Aims: Low molecular weight lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (Tg), among cardiovascular disease risk factors, are replaced by markers with higher sensitivity and specificity. The atherogenic plasma index (API) has a strong predictive power for cardiovascular diseases. In our study, we aimed to compare the predictive power of API and other lipid parameters in detecting carotid artery disease (CAS) in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 878 individuals were analyzed, and 583 patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of carotid artery disease in the Doppler ultrasound examination. Demographic data and lipid parameters were compared between both groups. Results: The mean age of the patients with CAS was statistically significantly higher than the other group (74.33±11.27 vs 70.11±13.57; p=0.002). The Tg/HDL ratio was higher in patients with CAS than those without (3.80±2.83 vs 3.69±2.57; p=0.048). API was found to be statistically significantly higher in the group of patients with CAS compared to the other group (0.67±0.32 vs 0.48±0.25; p=0.024). Tg/HDL ratio and API were determined as predictive parameters for CAS in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular stroke. [OR: 1.345 (0.712-1.437); p=0.048, OR: 7.21 (0.881-8.056); p=0.023]. Conclusion: Conflicting results regarding the relation between atherosclerosis and conventional lipid parameters led to more specific subgroups being investigated. API shows a good correlation with the highly sensitive LDL subfraction in terms of atherosclerosis. API is a feasible variable predicting the presence of CAS in patients with ischemic stroke.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different antiseizure medications (ASMs) and clinical treatment response on interictal electrocardiographic (ECG) repolarization indices and echocardiographic structural and functional cardiac parameters in patients with epilepsy.Methods: This single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2024 and February 2025 at the Neurology and Cardiology Departments of Siirt Training and Research Hospital. The study included 97 patients with epilepsy and 57 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients were classified as drug-sensitive or drug-resistant based on the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria. While both monotherapy and polytherapy users were included in clinical comparisons, subgroup analyses by ASM type involved only monotherapy patients. ECG and echocardiographic parameters were assessed. Group comparisons and correlation analyses were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square test, and Pearson correlation.Results: No significant differences in demographic or interictal ECG repolarization indices were found between the drug-sensitive, drug-resistant, and control groups (P > 0.05). Both epilepsy groups had significantly higher left atrial volum index (LAVi) compared to controls (P < 0.001), while A velocity and lateral E′ were significantly lower. Carbamazepine (CBZ) group showed the highest LAVi, though without correlation to treatment duration. In contrast, valproic acid (VPA) and levetiracetam (LEV) groups exhibited significant positive correlations between treatment duration and LAVi (r = 0.776, P = 0.002; r = 0.571, P = 0.002, respectively).Conclusion: Treatment with ASMs in epilepsy is associated with left atrial enlargement, particularly with CBZ. The absence of interictal ECG repolarization differences suggests that isolated assessments may be insufficient, supporting long-term cardiac monitoring in epilepsy management.

Background: Evaluating the association between coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and new inflammatory markers in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is critical for managing the therapy procedure as well. Aim: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the association between the monocyte-to-high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (MHR), a novel inflammation marker, and the severity of CAD in patients with ACS. Methods: The study was performed on ACS patients who were hospitalized for coronary angiography (CAG) in the coronary intensive care unit and was conducted with a retrospective design. The study comprised 344 patients (mean age 60.49 ± 12.23 years) with ACS who had CAG and laboratory testing. There were 212 patients with mild CAD according to the Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (SYNTAX score ≤22) and 132 patients with severe CAD (SYNTAX score >22). The association between SYNTAX score, MHR, uric acid, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and other markers were assessed. All analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0. Results: A modestly linear association was observed between MHR and SYNTAX score ( r = 0.522, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found male gender, high uric acid, high MHR, and NLR as possible individual predictors of SYNTAX score >22 in ACS. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that MHR 15.64 (AUC = 0.794; P < 0.001) could predict SYNTAX score >22 with higher sensitivity (81.8%) and specificity (78.3%). Conclusions: The higher MHR independently predicts the severity of CAD in ACS. It may be a better parameter than the higher NLR and uric acid levels to predict CAD severity in ACS patients.

Introduction: With the widespread use of the radial artery in catheterization procedures, radial artery spasm (RAS) is frequently considered an undesirable event. It is known that anxiety increases RAS, and listening to music helps individuals control anxiety during the procedure. This study aimed to investigate the effects of music concerts on RAS. Methods: In this prospective study, imaging and interventional coronary catheterization procedures using the radial artery were included. One group listened to a musical recital during the procedure, while the other group was treated in a quiet environment. The demographics, procedural parameters, and complications of both groups were compared. Results: The study included a total of 147 patients, with an average age of 51.6 ± 11.1 years. Of these, 78 patients (53%) listened to music, while 69 patients (46.9%) underwent catheterization in a quiet environment. The impact of music therapy on the RAS was found to be significant (11.5% vs. 20.3%; p=0.035). While music therapy showed a potential to reduce RAS rates, its effect was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis (p=0.055). Conclusion: Music is a feasible, simple, and inexpensive method for reducing anxiety levels in patients. Listening to music during catheterization can reduce procedural discomfort and the frequency of undesirable events by helping people control their anxiety.

