Evaluation of the systemic-immune inflammation index (SII) and systemic immune-inflammation response index (SIRI) in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and its relationship with cumulative glycemic exposure.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the systemic proinflammatory status was assessed using the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and SIRI systemic immune-inflammatory response index (SIRI) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). METHODS: The study involved 159 patients aged between 6 and 16 years. The SII and SIRI values were calculated based on the complete blood count. Basic blood biochemistry evaluated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured and recorded. The cumulative glycemic exposure was calculated by multiplying the value above the normal reference range of the HbA1c value. The sum of all these values obtained from the time of diagnosis to obtain the cumulative glycemic exposure. All findings were compared statistically. All statistically significant parameters were evaluated in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that only cIMT (Exp(B)/OR: 0.769, 95 % CI: 0.694-0.853, p<0.001), high-density lipoprotein (Exp(B)/OR: 3.924, 95 % CI: 2.335-6.596, p<0.001), monocyte count (Exp(B)/OR: 1.650, 95 % CI: 1.257-2.178, p<0.001), hematocrit (Exp(B)/OR: 0.675, 95 % CI: 0.523-0.870, p<0.001), and SIRI (Exp(B)/OR: 1.005, 95 % CI: 1.002-1.008, p<0.001) were significantly associated with T1DM. A statistically significant positive association was found between cumulative glycemic exposure and SIRI only (r=0.213, p=0.032). To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate SII and SIRI in children with type 1 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that SIRI could serve as a potential biomarker for detecting early-onset proatherosclerotic processes in diabetic children. However, further clinical studies are required to confirm this.

The Relationship of Coronary Thrombus Burden and Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Score in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation (ATRIA) score is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. However, its relationship with coronary thrombus burden is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the ATRIA score and thrombus burden in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective cross-sectional observational study. Our study included 319 patients who were prospectively admitted with STEMI between January 2021 and April 2022. Patients were divided into 2 groups with low thrombus burden (LTB) (grade <3) and high thrombus burden (HTB) (grade ≥3). ATRIA score was calculated and recorded for all patients. ATRIA scores of both groups were compared. RESULTS: In our study, 58.9% (n = 188) of patients in the LTB group and 41% (n = 131) of patients in the HTB group. The ATRIA risk score (p < .001) was significantly higher in the HTB group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, ATRIA score, glomerular filtration rate, hypertension, abciximab usage, and no-reflow were found to be independent predictors of HTB in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, ATRIA score >4 had a sensitivity of 66.2% and specificity of 95.2%, and ATRIA score >8 sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 100% predicted HTB. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that thrombus burden may be associated with ATRIA risk score in patients presenting with STEMI.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Radial Artery Intima Media Thickness and Complications at the Intervention Site After Radial Angiography.

The present study investigated the relationship between pre-procedural radial intima-media thickness (rIMT) and radial artery thrombosis (RAO) in patients undergoing angiography using a transradial approach (TRA). Patients (n = 90) who underwent cerebral or peripheral arterial angiography using TRA were included in the study. Ultrasonographic evaluation was performed before and 12 h after the procedure. Preoperative rIMT measurement was performed at the distal radial artery. Presence of radial artery occlusion was evaluated by ultrasonography after radial catheterization and revealed occlusive thrombus in the radial artery in 13 patients. rIMT was found to be statistically significantly higher in patients with thrombus (P < .05). When it was evaluated whether there was a correlation between age and rIMT, a positive significant correlation was found (P < .01). Our study suggests that increase of rIMT may be a risk factor for RAO in the intervention area. Before the procedure, ultrasound (US) assessment of the radial artery may be useful in determining the risk of occlusion. Thus, RAO-related technical risk factors (procedure time, number of punctures, sheath thickness, etc.) can be managed more carefully in patients having radial angiography.

Evaluation of the Early Effects of Childhood Asthma and Its Treatment on Cardiac Function as Revealed by Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

