Objective The importance of nutritional status in non-ST segment elevated acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) is not clear. In this study, the importance of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in terms of in-hospital mortality in patients with NSTE-ACS and its relationship with the Global Record of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score were investigated. Material and methods A total of 498 consecutive NSTE-ACS patients were recorded retrospectively. PNI for nutritional status assessment of patients with NSTE-ACS. PNI was calculated as 10 × serum albumin (g / dL) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count (per mm3). The association between PNI and GRACE risk score was assessed. Results Patients were classified as low-risk group (≤108 points, n=222), medium-risk group (109–140 points, n=161) and high-risk group (>140 points, n=115) according to the GRACE score. The mean PNI value was found to be the lowest in the high-risk group compared to other risk groups. There was a significant negative correlation between GRACE risk score and PNI (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, PNI resulted as a predictor of in-hospital mortality independent of GRACE risk score (OR=0.909; 95 % CI: 0.842–0.981; p=0.01). PNI value in the high risk group for in-hospital mortality was determined to have significant predictive ability (AUC=0.710; 95 % CI: 0.61–0.80; p<0001). Conclusions PNI evaluation is a useful and easy method to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with NSTE-ACS. Our study suggests that the PNI is significantly associated with in-hospital mortality, and GRACE risk score in patients with NSTE-ACS. This study is the basis for new studies to investigate whether PNI contributes additional prognostic to the GRACE risk score.

Objective: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a chronic circulatory disorder characterized by atherosclerotic plaque buildup in the peripheral vascular system, restricting blood flow to the lower extremities and carrying a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the role of the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score as a prognostic marker for assessing the severity of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEAD). The HALP score integrates hematologic and nutritional markers, providing a composite index that may reflect both the inflammatory and nutritional states impacting LEAD progression. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted, analyzing 186 patients diagnosed with LEAD through peripheral angiography. Participants were classified according to the TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II criteria, with mild to moderate disease (TASC A-B) and severe disease (TASC C-D). Laboratory data were collected within the first week of diagnosis, and HALP scores were calculated. The association between HALP scores and LEAD severity was evaluated through correlation and logistic regression analyses. Inflammatory markers such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) were also analyzed. Results: Significant differences were observed between TASC A-B and TASC C-D groups in demographic and clinical variables. Patients in the severe LEAD group were older, had a higher prevalence of diabetes and hyperlipidemia, and exhibited lower hemoglobin and albumin levels with higher platelet counts ( p < .001). A significant inverse correlation was found between HALP score and LEAD severity (R = −0.607, p < .001), indicating that lower HALP scores are associated with more advanced disease. The HALP score displayed strong discriminatory performance in ROC analysis (AUC = 0.889), with an optimal cut-off of 3.14 providing 81% sensitivity and 80% specificity for predicting severe LEAD. Conclusion: The HALP score is a valuable, non-invasive predictor of LEAD severity and may serve as a practical tool for clinical risk assessment. Incorporating the HALP score into routine evaluation protocols could support more personalized management approaches for patients with LEAD, guiding both therapeutic decisions and long-term monitoring.

Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome,GRACE risk score,QTc interval

Objective: There are various cardiovascular abnormalities in end-stage liver disease (ESLD). In these patients, left ventricular (LV) systolic function is normal at rest but deteriorates during stress. This deterioration may be due to subclinical myocardial dysfunction. This study evaluated global LV and right ventricular (RV) functions using 2-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking in patients with ESLD. Methods: Forty liver transplant candidates with ESLD and 26 healthy individuals were included in the study. All of the patients underwent conventional echocardiographic measurement. Longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain measurements, as well as apical and parasternal short-axis image recordings were obtained. All 2D strain measurements were measured with offline analysis using velocity vector imaging (VVI) software. Results: In the apical 4- and 2-chamber measurements, the LV mean longitudinal strain was significantly lower in the patient group compared with that of the control group (-16.0 +/- 3.2% versus -17.6 +/- 2.2%, -16.7 +/- 3.3% versus -18.7 +/- 2.1 +/- 2.1 %; p=0.002, respectively). The LV mean circumferential strain did not differ between groups. The LV mean radial strain and RV longitudinal strain were significantly lower in the patient group (45.4 +/- 10.7 vs. 52.7 +/- 10.8%; p=0.01 and -19.2 +/- 3.5% versus -21.5 +/- 3.6%; p=0.03, respectively). Conclusions: Subclinical impairment of global LV and RV systolic functions was determined in liver transplantation candidates using VVI. This deterioration was detected in longitudinal and radial deformation rather than circumferential deformation mechanics, which is consistent with early-stage LV myocardial dysfunction.

Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been found to be associated with the diastolic dysfunction in recent years, but this relationship has not been fully elucidated. Echocardiography is a non-invasive, simple, cost effective and accessible approach to assess EAT thickness, which can be performed easily. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of EAT on prediction of diastolic dysfunction . Materials and Methods: A total of 138 patients without any cardiovascular, inflammatory, autoimmune and cancer disease, were enrolled. Our study was performed in the Cardiology clinic of Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital between May 2019 and December 2019. Subjects were divided into two groups, those with and without diastolic dysfunctions . Conventional echocardiography parameters and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were performed to evaluate left ventricular functions. EAT thickness on the free wall of the right ventricle in parasternal long-axis view were measured using transthoracic echocardiography. Results: In comparison with the non- diastolic dysfunction group, patients with diastolic dysfunction had significantly higher epicardial fat thickness (5.98±1.52 mm vs 4.32±1.03 mm; p<0.001). The multivariate regression analysis indicated that EAT independently predicts diastolic dysfunction (OR, 0.278, 95%CI 0.396 to 1.400) Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, EAT thickness is an independent predictor for the development of diastolic dysfunction in patients without cardiovascular disease.

Aim: Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is a major complication of catheterization via transradial access (TRA). Our aim is to reveal the ability of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and complete blood count (CBC) components, which are inflammation markers, to predict RAO. Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: 103 with RAO and 300 without RAO. The relationship between CRP, CBC components and RAO was evaluated. Results: A significant increase in hs-CRP, monocyte, platelet (PLT), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit values was observed after TRA, and only the increase in PDW, PLT and hs-CRP was found to be independent determinants in regression analysis. Conclusion: High PDW and PLT and increased hs-CRP levels are new independent determinants of the development of RAO.