regimen resulting in a significant difference compared to both VC group and controls while no significant decreases were observed in strain measures in VC group. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel plus carboplatin, but not VC, may induce subclinical cardiotoxicity in patients with NSCLC, which may be detected by STE.

Comparison of Turkish version of the medical outcomes study-HIV health survey with short form health survey-36 in people living with human immunodeficiency virus.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Several questionnaires have been developed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The aim of this study was to compare Turkish version of the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV) with Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in people with HIV. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hundred and 14 patients with HIV were consecutively included. The MOS-HIV and SF-36 questionnaires were applied to all patients at the same day. MOS HIV included 35 items and assessed general health perceptions (GH), physical functioning (PF), social functioning (SF), mental health (MH), bodily pain (P), cognitive functioning, health distress, overall QoL, health transition, role functioning (RF), energy/vitality (EV), physical (Physical health summary score) and mental (MHSS) health summary scores. SF-36 included 36 items and measured eight domains of health concepts including SF, PF, P, RF, GH, role emotional, vitality (V) and MH. Correlation analysis and Bland- Altman plots were used to compare the MOS-HIV and SF-36 questionnaires. RESULTS: GH, PF, P, RF, EV, SF, and MH domains of the MOS-HIV were significantly correlated with those of SF 36. The agreement between the tests were 91.2% for PF, 92.1% for RF and pain, 94.7% for GH, 95.6% for EV, 92.1% for SF and 93.9% for MH. CONCLUSION: Turkish version of the MOS HIV showed moderate correlations and agreement with SF 36 suggesting its use as an alternative to SF 36 in assessing QoL in these patients.

Bleeding risk with concomitant use of tirofiban and third-generation P2Y12 receptor antagonists in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A real-life data.

OBJECTIVE: Combination of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors can increase bleeding risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate bleeding complications of different DAPTs with concomitant tirofiban use in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: This retrospective study included 224 consecutive ACS patients (mean age 56.6±11.1 years, 193 men) who were given conventional dose of tirofiban (25 µg/kg per 3 minutes followed by an infusion of 0.15 µg/kg/min for 24 hours) in addition to DAPT (300 mg aspirin followed by 100 mg/day + 600 mg clopidogrel followed by 75 mg/day or 180 mg ticagrelor followed by 90 mg twice daily or 60 mg prasugrel followed by 10 mg/day). Any intra-hospital bleeding complications were noted. RESULTS: Of the 224 patients, 115 were given ticagrelor and 32 were given prasugrel. Mean hemoglobin fall was similar between the patients taking ticagrelor/prasugrel and those taking clopidogrel. Ten patients taking ticagrelor and one patient taking prasugrel had hemoglobin fall ≥3 g/dL versus two patients in clopidogrel group (p=0.228). Gastrointestinal bleeding (two patients taking ticagrelor), hematoma at access site (three patients taking ticagrelor), and cardiac tamponade (two patients taking ticagrelor) rates were also similar. Creatinine levels were associated with hemoglobin fall ≥3 g/dL (p=0.032, Odds ratio 2.189, 95% confidence interval 1.070-4.479). There was no relation between hemoglobin fall ≥3 g/dL and antiplatelet agent, age, sex, hypertension, or diabetes. CONCLUSION: Tirofiban may be given to patients receiving ticagrelor or prasugrel with a bleeding rate similar to clopidogrel. Close monitoring for bleeding risk is recommended, especially in patients with higher creatinine levels.

