Our data show that DM is an independent factor for poor coronary CVD both in patients with severe coronary artery stenosis and in patients with CTO. Female gender or being in post-menopausal period is another negative risk factor for poor CVD in addition to DM in patients with CTO.

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) vinegar produced traditionally only in Bolu (Turkey) in small amount is believed to cure some diseases such as cold, flu and cardiovascular diseases by local people. However, very limited amount of information is available regarding the health effect of hawthorn vinegar. In order to investigate the metabolic effects of hawthorn vinegar 37 patients who were diabetic, hypertensive, overweight and taking related medications with high cardiovascular risk group were selected and without changing their diet habits and exercise program, vinegar consumption was added to each meal during four-week. There was a significant change on the weight loss, BMI change, blood pressure decrease, glucose, cholesterol, trigliseride, LDL, HDL and cholesterol/HDL after consumption of Hawthorn vinegar (p≤0.05). Total phenolic substance concentration (mg/mL) and total monomeric anthocyanin content (mg/L) and total antioxidant capacity (%) of the Hawthorn vinegar were measured as 0.51, 0.25 and 77, respectively. This study demonstrates that Hawthorn vinegar has positive metabolic effects on the patients with high cardiovascular risk factors.

In patients with both AVNRT and paroxysmal AF, the recurrence rate of AF after elimination of AVNRT is 28%. Left atrial diameter greater than 40 mm and atrial vulnerability after elimination of AVNRT are independent predictors of AF recurrences in the long term.

This study consists of a retrospective evaluation of microbiologic, echocardiographic, and clinical characteristics of patients with infective endocarditis seen at Türkiye Yüksek Ihtisas and SSK Ihtisas Hospitals during the previous 5 years to provide a basis for comparison with other series. The study was performed retrospectively. The mean age of the patient population, which consisted of 74 cases, was considerably low (24.6+/-12.3 yr). The majority of the patients were male (male/female = 1.96). Rheumatic valvular disease was the underlying cardiac pathosis in 66% of the cases. Congestive heart failure, embolic episodes, and mortality were more frequent among those with echocardiographically demonstrable cardiac vegetations. The microbiologic profile was considerably different from that of other series. In addition, this population showed a higher rate of congestive heart failure compared to other series. The patients with infective endocarditis in this series in the previous 5 years were found to be different from series reported from western countries.

Behçet's disease is a chronic multi-system inflammatory disorder and the severity and clinical manifestations of Behçet's patients may show geographic variation. We aimed to detect the cardiac findings in 30 Behçet's patients and compare them with the normal population (n = 29). We used color-doppler echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography in combination. We calculated manually QT intervals and QT dispersion (QTd) from twelve-lead ECG recordings. There was no E/A inversion and coronary ischemia in all patients or control group. The E velocity difference between groups was not significant. The mean A velocity was significantly lower in Behçet's patients than normal group. The mean DT was 154.4 +/- 5.8 msec in Behçet's patients and 122.59 +/- 0.96 msec in control group (P < 0.0001). The mean IVRT was 75.66 +/- 1.36 msec in Behçet's patients and 69.1 +/- 0.55 msec in control group (P < 0.0001). There was no QTc time difference between the Behçet's patients and the control group. The mean QT dispersion (QTd) interval was 45.46 +/- 2.65 msec in Behçet's patients and 31.83 +/- 1.23 msec in control group (P < 0.0001). Atrial septal aneurysm, mitral valve prolapse and insufficiency, tricuspid valve insufficieny, and pulmonary hypertension frequencies in Behçet's patients were significantly higher than in the control group. We concluded that Behçet's cardiac involvement may effect cardiac structure and cause diastolic dysfunction, electrical instability and structural abnormalities. We also concluded that cardiac involvement in Behçet's disease may be specific for this geographic area.