Galectin-3, Inflammation, and the Risk of Atrial High-Rate Episodes in Patients with Dual Chamber Pacemakers.

Atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) are atrial tachyarrhythmias that are exclusively detected by cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) with an atrial lead. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and predictive factors for AHREs, and to evaluate the ability of inflammation biomarkers to predict the occurrence of AHREs. 102 patients undergoing CIED procedure who received a dual chamber pacemaker were included.

Leptin, Galectin-3 and Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Polymorphism in Overweight and Obese Patients with Heart Failure - Role and Functional Interplay.

Background And Aims: Leptin, one of the best-known adipocytes, together with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and galectin-3 are important players in inflammation, arterial hypertension and heart failure pathophysiology. Moreover, uninucleotide A1166C polymorphism is associated with hypertension and poor prognosis in heart failure. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible relationship between leptin serum values, specific heart failure biomarkers and the presence of AT1 receptor A1166C polymorphism in overweight and obese heart failure patients.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Migraine Patients without Aura: A Pilot Study.

Background: Migraine is one of the most common disorders and its pathophysiological mechanisms are still under research, oxidative stress being emphasized as an important contributor. This study aimed to analyze the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and oxidative/anti-oxidant balance in migraine patients.

Methods: Two groups of subjects were evaluated: a group of patients with migraine and a control group of healthy volunteers.

Gender Differences in the Levels of Periodontal Destruction, Behavioral Risk Factors and Systemic Oxidative Stress in Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Cohort Pilot Study.

: Due to the higher frequency of ischemic stroke in men compared to women, we aimed to determine if gender differences exist regarding periodontal status and several plasma biomarkers in patients with a recent large artery atherosclerosis ischemic stroke (IS). : Patients with their first IS within less than six weeks who were able to undergo periodontal examinations were evaluated. Demographic data, periodontal status, oxidative stress parameters/plasma antioxidant capacity, and C-reactive protein in patients who suffered a recent large artery atherosclerosis ischemic stroke were reccorded.

Enhancement of bone consolidation using high-frequency pulsed electromagnetic short-waves and titanium implants coated with biomimetic composite embedded into PLA matrix: in vivo evaluation.

Purpose: Bone consolidation after severe trauma is the most challenging task in orthopedic surgery. This study aimed to develop biomimetic composite for coating Ti implants. Afterwards, these implants were tested in vivo to assess bone consolidation in the absence or the presence of high-frequency pulsed electromagnetic short-waves (HF-PESW).

Enhancement of bone consolidation using high-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (HF-PEMFs): An experimental study on rats.

In vitro studies showed that high-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (HF-PEMFs) increase the activity/expression of early and late osteogenic markers and enhance bone mineralization. The main aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo effects of HF-PEMFs on fracture healing using a rat model. A femur fracture was established by surgery in 20 male Wistar rats.

NT-pro-BNP during isotonic and isometric exercise in heart failure patients with preserved LV ejection fraction.

Background: NT-pro-BNP level is increased in both systolic and diastolic heart failure (HF) and furthermore increases more during exercise. In diastolic HF, NT-pro-BNP might increase more during isometric exercise than during isotonic exercises because of increased afterload. We studied NT-pro-BNP values during isometric (hand-grip) and isotonic (cycloergometer) exercise in HF patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and different degrees of diastolic dysfunction.

Solvent exchange and electron-spin relaxation on homoleptic acetonitrile complexes of trivalent lanthanides.

Homoleptic acetonitrile complexes [Nd(CH3CN)9][Al(OC(CF3)3)4]3, [Dy(CH3CN)9][Al(OC(CF3)3)4]3, and [Tm(CH3CN)8][Al(OC(CF3)3)4]3 have been studied in anhydrous acetonitrile by (14)N and (1)H NMR relaxation. Solvent-exchange rate constants increase from (22 ± 6) × 10(6) s(-1) (Nd(3+)) and (160 ± 40) × 10(6) s(-1) (Dy(3+)) for the nonasolvated ions to (360 ± 40) × 10(6) s(-1) (Tm(3+)) for the octasolvated ions. Electron-spin relaxation of the lanthanide ions studied is similar to that found in aqua ions.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound guided manoeuvres - a security profile.

