A new multimodal magnetic nanozyme and a reusable peroxymonosulfate oxidation catalyst: Manganese oxide coated-monodisperse-porous and magnetic core-shell microspheres.

Monodisperse-porous, polydopamine and manganese oxide coated, core-shell type, magnetic SiO2 (MagSiO2@PDA@MnO2) microspheres 6.4 µm in size were synthesized for the first time, using magnetic, monodisperse-porous SiO2 (MagSiO2) microspheres 6.2 µm in size as the starting material. MagSiO2 microspheres were obtained by a recently developed method namely "staged shape templated hydrolysis and condensation protocol". In the synthesis, MagSiO2 microspheres were consecutively coated by polydopamine (PDA) and then by a MnO2 layer in the aqueous medium. The pore volume and the specific surface area of monodisperse-porous MagSiO2@PDA@MnO2 microspheres were measured as 0.59 cm3 g-1 and 154 m2 g-1, respectively. Their Mn and Fe contents were determined as 66 ± 1 mg g-1 and 165 ± 5 mg g-1 respectively. MagSiO2@PDA@MnO2 microspheres exhibited multimodal enzyme mimetic behavior with highly superior catalase-like, oxidase-like and peroxidase-like activities. The effective production of singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide anion (O2-*) radicals in MagSiO2@PDA@MnO2-peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system was demonstrated by ESR spectroscopy. By evaluating this property, MagSiO2@PDA@MnO2 microspheres were tried as a reusable catalyst for dye removal via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in batch experiments for the first time. The degradation runs were made with, rhodamine B (Rh B), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) as the pollutant. The core-shell type design allowing the deposition of porous MnO2 layer onto a large surface area provided very fast, instant removals with all dyes, via both physical adsorption and degradation via PMS activation. In the reusability experiments, the removal yields of MO and Rh B decreased 1.8% and 8.9% over five consecutive runs in batch fashion. MagSiO2@PDA@MnO2 microspheres exhibited very good functional and structural stability in consecutive dye degradations. No significant change was observed in Fe content of microspheres while Mn content exhibited a decrease of 7.4% w/w over 5 consecutive degradation runs.

Pediatric Penile Bee Sting.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study, for the first time in the literature, are to evaluate the symptoms, clinical course, and treatment management of penile bee stings in children and to discuss whether bee stings can be evaluated within the scope of summer penile syndrome. METHODS: Records of all pediatric patients presented to the emergency department of our hospital from June 2020 to October 2021 due to bee sting of penis were reviewed. Only patients with isolated penile bee stings were included in the study. Patients were evaluated in terms of the age at presentation, time of occurrence, symptoms, and treatment modality. RESULTS: There were 10 patients treated for penile bee sting. Patients ranged in age from 3 to 7 years (mean, 4.2 years). The most common complaints of the patients at presentation were pain (100%), swelling (100%), and dysuria (70%). Three of the patients were unable to void. The gauze moistened with warm saline was applied to the penis of these patients who developed glob, and all of these patients urinated after the warm application. Three of the patients had progressive erythema on the penile skin. These patients were admitted to the pediatric surgery department to monitor whether skin necrosis would develop. In all patients, the erythema regressed significantly within 48 hours and regained its completely normal appearance at the end of 72 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of the development of serious local reactions and urological problems in penile bee stings is low. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and warm, wet dressing are usually sufficient to treat local reactions. Penile bee stings may be evaluated within the scope of summer penile syndrome because their symptoms, clinical findings, and treatments are almost similar.

A Case of Pseudomonas mendocina Bacteremia in an Elderly Man With Bilateral Leg Lesions.

Pseudomonas mendocina is a gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium that rarely causes disease in humans. Documented infections can be severe with varying etiologies, often requiring intensive care. We describe a rare case of bacteremia with P. mendocina in an elderly male, with a comprehensive review of the literature. An 81-year-old Caucasian male presented with bilateral lower leg erythema and drainage but was afebrile. His past medical history included atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. Labs showed leukocytosis and a blood culture was obtained revealing Pseudomonas mendocina. The pathogen was susceptible to all antibiotics tested and he was successfully treated on cefepime inpatient and a two-week course of ciprofloxacin on discharge. Our case and literature review presents a successful treatment of a rare cause of bacteremia likely stemming from a soft tissue nidus. P. mendocina has a favorable susceptibility profile and the antibiotics preferred differ from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a more common pathogen. Worldwide there have been only 18 other documented cases of P. mendocina infection, all successful and with no mortality. Physicians can confidently utilize usual antibiotics in the treatment of this pathogen despite its rare clinical manifestations.