There is minimal information available regarding the early effects of bronchial asthma (BA) and its treatment on cardiac function in children. We used two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) to evaluate cardiac function before and after the treatment of childhood BA. We enrolled 44 children with moderate and severe BA who had not been treated over the preceding 3 months or who were newly diagnosed. All children received the same treatment (that recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] in 2017). All children also underwent transthoracic 2D-STE before treatment and 6 months later. Clinical data were compared before and after treatment. After treatment, significant increases were evident in right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic strain, as well as the systolic strain rate. Before and after treatment, the RV global longitudinal systolic strains were - 22.8 ± 3.6 and - 25.1 ± 4.5, respectively (p = 0.036); the RV global longitudinal diastolic strains were - 18.5 ± 6.0 and - 21.5 ± 5.2, respectively (p = 0.038); and the RV systolic strain rates were - 1.26 ± 0.4 and - 1.12 ± 0.3, respectively (p = 0.025). After treatment, significant increases were observed in the right atrial (RA) peak longitudinal strain and strain rate. Before and after treatment, the RA peak atrial longitudinal strains were 32.5 ± 10.8 and 44.7 ± 11.2, respectively (p = 0.042) and the RA longitudinal strain rates were - 1.6 ± 0.3 and - 2.0 ± 0.5, respectively (p = 0.041). RV and RA subclinical dysfunction may develop in children with early-stage BA. However, asthma treatment appears to improve such dysfunction. In children with BA, clinical and subclinical changes in cardiac functions can be easily detected via 2D-STE.

Antithrombotic Therapy and Outcomes of Patients With New-Onset Transient Atrial Fibrillation After ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and AF might require anticoagulant treatment in some conditions. STUDY QUESTION: There are no clear recommendations about vitamin K antagonist (VKA) use in patients with STEMI who complicated with new-onset transient AF. In this study, we examined the association of concomitant use of VKA and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clinical outcomes of this patient population. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 4086 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention retrospectively investigated. Among these patients, a total of 286 patients who developed new-onset transient AF during hospitalization were enrolled. VKA group consisted of 116 patients treated with warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel, and DAPT group consisted of 170 patients treated with aspirin and clopidogrel. MEASURES AND OUTCOMES: One-year mortality, ischemic stroke, major, and minor bleeding were determined as clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Although VKA group had proportionally lower mortality (17.2% vs. 20.0%) and ischemic stroke (7.8% vs. 11.8%) compared with DAPT group, the differences did not reach to statistical significance, whereas the 1-year major bleeding had higher rates at VKA group and that had 3.5-times higher major bleeding than DAPT group. This relationship was persisted after multivariable analysis (hazard ratio = 3.37, 95% CI, 1.76-10.04, P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: There is not a widely accepted treatment algorithm in patients with STEMI who complicated with new-onset AF in clinical guidelines. The current study indicated that transient form of new-onset AF might not require long-term VKA. Besides, addition of VKA to DAPT therapy may increase the rates of major and minor bleeding.

Atrial Fibrillation: A Novel Risk Factor for No-Reflow Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

There is a lack of evidence regarding the association of atrial fibrillation (AF) and no-reflow (NR) phenomenon in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). A total of 2452 patients with STEMI who underwent pPCI were retrospectively investigated. After exclusions, 370 (14.6%) patients were in the AF group and 2095 (85.4%) were in the No-AF group. Patients with a thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow rate <3 were defined as having NR. Patients in the AF group were older and had higher 3-vessel disease rates (24.1% vs 18.9%; P = .021) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (45.4 [11.7] vs 48.7 [10.5%]; P < .001). No-reflow rates were higher in the AF group than in the No-AF group (29.1% vs 11.8%; P < .001). According to multivariable analysis, AF (odds ratio: 1.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.63-2.04, P < .001), age, Killip class, anterior myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, stent length, and smoking were independent predictors of NR following pPCI. Atrial fibrillation is a quite common arrhythmia in patients with STEMI. Atrial fibrillation was found to be an independent predictor of NR in the current study. This effect of AF on coronary flow rate might be considered as an important risk factor in STEMI.

Acute Effects of Red Bull Energy Drinks on Atrial Electromechanical Function in Healthy Young Adults.

Energy drinks (EDs) are widely consumed by adolescents and young adults. Almost all kinds of arrhythmias have been reported following EDs consumption, most of which is atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial conduction time prolongation and heterogeneous sinusal impulses propagation to the atriums are the key electrophysiological mechanisms leading AF. We aimed to evaluate the acute effects of Red Bull ED ingestion on atrial electromechanical conduction times in healthy young adults. After a 12-hour fasting, 54 healthy young adults consumed 330 mL of Red Bull ED. Atrial electromechanical coupling (PA), intra-atrial electromechanical delay (intra-AEMD), and interatrial electromechanical delay (inter-AEMD) were measured at baseline and 2-hour after Red Bull ED ingestion by echocardiographic tissue-Doppler imaging (TDI) method. PA-lateral (49.7 ± 11.2 vs 54.1 ± 11.0 msn, p = 0.001) and PA-septal (40.8 ± 9.1 vs 43.7 ± 10.5 msn, p = 0.032) times were statistically significantly prolonged after Red Bull ED ingestion. There was also a statistically significant increase in the duration of inter-AEMD (14.4 ± 10.6 vs 18.1 ± 8.5 msn, p = 0.010) after ED ingestion. It was showed that even a single can of ED can acutely increase atrial electromechanical conduction times in young adults. These findings may be the cause of ED-associated AF.

