Objective: The literature concerning the association between coronary slow flow (CSF) and anxiety and depression is controversial. Furthermore; there is no existing data in the literature on the potential association between CSF and adverse childhood experiences or alexithymia. Methods: The participants underwent coronary angiography through femoral access. Coronary artery blood flow rate was evaluated quantitatively for each coronary artery according to the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame count (TFC) method. CSF was diagnosed as a corrected TFC value >27 in at least one coronary artery during the imaging. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Alexithymia and ACE were evaluated by the Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Results: The study participants were categorized into two groups: normal coronary flow (n = 58) and CSF (n = 18). Total HADS score; HADS anxiety subscale (HADS-A) score; and HADS depression subscale (HADS-D) score were determined as significant factors associated with CSF in univariate logistic regression analysis. However; the TAS-20 and CTQ scores showed no significant association with CSF. Multivariate regression analysis performed in separate models demonstrated that total HADS score (OR: 1.27; 95 CI%: 1.08–1.50; p = 0.003); HADS-A score (OR: 1.25; 95 CI%: 1.03–1.51; p = 0.019); and HADS-D score (OR: 1.36; 95 CI%: 1.06–1.74; p = 0.014) were independently associated with CSF in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Neither alexithymia nor ACE was associated with CSF. On the other hand; measures of both anxiety and depression assessed through HADS were independently associated with CSF. Future studies should address the major limitations of this study; such as the limited sample size; lack of structured diagnostic interview by a psychiatrist; and the lack of establishment of causality

Hypertension remains one of the leading preventable contributors to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide, with its clinical significance extending beyond elevated blood pressure values ...

We aimed to determine whether the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score is independently associated with the presence and angiographic

Pathological changes in the endothelium are the earliest determinants of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in hypertension (HT). The diagnostic and prognostic role of copeptin in various diseases is well-recognized. This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum copeptin levels and non-invasive endothelial function indicators determined by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and pulse wave analysis (PWA) in dipper and non-dipper HT patients. In this study, 30 dipper HT, 31 non-dipper HT patients and 30 healthy control subjects were included. Blood samples were taken for copeptin level determination. All participants underwent detailed cardiovascular and transthoracic echocardiography examinations and measurements of FMD and PWA. Copeptin levels of the non-dipper HT group were significantly higher than the control group and dipper HT groups (P=.001, P=.010, respectively). No significant difference was found between the dipper and non-dipper HT groups regarding FMD and PWA measurements, and both groups significantly differed from the control group. In the whole group evaluation by partial correlation analysis, a significant correlation was found between serum copeptin levels and reflection index (RI) after adjustment for age and body mass index (r=0.24, P=.039). Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed RI as an independent predictor of copeptin (β=0.285, P=.015). The correlation between copeptin levels and RI in HT patients, especially in the non-dipper HT group, suggests that copeptin can be used as a biomarker to indicate endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients.

Objective: High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension (HTN) can impair hearing, causes tinnitus and dizziness. We hypothesized that there is an association between increased BP and hearing impairment (HI), tinnitus and dizziness, and decrease in BP improves these parameters and symptoms. Methods: The study included 100 newly-diagnosed HTN patients (systolic BP (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥90 mmHg) and 100 patients without HTN. Tinnitus and dizziness were evaluated through Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). The auditory status of all patients was assessed for both right ear (RE) and left ear (LE). BP measurements, THI, DHI, and audiometry tests were repeated at follow-up visit during treatment in HTN patients and delta (Δ) values were obtained. Results: The median of THI and DHI score and thresholds for hearing parameters were higher in HTN group. At follow-up visit, SBP, DBP, THI, DHI, and most of the hearing parameters significantly improved. ΔSBP significantly correlated with ΔRE average _{(logarithmically transformed (log10))} and ΔLE average _(log10) in partial correlation analysis adjusted for age and Brinkman index. Multivariate linear regression analysis yielded an independent association of ΔRE average _(log10) (Beta Coefficient (BC): 12.07, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.86-22.29, P = .021) and ΔLE average _(log10) (BC: 14.89, 95% CI: 5.45-24.33, P = .003) with ΔSBP. However, none of the parameters demonstrated an independent association with ΔDBP. Conclusion: HTN patients suffer from tinnitus, dizziness and HI, and BP decrease is associated with improvements in these symptoms and hearing status. Decrease in SBP rather than DBP is associated with improvements in hearing status.

Akut koroner sendrom tanısı ile hastaneye başvuran hastaların bir çoğunda aterosklerotik tıkayıcı koroner arter hastalığı saptanırken bir kısmında özellikle genç bayan hastalarda koroner damarların açık olduğu saptanmaktadır. Bu hastaların bir kısmında ise koroner vasospazm saptanmaktadır. Koroner vasospazm hastaları sadece göğüs ağrısından ciddi akut koroner sendrom kliniğine kadar ciddi klinik durumlarla başvurabilmektedir. Bu tür hastalar bazen tıkayıcı aterosklerotik koroner arter hastalığı gibi tedavi edilmektedir. Hastalığın tanısının doğru konulması ve tedavinin doğru yapılması için koroner anjioğrafi esnasında saptanan darlıkların intrakoroner nitrat verilerek kontrol edilmesi uygun olacaktır.