Can serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels reflect the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine is a sensitive biomarker that reflects the degree of oxidative damage to DNA. We investigated whether serum 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine is a clinically useful biomarker for the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension. METHODS: We measured serum 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in 25 patients (age 37±13 years, 68% women) diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, familial pulmonary arterial hypertension, or pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease. The severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension was evaluated by six-min walking distance, World Health Organization functional class, and serum brain natriuretic peptide levels. Age and gender-matched 22 healthy subjects served as the control group. RESULTS: The comparison of 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels between patients and controls was not statistically different [(19.86±9.79) versus (18.80±3.94) ng/mL, p=0.622)]. However, there was a significant negative correlation between 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels and six-min walking distance (r= −0.614, p=0.001). Additionally, serum 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in patients with functional class III-IV were significantly higher than those with functional class I-II (functional class III-IV 32.31±10.63 ng/mL versus functional class I-II 16.74±6.81 ng/mL, respectively, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were significantly correlated with exercise capacity (six-min walking distance) and symptomatic status (functional class), both of which show the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients.

Assessment of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction with speckle-tracking echocardiography in hyperthyroid and euthyroid Graves' disease and its correlation with serum TIMP-1.

BACKGROUND: Graves' disease has a multitude of effects on the cardiovascular system. In the detection of subclinical left ventricular dysfunction, speckle-tracking echocardiography is more useful than conventional echocardiography. The aim of the present study was to compare the longitudinal global strain values and venous blood concentration of (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1) TIMP-1, a regulator of the extracellular matrix, among hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease, euthyroid patients with Graves' disease and healthy control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 40 hyperthyroid patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease, 40 patients with Graves' disease who were euthyroid for at least 6 months and 40 control subjects with normal thyroid function. Participants underwent conventional echocardiography and speckle-tracking echocardiography to obtain segmental and global longitudinal strain values. In addition, the serum TIMP-1 value was assessed in the venous blood samples of the participants. RESULTS: The hyperthyroid Graves' patients showed greater serum TIMP-1 levels versus the control group and the euthyroid Graves' group. Compared to the control group, the TIMP-1 level was also significantly higher in the euthyroid Graves' group. Lower GLS (global longitudinal strain) average and GLS2C, GLS3C, GLS4C values were observed in both the hyperthyroid and euthyroid Graves' patients compared to the control group. The euthyroid Graves' patients and hyperthyroid Graves' patients had similar GLS values. The serum TIMP-1 level was negatively correlated with global strain values. CONCLUSION: Graves' disease coexists with impaired segmental and global longitudinal strain and increased TIMP-1 levels. This coexistence seems to be independent of serum thyroid hormone levels.

Can serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels reflect the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension?

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine is a sensitive biomarker that reflects the degree of oxidative damage to DNA. We investigated whether serum 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine is a clinically useful biomarker for the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension. METHODS: We measured serum 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in 25 patients (age 37±13 years, 68% women) diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, familial pulmonary arterial hypertension, or pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease. The severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension was evaluated by six-min walking distance, World Health Organization functional class, and serum brain natriuretic peptide levels. Age and gender-matched 22 healthy subjects served as the control group. RESULTS: The comparison of 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels between patients and controls was not statistically different [(19.86±9.79) versus (18.80±3.94) ng/mL, p=0.622)]. However, there was a significant negative correlation between 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels and six-min walking distance (r= -0.614, p=0.001). Additionally, serum 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in patients with functional class III-IV were significantly higher than those with functional class I-II (functional class III-IV 32.31±10.63 ng/mL versus functional class I-II 16.74±6.81 ng/mL, respectively, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were significantly correlated with exercise capacity (six-min walking distance) and symptomatic status (functional class), both of which show the severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients.