Background: In daily rheumatology clinical practice, routine interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) guided maneuvers such as aspiration, intraarticular or periarticular drug injections require efficient cleaning and disinfection methods for both transducer and patient's skin.

Aim: To study the efficacy of probe and skin disinfection measures after using simple protocols, to identify the prevalence of septic and other drug related side effects after MSUS guided interventions and to quantify the total procedure time.

Material And Methods: Recruitment of consecutive patients with different joint/ periarticular MSUS guided interventions was made in 3 medical centers.

The response of circulating leptin levels to exercise stress testing in subjects diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

Aim. To assess the plasma leptin responses after exercise stress testing in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and Methods.

The first catalytic synthesis of an acrylate from CO2 and an alkene-a rational approach.

For more than three decades the catalytic synthesis of acrylates from the cheap and abundantly available C(1) building block carbon dioxide and alkenes has been an unsolved problem in catalysis research, both in academia and industry. Herein, we describe a homogeneous catalyst based on nickel that permits the catalytic synthesis of the industrially highly relevant acrylate sodium acrylate from CO(2), ethylene, and a base, as demonstrated, at this stage, by a turnover number of greater than 10 with respect to the metal.

NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance studies of [Gd(CH3CN)9]3+ and [Eu(CH3CN)9]2+: solvation and solvent exchange dynamics in anhydrous acetonitrile.

Homoleptic acetonitrile complexes [Gd(CH(3)CN)(9)][Al(OC(CF(3))(3))(4)](3) and [Eu(CH(3)CN)(9)][Al(OC(CF(3))(3))(4)](2) have been studied in anhydrous acetonitrile by (14)N- and (1)H NMR relaxation as well as by X- and Q-band EPR. For each compound a combined analysis of all experimental data allowed to get microscopic information on the dynamics in solution. The second order rotational correlation times for [Gd(CH(3)CN)(9)](3+) and [Eu(CH(3)CN)(9)](2+) are 14.

Synthesis, structures and characterisations of truly homoleptic acetonitrile Ln3+ complexes in solid state and in solution.

Total halide abstraction from LnCl3 by Ag[Al(OC(CF3)3)4]/CH3CN has been confirmed for a series of lanthanide metal ions by the structural characterization of [Ln(CH3CN)n][Al(OC(CF3)3)4]3 (n=9, Ln3+=Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy; n=8, Ln3+=Tm) complexes. Evidence for the very low coordinating ability of the [Al(OC(CF3)3)4]- anion towards Ln3+ ions is provided in the solid state (X-ray, IR and Raman spectroscopy) and in anhydrous acetonitrile solution (conductivity, EPR and NMR measurements). In the solid state homoleptic nine-coordinated acetonitrile species are characteristic for lanthanides for the beginning (Nd) and the middle (Eu, Gd, Dy) of the Ln series, with a mono-capped square antiprismatic arrangement of the N donor atoms around the metal centres; while for those from the end of the series (Tm) eight-coordinated species are representative with a square antiprismatic arrangement.

Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and inflammatory reaction in patients with ischemic heart disease.

We studied the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukine 8 (IL-8) in 87 patients with ischemic heart disease: 29 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 18 patients with unstable angina pectoris and 40 patients with stable effort angina. We determined in all patients IgG and IgA antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae, CRP and IL-8. Species specific antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae (IgG and IgA) were detected by indirect ELISA technique (Savyon Diagnostics Ltd, Israel).

The acute effect of ACEI and ARB's upon endothelin in heart failure patients.

Purpose Of The Study: to compare the acute effect of ACEI and ARB's upon the plasmatic endothelin level in heart failure patients.

Methods: There were studied 30 patients with congestive heart failure, III-IV functional NYHA class, that were not under ACEI or ARB's treatment. In all the patients the endothelinl-21 plasmatic level was determined.

The effect of Simvastatin upon serum pseudocholinesterase and plasmatic factor VII.

Unlabelled: The statins have a moderate lowering effect upon triglycerides, one hypothesis suggesting an inhibitory effect upon liver VLDL synthesis. Because VLDL synthesis is related to other hepatic protein synthesis we studied the effect of Simvastatin upon serum cholinesterase activity and factor VII activity, which are also synthetized at hepatic level.

Methods: 39 patients with ischaemic heart disease, proved by coronarography and moderate hypercholesterolaemia received for two months 20 mg Simvastatin (Zocor).

Ischemic preconditioning by repeated exercise tests involves nitric oxide up-regulation.

Background: Animal studies show that nitric oxide is involved in delayed ischaemic preconditioning.

Objectives: To determine whether plasma nitrates/nitrites (NOx-, as measure of nitric oxide) are modified by two consecutive effort tests and whether these changes translate into clinical improvement.

Methods: There were studied 22 patients with ischemic heart disease, who performed two effort tests at 24-hour interval.

Plasma nitric oxide metabolite levels increase during successive exercise stress testing - A link to delayed ischemic preconditioning?

Background: Animal studies have shown that nitric oxide is involved in delayed ischemic preconditioning.

Objectives: To determine whether plasma nitrates and nitrites (NO(x) (-), as measure of nitric oxide) are modified by two consecutive effort tests and whether these changes translate into clinical improvement

Methods: Twenty-two patients with ischemic heart disease each performed two effort tests at 24-h intervals. Plasma NO(x) (-) level was determined and compared before and after both stress tests.

Plasma fibronectin in overweight men and women: correlation with serum triglyceride levels and serum cholinesterase activity.

When compared with 67 age- and sex-matched normal weight control subjects, the 71 overweight patients displayed obviously higher levels of plasma fibronectin. For a similar body mass index (BMI) the 16 overweight men younger than 45 years had a significantly (P < 0.01) higher plasma fibronectin level (455 +/- 99.

Acute phase reaction and the hemostatic balance.

Data in the literature as well as authors own observations concerning a possible relationship between the acute phase reaction and changes of the hemostatic variables, which may favour or trigger a thrombotic event, are reviewed. Acute phase reaction is usually accompanied by increased plasma levels of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and clotting factor VIII, while endothelial cells in culture added proinflammatory cytokines were found to express tissue factor activity, to release von Willebrand factor and to increase the production of plasminogen activator inhibitor. Evidence is also provided that inflammation would lead to an increase of plasma antithrombin III while the protein C system is down regulated.

Hemostatic balance during the acute inflammatory reaction; with special reference to antithrombin III.

Inflammatory reaction caused by intramuscular injections of turpentine in 5 rabbits led to an obvious increase of not only plasma fibrinogen and factor VIII: C levels, but also of plasma antithrombin III activity, measured by a chromogenic assay as heparin cofactor. This activity rose from 80% +/- 10,8 (mean +/- SEM) before the injection to 123% +/- 6,56 48 hours later. Changes affecting plasma fibrinogen level and antithrombin II activity were much lesser in a group of 5 rabbits given small doses of intravenous endotoxin.

Clinical evaluation of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies in ANCA-associated diseases.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies have been performed in 110 patients referred to the laboratory as a presumptive systemic vasculitis, idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis, inflammatory bowel disease or SLE with vascular manifestation. 25 patients were found to be positive with c-, or p-ANCA patterns in indirect immunofluorescent test. We describe several cases in which histological confirmation is not available, an early consideration of a positive ANCA test may offer a reliable diagnosis and effective therapeutic handling, while the cases when the test was not considered, the occurence of relapse was inevitable.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA)--markers in diagnosis and monitoring systemic vasculitides.

We present a new class of autoantibodies--ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies) which recognize as target antigen different enzyme constituents of primary granules of neutrophil granulocytes. These autoantibodies are present in a large number of diseases, such as: systemic vasculitides, idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis, inflammatory bowel diseases and in some other conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, Felty syndrome, acute and chronic infections. ANCA not only facilitate the diagnosis but also have a pathophysiological role for some of the idiopathic vasculitides.

Plasma von Willebrand factor and antithrombin III in patients submitted to open heart surgery.

Cardiovascular surgery for valve replacement led to a significant (p < 0.001) increase of plasma von Willebrand factor antigen level from 227% +/- 30.9 (x +/- SEM) recorded before surgery, to 397% +/- 40.