Check the diastolic blood pressure twice in aortic dissection as it is associated with prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to determine the prediction level of admission diastolic blood pressure (DBP) on the prognosis and mortality in aortic dissection patients over 65 years old and under 65 years old. METHODS: We included 72 patients in this retrospective study and study groups were divided into two groups according to 65 age. Demographic data, dissection type (Stanford A-B), DBP, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arteriel pressure (MAP), heart rate (/min) main complaints, preoperative length of stay, hospitalisation clinic (clinic/intensive care unit), length of hospitaliisation, complications during hospitalisation (renal failure etc..) and the outcome (death/dischargement) results were noted. Preoperative lenth of stay, hospitalisation length, outcome and complications were compared between groups according to SBP, DBP, MAP and heart rate. RESULTS: Mean blood pressure values of the Stanford type B patients over 65 years old were higher than the other group (p<0.05). Fifty percent of patients under 65 years old were discharged but this ratio was 26.9% in the elder group. DBP was positively correlated with preoperative length of stay and hospitalisation length and negatively correlated with mortality. DBP under 65 mmHg was significantly related with high mortality (p<0.05). When the age and presentation time heart rate is added to each other, the values over 142 were significantly related with high mortality (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presentation time vital signs especially the DBP may be helpful for emergency clinicians to predict the prognosis and outcome in aortic dissection patients which has high mortality ratio in patients over 65 years of age.

Comparison of high-flow oxygen treatment and standard oxygen treatment in patients with hypertensive pulmonary edema.

OBJECTIVE: The aim compares the blood gases, vital signs, mechanical ventilation requirement, and length of hospitalization in patients with hypertensive pulmonary edema treated with standard oxygen therapy (SOT) and high-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT). METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in patients with tachypneic, hypoxemic, hypertensive pulmonary edema. The patients' 0th, 1st, and 2nd hour blood gas results; 0th, 1st, and 2nd hour vital signs; requirement of endotracheal intubation, length of hospitalization, and the prognosis were recorded on the study form. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were included in this study, of whom 50 underwent SOT and 62 received HFOT. The initial blood gas analysis revealed significantly lower levels of pH, PaO2, and SpO2 and significantly higher levels of PaCO2 in the HFOT group. Patients in the HFOT group had significantly higher respiratory rate and pulse rate and significantly lower SpO2 values. The recovery of vital signs was significantly better in the HFOT group (p<0.05). Similarly, follow-up results of arterial blood gas analysis were better in the HFOT group (p<0.05). Both length of stay in the emergency department (p<0.05) and length of intensive care unit hospitalization s significantly shorter in the HFOT group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: HFOT can be much more effective in patients with hypertensive pulmonary edema than SOT as it shortens the length of stay both in the emergency service and in the intensive care unit. HFOT also provides better results in terms of blood gas analysis, heart rate, and respiratory rate in the follow-up period.

Shot range estimation of shotgun grain-loaded cartridges.

Commercial grain-loaded cartridges for shotguns have been recently associated with injuries and fatalities. These cartridges are generally used as a scare gun for large animals, with a little probability of causing harm. Almost all grain-loaded cartridges contain one type of cereal grain, such as bulgur wheat, wheat or vetch seed, instead of lead pellets. Our study aimed to investigate the shot range estimation of grain-loaded cartridges and assess the variations from conventional lead pellet cartridges. In this study, eight different brands of grain-loaded cartridges were used. The inspections and measurements were made with cartridges that contain cereal grains, gunpowder and wads. Shots were made from 50, 100, 200, 300, 500cm with modified and improved cylinder chokes. Diameter of grain distribution patterns on targets were measured. These measurements were evaluated statistically considering brand, choke and distance variables. Both satellite entry holes and central entry holes were detected in all shots that were fired from 50cm distance. The smallest average diameter of grain distribution pattern between 8 different brands were measured as 14.3, 38.3, 58.5 and 83.4cm for 100, 200, 300 and 500cm respectively with modified choke. Gathered data from this study was compared with the studies conducted with conventional cartridges and differences were determined. It was detected that the grain-loaded cartridges showed much wider distribution on targets at the same shooting distance with the same and similar barrel lengths and choke values compared to conventional lead pellet containing cartridges.