Ventricular and atrial functions assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

PURPOSE: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically changed the clinical manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated cardiomyopathy from severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction to a pattern of subclinical cardiac dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) LV, right ventricular (RV), and biatrial functions in HIV-infected patients under different ART combinations. METHODS: We consecutively included 128 HIV-infected patients (mean age 44.2 ± 10.1 years, 110 males) and 100 controls (mean age 42.1 ± 9.4 years, 83 males). Ventricular and atrial functions were assessed by both conventional and STE. RESULTS: Although there was not any significant difference in conventional echocardiographic variables, HIV-infected patients had significantly lower LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), RV GLS, left atrial (LA) reservoir and conduit strain, and right atrial conduit strain. HIV patients receiving integrase strand transfer inhibitors and protease inhibitors (PI) had significantly lower LV GLS and LA conduit strain, while patients receiving non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and PI had significantly lower RV GLS than controls. CD4 count at the time of echocardiography was strongly correlated with LV GLS (r = .619, P < .001) and RV GLS (r = .606, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Biventricular and atrial functions are subclinically impaired in HIV-infected patients. ART regimen may also affect myocardial functions.

The effect of smoking on atrial and ventricular functions in healthy subjects: A speckle tracking echocardiography study.

PURPOSE: Smoking is a well-known risk factor for coronary artery diseases. It is also associated with nicotine-induced myocardial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the right and left atrial and ventricular functions in apparently healthy smokers. METHODS: We included consecutively 80 healthy smokers (56 males, mean age:35.5 ± 8.4 years) and 70 healthy nonsmokers (44 males, mean age:33.9 ± 9.5 years). None of the subjects had any additional cardiovascular risk factor other than smoking. The right and left atrial and ventricular functions were assessed by both conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction, the smokers had significantly lower ventricular global longitudinal strain than controls (-19.9 ± 2.0% vs -21.2 ± 1.9%, P < .001 and -18.4 ± 2.1% vs -21.8 ± 2.2%, P < .001, respectively, for the left and right ventricle). Smokers had also lower atrial reservoir and conduit strains: 35.9 ± 11.1% vs 40.2 ± 11.2%, P = .022 and 16.7 ± 6.8% vs 19.4 ± 6.8%, P = .016, respectively, for the left atrium, and 33.0 ± 10.6% vs 37.6 ± 11.2%, P = .011 and 15.2 ± 5.6% vs 18.0 ± 6.3%, P = .004, respectively, for the right atrium). CONCLUSION: Even in apparently healthy people with no other cardiovascular risk factors, smoking is associated with impaired atrial and ventricular functions.

Androgen-deprivation therapy impairs left ventricle functions in prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is a treatment option for locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer (PCA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of ADT on left ventricular (LV) functions assessed by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in prostate cancer (PCA) patients. METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive PCA patients (mean age 71.5 ± 6.7 years) who would be treated with radiotherapy and ADT and 32 consecutive PCA patients (mean age 71.9 ± 7.0 years) who would be treated with radical or partial prostatectomy and 42 age-matched healthy men (mean age 70.5 ± 9.1 years) were included in our study. The left ventricular functions were assessed by both conventional echocardiography and STE at baseline and 6 months later. RESULTS: There were not any significant difference in characteristics of the patients and controls. There were not any significant differences in conventional echocardiographic measures at baseline and at 6th month among the PCA patients and controls. Although there were not any significant differences in STE measures at baseline among the PCA patients and controls, the strain measures of the PCA patients receiving ADT decreased significantly at the 6th month and were significantly lower compared to strain measures of PCA patients undergoing prostatectomy and controls. There was not any statistically significant difference in baseline and 6th-month strain measures of the PCA patients undergoing prostatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: ADT might be associated with decrease in LV longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain measures in patients with PCA. STE might be useful for early identification of LV subclinical impairment in PCA patients treated with ADT.

Subacute aortic prosthetic mechanical valve thrombosis complicated with acute coronary syndrome.

A prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT), which is a potentially fatal complication, refers to the presence of non-infective thrombotic material on a prosthetic valve apparatus, interfering with its function. Possible complications of a PVT include transient neurologic embolic events, cardiac arrest due to a stuck valve prosthesis, and cardio-embolic myocardial infarction (MI). The choice of treatments, including a redo surgery, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and a fibrinolysis with PVT or MI dosages, depends on the patient's clinical and hemodynamic status and thrombotic burden involving the prosthetic valve and surrounding tissues. An early postoperative mechanical valve thrombosis is associated with increased risks due to the need for unforeseen early redo surgery complications and excessive bleeding risk in case of thrombolytic therapy usage. Here, we present a fifty-seven-year old female patient who was admitted to the emergency department with the complaint of acute chest pain seven days after an aortic prosthetic mechanical valve implantation. The clinical presentation was consistent with ST segment elevated MI and echocardiography revealed a large mass on the recently implanted prosthetic aortic valve. Valvular thrombotic complications after heart valve replacement operations are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Efficient and urgent treatment is necessary. Considering the clinical status of the patient, we preferred fibrinolytic therapy rather than PCI or surgery. The aim of this case report was to show the efficiency and safety of low-dose slow-infusion fibrinolytic therapy in PVT complicated with acute coronary syndrome.

Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: A Two-dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) may develop after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between preoperative left atrial function and atrial fibrosis and POAF after CABG. METHODS: Forty-eight consecutive patients undergoing CABG (mean age: 61.6±8.9 years, 39 male) were included. All patients were in sinus rhythm during surgery. Patients were followed by continuous electrocardiography monitoring and daily electrocardiogram. Left atrial function was assessed by both conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography. Atrial fibrosis was determined by samples taken from right atrium. RESULTS: Postoperative atrial fibrillation was detected in 13 patients. Female sex and number of bypassed vessels were significantly higher and cardiopulmonary bypass time was significantly longer in patients with POAF. Left atrial volume index (LAVI) was significantly higher while left atrial reservoir strain was significantly lower in POAF patients. The percentage of patients with severe fibrosis was higher in the POAF group. Regression analysis revealed fibrosis and LAVI as independent predictors of POAF. Left atrial volume index ≥36mL/m(2) predicted POAF with a sensitivity of 84.6% and specificity of 68.6% in our cohort. CONCLUSION: Patients who developed POAF after CABG had more fibrosis, increased LAVI and lower left atrial reservoir strain. Preoperative echocardiography might be helpful in discriminating these patients.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients with left atrial myxoma.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with left atrial (LA) myxoma. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients with LA myxoma (10 men, mean age: 49.3 ± 15.7 years), who were operated on between March 2010 and July 2012, were included in this retrospective study. Pre-operative electrocardiograms and echocardiographic examinations of each patient were reviewed. RESULTS: Postoperative AF developed in 10 patients, whereas there was no evidence of paroxysmal AF after resection of the LA myxoma in the remaining 26 patients. The patients who developed AF postoperatively were significantly older than those who did not develop AF (median: 61.5 vs 46 years; p = 0.009). Among the electrocardiographic parameters, only P-wave dispersion differed significantly between postoperative AF and non-AF patients (median: 57.6 vs 39.8 ms, p = 0.004). Logistic regression analysis revealed P- wave dispersion (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.003-1.224, p = 0.043) and age (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.001-1.278, p = 0.048) as independent predictors of postoperative AF in our cohort of patients. CONCLUSIONS: P-wave dispersion is a simple and useful parameter for the prediction of postoperative AF in patients with LA myxoma.

