Diagnostic dilemma: COVID-19 related cardiomyopathy or peripartum cardiomyopathy?

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a relatively rare condition, that usually presents with features of heart failure in the peripartum period. The ongoing pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported to be associated with myocarditis, with progression to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy in a peripartum patient with COVID-19 infection may present a diagnostic dilemma.

Omega-3 fatty acids have antidepressant activity in forced swimming test in Wistar rats.

Forced swimming test is used to induce a characteristic behavior of immobility in rats, which resembles depression in humans to some extent. We evaluated the effect of omega-3 fatty acids alone as well as compared it with the standard antidepressant therapy with fluoxetine in both acute and chronic studies. In both the studies, rats were divided into 4 groups and subjected to the following drug interventions - Group 1- control: Group 2- fluoxetine in dose of 10 mg/kg subcutaneously 23.

Activation of nuclear factor kappaB in obstructive sleep apnea: a pathway leading to systemic inflammation.

Apnea-induced hypoxia and reoxygenation, which generates reactive oxygen species, may activate the oxidant-sensitive, proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), increasing systemic inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea. We measured NF-kappaB activity in circulating neutrophils and plasma levels of NF-kappaB-controlled gene products, soluble E (sE)-selectin and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in control subjects and in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. To confirm a causal link with OSA, we reassessed these parameters after nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.