The prediction levels of emergency clinicians about the outcome of the ambulance patients and outpatients.

AIM: The increased number of emergency clinic patients causes the length of stay in the emergency department, low patient satisfaction and dismiss of real emergency patients. In this study, we aimed to determine the prediction levels of emergency clinicians according to working year on the outcome of the ambulance patients and outpatients presented to the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS & METHODS: This prospective study included patients over 18 years old. The triage of outpatients was made by a senior nurse and patients were divided into three triage categories such as green, yellow and red. Then these patients were evaluated by the emergency physician at the examination areas. Ambulance patients were directly evaluated by the emergency physician. These ambulance patients were noted as yellow or red according to triage categories. The main complaints, triage category, presentation method, vital signs, predicted outcome noted by the clinicians. RESULTS: The correct prediction levels of hospitalisation (clinic/intensive care unit) were higher in clinicians whose working year is between 6 and 10 years (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between 6-10 year and >10 year group according to prediction level (p > 0.05). Prediction of dischargement was higher in 0-5 year group than 6-10 year (p < 0.05) and >10 year (p < 0.05) group. CONCLUSION: Experienced clinicians can make much more accurate prediction on length of stay and the prognosis of the emergency patients so crowded follow-up areas of the emergency room can be planned much more effectively.

ESR investigation on the potential use of potassium citrate as a dosimeter material.

Un-irradiated potassium citrate exhibited a weak ESR singlet at g = 2.0045 ±â€¯0.0003 with peak-to-peak line-width of ΔHpp = 0.16 mT. However, multi-resonance signals spreading over a magnetic field range of ~5 mT were observed in gamma irradiated potassium citrate. A linear function of absorbed radiation dose was found to describe well the dose-response curves of the resonance signals A, B and C in a dose range of 5-5000 Gy. Room temperature fading study showed that radiation-induced radicals in potassium citrate are highly stable but less stable when exposed to the sunlight. Three different radical species were found to describe well experimental room temperature ESR spectrum of irradiated potassium citrate. The resonance signal B can be used in measuring the accidental radiation doses and the radiation doses used in food industry, at least up to a dose of 5 kGy. Further studies were needed in order to increase the sensitivity of potassium citrate at low radiation doses.

Prediction of coronary artery disease severity in lower extremity artery disease patients: A correlation study of TASC II classification, Syntax and Syntax II scores.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a well-established risk factor for concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). There are no published data combining all three lower limb arterial segments (aortoiliac, femoropopliteal and below the knee vessels) in order to estimate CAD severity in LEAD patients. Herein has been derived a new scoring system for this purpose, which uses the wellknown TASC II classification, Syntax score and, for the first time in medical literature, a Syntax II score. METHODS: The study population consisted of 178 patients who underwent lower limb and coronary diagnostic angiography for assessment of LEAD and CAD at the same session. Syntax and Syntax II scores were calculated. TASC II classifications of the lower limb arteries were done. A new scoring system, called "Total Peripheral Score" (TPS), for lower limbs was also calculated. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between TPS and Syntax score and a less prominent positive correlation between TPS and Syntax II score (p < 0.001). A cut-off value of '6' for the new score was found for estimating high risk subgorup of CAD (Syntax score > 32; p < 0.001). Critical femoropopliteal arterial segment stenosis was the most predictive lower limb arterial zone for presence of severe CAD (Syntax score > 32; p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account all lower limb arterial segments for predicting CAD during lower limb arterial angiography was recommended. A TPS of more than '6' is the practical cut-off value for estimating severe CAD. Femoropopliteal arterial critical stenosis is the most predictive arterial zone for estimating severe CAD.