What have we learned from Turkish familial hypercholesterolemia registries (A-HIT1 and A-HIT2)?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common genetic disease of high-level cholesterol leading to premature atherosclerosis. One of the key aspects to overcome FH burden is the generation of large-scale reliable data in terms of registries. This manuscript underlines the important results of nation-wide Turkish FH registries (A-HIT1 and A-HIT2). METHODS: A-HIT1 is a survey of homozygous FH patients undergoing low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis (LA). A-HIT2 is a registry of adult FH patients (homozygous and heterozygous) admitted to outpatient clinics. Both registries used clinical diagnosis of FH. RESULTS: A-HIT1 evaluated 88 patients (27 ±â€¯11 years, 41 women) in 19 centers. All patients were receiving regular LA. There was a 7.37 ±â€¯7.1-year delay between diagnosis and initiation of LA. LDL-cholesterol levels reached the target only in 5 cases. Mean frequency of apheresis sessions was 19 ±â€¯13 days. None of the centers had a standardized approach for LA. Mean frequency of apheresis sessions was every 19 ±â€¯13 (7-90) days. Only 2 centers were aware of the target LDL levels. A-HIT2 enrolled 1071 FH patients (53 ±â€¯8 years, 606 women) from 31 outpatients clinics specialized in cardiology (27), internal medicine (1), and endocrinology (3); 96.4% were heterozygous. 459 patients were on statin treatment. LDL targets were attained in 23 patients (2.1% of the whole population, 5% receiving statin) on treatment. However, 66% of statin-receiving patients were on intense doses of statins. Awareness of FH was 9.5% in the whole patient population. CONCLUSIONS: The first nationwide FH registries revealed that FH is still undertreated even in specialized centers in Turkey. Additional effective treatment regiments are urgently needed.

Typical pericarditis ECG findings after falling from height. The PR segment depression or ST segment elevation?

Acute pericarditis (AP) following blunt thoracic trauma is rare and difficult to diagnosis. A 43-year-old man with offered to the emergency department (ED) after falling from height before a week ago. The ECG performed in the ED was abnormal, ECG revealed PR segment depression in leads DII, DIII, aVF, and V3-6 and a preliminary diagnosis of acute inferolateral STEMI was presumed. Patients have evidence of systemic inflammation, including leukocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. We are reporting a case of post-traumatic acute pericarditis presenting with PR-segment depression and normal cardiac enzymes mimicking acute STEMI.

Relationship between Neurocardiogenic Syncope and Ventricular Repolarization.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to analyze ventricular repolarization in neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) patients by using T-peak-T-end interval, T-peak-T-end/QT ratio, T-peak-T-end/QTc ratio and corrected QT interval (QTc), QT dispersion (QTd), QT index (QTI) and corrected QT interval index (QTcI) comparing with the corrected JT dispersion (JTcd), and corrected JT (JTc) and the corrected JT interval index (JTcI), by inspecting ventricular activation until termination of repolarization. These parameters are used as an index of potential ventricular arrhythmogenesis. METHODS: We have studied patients with head-up tilt table test (HUTT) (+) (33 patients; mean age: 28 ± 11 years) and HUTT (-) as control group (33 patients; mean age: 30 ± 11 years). In all patients, T-peak-T-end interval, T-peak-T-end/QT ratio, T-peak-T-end/QTc ratio, QT, QTd, QTI, QTc, QTcI, JTd, JTc, and JTcI were measured on electrocardiogram. RESULTS: The following parameters were statistically significant between groups: QTd (22.72 ± 17.54 msn; 11.21 ± 13.40 msn; P = 0.004), QTc (424.27 ± 33.75 msn; 403.66 ± 38.08 msn; P = 0.023), QTcI (114.09 ± 14, 29%; 106.71 ± 15.33%, P = 0.047), and QTI (100.72 ± 7.19%; 97.14 ± 7.13%, P = 0.046). Furthermore, T-peak-T-end interval was significantly prolonged in the study group (93.78 ± 20.27 msn; 81.21 ± 11.66 msn; P = 0.003). T-peak-T-end/QT ratio was significantly higher in the study group (0.24 ± 0.04 msn; 0.22 ± 0.04 msn; P = 0.030). T-peak-T-end/QTc ratio was significantly higher in the study group (0.22 ± 0.04 msn; 0.20 ± 0.03 msn; P = 0.015). The JTc and JTd were also significantly higher in the study group ([103.00 ± 9, 72%; 95.44 ± 10.26%, P = 0.003], [27.57 ± 16.01 msn; 10.45 ± 16.08 msn; P < 0.001], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiographic ventricular repolarization parameters including T-peak-T-end interval, T-peak-T-end/QT ratio, T-peak-T-end/QTc ratio, QTc, QTd, QTI, QTcI, JTc, JTd, and JTI are prolonged in NCS.