Browsing by Author "Ciftci, Ozgur"
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Item Association between treatment with coil embolization of renal artery aneurysm and resistant hypertension(2016) Duman, Enes; Yildirim, Erkan; Ciftci, Ozgur; Cifci, EgemenHypertension is the number one risk factor in preventable causes of death in the world. Resistant hypertension is defined as blood pressure that remains uncontrolled despite at least three antihypertensive medications including a diuretic. Treatment of hypertension includes many modalities from lifestyle changing to multiple drug using, angioplasty. In this case report, we aim to emphasize the effects of renal artery aneurysm treatment on resistant hypertension.Item Can Preoperative Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Serve as an Indicator for Midterm Adverse Events after Coronary Bypass Grafting?(2015) Togan, Turhan; Gunday, Murat; Ciftci, Ozgur; Bingol, Hakan; 0000-0002-6463-6070; 25924030; A-7318-2017Objective: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) may serve as a reasonably-good indicator for coronary heart disease as usually ESR is elevated in these patients. The measurement of ESR is a very simple and cheap laboratory test that can he performed in routine blood examinations. In this study, we investigated the association between preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate and postoperative midterm adverse events after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: In the study, only male patients were included. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (preoperative sedimentation rate [<20 mm/h] normal [n = 232, 63.9%]) and group 2 (preoperative sedimentation rate [>20 mm/h] above normal [n = 131, 36.1%]). The hemogram and biochemistry panel values were measured one day before operation, on the postoperative first day, on the postoperative seventh day, and on the postoperative third month. Results: Among the laboratory values, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to postoperative first-day ESR and postoperative third-month high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P < .05). In terms of postoperative morbidity, there was also a statistically significant difference (P < .05) between the two groups with regard to pleural effusion, infection of the soft tissue over the sternum, pulmonary infection, return to the intensive care unit, rehospitalization, and mortality. Conclusion: Elevated preoperative sedimentation rate is associated with postoperative adverse events in patients who undergo CABG. For this purpose, we suggest that patients with higher sedimentation rates undergo detailed examination to prevent mortality and morbidity.Item Comparison of Platelet Mass Index in On-Pump and Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(2020) Gunday, Murat; Ciftci, Ozgur; 32364905Introduction: Platelet mass index (PMI) is calculated by multiplying platelet count and mean platelet volume (MPV). It demonstrates platelet activation and is thought to be associated with inflammation. Its importance for cardiac surgery has not yet fully been clarified. This study investigates whether there is a difference between PMI levels after on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and the relationship between early postoperative complications and PMI. Method: In our hospital, 138 patients were included in the study retrospectively. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (on-pump) with 80 patients (22 females, 58 males, mean age 61.54 +/- 8.68) and Group 2 (off-pump) with 58 patients (15 females, 43 males, mean age 61.34 +/- 10.04). In biochemical analysis, hemoglobin, platelet, white blood cell, and MPV values of the patients were evaluated in the biochemistry laboratory of our hospital with the blood taken preoperatively from the forearm veins and postoperatively on the first, third, and seventh days and, on average, after the first month. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between postoperative first day thrombocyte (K/mu L) (P = .005), postoperative first day PMI (P = .014), postoperative first day leukocyte (K/mu L) (P = .001), postoperative first day Hb (g/dL) (P = .001), postoperative third day thrombocyte (K/mu L) (P = .003), postoperative third day PMI (P = .031), postoperative third day leukocyte (K/mu L) (P = .004), and postoperative seventh day leukocyte (K/mu L) (P = .002). There was no meaningful relationship between PMI and early postoperative complications. Conclusion: We think PMI is a more valuable indicator than MPV as an inflammation marker in cardiac surgery. In our opinion, PMI is a cheap and valuable inflammation marker that can be used in coronary surgery that can be obtained from routine hemogram test and can easily be evaluated.Item Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve in Burn Injury: A Prospective Clinical Cohort Study(2016) Caliskan, Mustafa; Turk, Emin; Karagulle, Erdal; Ciftci, Ozgur; Oguz, Hakan; Kostek, Osman; Moray, Gokhan; Haberal, Mehmet; 0000-0002-3462-7632; 0000-0003-2498-7287; 0000-0002-8522-4956; 0000-0002-1901-5603; 0000-0003-4766-3373; 26284645; AAJ-8097-2021; AAE-1041-2021; C-6247-2017; AAA-3604-2019; AAJ-5609-2021The authors sought to evaluate coronary microvascular function and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography in burn patients. In this study, 32 adult burn patients with partial or full-thickness scald burns that were hospitalized and treated were included. The control group was matched for age and sex and was composed of otherwise healthy volunteers. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography examinations and simultaneous laboratory tests for cardiac evaluation were performed on the sixth month after burn injury as well as with the control group. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in the burn patients than in controls (5.17 +/- 3.86 vs 2.42 +/- 1.78; P =.001). Lateral isovolumic relaxation time was significantly higher in the burn injury group than in the control group (92.7 +/- 15.7 vs 85.5 +/- 8.3; P =.03). Baseline coronary diastolic peak flow velocity of the left anterior descending artery was similar in both groups. However, hyperemic diastolic peak flow velocity and coronary flow velocity reserve (2.26 +/- 0.48 vs 2.94 +/- 0.47; P <.001) were significantly lower in the burn injury group than in the control group. Coronary flow velocity reserve was significantly and inversely correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, burn ratio, creatinine, and mitral A-wave max velocity. At the sixth month of treatment, burn patients had high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels during this period, suggesting that inflammation still exists. In addition, subclinical coronary microvascular and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction can occur in burn patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors. However, these results must be supported by additional studies.Item Could there be an association between chronic brucellosis and endothelial damage?(2015) Togan, Turhan; Ciftci, Ozgur; Turan, Hale; Narci, Huseyin; Gullu, Hakan; Arslan, Hande; 25596571Introduction: In this study, we examined the effects of Brucella infection on endothelial dysfunction. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measurement is indicator of the endothelial function, and abnormal values indicating endothelial dysfunction are accepted as the first stage of atherosclerosis. Methodology: Twenty-four patients who had been treated for acute brucellosis two years before, and who had had no relapses in the follow-up, were prospectively included in the study, along with 30 healthy individuals in the control group. Results: While the highly sensitive Creactive protein (hs-CRP) value was 2.42 +/- 1.45 in the patient group, it was 1.72 +/- 0.61 in the control group (p = 0.025). While the FMD value was 3.50 +/- 1.58 in the patient group, it was 5.88 +/- 1.88 in the control group (p < 0.001). While the percentage increase in FMD was 9.88 +/- 4.92 in the patient group, it was 17.49 +/- 6.3 in the control group (p < 0.001). It was observed that FMD value, the percentage increase in FMD, and basal radius were correlated with hs-CRP (r = -0.644, p < 0.001; r = -0.558, p = 0.002; r = 0.444, p = 0.018, respectively). The carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) value was found to be 0.61 +/- 0.17 in the patient group and 0.49 +/- 0.12 in the control group (p = 0.004). Conclusions: The abnormal FMD and IMT values observed in brucellosis patients might be an indicator of more frequent arterial dysfunction, increased cardiovascular risk, and atherosclerosis.Item A Different Marker to Determine Arrhythmia Potential Between Elite Active Cyclists and Veterans: T Peak T End(2015) Gormus, Z. Isik Solak; Isik, Bulent; Ciftci, Ozgur; Icli, Abdullah; Togan, Turhan; Aslan, Huseyin; Kutlu, Selim; 0000-0002-6463-6070; A-7318-2017Item Does Brucellosis Cause Arterial Stiffness and Ventricular Remodelling Through Inflammation?(2015) Togan, Turhan; Ciftci, Ozgur; Gunday, Murat; Narci, Huseyin; Arslan, Hande; 0000-0002-6636-9391; 0000-0002-5708-7915; 0000-0002-6463-6070; 26148379; L-7182-2015; ABG-7034-2021; A-7318-2017Background Like other acute and chronic infections, Brucella infection leads to endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the chronic inflammatory state present in chronic infectious diseases leads to an acceleration in atherosclerosis. For the prediction of CAD, it is possible to use epicardial fat thickness (EFT) as an adjunctive marker beside the classical risk factors, as it is easily and non-invasively evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of impaired myocardial performance as well as of increased arterial stiffness and EFT in patients who had been infected with brucellosis in the past. Methods Included in the study were twenty-seven brucellosis patients and twenty-six healthy volunteers. Using EFT and transthoracic echocardiography, which included Doppler echocardiography in combination with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), all the patients were examined to measure their aortic stiffness index (AoSI), aortic distensibility (AoD), and aortic elastic modulus (AoEM) values. Results A statistically significant increase was observed in hs-CRP, aortic stiffness index, aortic elastic modulus and EFT in brucellosis patients when compared with the controls (2.46 +/- 1.40 vs 1.71 +/- 0.61, P=0.016; 9.69 +/- 6.99 vs 2.14 +/- 0.72, P < 0.001; 11.17 +/- 8.60 vs 2.18 +/- 0.90, P < 0.001; 0.76 +/- 0.08 vs 0.63 +/- 0.10, P < 0.001). On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in aortic strain and aortic distensibility (7.41 +/- 6.82 vs 18.26 +/- 5.83, P < 0.001; 1.83 +/- 1.71 vs 5.22 +/- 1.72, P < 0.001, respectively). No difference was observed between the two groups with respect to the left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) (0.62 +/- 0.15 vs 0.61 +/- 0.13, P=0.859). Conclusions In this study, we demonstrated for the first time in the literature that there was impaired aortic elasticity and increased EFT in patients with brucellosis, while the myocardial performance index remained unaffected. We also determined that these effects had a significant correlation with inflammation.Item Does mild preeclampsia cause arterial stiffness and ventricular remodeling through inflammation?(2014) Citfci, Faika Ceylan; Ciftci, Ozgur; Gullu, Hakan; Caliskan, Mustafa; Uckuyu, Ayla; Ozcimen, Ebru Emel; 25669058Background: A link between preeclampsia (PE) and excessive maternal morbidity and mortality is a commonly recognized fact. Moreover, it has been suggested that chronic inflammatory state connected with PE contributes to accelerated atherosclerosis. There is also an association between PE and maternal cardiac remodeling and biventricular diastolic dysfunction. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of impaired myocardial performance and increased arterial stiffness in patients who experienced a mild case of PE five years previously. Methods: The study included forty PE patients (40 women; mean age 33.75 +/- 7.95) and 27 healthy volunteers (27 women; mean age 36.44 +/- 10.45) Transthoracic echocardiography, including Doppler echocardiography combined with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and aortic stiffness index (AoSI), aortic distensibility (AoD), and aortic elastic modulus (AoEM) values were measured in each study participant. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in hsCRP, aortic stiffness index, and aortic elastic modulus in PE patients as compared to controls (2.43 +/- 1.91 vs. 3.80 +/- 2.06, p=0.007; 3.09 +/- 2.41 vs. 7.32 +/- 6.89, p=0.001; 2.89 +/- 2.11 vs. 7.00 +/- 6.83, p=0.001), while a significant decrease was observed in the aortic strain and distensibility (respectively, 22.35 +/- 15.99 vs. 12.24 +/- 9.22, p=0.005; 11.17 +/- 9.68 vs. 6.13 +/- 4.99, p=0.018). No differences between the two groups were observed with regard to the left ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) (0.55 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.53 +/- 0.19, p=0.630). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this has been the first study to demonstrate impaired aortic elasticity and unaffected myocardial performance index in patients with mild PE. Moreover, these effects turned out to be significantly correlated with inflammation.Item The effect of high-dose steroid treatment used for the treatment of acute demyelinating diseases on endothelial and cardiac functions(2017) Caldir, Mehmet Vedat; Celik, Guner Koyuncu; Ciftci, Ozgur; Muderrisoglu, Ibrahim Haldun; 27965510Objective: The cardiovascular effects of short-term high-dose steroid treatment (pulse steroid treatment) have not yet been clarified. We examined the short-and long-term effects of pulse steroid treatment in demyelinating diseases on endothelial and cardiac functions. Methods: In this prospective study, we included 35 patients (20 females and 15 males; mean age, 32.8 +/- 9.3 years) who were not treated with steroids and who were previously diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica. Patients were evaluated before, 1 week after, and 3 months after the steroid treatment. Brachial artery flow-mediated relaxation and cardiac systolic/diastolic function were evaluated using echocardiography to assess physical examination results, carotid intima-media thickness, and