Assessment of the relationship between coronary flow rates and myocardial perfusion abnormality in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease: an observational study in cardiac syndrome X and coronary slow flow.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated and compared the level of myocardial ischaemia caused by cardiac syndrome X (CSX) and coronary slow flow (CSF) with single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI), and determined if changes in the level of myocardial ischaemia exist in CSF and CSX cases according to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 66 patients with CSF and 78 angiographically normal patients (36 of them with CSX and 42 of them healthy controls). The coronary flow rates of all patients were documented using TFC. Subsequently, all patients were evaluated with SPECT-MPI and categorized into the following groups according to their results: patients with CSF, patients with CSX, and patients with normal coronary arteries. Finally, we investigated whether a relationship existed between the SPECT-MPI and TFC results from these three groups. RESULTS: All ischaemia scores for MPI were significantly higher in the CSF group than in the CSX and control groups (P < 0.05). TFC was significantly associated with the severity of ischaemia in the CSF patients. There was a significant positive correlation between the summon difference score (SDS) and mean TFC value (P < 0.05) as well as between the SDS and each individual coronary TFC value in the CSF patients (P < 0.05). The number of vessels involved in CSF was positively correlated with the SDS. CONCLUSION: CSF is associated with more severe myocardial ischaemia than CSX. The level of myocardial ischaemia on SPECT-MPI was correlated with the TFC and the number of affected coronary vessels in patients with CSF. These results suggest that CSF is a more serious clinical entity than CSX, and that the clinical severity of CSF appears to increase as the coronary flow rate decreases.

Complete Blood Count Parameters for Prediction of non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the complete blood count parameters can be used to predict patients who will have positive troponin levels during emergency department observation, and to establish whether any single parameter or combination of parameters has sufficiently good diagnostic test criteria results to be recommended for use in daily clinical practice. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Emergency Medicine, Duzce University School of Medicine, Duzce, Turkey, from October 2015 to October 2016. METHODOLOGY: Study group had patients with positive troponin levels during observation in the emergency department. The control group had normal troponin levels. Their complete blood count parameters were compared individually and in combination. RESULTS: Total white blood cell count, neutrophil count, red cell distribution width, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and some combinations of these parameters were found to be predictive of troponin elevation. The best one was combination of white blood cell count, red cell distribution width and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. CONCLUSION: Some of the complete blood count parameters may provide some clues when predicting troponin elevation in patients with chest pain. However, none of these parameters or no combination of them have sufficiently good diagnostic test criteria results to safely predict non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Relationship Between the Reciprocal Change in Inflammation-Related Biomarkers (Fibrinogen-to-Albumin and hsCRP-to-Albumin Ratios) and the Presence and Severity of Coronary Slow Flow.

Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and microvascular coronary dysfunction. In this context, it is thought that fibrinogen, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and albumin may be associated with the pathogenesis of coronary slow flow (CSF). We aimed to evaluate the ratios of fibrinogen-to-albumin and hsCRP-to-albumin in patients with CSF compared to patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and stable coronary artery disease (CAD). In all, 65 patients with CSF, 65 patients with newly diagnosed stable CAD, and 65 control participants with angiographically normal coronary arteries were included. The coronary flow rates of all patients were determined by the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame count method. Fibrinogen, hsCRP, and albumin levels were analyzed in all patients, and the fibrinogen-to-albumin and hsCRP-to-albumin ratios were calculated. The baseline characteristics of the 3 groups were similar. The plasma albumin level was significantly lower, whereas the fibrinogen and the hsCRP levels were significantly higher, in the CSF and CAD groups compared to the controls. The fibrinogen-to-albumin and hsCRP-to-albumin ratios were significantly higher in both the CSF and the CAD groups compared to the control group. The hsCRP-to-albumin ratio was positively correlated with the mean Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame count in the whole study population. According to the receiver-operating characteristic analysis, the efficacies of the fibrinogen-to-albumin and hsCRP-to-albumin ratios in predicting CSF were significant. The fibrinogen-to-albumin and hsCRP-to-albumin ratios, which were increased by a reciprocal change, suggest that inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of CSF.

