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AimExtracorporeal circulation (ECC) of blood during cardiopulmonary surgery has been shown to stimulate various pro-inflammatory molecules such as cytokines and chemokines. The biochemical oxidation/reduction pathways of a-lipoic acid suggest that it may have antioxidant properties.MethodsIn this study we aimed to evaluate only patients with coronary heart disease and those planned for coronary artery bypass graft operation. Blood samples were obtained from the patients before the operation (P1) and one (P2), four (P3), 24 (P4) and 48 hours (P5) after administration of a-lipoic acid (LA). The patients were divided into two groups, control and LA treatment group. Levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and -8 (IL-8), complement 3 (C3) and 4 (C4), anti-streptolysin (ASO), C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin were assessed in the blood samples.ResultsCytokine IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly higher after surgery. Compared with the control groups, LA significantly decreased IL-6 and IL-8 levels in a time-dependent manner. CRP levels did not show significant variation in the first three time periods. CRP levels were higher after surgery, especially in the later periods. These results demonstrate that CRP formation depends on cytokine release. C3 and C4 levels were significantly higher after surgery than in the pre-operative period. LA treatment decreased C3 and C4 levels. Therefore, LA administration may be useful for the treatment of diseases and processes where excessive cytokine release could cause oxidative damage.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a possible benefit of using LA during cardiac surgery to reduce cytokine levels.

Background/Aim: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a method which is increasingly applied in severe aortic stenosis treatment. The development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after TAVI increases morbidity and mortality rates. Within the scope of this study, the importance of the contrast medium volume to glomerular filtration rate (CV/GFR) ratio in determining the development of CIN and the amount of CV that could be applied was evaluated. Methods: Seventy-two patients (aged 78.6 ± 11.6 years; 38 females) who underwent aortic valve replacement with the TAVI method between June 2013 and August 2014 were included in the study. CIN was defined as an absolute increase in serum creatinine of >0.5 mg/dl or a relative increase of >25% within 48-72 h after TAVI. CIN+ and CIN- patients were classified into two groups. The χ² test, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, ROC analysis, and univariate and multivariate regression analyses were applied for statistical analyses. Results: CIN was detected in 16 patients (22%) in our study. Baseline creatinine, baseline GFR, the Mehran risk score, CV, and the CV/GFR ratio were determined as the predictive factors of CIN development. A CV/GFR ratio of 3.9 was specified to predict CIN development with 71% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Conclusion: After TAVI, CIN may develop due to various reasons. In patients to whom TAVI was applied, the CV/GFR ratio may be a guideline helping to prevent the development of renal pathologies. The amount of contrast medium that can be given to a patient can be calculated in terms of baseline GFR.

Purpose: Renal dysfunction remains a serious complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. To date, a number of different strategies, including new pharmacologic agents, off-pump and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques have been used to avoid it, but none of them proves the excellent result. Methods: Between April 2009 to September 2011, 185 consecutive patients with multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing elective CABG were included the study. Iloprost was given with the onset of rewarming period at a dose of 1.25-2.5 ng/kg/min and it was ended together with the ending of CPB in 94 patients and remaining were in the control group. Creatinine clearance (CCr) and GFR were measured at the time of hospitalisation and on day first and fifth postoperatively. Serum potassium level was determined every 6 hours, during the first 24 hours postoperatively, and every 12 hours for the next 72 hours, and glomerular filtration rate was estimated. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative comorbidity. There were no significant differences in postoperative morbidity or mortality between either of the two groups that completed the study. However, urine output during the operation was significantly higher in the study group. An increase in creatine levels was more common in the control group. Development of a new CCr less than 50 ml/min was also significantly higher in the control group, postoperatively. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that prophylactic intravenous iloprost administration after initiation of a rewarming period during CPB in patients undergoing CABG surgery is associated with improved renal function, compared with conventional treatment in wellhydrated patients. It also has a good safety profile and is generally well tolerated.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of cardiovascular surgery and its mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of our study was a prospective investigation of the relationship between AF development and tissue or blood magnesium levels. Methods: This prospective observational study evaluated 20 patients undergoing elective initial coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Right atrial appendage and skeletal muscle samples were obtained for tissue magnesium level analysis before, during (at 60 th minute) and 30 minutes after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with simultaneous blood samples. Daily measurements of blood Mg levels and continuous monitoring for AF were performed for 7 postoperative days. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA, independent samples t and Chi-square tests. Results: AF developed in 5 out of 20 patients during postoperative period (25%). Patients with or without AF did not differ in terms of tissue and blood magnesium levels during and early after CPB and during 7 days after the operation. Blood magnesium levels were significantly higher in the whole study population on postoperative days 3 through 7 (day 3 -1.13±0.11 mmol/L; day 4-, 1.18±0.07 mmol/L; day 5-1.15±0.10 mmol/L; day 6-1.17±0.08 mmol/L; and day 7, 1.22±0.08 mmol/L) compared to day 1 and day 2 (day 1-0.96±0.13 mmol/L and day 2-1.02±0.12 mmol/L; p<0.002 for all comparisons). Conclusion: Although patients with and without AF did not significantly differ with regard to blood and tissue magnesium levels, the coincidence of an early postoperative reduction in magnesium levels in all patients and occurrence of all AF incidences at this time period suggests a potential association deserving further investigation. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2010; 10: 446-51) Key words: Coronary artery bypass grafting, atrial fibrillation, tissue magnesium level, blood magnesium level ÖZET Amaç: Atriyal fibrilasyon (AF), mekanizması halen tam olarak anlaşılmamakla birlikte kardiyovasküler cerrahi sonrası en sık karşılaşılan komplikasyonlardan biridir. Çalışmamızda, prospektif olarak doku ve kan magnezyum seviyelerine ile AF arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması planlanmıştır. Yöntemler: Bu prospektif gözlemsel çalışmada, elektif koroner arter baypas greft cerrahisi uygulanacak 20 hastanın kardiyopulmoner baypas öncesi, pompanın 60. dakikası, pompadan sonraki 30. dakikada eş zamanlı olarak atriyum dokusu, rektus abdominis kas dokusu ve kan örnekleri, ayrıca postoperatif 7 gün boyunca günlük kan örnekleri alındı ve magnezyum seviyelerine bakıldı. AF postoperatif 7.güne kadar sürekli monitorize edildi. İstatistiksel analizlerde ANOVA, bağımsız örneklem t ve Ki-kare testleri kullanıldı. Bulgular: Postoperatif dönemde 20 hastadan 5'inde AF gelişti (%25). AF gelişen ve gelişmeyen hastalar arasında kardiyopulmoner baypas öncesi, sırası ve sonrasındaki kan ve doku magnezyum düzeyleri ve postoperatif 7 gün boyunca kan magnezyum düzeyleri açısından fark yoktu. Tüm hastalarda ise kan magnezyum düzeyleri 3 ile 7. günler arasında (3. gün ...