endothelial function. Results: There was no difference between biochemical values, systolic function, left ventricular dimensions, and carotid intima-media thicknesses in the three evaluation periods. There were significant increases in the body mass index, body weight, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure measurements at 1 week and 3 months after treatment (p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in brachial artery flow-mediated relaxation at 1 week and 3 months (1 versus 2, p=0.042; 1 versus 3, p=0.003). In Doppler measurements at 1 week and 3 months, there was an increase in mitral A velocity, IVRT, and EDT values and a decrease in the E/A ratio in line with diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion: Pulse steroid therapy used for demyelinating diseases deteriorated endothelial and left ventricular diastolic functions in the early and late periods. Future studies are needed to evaluate the development of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients receiving this type of treatment.Item The Effects of Steroids on Endothelial Function Reply(2017) Caldir, Mehmet Vedat; Celik, Guner Koyuncu; Ciftci, Ozgur; Muderrisoglu, Ibrahim Haldun; GOE-6067-2022Item The Impact of Acute Brucellosis on Mean Platelet Volume and Red Blood Cell Distribution(2015) Togan, Turhan; Narci, Huseyin; Turan, Hale; Ciftci, Ozgur; Kursun, Ebru; Arslan, Hande; 25825650Background: Brucellosis is an inflammatory disease which may infect any organs or systems in the body. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is one of the most frequently used surrogate markers of platelet function. It reveals the presence of disease activity in many inflammatory diseases. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a parameter that measures variation in red blood cell size or red blood cell volume. Its predictive value approves inflammatory and infectious diseases. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the assessment levels of red blood cell distribution in cases with acute brucellosis. Patients and Methods: The current study investigated whether MPV and RDW played any roles in acute brucellosis diagnosis. The study was conducted from 2008 to 2014 through prospective examination of the inflammatory markers found in adult patients with acute brucellosis. Results: The follow-up within the year after treatment was examined. The values of age, gender, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, RDW and MPV were recorded. The study included 351 subjects, 250 of them in the acute brucellosis group and 101 in the control group. The mean MPV levels were 7.64 +/- 1.30 fL, and 7.67 +/- 1.29 fL in the acute brucellosis and control groups, respectively (P > 0.05). The mean CRP levels were 32.57 +/- 53.20 mg/dL, and 4.81 +/- 4.89 mg/dL in the acute brucellosis and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the RDW level and the mean leukocyte count (P > 0.05). Conclusions: While the CRP value was in patients with acute brucellosis in the current study, the MPV, RDW and leukocyte counts were within the normal range. CRP value remains the most valuable inflammatory marker in cases of acute brucellosis.Item Impaired Coronary Microvascular and Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease(2015) Caliskan, Zuhal; Gokturk, Huseyin Savas; Caliskan, Mustafa; Gullu, Hakan; Ciftci, Ozgur; Ozgur, Gulsum Teke; Guven, Aytekin; Selcuk, Haldun; 0000-0003-2579-9755; 0000-0002-8445-6413; 0000-0002-6463-6070; 25128749; AAJ-8546-2021; JYO-9455-2024; IXD-5147-2023; AAJ-6976-2021; A-7318-2017Background and aim: Increased incidence of coronary vascular events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is known. However, the association between coronary microvascular function and IBD has not been fully defined. We aimed to investigate whether coronary flow reserve (CFR) and left ventricular diastolic function were impaired in IBD patients. Methods: Seventy-two patients with IBD (36 patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] and 36 Crohn's disease [CD]) were registered. Each subject was evaluated after a minimum 15-day attack-free period. For the control group, 36 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included into the study. IBD clinical disease activity in UC was assessed by the Truelove-Witts Index (TWAS) and in CD by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI). In each subject, CFR was measured through transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Results: Compared to the controls, the CD group and UC group had significantly higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Baseline diastolic peak flow velocity (DPFV) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was significantly higher in the IBD group (24.1 +/- 3.9 vs. 22.4 +/- 2.9, p < 0.05), and hyperemic DPFV (56.1 +/- 12.5 vs. 70.6 +/- 15.3, p < 0.05) and CFR (2.34 +/- 0.44 vs. 3.14 +/- 0.54, p < 0.05) were significantly lower in the IBD group than in the control group. In stepwise linear regression analysis, hs-CRP and lateral Em/Am ratio were independently correlated with CFR. Conclusion: CFR, reflecting coronary microvascular function, is impaired in patients with IBD. CFR and left ventricular diastolic function parameters are well correlated with hs-CRP. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.Item Impaired Coronary Microvascular Function and Increased Intima-Media Thickness in Preeclampsia(2014) Ciftci, Faika C.; Caliskan, Mustafa; Ciftci, Ozgur; Gullu, Hakan; Uckuyu, Ayla; Toprak, Erzat; Yanik, Filiz; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6463-6070; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2579-9755; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2877-1232; 25455007; A-7318-2017; IXD-5147-2023; GRR-9885-2022There is an association between preeclampsia (PE) and excessive morbidity and mortality. Some recent studies have revealed the presence of endothelial dysfunction in PE patients with inflammatory activity. Moreover, it has been argued that the chronic inflammatory state involved in PE leads to an acceleration in atherosclerosis. Accordingly, our goal in this study is to determine whether there is any coronary microvascular dysfunction and increase in the intima-media thickness in patients who had mild PE 5 years before, without the presence of any traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The study included 33 mild PE patients (mild preeclampsia is classified as a blood pressure (BP) of 140/90 mm Hg or higher with proteinuria of 0.3 to 3 g/d) whose mean age was 33.7 years old, and 29 healthy women volunteers whose mean age was 36.1 years old. Each subject was examined using transthoracic echocardiography 5 years after their deliveries. During the echocardiographic examination, coronary flow reserve (CFR) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured. There was a statistically. lower CFR value in PE patients as compared with controls (2.39 +/- 0.48 vs. 2.90 +/- 0.49; P < .001). On the other hand, there was a significant increase in their IMT and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) values (respectively, 0.59 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.46 +/- 0.10; P < .001 and 3.80 +/- 2.10 vs. 2.33 +/- 1.79; P = .004). There was a negative correlation between the CFR values of the PE patients and hs-CRP (r = -0.568; P = .001) and IMT (r = -0.683, P < .001) results. We deteinfined in the study that there was impaired CFR and increased carotid IMT in patients with PE, and, moreover, that these adverse effects were significantly correlated with hs-CRP. (C) 2014 American Society of Hypertension. All rights reserved.Item Increased Morning Blood Pressure Surge and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Patient with Early Stage Hypertension(2014) Caliskan, Mustafa; Caliskan, Zuhal; Gullu, Hakan; Keles, Nursen; Bulur, Serkan; Turan, Yasar; Kostek, Osman; Ciftci, Ozgur; Guven, Aytekin; Aung, Soe Moe; Muderrisoglu, Haldun; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2579-9755; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6463-6070; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9635-6313; 25224866; IXD-5147-2023; A-7318-2017; AAJ-8546-2021; AAG-8233-2020Morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) is defined as an excessive increase in blood pressure (BP) in the morning from the lowest systolic BP during sleep, and it has been reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular events in current clinical studies. In this study, we evaluated the association between the rate of BP variation derived from ambulatory BP monitoring data analysis and coronary microvascular function in patients with early stage hypertension. One hundred seventy patients with prehypertension and Stage 1 hypertension who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. We divided our study population into two subgroups according to the median value of coronary flow reserve (CFR). Patients with CFR values <2.5 were defined as the impaired CFR group, and patients with CFR values >= 2.5 were defined as the preserved CFR group, and we compared the MBPS measurements of these two subgroups. CFR was measured using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE). Ambulatory 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP, uric acid, systolic MBPS amplitude, diastolic MBPS amplitude, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and mitral flow E/A ratio were statistically significant. These predictors were included in age- and gender-adjusted multivariate analysis; ambulatory 24-hour systolic BP (beta = 0.077, P <.001; odds