Evaluating the effect of nasal septoplasty on atrial electromechanical features.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and increased pulmonary artery pressure may be frequent in patients with upper airway obstruction. In this study, we evaluated atrial conduction delays in patients with upper airway obstruction secondary to nasal septum deviation (NSD). METHODS: A total of 32 patients with upper airway obstruction secondary to NSD undergoing a septoplasty procedure were enrolled in this study. Preoperative electrocardiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed in all patients who underwent surgery. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and atrial conduction time (ACT) were recorded before and 6 months after the surgical procedures. RESULTS: The PAP was significantly lower postoperatively than preoperatively (20.75 ±â€¯4.83 vs. 24.68 ±â€¯5.26; P < 0.001). The postoperative Electromechanical Delay of Mitral septal wall (EMD-MS) value was significantly lower than that preoperatively (46.20 ±â€¯8.5 vs. 40.5 ±â€¯9.9; P < 0.001). The postoperative Electromechanical Delay of Mitral lateral wall (EMD-ML) value decreased significantly compared to the preoperative period (46.3 ±â€¯7.4 vs. 40.6 ±â€¯9.3; P < 0.001). The postoperative Electromechanical Delay of Tricuspit lateral wall (EMD-TL) value was significantly lower than that preoperatively (43.8 ±â€¯7.0 vs. 38.1 ±â€¯9.1; P < 0.001). There was no significant change in pre- or postoperative measurements of inter- and intra-atrial conduction delays. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that upper airway obstruction secondary to NSD causes a significant increase in mPAP and a significant delay in ACT, which improved after nasal septoplasty. According to these results, we conclude that upper airway obstruction may be an important risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension, RV dysfunction, and atrial arrhythmias, especially in unoperated cases.

The predictive role of modified TIMI risk index in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk index (TRI) has been reported in patients with coronary artery disease. In this study, we evaluated the additional prognostic value of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level to the TRI in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: We evaluated the in-hospital and long-term (3-year) prognostic value of modified TRI (mTRI) in patients with STEMI. The mTRI is calculated using the following equation; mTRI = (TRI × BUN)/10. Patients were stratified into 5 groups according to 20-point increments of mTRI. RESULTS: The patients with higher mTRI had significantly higher in-hospital and long-term mortality. The risk for in-hospital and long-term mortality was highest for those within the Q5 (36.8 and 42.3%, respectively) and it was significantly higher than all the other groups (p < .001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prognostic value of TRI has been augmented by multiplication of TRI with BUN/10. Therefore, we present a pilot study of association of mTRI with overall STEMI patients.

Effect of Dynamic Potassium Change on In-Hospital Mortality, Ventricular Arrhythmias, and Long-Term Mortality in STEMI.

We evaluated the effect of serum potassium (K) deviation on in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who were normokalemic at admission. A total of 2773 patients with an admission serum K level of 3.5 to 4.5 mEq/L were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were categorized into 3 groups according to their K deviation: normokalemia-to-hypokalemia, normokalemia-to-normokalemia, and normokalemia-to-hyperkalemia. In-hospital mortality, long-term mortality, and ventricular arrhythmias rates were compared among the groups. In a hierarchical multivariable regression analysis, the in-hospital mortality risk was higher in normokalemia-to-hypokalemia (odds ratio [OR] 3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72-6.82) and normokalemia-to-hyperkalemia groups (OR 2.81; 95% CI, 1.93-4.48) compared with the normokalemia-to-normokalemia group. In a Cox regression analysis, long-term mortality risk was also higher in normokalemia-to-hypokalemia (hazard ratio [HR] 3.78; 95% CI, 2.07-7.17) and normokalemia-to-hyperkalemia groups (HR, 2.97; 95% CI, 2.10-4.19) compared with the normokalemia-to-normokalemia group. Ventricular arrhythmia risk was also higher in normokalemia-to-hypokalemia group (OR 2.98; 95% CI, 1.41-5.75) compared with normokalemia-to-normokalemia group. The current study showed an increased in-hospital ventricular arrhythmia and mortality and long-term mortality rates with the deviation of serum K levels from normal ranges.

Subclinical right ventricular dysfunction in intermittent and persistent mildly asthmatic children on tissue Doppler echocardiography and serum NT-proBNP: Observational study.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma may lead to pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, and cor pulmonale due to elevated afterload on the RV later in life. The aim of this study was to determine whether serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) might serve as a biomarker for detecting subclinical RV dysfunction using echocardiography during the early stages of bronchial asthma. METHODS: Sixty-eight pediatric patients with asthma (asthma group) and 69 age- and sex-matched healthy children (control group) were enrolled. The study was conducted in a tertiary woman and child diseases education and research hospital from January 2013 to December 2013. RV function (2-D and tissue-Doppler echocardiography), pulmonary function (spirometry) and serum NT-proBNP concentration were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age was 10.5 ± 2.8 years in the asthma group and 10.2 ± 2.7 years in the control group (P = 0.522). RV diastolic function was significantly decreased in the asthma group (ratio of tricuspid lateral annular early diastolic peak velocity to tricuspid lateral annular late diastolic peak velocity [E'/A'], 1.29 ± 0.68 vs 1.74 ± 0.89, P = 0.001). RV myocardial performance index was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (0.28 ± 0.06 vs 0.24 ± 0.07, respectively; P = 0.003). Finally, serum NT-proBNP concentration was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (292.3 ± 142.2 pg/mL vs 208.2 ± 70.1 pg/mL, respectively; P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Increased serum NT-proBNP is associated with subclinical RV dysfunction in asthmatic children. RV function is significantly affected in children with bronchial asthma.

