Rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (RMS) is a complication of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. RHD is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease that is associated with cytokine activities. The etiology of RMS is not fully understood yet. Interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23 have a key role in development of the autoimmunity. The expression of these cytokines in RMS remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in RMS patients compared to healthy subjects.A total of 35 patients admitted to cardiology outpatient clinic between December 2014 and May 2015 who were diagnosed with RMS formed the study group. Age- and gender-matched 35 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0 and P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.The patients with RMS had higher WBC count, hsCRP, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs), left atrial diameter (LAD), IL-17, and IL-23 levels compared to the control subjects. The levels of IL-17 (P = 0.012) and IL-23 (P = 0.004) were significantly higher in the RMS group. Correlation analysis revealed that IL-17 and IL-23 levels had a significant correlation with each other and with hsCRP and LAD.We demonstrated that serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 are significantly higher in patients with RMS compared to those of healthy subjects. IL-17 and IL-23 expression may have a possible role in inflammatory processes that result in RMS development.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases, and a correlation between IR and the slow flow phenomenon (CSF)has been identified. The triglyceride–glucose index (TGI), a simple surrogate marker for IR, has recently emerged as a potential predictor of CSF, though data are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of TGI and other prognostic parameters in patients with CSF. Methods: This retrospective study included 693 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography between January 2022 and December 2024. A total of 132 patients were diagnosed with CSF based on the corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC > 27 in at least one epicardial coronary artery), while 561 patients had normal coronary flow (NCF). Patients with confounding cardiovascular or systemic conditions were excluded. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory data were gathered, and TGI was calculated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2].Results: Statistically significant distinctions were found between the CSF and NCF groups regarding TGI, age, glucose, HbA1c, creatinine, sodium, CRP, platelet count, heart rate, PR interval, and cQT interval (p < 0.05). Age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, HbA1c, glucose, sodium, and cQT were identified as potential clinical and laboratory factors associated with CSF in univariate logistic regression analysis; however, no independent predictor was found in multivariate analysis. ROC analysis showed that a TGI cut-off value of ≥8.93 predicted CSF with 67.6% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that TGI was significantly greater in patients with CSF compared to those with NCF. Although TGI showed limited sensitivity and specificity in discriminating CSF, its possible value as a prognostic indicator warrants further validation in prospective, large-scale studies.

Background: The Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (ICEB) has emerged as a electrocardiographic marker reflecting the equilibrium between ventricular depolarization and repolarization. Although obesity is known to alter cardiac electrophysiology, the combined influence of body mass index (BMI) and objective nutritional status on ICEB and its heart rate-corrected form (ICEBc) remains insufficiently defined. This study aimed to investigate the associations between BMI categories, nutritional status, and cardiac electrophysiological balance. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 591 adult patients classified as normal-weight, overweight, or obese according to BMI. Electrophysiological assessment of ICEB (QT/QRS) and ICEBc (QTc/QRS) values was calculated from standard 12-lead electrocardiogram recordings. Participants’ nutritional status was analyzed using validated clinical indices such as the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and Hemoglobin–Albumin–Lymphocyte–Platelet (HALP) score. Results: According to the results, both ICEB and ICEBc showed significant differences among BMI categories (p < 0.001). ICEB/ICEBc exhibited a non-linear distribution. The ICEB/ICEBc values were found to be minimum in the normal weight group at 4.22 ± 0.54/4.87 ± 0.66 and maximum in the obese group at 4.27 ± 0.51/4.99 ± 0.59. The ICEB/ICEBc value closest to the optimal physiological limits was found in the overweight group at 4.04 ± 0.53/4.59 ± 0.58. Higher ICEBc quartiles were accompanied by increased GNRI (120.9 ± 13.7, 129 ± 15.1, 130.5 ± 16.3, 131.8 ± 17.6, p < 0.001)and decreased HALP scores (59.7 ± 24.4, 56.1 ± 25.3, 55.2 ± 25.9, 51.1 ± 19.4, p: 0.025). Conclusion: The association between BMI and cardiac electrophysiological balance is non-linear and appears to be modulated by nutritional and inflammatory status. ICEBc may represent a more sensitive marker than ICEB for detecting subtle electrophysiological alterations related to obesity.

We evaluated the effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) on the oxidative-antioxidative balance and angiogenesis in an in vivo experimental model. This study aims to evaluate the effects of trimetazidine on angiogenesis through histological analysis and to assess its impact on oxidative-antioxidative balance through biochemical measurements. In this study, Ross 308 breed chicken eggs (n = 40) were used, and embryos were divided into four distinct groups. On the eighth day of incubation, the vascular density of the embryos was examined. Following the assessment of vascular development, 4–5 mL of albumin was collected via syringe to measure oxidative stress markers. Each group consisted of 10 embryos, with a total of 40 embryos used in the study. The groups were organized as follows: Control Group (CG), Bevacizumab Group (BC), Trimetazidine 10⁻⁴ Group, and Trimetazidine 10⁻⁵ Group. When the total oxidative capacity (TOC) levels were compared among the groups, the bevacizumab group exhibited significantly higher values than the control group (p < 0.05). In oxidative stress index (OSI) measurements, the bevacizumab group also showed significantly higher values compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In contrast, when the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were compared, both the Trimetazidine 10⁻⁴ and Trimetazidine 10⁻⁵ groups demonstrated significantly higher values than the control group (p < 0.05). Regarding angiogenesis scoring, the bevacizumab group exhibited a significant anti-angiogenic effect compared to the control group. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the Trimetazidine 10⁻⁴ and Trimetazidine 10⁻⁵ groups and the control group (p > 0.05). Trimetazidine demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in an in vivo Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) model at both 10⁻⁴ M and 10⁻⁵ M concentrations. However, no positive or negative effects on angiogenesis were detected. We believe that the real-time observation of angiogenesis in our study provided significant value to our research.

Ranolazine is known for its antiarrhythmic, antianginal, anti-ischemic properties, as well as its favorable effects on glycemic control. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ranolazine on oxidative-antioxidative balance and angiogenesis using an in vivo experimental model. A total of 40 Ross 308 chick embryos were used and randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 per group). On the eighth day of incubation, vascular density was assessed. Following vascular evaluation, 4–5 mL of albumen was aspirated using a syringe to measure oxidative stress markers. The groups were as follows: Control, Bevacizumab (BC), Ranolazine 10⁻⁴, and Ranolazine 10⁻⁵. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were significantly higher in the bevacizumab group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Similarly, oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were also significantly elevated in the bevacizumab group (p < 0.05). Both Ranolazine 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻⁵ groups demonstrated significantly increased TAC levels compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In terms of angiogenesis scores, bevacizumab exhibited a marked anti-angiogenic effect compared to control. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the ranolazine groups and the control group regarding angiogenesis scores (p > 0.05). This study provides the first in vivo evidence that Ranolazine enhances total antioxidant capacity but does not influence angiogenesis in the CAM model. Future research should explore the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect.