Incremental Value of Left Atrial Function Analysis in the Assessment of Left Ventricular Filling Pressures in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Left atrial (LA) reservoir strain provides interesting information about left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. However, the advantages of atrial reservoir strain in comparison with conventional parameters in patients with myocardial infarction are not clear yet.

Methods: Fifty patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) prospectively underwent echocardiographic assessment of LV systolic and diastolic function by conventional parameters and two-dimensional speckle tracking longitudinal strain of left atrium.

Altered production of reproductive neuropeptides in rats subjected to chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Hypobaric hypoxia is a stressful condition known to decrease fertility both in humans and animals. However, the mechanism by which the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis is altered remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of chronic intermittent and continuous exposure to hypoxia on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis regulation in male rats.

Preliminary In Vitro Wear Assessment of Ceramic Cemented Femoral Components Coupled with Polyethylene Menisci.

Success of total knee replacement (TKR) depends on the prosthetic design and materials. The use of metal components is well established with the disadvantage of allergic reactions. Ceramics have been recently proposed because of high wear resistance, excellent biocompatibility, wettability, and suitable mechanical properties.

Mandibular biomechanical behavior of rats submitted to chronic intermittent or continuous hypoxia and periodontitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to continuous (CH) and intermittent (IH) hypoxia on biomechanical properties of the mandible and periodontal tissue of animals submitted to experimental periodontitis (EP) when applying loads in a hypoxic environment.

Methods: Adult female Wistar rats were exposed during 90 days to IH or CH (simulated high altitude of 4200 m above sea level). Fourteen days prior to the euthanasia, EP was induced to half of the animals of each group.

The Process of Acclimation to Chronic Hypoxia Leads to Submandibular Gland and Periodontal Alterations: An Insight on the Role of Inflammatory Mediators.

The exposition to hypoxia is a stressful stimulus, and the organism develops acclimation mechanisms to ensure homeostasis, but if this fails, it leads to the development of pathological processes. Considering the large number of people under hypoxic conditions, it is of utmost importance to study the mechanisms implicated in hypoxic acclimation in oral tissues and the possible alteration of some important inflammatory markers that regulate salivary and periodontal function. It is the aim of the present study to analyze submandibular (SMG) and periodontal status of animals chronically exposed to continuous (CCH) or intermittent (CIH) hypoxia in order to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms that may lead to hypoxic acclimation.