Background: There may be severe difficulties in determining the severity of LMCA (left main coronary artery) lesions. The use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) facilitates decisions about lesion severity in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the UHR (uric acid to HDL-C ratio) and lesion severity in patients who underwent LMCA IVUS. Methods: This study included 205 patients with ICS (intermediate coronary stenosis) in the LMCA who underwent IVUS. In the IVUS measurements of these patients, the plaque burden (PB) and the minimal lumen area (MLA) showing lesion severity were measured. Results: The patients were separated into two groups according to plaque burden (< 65% and ≥ 65%). The UHR was significantly greater in the high plaque burden group (479.5 vs. 428.6, P = 0.001). When the patients were separated into two groups according to the MLA (< 6mm² and ≥ 6mm²), the UHR was determined to be significantly greater in the group with low MLA (476.8 vs. 414.9, P < 0.001). In the ROC analysis performed according to the MLA and plaque burden values, the UHR cutoff value of 450 was found to have similar sensitivity and the same specificity for both parameters. Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that there is a relationship between UHR and MLA < 6mm² and plaque burden ≥ 65%, which are independently evaluated as critical in IVUS, and this could predict anatomically significant lesions in patients with a moderate degree of LMCA stricture.

Ethyl chloride (EC) spray is a vapocoolant which is used in interventional procedures as a topical local anesthetic. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not EC spray can facilitate radial coronary angiography. The study was conducted on a study group EC of 106 (age: 58.1 ± 12.4) patients and a control group (placebo) of 104 (age: 59.1 ± 10.8) patients. Visual analogue scale scores (VAS), radial cannulation failure (RCF), the rates of clinical and anatomical radial artery spasm (RAS), pain lasting >2 day and >1 week, and radial artery occlusion (RAO) at first week and first month were evaluated in both groups. VAS scores, the rates of RCF, clinical and anatomical RAS and pain lasting >1 week were found significantly lower in the study group than the control group ( p < .001, p = .024, p=.009, p = .028 and p = .042, respectively). But the rates of RAO were similar in both groups. Topical spray including EC, which has low-cost and rapid efficacy, may be preferred in transradial coronary angiography as it reduces the risk of RCF and RAS, and increases patient comfort with its analgesic effect, without significant side-effects.

Background: The SYNTAX score is a score that grades the severity and complexity of coronary lesions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (triglyceride/HDL-C) ratio and SYNTAX scores in patients presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods: This prospective study included 258 patients who presented at our center with STEMI, and underwent coronary angiography (CAG). The triglyceride/HDL-C ratio was calculated, and the relationship of this ratio with the SYNTAX score was determined with univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: The patients were separated into two groups according to the triglyceride/HDL-C ratios as low (<3.88) and high (≥3.88). The SYNTAX scores of the group with a high triglyceride/HDL-C score were determined to be significantly high (P < 0.001). When the SYNTAX scores were separated into two groups as low (≤22) and high (>23), a statistically significant correlation was determined between a high SYNTAX score and a high triglyceride/HDL-C ratio (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis was performed for the SYNTAX score, and the BMI value [odds ratio (OR) = 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.98] and the triglyceride/HDL-C ratio (OR = 6.86, 95% CI: 3.45–13.65) alone were determined to be independent determinants of the SYNTAX score. Conclusion: The most important result obtained from this study was that the triglyceride/HDL-C ratio, which is an index that has recently started to be frequently used, was a marker of greater coronary anatomic complexity (SYNTAX score >22), independently of other parameters in patients who presented with NSTEMI and underwent CAG.

Background/Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated cardiovascular adverse events are relatively uncommon; they can be life-threatening, particularly when involving malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Electrocardiographic markers such as P-wave dispersion (PWD), QT dispersion (QTd), T-peak to T-end (Tp-e) interval, and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios have been linked to an elevated risk of both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death across various cardiac conditions. Monitoring these parameters may aid in identifying the risk of arrhythmogenic events in cancer patients undergoing ICI therapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 42 patients with cancer who received ICI therapy and had serial 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) performed at baseline and at three-month intervals during the first year of treatment, from May 2022 to November 2023. ECG parameters including PWD, QTd, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were measured and compared between baseline and follow-up time points. Results: The median follow-up duration was 5.3 months (range: 0.5–18.9 months). No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the ECG parameters between baseline and subsequent measurements (p > 0.05). One patient developed atrial fibrillation during the third month of treatment. Additionally, one patient exhibited a left anterior fascicular block, and another experienced frequent ventricular extrasystoles. No malignant ventricular arrhythmias were reported throughout the study period. Conclusions: This study found no significant changes in electrocardiographic markers associated with arrhythmia risk during ICI treatment. Larger, multicenter, prospective studies with extended follow-up are warranted to further elucidate the cardiovascular safety profile of ICIs.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) affect left ventricular hemodynamics. This study compared the effect of two treatment modalities, CAPD and HD, on left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions in maintenance dialysis patients. Methods: A total of 47 patients (24 CAPD and 23 HD) undergoing long-term dialysis were included in the study. Left ventricular functions, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left ventricular geometry were evaluated using echocardiography. Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.6 ± 11.2 years. The mean dialysis time was 125.1 ± 35.2 months. When echocardiographic parameters were examined, left ventricular muscle mass, mass index, E/e’ ratios, and global longitudinal strain were significantly higher in the CAPD group. The rates of diastolic dysfunction (66.7% vs. 26.1%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (91.7% vs. 60.9%) were higher in the CAPD group than in the HD group. Dialysis modality CAPD, abnormal global longitudinal strain (GLS), and increased serum calcium were associated with an increased risk of diastolic dysfunction. Conclusions: The study results demonstrated that left ventricle (LV) diastolic dysfunction and deterioration in left ventricular geometry were significantly higher in patients receiving long-term CAPD treatment than for long-term HD treatment.