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Objective. To study pitavastatin’s effects on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB ) and adhesion molecules in human saphenous vein graft endothelial culture indicating its pleotropic properties. Materials and Method. Low-dose (0.1 μM/L) and high-dose (1μM/L) pitavastatin calcium were administered as a frontline therapy in human saphenous endothelial cell culture, followed by induction of inflammation by TNF-α and determination of mRNA level alterations of ICAM-1 and NF-κB genes of endothelial cells using the qRT-PCR method. Additionally, immunofluorescence method was used to show the expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1. Finally, LDH levels were determined by the ELISA method to quantify cytotoxicity. Results. ICAM-1 mRNA expression in the low-dose pitavastatin+TNF-α group was significantly higher than that in the TNF-α group and significantly lower than that in the high-dose pitavastatin+TNF-α group (for all comparisons, P = 0.001). The low-dose pitavastatin+TNF-α group had a similar NF-κB mRNA expression with TNF-α and high-dose pitavastatin+TNF-α groups. Conclusion. Pitavastatin increases ICAM-1 mRNA expression in saphenous vein endothelial cells. Furthermore, the effect of pitavastatin on adhesion molecules appears independent of NF-κB. Novel studies are needed in this field.

To detect and to compare the apoptotic effects of intraoperatively topically applied diltiazem, papaverine, and nitroprusside. Internal thoracic artery segments of ten patients were obtained during coronary bypass grafting surgery. Each internal thoracic artery segment was divided into four pieces and immersed into four different solutions containing separately saline (Group S), diltiazem (Group D), papaverine (Group P), and nitroprusside (Group N). Each segment was examined with both hematoxylin-eosin and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method in order to determine and quantify apoptosis. Apoptotic cells were counted in 50 microscopic areas of each segment. No significant difference was observed among the four groups according to hematoxylin-eosin staining. However, the TUNEL method revealed a significant increase in mean apoptotic cells in the diltiazem group when compared with the other three groups (Group S=4.25±1.4; Group D=13.31±2.8; Group N=9.48±2.09; Group P=10.75±2.37). The differences between groups were significant (P=0.0001). No difference was observed between the samples of the diabetic and non-diabetic patients in any of the study groups. The benefit of topically applied vasodilator drugs must outweigh the potential adverse effects. In terms of apoptosis, diltiazem was found to have the most deleterious effects on internal thoracic artery graft segments. Of the analyzed medical agents, nitroprusside was found to have the least apoptotic activity, followed by papaverine. Diabetes did not have significant effect on the occurrence of apoptosis in left internal thoracic artery grafts.

We aimed to present our preliminary single-center experience of the endovascular management of thoracic and abdominal aortic ruptures. Between September 2010 and May 2012, 11 consecutive patients (nine males, two females; age range, 26-80 years) with thoracic and abdominal aortic ruptures underwent endovascular repair in our unit. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed for diagnosis and follow-up. Patients were selected for endovascular repair by a cardiovascular surgeon, anesthesiologist, and interventional radiologist. All repairs were performed using commercially available stent-grafts. The patients were followed up with CT angiography before discharge, at six months, and yearly thereafter. Three patients died by day 30. One patient died due to an unsuccessful procedure and hemodynamic instability; two patients died because of comorbidities. The other eight patients were followed for six to 24 months after the procedure. No endoleaks or late ruptures were observed during the follow-up period. The patient with iatrogenic thoracic aortic rupture developed paraplegia after the procedure. Reduced mortality due to aortic rupture has been reported with the expanding use of endovascular repair. Reports of small centers are important because of the rarity of these pathologies, and because transferring patients with aortic rupture to a referral center is not usually possible.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), can be defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) is higher than 25 mmHg during resting wheras higher than 30mmHg during exercising. Although it progresses asymptomatically for years, most frequently comes out as exertional dyspnea. Since prognosis changes depending on the reason beneath, its mortality is high if it is not treated.

Abstract Objective: To detect and to compare the apoptotic effects of intraoperatively topically applied diltiazem, papaverine, and nitroprusside. Methods: Internal thoracic artery segments of ten patients were obtained during coronary bypass grafting surgery. Each internal thoracic artery segment was divided into four pieces and immersed into four different solutions containing separately saline (Group S), diltiazem (Group D), papaverine (Group P), and nitroprusside (Group N). Each segment was examined with both hematoxylin-eosin and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method in order to determine and quantify apoptosis. Results: Apoptotic cells were counted in 50 microscopic areas of each segment. No significant difference was observed among the four groups according to hematoxylin-eosin staining. However, the TUNEL method revealed a significant increase in mean apoptotic cells in the diltiazem group when compared with the other three groups (Group S=4.25±1.4; Group D=13.31±2.8; Group N=9.48±2.09; Group P=10.75±2.37). The differences between groups were significant (P=0.0001). No difference was observed between the samples of the diabetic and non-diabetic patients in any of the study groups. Conclusion: The benefit of topically applied vasodilator drugs must outweigh the potential adverse effects. In terms of apoptosis, diltiazem was found to have the most deleterious effects on internal thoracic artery graft segments. Of the analyzed medical agents, nitroprusside was found to have the least apoptotic activity, followed by papaverine. Diabetes did not have significant effect on the occurrence of apoptosis in left internal thoracic artery grafts.