Circulating endothelial cell number and markers of endothelial dysfunction in previously preeclamptic women.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with preeclampsia (PE) have endothelial dysfunction and an increased future risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality. The number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) is markedly increased in conditions associated with a high degree of endothelial cell activation/injury including PE. We hypothesized that the number of CECs continues to be increased in women with a history of PE, reflecting ongoing endothelial cell activation/injury. STUDY DESIGN: CECs, flow-mediated vasodilation, levels of adhesion molecules and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR1), and urine albumin/creatinine ratio were determined in 21 healthy women with ongoing normal pregnancy, 24 healthy currently nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy, a total of 17 women with currently active mild (n = 11) or severe (n = 6) PE without hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome, and 16 currently nonpregnant women with a history of mild (n = 10) or severe (n = 6) PE. RESULTS: Blood samples from women with active preeclampsia had higher CECs (9.9 ± 7.9 cells/mL) than healthy pregnant women (3.0 ± 4.1 cells/mL; P < .001), healthy nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy (3.4 ± 4.0 cells/mL; P < .001), or women with a history of preeclampsia (2.4 ± 2.0 cells/mL; P < .001). The number of CECs were similar between women with a history of preeclampsia and healthy nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy. Patients with active preeclampsia had significantly higher soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble E-selectin, sVEGFR1, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio than healthy pregnant women. However, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble E-selectin, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were similar in women with a history of preeclampsia and healthy nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy. However, women with a history of preeclampsia had higher sVEGFR1 levels than women with a history of normal pregnancy (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Markers of endothelial activation, dysfunction, and damage were increased in patients with PE. After the delivery, this activation status is similar to the age-matched nonpregnant women with a history of normal pregnancy. However, sVEGFR-1 levels remain higher in women with a history of preeclampsia compared with women without a history of preeclampsia.

Pleural fluid amino-terminal brain natriuretic peptide in patients with pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND: Definite diagnosis of transudative or exudative pleural fluids often presents a diagnostic dilemma. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether amino-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in pleural fluid has a diagnostic value for discriminating heart-failure-related pleural effusions from non-heart-failure effusions. METHODS: Sixty-six subjects (40 male, mean age 61 ± 18 y) with pleural effusions were included. Samples of pleural fluid and serum were obtained simultaneously from each subject. Biochemical analysis, bacterial and fungal culture, acid-fast bacilli smear and culture, and cytology were performed on the pleural fluid. RESULTS: Subjects with heart-failure-related pleural effusion had significantly higher pleural NT-proBNP levels than other subjects (P < .001). Pleural and serum NT-proBNP measures were closely correlated (r = 0.90, P < .001). An NT-proBNP cutoff value of ≥ 2,300 pg/mL in pleural fluid had a sensitivity of 70.8%, a specificity of 97.6%, and positive and negative predictive values of 94.4% and 85.4%, respectively, for discriminating transudates caused by heart failure from exudates. Eight heart-failure subjects were misclassified as exudates by Light's criteria, 5 of whom received diuretics before thoracentesis. All misclassified subjects had pleural NT-proBNP levels higher than 1,165 pg/mL, which predicted heart-failure-associated transudates with 95.8% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Pleural fluid NT-proBNP measurement in the routine diagnostic panel may be useful in differentiation of heart-failure-related pleural effusions and exudative pleural fluids with reasonable accuracy, especially in heart-failure patients treated with diuretics.

Testicular germ cell tumor metastatic to the right atrium.

We describe a right atrial metastasis of a testicular germ cell tumor, which was successfully removed from the tricuspid valve and subvalvular apparatus without the need for valve replacement.

Circulating endothelial cells are elevated in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) have emerged as vascular damage markers and are increased in type 2 diabetic patients. Since type 1 diabetes is associated with vascular damage, we hypothesized high CEC numbers in this patient population. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with type 1 diabetes and 39 controls were included. CECs were isolated using anti-CD146-coated Dynabeads, stained with Ulex lectin-1, and counted by fluorescence microscopy. Endothelial function was measured as flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione levels (GSH), and paraoxonase (PON) activity levels were measured as oxidative stress markers. RESULTS: Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus had higher number of CECs (7.46+/-5.37 vs 2.13+/-1.13 cells/ml, P<0.001), lower FMD (7.87+/-2.19 vs 12.06+/-2.34%, P<0.001), higher TBARS (4.94+/-1.20 vs 3.07+/-0.75 nmol/MDA, P<0.001), lower GSH (206.12+/-98.06 vs 353.61+/-68.45 microM, P<0.001), and lower PON activity levels (89.10+/-17.82 vs 127.65+/-29.01 U/l, P<0.001) as compared to controls. There was positive correlation between CEC numbers and HbAlc levels (r=0.49, P=0.002). CECs and fasting glucose levels were not correlated. There was no correlation between the number of CECs and FMD. Furthermore, there were no correlations between the number of CECs and TBARS, GSH and PON activity levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that HbAlc levels (r(2)=0.40, P<0.009) were associated with CEC numbers. CONCLUSION: CECs are elevated in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus reflecting endothelial damage. This increase is dependent on long-term glucose control.