ratio [OR] = 1.080; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.037-1.1241) and systolic MBPS amplitude (beta = 0.043, P =.022; OR = 1.044; 95% CI [1.006-1.0841) were determined to be independent predictors of impaired CFR (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P=.165, Nagelkerke's R-2 = 0.320). We found that increased changes in MBPS values in patients with prehypertension and Stage 1 hypertension seemed to cause microvascular dysfunction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. (C) 2014 American Society of Hypertension. All rights reserved.Item The Influence of On-pump Versus Off-pump Surgery on Short- and Medium-term Postoperative Coronary Flow Reserve After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting(2016) Ozulku, Mehmet; Caliskan, Mustafa; Saba, Tonguc; Aksu, Feyza; Ciftci, Ozgur; Gullu, Hakan; Guven, Aytekin; Kostek, Osman; Caklili, Ozge Telci; Aslamaci, Sait; 0000-0001-7566-5427; 0000-0002-9635-6313; 0000-0002-1901-5603; 27269474; AAT-7733-2020; AAG-8233-2020; AAA-3604-2019; AAJ-8546-2021Background Although several clinical trials have compared surgical outcomes between off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), whether there is a difference in the early- and medium-term postoperative coronary microvascular functions is not fully understood. We compared short- and medium-term coronary microvascular function after off-pump and on-pump CABG. Methods A prospective study of patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG. Eighty-two patients scheduled for CABG were recruited: 38 underwent off-pump surgery and 44 on-pump surgery. Each participant's coronary flow reserve (CFR) and diastolic function were measured with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography six and 12 months after surgery. Results Baseline and hyperaemic diastolic peak flow velocity in the left anterior descending artery were similar in both groups, as was CFR (2.22 +/- 0.66) in the off-pump group compared with (2.13 +/- 0.61) in the on-pump group, (P = 0.54). Coronary flow reserve was significantly and inversely correlated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration (r = -0.416; P < 0.001) and positively correlated with mitral E/ A-wave velocity ratio (r = 0.247; P = 0.02). Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that only high sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration was independently correlated with CFR (beta = -0.272, P = 0.02). Conclusions Heart-lung bypass technique had no medium-term influence on the coronary microcirculation, despite a possible initial unfavourable effect. Serum hs-CRP concentration was an independent predictor of medium-term coronary microvascular dysfunction.Item Is Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Superior to On-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery on Postoperative Paradoxical Ventricular Septal Motion?(2014) Gunday, Murat; Alpaslan, Mete; Ciftci, Ozgur; Ozulku, Mehmet; Copur, Gulay; Aslamaci, Sait; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1481-8228; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6463-6070; 25179970; A-7318-2017Background: The aims of this study were to investigate the appearance of paradoxical ventricular septal motion (PSM) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and to identify factors that might be related to this abnormality. Methods: This prospective study included 119 consecutive patients (38 women, 81 men) who underwent CABG. Patients who underwent on-pump surgery (22 women, 45 men) and patients who underwent off-pump surgery (16 women, 36 men) were studied separately. All subjects underwent preoperative angiographic septal perfusion evaluation, pre- and postoperative echocardiography, and standard electrocardiographic and laboratory investigations, including troponin I and CK-MB levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed for a variety of related parameters. Results: Significant differences in EuroSCORE, length of intensive care unit stay, length of hospital stay, PSM (assessed using echocardiography), septal perfusion (observed using preoperative angiography), postoperative pleural effusion, and intensive care unit recidivism were observed between the two groups (P < .05). Moreover, postoperative PSM was correlated with septal perfusion (r = -0.687**, P < .001), type of operation (r = -0.194*, P = .035), diabetes mellitus (r = 0.273**, P = .003), carotid stenosis (r = 0.235*, P = .011), the number of distal anastomoses (r = 0.245**, P = .008), pleural effusion (r = 0.193*, P = .037), and intensive care unit recidivism (r = 0.249**, P = .007). However, multivariate analysis demonstrated that only preoperative septal perfusion (odds ratio: 0.037; 95% confidence interval: 0.011-0.128; P < .05) constitutes an independent risk