Publications by authors named "Larisa Panaghiu"

Background: Few studies have addressed the description of serial changes in left ventricular mass (LVM) and relevant risk factors. The aims of our study were to describe trends in left ventricular (LV) structure and function derived from echocardiographic measurements over a 10-year period in Fresenius Nephrocare Dialysis Center in Iaşi and to compare the results with those obtained on a smaller group 4 years ago.

Methods: Three hundred and thirty-four hemodialyzed patients were enrolled at baseline, between January 1999 and March 2009.

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Objective: To study the benefit of the therapy with hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (simvastatin) associated with diet in treating dyslipidemia in elderly patients, considering that they are more exposed to sudden death, myocardial infarction and stroke. Efficient and long-term serum cholesterol concentration lowering has beneficial effects on the risk for coronary heart disease as well as on other major cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes.

Methods: A retrospective study of 84 patients aged > or = 65 years, admitted in the last 6 months in Medical Clinic IV, was conducted.

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Disproportionate heart muscle enlargement compared with little or no chamber enlargement are characteristic for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The clinical course of HCM is highly variable. Many patients are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and may be relatives of patients with known disease.

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Cardiovascular mortality in uremic patients treated by hemodialysis overrates ten times cardiovascular mortality in general population. Approximatively 40% of patients on iterative hemodialysis die from cardiac diseases, half of cases by sudden death. Several risk factors for sudden death are well known: QTc interval prolongation, decrease of RR interval <750 msec, decrease of heart rate variability, presence of late ventricular potentials (LVP), presence of high risk ventricular extrasystoles, decrease of ejection fraction (EF) <40 %, presence of left ventricular hypertrophy.

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We present the case of a female patient with a chronic hypersideremic anemia associated with digestive and neurological symptoms, with a long time ignored toxic history. The diagnose was based on very high levels of lead in serum and urine, very high levels of D-aminolaevulinic acid in the urine, and the presence of basophilic stippling of erythrocytes in the smear of the patient. Lead intoxication was due to ingestion of home-made alcohol (domestic devices made from lead mixtures) and of yogurt preserved in lead-glazed mugs.

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Oxidative stress is the result of the imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant factors. The participation of oxidative stress in atherosclerosis (ATS) is reflected by lipid peroxidation which is a process initiated and maintained by oxygen reactive species generated by the aterogenic cells themselves. The endothelial aggression in ATS is accompanied by endothelial dysfunction, which is due to the neutralization of nitric oxide by superoxid anion.

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The connective tissue diseases comprise a group of syndromes of unknown etiology affecting as many as 1 person in 40, often with a predilection for the female sex. Included are: systemic lupus erytematosus (SLE), polymyositis and dermatomyositis, Sjögren syndrome, scleroderma and the vasculitis (polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener's, giant cell arteritis). There are patients who are not easily defined; having features overlapping with those of other connective tissue diseases.

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