Background/Aim: Hypertension (HT) was examined as a risk factor affecting the progression of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In COVID-19 patients, it can be found in many co-morbid diseases, along with hypertension. It is not clear whether the co-morbid burden of the disease affects the prognosis in hypertensive COVID-19 patients and which biochemical parameters may be indicative of this. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the effect of co-morbid disease burden on biochemical parameters in hospitalized hypertensive COVID-19 patients. Methods: After receiving approval from the University Ethics Committee, demographic, clinical, radiological, and laboratory data of 250 hospitalized hypertensive COVID-19 patients between May 2020 and Sept 2020 were screened. Patients with missing records and unclear history of hypertension drug use were excluded from the study. A total of 215 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into four groups according to the co-morbidity status: (1) HT alone (Group HT0), (2) HT+ Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (Group HTDM1), (3) HT+one co-morbidity exclude DM (Group HT2), and (4) HT+at least two co-morbidities (Group HT3). Results: We analyzed the data of 105 female and 110 male patients. Of the 215 patients whose data were evaluated in this study, 15 patients died. Two hundred people were discharged with recovery. The mortality rate was 7%. Of the hypertension patients, 34.9% had DM, 32.6% had coronary artery disease (CAD), 30.2% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 16.3% had heart failure (HF), 23.3% had chronic kidney failure (CKD), and 9.3% had cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Twenty-five percent were smokers. Urea, creatinine, direct bilirubin (DBil), and Troponin-I values were significantly higher in the Group HT3 compared to the Group HT0, Group HTDM1, and Group HT2 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.002 respectively). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and albümin levels were significantly lower in Group HT3 than in Group HT0, Group HTDM1, and Group HT2 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The logistic regression model was statistically significant (χ2(7) = 69.088 and P < 0.001); advanced age, decrease in GFR and plateletcrit (PCT) levels, and increase in D-dimer and DBil levels were observed as predictive parameters of mortality in all hospitalized COVID-19 HT patients. Conclusion: We determined that SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients with HT plus at least two co-morbidities were more serious than other patient groups in terms of organ damage and biochemical variables. In our study, we observed an increase in urea, creatinine, D-dimer, Dbil, and Troponin-I values and a decrease in GFR and albumin values as the co-morbidity burden increased in hypertensive COVID-19 patients. However, a decrease in GFR and hemogram PCT levels and an increase in D-dimer and DBil levels could be risk factors for mortality. '+st+' Desjardins MR, Hohl A, Delmelle EM. Rapid surveillance of COVID-19 in the United States using a prospective space-time scan statistic: Detecting and evaluating emerging clusters. Appl Geogr. 2020;118:102202. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2020.102202 Singh AK, Gupta R, Misra A. Comorbidities in COVID-19: Outcomes in hypertensive cohort and controversies with renin angiotensin system blockers. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020;14(4):283-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.03.016 Bai L, Yang D, Wang X, Tong L, Zhu X, Zhong N, et al. Chinese experts’ consensus on the Internet of Things-aided diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Clinical eHealth. 2020;3:7-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceh.2020.03.001 Ye F, Xu S, Rong Z, Xu R, Liu X, Deng P, et al. 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Background/Objectives: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is considered a condition identified during coronary angiography (CAG), associated with recurrent ischemic symptoms and adverse cardiovascular outcomes while no significant epicardial coronary obstruction is present. The combined predictive role of metabolic and nutritional indices in CSFP has not been fully elucidated. Methods: This analysis, based on a retrospective observational design at a single center, included 214 patients aged < 65 years undergoing CAG who had either normal coronary arteries (NCA) (n = 100) or CSFP (n = 114). CSFP was defined using the TIMI frame count criteria. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, Naples prognostic score (NPS), and C-reactive protein–albumin–lymphocyte (CALLY) index were calculated. Logistic regression was employed to assess independent contributors to CSFP. Results: In comparison with the NCA group, patients with CSFP were more frequently male (73.7% vs. 43.0%, p < 0.001) and active smokers (33.3% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.018). Among these calculated indices, higher TyG index values were observed; in contrast, the CSFP group exhibited lower PNI and CALLY index values. In multivariable analysis, male sex (OR = 5.187, 95% CI: 2.520–10.674, p < 0.001), the TyG index (OR = 1.811, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.251–2.622, p = 0.002), and PNI (OR = 0.544, 95% CI: 0.362–0.817, p = 0.003) retained their predictive value for CSFP. Conclusions: Coronary slow flow phenomenon in a non-elderly cohort appears to be linked to metabolic dysfunction, immunonutritional imbalance, and sex-specific differences, with the combined evaluation of the TyG index, PNI, and male sex potentially enhancing risk stratification.