Relation of elastic properties of pulmonary artery with left ventricular abnormalities and aortic stiffness in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea: A cross-sectional echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the associations between pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) and aortic stiffness, left ventricular diastolic parameters, and left ventricular mass (LVM) index in moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients without coexisting disorders were investigated. METHODS: A total of 66 non-diabetic, non-hypertensive, and non-smoking volunteers were enrolled. Participants were categorized by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI; event/hour). The control group was defined as no OSAS: AHI<5 (n=35), and OSAS group had moderate to severe OSAS: AHI>15 (n=31).Echocardiographic and biochemical tests, including measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP), were performed. PAS (kHz/s) was calculated by dividing the maximal frequency shift of the pulmonary flow by the acceleration time. RESULTS: PAS (kHz/s), obtained by echocardiography, was statistically significantly higher in the OSAS group than the control group (28±5 vs 18±4, p<0.001), and was positively correlated with AHI, CRP, aortic stiffness index, E/E', and LVM index (p=0.034, p=0.039, p<0.001, p=0.040, and p<0.001, respectively), and negatively correlated with aortic strain (AS), aortic distensibility (AD), E/A, E'/A', and E' (p<0.001). Regression analyses indicated that CRP and PAS are independent predictors of aortic stiffness (p<0.05). E/A and LVM index were independent predictors of PAS (p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Increased PAS is associated with aortic stiffness, left ventricular diastolic function, and increased LVM index. PAS may be a more effective indicator of aortic stiffness in OSAS patients than CRP.

Evaluation of Pulmonary Artery Stiffness in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has any effect on pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) derived from echocardiographic calculation. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with newly diagnosed OSAS and forty-two subjects without OSAS matched by age and sex were enrolled in the study. OSAS was categorized according to apnea hypopnea index (AHI, event/h) as follows: normal (AHI<5), mild OSAS (AHI 5-15), moderate and severe OSAS (AHI>15). All participants were evaluated by echocardiography to determine PAS and right ventricle functions. PAS was calculated throughout pulmonary artery flow by the formula; PAS (kHz/sec) = maximal frequency shift/acceleration time. RESULTS: Demographic and clinical parameters were similar in both groups. PAS significantly increased in OSAS compared with the control group (26.9 ± 6.1 vs. 18.0 ± 3.5, P < 0.001). Additionally, PAS in severe and moderate OSAS was considerably high compared with that in mild OSAS and control group (P < 0.001). Right ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) and mean pulmonary artery pressures (mPAP) were considerably higher in OSAS group than control group (P < 0.001). Tricuspid E/A, right ventricle tissue Doppler E'/A', and right ventricular ejection time (RVET) decreased in OSAS group compared with control group (P < 0.001). There was a significantly positive correlation between PAS and AHI, mPAP, and MPI (P < 0.001), and a significantly negative correlation between PAS and tricuspid E/A, E'/A', and RVET (P < 0.001). Linear regression analyses showed that PAS was an independent factor for mPAP (ß = 0.595, P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Elastic properties of pulmonary artery deteriorate with severity of OSAS and may be responsible for right ventricular dysfunctions in OSAS.

Evaluation of serum prolidase activity in patients with slow coronary flow.

INTRODUCTION: Slow coronary flow (SCF) is described as the slow passage of contrast to distal coronaries despite anatomically normal coronary arteries. It has been shown that increased serum prolidase activity (SPA) correlates with collagen turnover. Increased collagen turnover might be associated with the development of atherosclerotic plaques. AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum prolidase activity and slow coronary flow. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 40 SCF patients (mean age: 55.0 ±9.5 years, 20 females) and 40 controls (mean age: 53.9 ±8.2 years, 21 females) with normal coronary anatomy and normal coronary flow. The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame-count (TFC) method was used for SCF diagnosis. Serum prolidase activity was measured spectrophotometrically, and the relevant parameters were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the SCF and control groups in terms of basic demographic, clinical, and laboratory data. However, the SPA was significantly higher in the SCF group compared to the control (702.7 ±13.8 and 683.9 ±13.2 respectively, p<0.001). Serum prolidase activity was significantly correlated with the mean TFC (r=0.463, p<0.001). The overall findings of this study support the predictive accuracy of the serum prolidase activity in our cohort, with a statistically significant ROC value of 681.3. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that SPA was increased in SCF patients. The activity of this enzyme was significantly correlated with the mean TFC.