Pericardial effusion is defined as the increase in the fluid levels between pericardial sheets. It may occur as a result of many etiological factors. Cardiac tamponade is the most important complication of the Pericardial effusion. Therefore it requires close follow-up and primary treatment. There are many treatment approaches. It can be treated with pericardiocentesis needle and catheter, surgical pericardial window opening with subxiphoidal approach and left anterior thoracotomy, pericardiectomy with open thoracotomy and video thoracoscopic pericardiectomy assists (VATS) can also be applied. Nowadays especially for recurrent PE less invasive procedures are becoming more popular than open surgery. For this reason in this article, we mentioned about video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) method in a patient diagnosed with a recurrent pericardial effusion without any underlying etiologic factors. VATS method should be considered in elective cases which pericardiocentesis cannot be drained, effusion with fibrinous formation, treatment of posterior side effusions. VATS method is recommended especially in patients with pericardial effusion accompanied by pleural and lung disease.

Functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) is the most common type of tricuspid insufficiency and occurs approximately in 30% of patients with mitral valve disease. The major etiologic factor in the triggering of right ventricular dilation and thus causing functional tricuspid regurgitation, is pulmonary artery hypertension secondary to mitral valve disease. We aimed to analyze long-term outcomes of patients with mild tricuspid regurgitation at the time of mitral valve replacement. Sixty-six patients with mild tricuspid insufficiency who underwent mitral valve replacement were included in this observational retrospective study. Mean follow-up time was 8.3 ± 0.7 years. Patients whose tricuspid regurgitation remained unchanged or decreased following operation were enrolled to group 1 (n=32), patients whose tricuspid regurgitation increased were included to group 2 (n=34) and data were compared statistically with t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square and Fisher Exact test. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for FTR progression. REESULTS:Preoperatively female gender (p=0.02), body surface area (p=0.04), left atrium diameter (p=0.01), functional capacity (p=0.03), right ventricle diameter (p=0.04), and left ventricle mass index (p=0.04) were found to be statistically significant between groups. In the follow-up; functional capacity, grade of tricuspid insufficiency, pulmonary artery pressure, vena contracta width (p<0.001), TAPSE (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion index) (p=0.04), annulus diameter (p=0.02), right ventricle diameter (p=0.01), left ventricle mass index (p=0.05), and ejection fraction (p=0.02) were found to be statistically different between groups. In multiple logistic regression analysis; preoperative LA diameter (OR=5.05; 95% CI:1.49-17.12; p=0.009) and female gender (OR=10.93; 95% CI:1.77-67.31; p=0.01) were found as independent risk factors for FTR progression. This study revealed that mild FTR might advance to moderate to severe grade in more than half of the patients in the follow-up. Thus, surgical approach to even mild FTR should be individualized based on patient's risk assessment.

EuroSCORE is the most widely used risk prediction system. Standard EuroSCORE, which had been published in 1999, was revised as a Logistic EuroSCORE in 2003. Further, it was reconsidered and published as EuroSCORE II in 2011. In this study we compared Standard, Logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II in prediction of early mortality following coronary artery bypass grafting. We retrospectively analyzed 406 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting operation between 2011-1012. Standard, Logistic and new version were compared with ROC analysis. In general population, mean standard EuroSCORE was 3.25±1.05, mean logistic EuroSCORE was found 2.48±0.58, mean EuroSCORE II was found 1.30 ± 0.09 and overall mortality was 10 (10/406 2.46%). Area under curve (AUC) was found 0.992 95% CI: 0.978-0.998 for standard EuroSCORE, 0.992 95% CI: 0.977-0.998 for logistic EuroSCORE and 0.990 95% CI: 0.975-0.997 for EuroSCORE II. In high risk patients (patients with standard EuroSCORE ≥ 6) AUC was found 0.870 95% CI 0.707-0.961 for standard EuroSCORE, 0.857 95% CI 0.691-0.954 for logistic EuroSCORE, and 0.961 95% CI: 0.829-0.998 for EuroSCORE II. Standard, Logistic EuroSCORE and EuroSCORE II are similarly successful in mortality prediction. EuroSCORE II may be better in high-risk patients which needs confirmation in large prospective studies.