Objective: While SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects lung tissue, it may cause direct or indirect damage to the cardiovascular system and permanent damage may occur. Arterial stiffness is an early indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of our study was to establish the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the vascular system evaluated by transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) examination. Subjects and Methods: This study compared arterial stiffness between the survivors of COVID-19 and those without a history of COVID-19 infection. The difference in aortic diameter was examined using echocardiography. Results: The study included 50 patients who survived COVID-19 in the last 3 to 6 months and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. In surviving COVID-19 patients, aortic diastolic diameter in cm ([3.1±0.2] vs. [2.9±0.1], p < 0.001), pulse pressure ([43.02±14.05] vs [35.74±9.86], p = 0.004), aortic distensibility ([5.61±3.57] vs [8.31±3.82], p < 0.001), aortic strain ([10.56±4.91] vs [13.88±5.86], p = 0.003), pulse pressure/stroke volume index ([1.25±0.47] vs [0.98±0.28], p = 0.001) and aortic stiffness index ([2.82±0.47] vs [2.46±0.45], p < 0.001) were statistically significant compared to the control group. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 may cause reduced or impaired aortic elasticity parameters linked to impaired arterial wall function in COVID-19 survivors compared with controls.

Background: Previous studies showed conflicting results about the contribution of coronary collateral circulation (CCC) to myocardial perfusion and function. The aim of this study was to investigate these contradictory problems by gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (gated MPS) for the first time. Methods:The current cohort was retrospectively selected among patients who underwent gated MPS and coronary angiography within 2 months. Two different groups including 96 patients were assessed by gated MPS to detect the understanding of the miscellaneous effect of CCC on myocardial perfusion. Group 1 consisted of those who had collateral arteries that were not-well-developed (Rentrop grade 0 -1) (n = 58), while group 2 consisted of those who had collateral arteries that were well-developed (Rentrop grade 2 -3) (n = 38).Results: There was no statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 in terms of perfusion and functional parameters obtained from gated MPS. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found in the phase analysis parameters which is a novel technique to evaluate left ventricular synchronization. On the other hand the left ventricular mass index values were high and quite close to the statistically significant value (P = 0.059) in group 2. Conclusions:The current results that obtained by using the gated MPS technique for the first time in the evaluation of CCC showed that the well-developed collateral circulation has a positive effect on myocardial perfusion and function, but this effect was not statistically significant. Results need to be supported by large scale of patients' size.

The effects of health warning labels on cigarette packages on patients who apply to cardiology clinic.

No abstract

Background Increased life expectancy across the world has resulted in an increase in the proportion of the elderly population who are lost to heart diseases. Advanced age and comorbidities are believed to change the response to treatments. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of surgical and medical treatments on the mortality of stable coronary diseases. Methods A total of 150 geriatric patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were followed up in our cardiology clinic. Patients who decided to undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery after CAG and were willing to undergo the operation were assigned to group 1, whereas those who were unwilling to undergo the operation were not eligible for percutaneous coronary intervention and were followed up medically, and were assigned to group 2. Keeping the primary goal as mortality rates, both the groups were compared using medical records for three years after the treatment. Results After three years, the overall mortality rate included six patients (16%) in the CABG group versus 63 patients (55%) in the medical therapy group (p < 0.001). The CABG therapy was found to be significantly and independently associated with first-and third-year mortality (risk ratio: 0.064, 95% confidence interval: 0.009-0.467, p = 0.007; risk ratio: 0.305, 95% confidence interval: 0.151-0.615, p < 0.001, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis for first-and third-year all-cause mortality rates led to significant results and curves between the groups. Conclusion Our study revealed that compared to CABG surgery in the treatment of coronary artery disease in geriatric patients, medical treatment is associated with poor outcomes in terms of mortality in long-term follow-up.