Effectiveness and Safety of Selective Neck Dissection in Lymph Node-Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of selective neck dissection in patients with lymph node-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to determine regional control and survival rates. Eighty patients with lymph node-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who underwent selective dissection were included in the study. Regional control, survival rates, and factors affecting survival were analyzed. Regional control was 90%, disease-specific survival was 93.4%, and the overall survival rate was 87.25%. T stage, N stage, age, and extracapsular spread were included in hazard regression models. None of the factors were statistically significant. Selective neck dissection is an effective and oncologically safe treatment option in selected cases. T stage, N stage, and extracapsular spread had no significant impact on disease-specific survival.

Tea extracts protect normal lymphocytes but not leukemia cells from UV radiation-induced ROS production: An EPR spin trap study.

PURPOSE: An ex vivo method for detection of free radicals and their neutralization by aqueous tea in human normal lymphocytes and MEC-1 leukemia cells under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This method is based on the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy spin-trapping technique. 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl 5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (BMPO) was used as the spin trap. Normal human lymphocytes and leukemia cells were exposed to UVB radiation (290-315 nm) at 47.7 and 159 mJ/cm(2) and to UVA radiation (315-400 nm) at 53.7 J/cm(2). RESULTS: No significant radical production at 47.7 mJ/cm(2) UVB dose in both cell lines was observed. In normal cells, free radical production was observed at 159 mJ/cm(2) UVB and 53.7 J/cm(2) UVA doses. However, both UV sources did not significantly produce free radicals in leukemia cells. A radical scavenging property of tea extracts (black, green, sage, rosehip) was observed in normal lymphocytes after both UVB and UVA exposure. In leukemia cells, the intensities of EPR signals produced in BMPO with tea extracts were found to be increased substantially after UVA exposure. CONCLUSION: These results showed that UV radiation induced free radical formation in normal human lymphocytes and indicated that tea extracts may be useful as photoprotective agents for them. On the other hand, tea extracts facilitated free radical production in leukemia cells.

[Evaluation of subclinical atherosclerosis in chronic sinusitis patients]. / Kronik sinüzitli hastalarda subklinik aterosklerozun degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of chronic sinusitis (CS) on carotid-intima-media thickness (CIMT), a marker of early atherosclerotic changes in the arterial bed. METHODS: The study included 50 patients with CS (25 male, 25 female, mean age 26.6 ± 5.34 years), and 50 healthy subjects (25 male, 25 female, mean age 25.8 ± 4.76 years), aged 18 to 35 years without atherosclerotic risk factors, normal body mass index and normal metabolic parameters. CIMT was measured in all patients by ultrasonography. CS was confirmed by medical history and computed tomography scan of the paranasal cavities. RESULTS: No significant difference existed between the groups in terms of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, plasma creatinine, glucose, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol values (p>0.05). However, mean values of CIMT (mm) were significantly greater in CS patients than in healthy subjects (0.51 ± 0.09 vs. 0.40 ± 0.07, p<0.001). Duration of CS disease was 6.0 (3.0-13.0) years. Significant correlation was found between CIMT mean values and age, BMI, waist circumference, HDL and LDL-cholesterol values and duration of CS (r=0.413; p<0.001, r=0.353; p<0.001, r=0.355; p<0.001, r=-0.266; p=0.007, r=0.327; p<0.001 and r=0.425; p=0.002 respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that waist circumference, HDL and LDL-cholesterol and duration disease of CS were independent predictors of CIMT (ß=0.523; p=0.001, ß=-0.176; p=0.045, ß=0.297; p=0.002, and ß=0.436; p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our cross-sectional study revealed the presence of a negative effect of CS on the atherosclerotic process. Therefore, it is believed that effective treatment of CS may be beneficial in slowing the process of atherosclerosis.