Proteomic profiling during atherosclerosis progression using SELDI-TOF-MS: effect of darbepoetin treatment.

Narrowing of the arteries due to atherosclerosis may lead to congestive heart failure (CHF). It is advantageous to perform atherosclerosis studies in apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apo E(-/-)) mice models, which develop atherosclerosis very rapidly in comparison to humans. Darbepoetin is a synthetic erythropoietin analogue and stimulates erythropoiesis. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of 16 weeks of darbepoetin treatment on serum protein profiles in Apo E(-/-) mice during atherosclerosis progression. Serum proteomic analyses were performed using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) in the darbepoetin-treated and non-treated (control) Apo E(-/-) mice groups. The protein profiles obtained using three different chips, CM-10 (weak cation exchange), H50 (reversed-phase) and IMAC-30 (immobilized metal affinity capture), were statistically analyzed using the ProteinChip data manager 3.0 program. At the end of 16 weeks of darbepoetin treatment, there was no significant difference in the size and degree of atherosclerotic lesions between the darbepoetin and control mice groups. In contrast, 145 protein/peptide-clustering peaks, >5 kDa, had statistically significant differences in their peak intensities between the darbepoetin and control mice groups (p<0.05). That the proteomic profiles of darbepoetin-treated Apo E(-/-) mice were found to differ from those of the control group indicates a potential beneficial role of darbepoetin in atherosclerosis. Our study contributes to understanding the effects of darbepoetin on protein/peptide expressions during atherosclerosis development.

A pedunculated left ventricular hemangioma initially misdiagnosed as thrombus in a woman with atypical chest pain.

The incidence of cardiac masses increased as echocardiography is becoming increasingly popular. Benign tumors of the heart constitute about 72% of all primary cardiac neoplasms and hemangioma accounts for 5-10% of benign cardiac tumors. Cardiac hemangiomas are generally asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during echocardiography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We reported a 52-year-old woman presented with atypical chest pain and exertional dyspnea. The echocardiographic examination revealed a hyperechoic round mass in the left ventricle. With an initial diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus, the patient underwent cardiac MRI. The mass was found compatible with cardiac hemangioma. It was removed surgically and histopathologic evaluation identified a cardiac hemangioma. As reports of cardiac hemangioma are extremely rare and cardiac masses are mostly thought to be thrombi or myxomas (being the most common primary cardiac tumor), such hemangioma cases warrant attention as possibility of hemangioma should also be kept in mind.

