Custodiol versus Blood Cardioplegia: Comparison of Myocardial Immunohistochemical Analysis and Clinical Outcomes

ABSTRACT Introduction: Custodiol (histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate) and repetitive blood cardioplegia are the solutions for myocardial protection and cardiac arrest. In this study, we aimed to compare immunohistochemical analysis, clinical outcomes, and cardiac enzyme values of Custodiol and blood cardioplegia groups. Methods: This was a randomized prospective study consisting of 2 groups and 20 patients, 10 patients for each group, who underwent mitral and mitral/tricuspid valve surgery. Group 1 was formed for Custodiol cardioplegia and group 2 for blood cardioplegia. Perioperative and postoperative cardiac events were recorded, cardiac enzymes were analyzed with intervals, and myocardial samples were taken for immunohistochemical analysis. Recorded data were statistically evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference for the Custodiol and blood cardioplegia groups in perioperative and postoperative cardiac performance and adverse events. Cardiac enzyme analysis showed no significant difference between groups. However, two parameters (eNOS, Bcl-2) were in favor of the Custodiol group in immunohistochemical studies. Custodiol performed better in cellular oxidative stress resistance and cellular viability. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes and cardiac enzyme analysis results were similar regarding myocardial protection. However, Custodiol performed better in the immunohistochemical analysis.

Predictive Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Differentiating Organic Dyspepsia from Functional Dyspepsia

ABSTRACT Objective: Dyspepsia, one of the most commonly seen symptoms, can be due to organic dyspepsia (OD) or functional dyspepsia (FD). The aim of this study is to evaluate neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio (NLR) for the predictability of OD due to peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastric cancer (GC). Methods: We investigated retrospectively the patients with dyspepsia who underwent endos-copy. The study included 119 patients with OD (41 patients with biopsy-proven GC and 78 patients with PUD) and 100 patients with FD diagnosed. Results: The NLR among the patients with GC and PUD was significantly higher than FD subject (p < 0.001 each). The NLR in patients with GC was also significantly higher than that in patients with PUD (p < 0.005). When OD was compared with FD, NLR and white blood cell were statistically significantly higher (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). The best predictive cut-off value of NLR was 1.72 with a specificity of 63% and a sensitivity of 66% for OD, on receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Conclusion: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was higher in patients with OD compared with those with FD, and even higher in patients with GC. Our findings suggest that NLR should be calculated in patients with dyspepsia and patients with high levels of NLR should undergo endoscopy.