Negative effects of acute sleep deprivation on left ventricular functions and cardiac repolarization in healthy young adults.

BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation (SD) is associated with an increased incidence of adverse cardiovascular events, we aimed to determine the impact of acute SD on structural and functional alterations of the left ventricle (LV) and on electrocardiogram (ECG) markers including T wave peak-to-end interval (TpTe), QT interval, and TpTe/QT ratio in healthy subjects after a night of SD. METHODS: The study population consisted of 40 healthy young adults (19 males, 21 females; mean age: 28.2 ± 3.86 years). Echocardiographic images and ECGs were obtained from the participants after a night of regular sleep (RS) and SD. The average sleep time of the subjects was 6.67 ± 1.76 hours during RS and 1.25 ± 0.74 hours during a night of SD. RESULTS: The myocardial performance index, isovolumic relaxation time, and deceleration time values were significantly higher after SD. In addition, the corrected TpTe interval, corrected QT interval (QTc) max, and TpTe/QT ratio were significantly increased after a night of SD when compared with a night of RS (78.5 ± 6.8 ms vs 70.7 ± 7.6 ms, P < 0.001; 407.5 ± 18.6 ms vs 395.07 ± 21.3 ms, P = 0.001; and 0.189 ± 0.014 ms vs 0. 0.179 ± 0.016 ms, P < 0.001, respectively). However, subjects had similar QTp interval values (defined as beginning of the QRS complex to peak of the T wave) after a night of SD as a night of RS (294.6 ± 19.0 vs 291.9 ± 18.5, P = 233). CONCLUSION: Our crossover study revealed the presence of subclinical LV diastolic functional changes and increased QT intervals, TpTe intervals, and TpTe/QT ratios in healthy young adults after one night SD. Therefore, the increased QT interval occurred secondary to the increased TpTe interval in this population.

Coronary sinus dilatation is a sign of impaired right ventricular function in patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: The coronary sinus (CS) has been largely ignored by physicians due to a lack of adequate data about the importance of CS enlargement in patients with heart failure (HF). We aimed to assess whether CS dilatation develops in patients with HF and to demonstrate its relation with global myocardial function of the right ventricle (RV). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 45 healthy subjects and 95 HF patients exhibiting left ventricular systolic dysfunction on echocardiographic examination (EF <45%) secondary to ischemic (n=56) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n=39) were enrolled. Patients with severe renal dysfunction and/or valve disease were excluded. CS was measured by echocardiography from the posterior atrioventricular groove in the apical four-chamber view. The RV myocardial performance index (MPI), which reflects both systolic and diastolic function of the ventricle, was detected using tissue Doppler imaging, and patients with an RV MPI >0.55 were defined as having impaired RV myocardial function. ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson's correlation, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The CS and RV MPI values were significantly greater both in patients with ischemic and idiopathic DCM than in controls (8.79±1.7 mm and 8.33±2.1 mm vs. 5.74±0.6 mm, and 0.64±0.07 and 0.62±0.08 vs. 0.43±0.02; p<0.001 for both, respectively). For the prediction of HF patients with impaired RV function, the cut-off value for the diameter of the CS was 7.35 mm, with a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 79%. CONCLUSION: The CS diameter can be used as a novel echocardiographic marker that provides information about impaired RV function in patients with HF.

Aripiprazole induced non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema: a case report.

Aripiprazole is a second-generation antipsychotic drug with partial dopamine agonistic activity. Although the adverse cardiovascular effects of both typical and atypical antipsychotics are well known, similar data on aripiprazole, which was recently introduced, are scarce. Herein we report a 35-year-old female that presented to our emergency department with non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Chest X-ray and thoracic CT showed pulmonary edema and bilateral pleural effusion. Anamnesis showed that she had been taking sertraline 200 mg d-1 for obsessive-compulsive disorder for a long time and that aripiprazole10 mg d-1 was added for augmentation 2 months prior to presentation. We think that the CYP 2D6 inhibitor sertraline might have played a role in increasing the plasma concentration and toxicity of aripiprazole in the presented patient.