The Independent Relationship of Systemic Inflammation With Fragmented QRS Complexes in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Mustafa Çetin,Sinan Altan Kocaman,Turan Erdog˘ an,Aytun Çanga,Murtaza Emre Durakog˘ lugil,Ömer S¸atırog˘ lu,Özgür Akgül, MD,Tuncay Kırıs,Yüksel Çiçek,Barıs¸ Yaylak,Sıtkı Dog˘ an,smail S¸ahin,Mehmet Bo 대한심장학회 2012 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.42 No.7

Background and Objectives: QRS complex fragmentations are frequently seen on routine electrocardiograms with narrow or wide QRS complex. Fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, sudden cardiac death and recurrent car-diovascular events. In this study, we aimed to interrogate the relationship of systemic inflammation with the presence of fQRS in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Subjects and Methods: Two-hundred and twenty eligible patients with ACS that underwent coronary angiography were enrolled con-secutively in this study. Patients with significant organic valve disease and those with any QRS morphology that had a QRS duration ≥120 ms as well as patients with permanent pacemakers were excluded from this study. Results: Patients with fQRS were of a higher age (p=0.02), had increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p<0.001), prolonged QRS time (p<0.001), extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) (p<0.001), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels (p=0.006) and Q wave on admission elec-trocardiography (p<0.001) in comparison to patients with non-fragmented QRS. When we performed multiple logistic regression analysis,fQRS was found to be related to increased CRP levels {odds ratio (OR): 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045-1.316, p=0.007}, QRS du-ration (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.033-1.098, p<0.001), extent of CAD (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.023-2.144, p=0.037), Q wave (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.084-4.598, p=0.03) and CK-MB levels (OR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.001-1.037, p=0.04) independently. Conclusion: In our study, we found that fQRS was independently related to increased CRP. Fragmented QRS that may result as an end effect of inflammation at cellular level can represent increased cardiac risk by different causative mechanisms in patients with ACS. Background and Objectives: QRS complex fragmentations are frequently seen on routine electrocardiograms with narrow or wide QRS complex. Fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, sudden cardiac death and recurrent car-diovascular events. In this study, we aimed to interrogate the relationship of systemic inflammation with the presence of fQRS in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Subjects and Methods: Two-hundred and twenty eligible patients with ACS that underwent coronary angiography were enrolled con-secutively in this study. Patients with significant organic valve disease and those with any QRS morphology that had a QRS duration ≥120 ms as well as patients with permanent pacemakers were excluded from this study. Results: Patients with fQRS were of a higher age (p=0.02), had increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p<0.001), prolonged QRS time (p<0.001), extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) (p<0.001), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels (p=0.006) and Q wave on admission elec-trocardiography (p<0.001) in comparison to patients with non-fragmented QRS. When we performed multiple logistic regression analysis,fQRS was found to be related to increased CRP levels {odds ratio (OR): 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045-1.316, p=0.007}, QRS du-ration (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.033-1.098, p<0.001), extent of CAD (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.023-2.144, p=0.037), Q wave (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.084-4.598, p=0.03) and CK-MB levels (OR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.001-1.037, p=0.04) independently. Conclusion: In our study, we found that fQRS was independently related to increased CRP. Fragmented QRS that may result as an end effect of inflammation at cellular level can represent increased cardiac risk by different causative mechanisms in patients with ACS.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Mycelia of 10 Wild Mushroom Species

Fatih Kalyoncu,Mustafa Oskay,Hu¨sniye Sag˘lam,Tug˘c¸e Fafal Erdog˘an,A. U¨ same Tamer 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.2

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of mycelia obtained from 10 wild edible mushrooms—Armillaria mellea, Meripilus giganteus, Morchella costata, Morchella elata, Morchella esculenta var. vulgaris, Morchella hortensis, Morchella rotunda, Paxillus involutus, Pleurotus eryngii, and Pleurotus ostreatus—were investigated. For determination of antimicrobial activities of these mushrooms, ethanol extracts were examined with 11 test microorganisms by the agar well diffusion method. P. ostreatus and M. giganteus were the most active species against both bacteria and yeast. Antioxidant properties of ethanol extracts were studied by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging method. Among the mushroom extracts, M. elata showed the most potent radical scavenging activity. This research has shown that these 10 wild macrofungi have potential as natural antioxidants and antibiotics.

Bilirubin Level is Associated with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Independent of Blood Pressure in Previously Untreated Hypertensive Patients

Teslime Ayaz,Murtaza Emre Durakog˘lugil,Sinan Altan Kocaman,Tug˘ba Durakog˘lugil,Turan Erdog˘an,Osman Zikrullah S¸ahin,Serap Baydur S¸ahin,Yüksel C¸ic¸ek,Ömer S¸atirog˘lu 대한심장학회 2014 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.44 No.5

Background and Objectives: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a sign of subclinical cardiovascular disease, is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to determine the association of left ventricular mass (LVM) with possible causative anthropometric and biochemical parameters as well as carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) as surrogates of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction, respectively, in previously untreated hypertensive patients. Subjects and Methods: Our study included 114 consecutive previously untreated hypertensive patients who underwent echocardiography and ultrasonography to evaluate their vascular status and function via brachial artery CIMT and FMD. Results: Among all study parameters, age, systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, pulse pressure, plasma glucose, uric acid, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, hemoglobin, and CIMT were positively correlated with the LVM index. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that office systolic BP, age, male gender, and total bilirubin were independent predictors of LVH. Conclusion: Bilirubin seems to be related to LVM and LVH. The positive association of bilirubin with these parameters is novel and requires further research.

Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oil and Hexane Extract of Florence Fennel [Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell.] Against Foodborne Microorganisms

Bülent Çetin,Hakan Özer,Ahmet Cakir,Tas¸kin Polat,Atilla Dursun,Ebru Mete,Erdog˘an O¨ ztu¨rk,Melek Ekinci 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.1

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical compositions of the essential oil and hexane extract isolated from the inflorescence, leaf stems, and aerial parts of Florence fennel and the antimicrobial activities of the essential oil, hexane extract, and their major component, anethole, against a large variety of foodborne microorganisms. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that the essential oils obtained from inflorescence, leaf stems, and whole aerial parts contained (E)-anethole (59.28–71.69%), limonene (8.30–10.73%), apiole (trace to 9.23%), β-fenchyl acetate (3.02–4.80%), and perillene (2.16–3.29%) as the main components. Likewise, the hexane extract of the plant sample exhibited a similar chemical composition, and it contained (E)-anethole (53.00%), limonene (27.16%), γ-terpinene (4.09%), and perillene (3.78%). However, the hexane extract also contained less volatile components such as n-hexadecanoic acid (1.62%), methyl palmitate (1.17%), and linoleic acid (1.15%). The in vitro antimicrobial assays showed that the essential oil, anethole, and hexane extract were effective against most of the foodborne pathogenic, saprophytic, probiotic, and mycotoxigenic microorganisms tested. The results of the present study revealed that (E)-anethole, the main component of Florence fennel essential oil, is responsible for the antimicrobial activity and that the essential oils as well as the hexane extract can be used as a food preservative. This study is the first report showing the antimicrobial activities of essential oil and hexane extract of Florence fennel against probiotic bacteria.