The effect of hemodialysis on accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetic patients: correlation of carotid artery intima-media thickness with oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE: Both diabetes and hemodialysis (HD) are associated with increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of maintenance HD on oxidative stress parameters in diabetic patients and to explore any relation between carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and oxidative stress markers. METHODS: Twenty Type 2 diabetic patients undergoing chronic maintenance HD, 20 type 2 diabetic patients with normal renal function, and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included. Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl content (PCO), and nitrite/nitrate levels were determined as oxidative stress markers. Serum vitamin E, plasma sulfhydryl (P-SH), erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured as antioxidants. CIMT was assessed by carotid artery ultrasonography. RESULTS: Both diabetic patient groups had enhanced oxidative stress indicated by higher levels of TBARS, PCO, and nitrate/nitrite and lower activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx compared to controls. Diabetic patients undergoing HD had significantly higher CIMT (P=.001) and higher levels of nitrite/nitrate (P=.05), PCO (P=.03), and GSH (P=.04) but significantly lower levels of P-SH (P<.001), serum vitamin E (P=.04), SOD (P=.02), CAT (P=.001), and GPx (P=.006) compared to diabetic patients with normal renal functions. There were significant negative correlations between CIMT and SOD (r=-0.50, P<.001), CAT (r=-0.41, P=.003), and P-SH levels (r=-0.51, P<.001) and significant positive correlation between CIMT and nitrite/nitrate levels (r=0.41, P=.003) and TBARS (r=0.35, P=.02). Linear regression analysis showed TBARS was significantly and positively correlated with CIMT (P=.04), while SOD and P-SH were significantly and negatively correlated with CIMT (P=.05 and P=.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodialysis exacerbates oxidative stress and disturbances in antioxidant enzymes in diabetic patients. Serum nitrite/nitrate and TBARS can be used as positive determinants, while erythrocyte SOD, CAT activities, and P-SH level can be used as negative determinants of atherosclerosis assessed by CIMT in diabetic patients.

Oxidative DNA damage is significantly correlated with flow-mediated dilation in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative DNA damage was increased in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and correlated with the severity of the disease. Endothelial dysfunction plays a major role in atherosclerotic process. The aim of this study was to explore a relation between oxidative DNA damage and endothelial function in patients with CAD. METHODS: Forty patients with CAD and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery ultrasonography. The DNA damage was determined by comet method. RESULTS: The DNA damage scores after incubation with repair enzymes were found significantly higher in the patients with CAD (P = 0.04). There was a significant negative correlation between oxidized DNA damage scores and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measures in the patients with CAD (r = -0.41; P = 0.009). Oxidized DNA damage scores were significantly and independently associated with FMD (standardized beta = -0.455; P = 0.009) when adjusted by age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: The DNA damage scores were significantly inversely correlated with FMD measures. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the presence of a relation between DNA damage scores and FMD.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness correlates with oxidative stress in chronic haemodialysis patients with accelerated atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Accelerated atherosclerosis is the major cause of mortality in patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD). Increased oxidative stress might be the major factor leading to high cardiovascular mortality rate in HD patients. The aim of our study was to clarify effects of uraemia and dialysis on oxidative stress parameters and explore the relation between oxidative stress markers and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) as an indicator of atherosclerosis. METHODS: Twenty chronic HD patients, 20 predialytic uraemic patients and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl content (PCO) and nitrite/nitrate levels were determined as oxidative stress markers. Serum vitamin E, plasma sulfhydryl (P-SH), erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were measured as antioxidants. CIMT was assessed by carotid artery ultrasonography. RESULTS: Both chronic HD and predialytic uraemic patients had enhanced oxidative stress indicated by higher levels of nitrite/nitrate, TBARS and PCO, and lower levels of P-SH, SOD, CAT and GPx compared to controls. HD patients had significantly higher CIMT and nitrite/nitrate while significantly lower P-SH,vitamin E, SOD, CAT and GPx compared to predialytic uraemic patients. There was a significant positive correlation between CIMT and TBARS (r = 0.38, P = 0.003) and nitrite/nitrate levels (r = 0.41, P = 0.001), while there was a significant negative correlation between CIMT and SOD (r = -0.35, P = 0.01), CAT (r = -0.65, P < 0.001) and P-SH levels (r = -0.50, P < 0.001). A linear regression analysis showed that TBARS were still significantly and positively correlated with CIMT (P = 0.001), while CAT and P-SH were significantly and negatively correlated with CIMT (P = 0.002 and P = 0.048, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: HD exacerbates oxidative stress and disturbances in antioxidant enzymes in uraemic patients. We propose that serum TBARS and nitrite/nitrate can be used as positive determinants, while erythrocyte SOD, CAT and P-SH may be used as negative determinants of atherosclerosis assessed by CIMT in uraemic and HD patients.