factor for PSM (P < .05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that preoperative septal perfusion deficiency represents an independent risk factor for postoperative PSM in patients undergoing CABG. Further investigations addressing the timing of the appearance of PSM and the correlation of this finding with perfusion imaging studies may provide new details concerning the mechanisms that underlie this abnormality.Item Radial Artery, Saphenous Vein versus Left Internal Thoracic Artery in Recurrent Ischemic Symptoms after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery(2014) Gunday, Murat; Coskun, Isa; Ciftci, Ozgur; Ozulku, Mehmet; Tekindal, Mustafa Agah; Guven, Aytekin; Aslamaci, Sait; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6463-6070; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4060-7048; 25065278; A-7318-2017; U-9270-2018; AAJ-8546-2021Background: The long-term results of coronary artery bypass surgery depend mostly on the type of the grafts. For a long time, it has been accepted that arterial grafts are superior to venous grafts. In this study, we evaluated the angiographic patency rates of arterial and venous grafts. Methods: The study took place between 2003 and 2013 in the Departments of Cardiovascular Surgery in Baskent University. The study included 52 patients with recurrent ischemic symptoms (of total 2183 coronary artery bypass surgery patients) following coronary artery bypass surgery. The patients were evaluated by control angiography during over mid- and long-term postoperative period (mean, 75.25 +/- 35.15 months). Based on the angiographic findings, the grafts were divided into 3 groups: severe stenosis, moderate stenosis, and patent. Results: The preoperative demographics (age, gender, hypertension or diabetes mellitus) were similar in the three groups. The mean numbers of distal anastomoses were 3.27 +/- 0.89 (range 2-5), the degree of native coronary artery stenosis for radial artery anastomosis was 79.65 +/- 17.72, and the mean numbers of radial artery and saphenous vein grafts were 1.19 +/- 0.44 and 1.10 +/- 0.89, respectively. The patency rate was 80.77%for radial arteries, 63.2% for saphenous veins, and 82.4% for left internal thoracic arteries in the three groups. Conclusion: The internal thoracic artery graft was confirmed to be the best option for aorta-coronary bypass surgery, as it has the highest patency rate compared to the other grafts. Radial artery and saphenous vein patency rate were also seen to be similar in the long-term.Item Relation Between Pulmonary Hypertension and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis(2016) Kivanc, Tulay; Kal, Oznur; Ciftci, Ozgur; Akcay, Sule; 0000-0002-7751-4961; 0000-0002-8360-6459; 27805514; AAJ-7586-2021; AAB-5175-2021Objectives: Pulmonary hypertension has been reported to occur in a considerable proportion of patients with end-stage renal disease. End-stage renal disease affects the health-related quality of life of patients. There is a lack of specific information on the relation between pulmonary hypertension and health-related quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease in the literature. We aimed to evaluate this relation in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: This prospective case-control study included 68 patients treated with hemodialysis and 30 healthy participants as controls. Group 1 comprised hemodialysis patients with pulmonary hypertension, group 2 comprised patients without pulmonary hypertension, and group 3 were healthy subjects. Each patient's health-related quality of life was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form health survey. Doppler echocardiography was performed to determine pulmonary artery pressure in all patients. The groups were compared with respect to health-related quality of life. Results: Pulmonary hypertension was found in 47.1% of patients (mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 48.9 +/- 11.8 mmHg). Significant differences were observed among the 3 groups regarding the physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role, mental health, and physical component summary (P =.001). There was no significant correlation between pulmonary artery pressure and health survey scores. Conclusions: Hemodialysis patients had significantly lower quality of life scores than healthy subjects. There were no significant differences in terms of health survey domains between the hemodialysis patients with and without pulmonary hypertension. This may be due to the severe adverse effects of end-stage renal disease on health-related quality of life. We conclude that, because end-stage renal disease has so many adverse effects on health-related quality of life, the additional effects of pulmonary hypertension on health-related quality of life could not be revealed.