Increased levels of red cell distribution width is correlated with presence of left atrial stasis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Red cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been found to be associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardiovascular diseases. However, correlation of these parameters with presence of left atrial (LA) thrombus and/or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with non-valvular AF has not been clarified. This study was an investigation of correlation of RDW, NLR, and clinical risk factors with LA thrombus and dense SEC in patients with non-valvular AF in the Turkish population. METHODS: The demographic, laboratory, and echocardiographic properties of 619 non-valvular AF patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination before direct current cardioversion (DCCV) or AF ablation treatment were retrospectively investigated. Complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical parameters were studied 6 to 12 hours before TEE examination. Left atrial stasis (LAS) markers were noted as presence of left atrial/left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus or dense spontaneous echo contrast (DSEC). RESULTS: Total of 325 (52%) patients with LAS were compared with 294 patients (48%) without LAS. In the LAS group, there were 274 (84%) patients with LA/LAA thrombus and 51 (16%) patients with DSEC. LAS (+) group, values for RDW (14.85±1.48 vs. 13.77±1.30; p<0.01), NLR (2.38 [1.58], vs. 2.10 [1.35]; p<0.01) and C-reactive protein (0.95 [0.61] vs. 0.88 [0.60] mg/L; p<0.01) were significantly higher than seen in LAS (-) group. In multivariate regression analysis, increased level of RDW, age, male gender, heart failure, duration of AF >6 months, and international normalized ratio <2 were independently correlated with presence of LAS. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that increased level of RDW is independently correlated with higher risk for development of LAS in patients with non-valvular AF.

Predictive values of D-dimer assay, GRACE scores and TIMI scores for adverse outcome in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE: To determine the predictive values of D-dimer assay, Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk scores for adverse outcome in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 234 patients (mean age: 57.2±11.7 years, 75.2% were males) hospitalized with NSTEMI were included. Data on D-dimer assay, GRACE and TIMI risk scores were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the risk factors predicting increased mortality. RESULTS: Median D-dimer levels were 349.5 (48.0-7,210.0) ng/mL, the average TIMI score was 3.2±1.2 and the GRACE score was 90.4±27.6 with high GRACE scores (>118) in 17.5% of patients. The GRACE score was correlated positively with both the D-dimer assay (r=0.215, P=0.01) and TIMI scores (r=0.504, P=0.000). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher creatinine levels (odds ratio =18.465, 95% confidence interval: 1.059-322.084, P=0.046) constituted the only significant predictor of increased mortality risk with no predictive values for age, D-dimer assay, ejection fraction, glucose, hemoglobin A1c, sodium, albumin or total cholesterol levels for mortality. CONCLUSION: Serum creatinine levels constituted the sole independent determinant of mortality risk, with no significant values for D-dimer assay, GRACE or TIMI scores for predicting the risk of mortality in NSTEMI patients.

Assessment of myocardial performance index in hypertensive patients with or without hyperuricaemia.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial performance index (MPI) is impaired in patients with hypertension. Uric acid is biologically active and can stimulate oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and vasoconstriction. Hyperuricaemia may provide a negative contribution to impaired MPI in hypertension. AIM: The study was designed to assess the MPI in hypertensive patients with or without hyperuricaemia. METHODS: A total of 96 consecutive hypertensive patients were divided into two groups according to levels of serum uric acid (SUA); 49 normouricaemic patients (defined as SUA < 7.0 mg/dL in men and < 6.0 mg/dL in women) and 47 hyperuricaemic patients. SUA levels and other biochemistry parameters were determined by a standard analytical technique. All patients were evaluated by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: The two groups were similar according to age, body mass index, and smoking status. Mean MPI value (0.498 ± 0.06 vs. 0.410 ± 0.05, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the hyperuricaemic group than the normouricaemic individuals and positively correlated with the mean value of SUA levels (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that high SUA levels were significantly associated with impaired MPI in hypertensive patients. SUA may suggest a valuable laboratory finding in assessing the risk of developing subclinical impaired left ventricular global function.