Activity of selected plant extracts against honey bee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae

International audienceAbstractThe present study focuses on the antibacterial activity of selected plant extracts against Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American foulbrood disease of honey bees. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to analyze six diethyl ether extracts of two white birch species, black poplar and common aspen buds, as well as n-hexane, diethyl ether, and methanol extracts of young twigs from downy and silver birches. Among the identified extract constituents were flavonoids, phenylpropenoids, triterpenoids, and glucosides. In spite of significant differences in qualitative and quantitative composition, all tested in vitro extracts demonstrated high anti-P. larvae activity at minimal inhibitory concentration levels between < 1.0 and 125 μg/mL. To examine the cause of such disparity, the anti-P. larvae activity of some individual constituents naturally present in plant extract compounds was determined. A higher susceptibility of P. larvae (ERIC I) to relatively poorly polar triterpenoid levels compared to polar compounds, flavonoids, and glucosides was demonstrated

Early hospital trainings in patients with left ventricular mechanical support: influence on exercise tolerance and muscle strength

Abstract Background In extreme cases of heart failure, the only method of treatment is heart transplantation. Due to the insufficient number of organs for transplantation, left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly being used. Rehabilitation of patients with LVAD is a very important element of complex therapy due to the long-term immobilization of these patients awaiting transplant or regeneration of the heart. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of early hospital rehabilitation on exercise tolerance, muscle strength and complex coordination in patients after LVAD implantation. Material and methods The study included 37 patients (35 men), aged 19–66 years, mean 58.7 years, after LVAD implantation. All of them underwent standard rehabilitation in the postoperative and rehabilitation department. The patients have started and continued trainings in a rehabilitation department for 4–5 weeks: endurance trainings, general fitness exercises with elements of balance and coordination exercises, elements of resistance exercises. Before the start of rehabilitation and after its completion, all patients underwent: cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), a six-minute walk tests (6-MWT), the tests of strength of the right and left hand grip, strenght of muscles of the lower limbs and complex coordination (up and go test). There were no adverse events that would justify changing the mode or discontinuing rehabilitation. Results A significant increase in the value of most of the parameters studied was observed after the completion of hospital rehabilitation: VO2peak [ml/kg/min], baseline: 10.60 (9.60, 12.90) vs. 12.85 (11.60, 15.73), p&amp;lt;0.001; 6-MWT [m]: 322.81 (113.62) vs. 416.12 (106.37), p&amp;lt;0.001; 30 second chair stand: no of stands: 9.12 (3.60) vs. 11.18 (4.50), p&amp;lt;0.001; up &amp; go [sec] 9.18 (8.07, 10.50) vs. 7.58 (6.69, 9.04), p&amp;lt;0.001; left hand grip strengh [kg]: 30.04 (8.38) vs. 31.91 (8.10), p&amp;lt;0.011; right hand grip strengh [kg]: 31.52 (9.88) vs 33.20 (8.72), ns. Conclusions Early hospital rehabilitation in patients after implantation of left ventricular assist devices has significant benefits in terms of exercise tolerance, muscular strength and complex coordination. Complex rehabilitation is safe and effective in this group of patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): STRATEGMED II - RH-ROT - NATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER </jats:sec

Assessment of sexual and physical activity of patients after implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

Abstract Background Patients with cardiovascular diseases also suffer from problems related to the sexual sphere, among others: reduction or loss of libido, avoiding sexual activity, impotence. They may result from depressive disorders and the fear of the appearance of health and life-threatening symptoms during sexual intercourse (dyspnea, angina, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, sudden death). The aim of the study was to evaluate sexual and physical activity in patients after implantation of left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Methodology The study included 50 men aged 18–66, average 55 years, after LVAD implantation. Finally 20 patients did not complete the program and were excluded from the analysis. The subjects were assessed by a sexologist in terms of the quality of sexual life and erectile dysfunction. Sexological counselling and education (positions during intercourse, safety recommendations) and physical activity (training forms, frequency and duration of training) were conducted, 13 patients were qualified for pharmacological treatment of erectile dysfunction. The level of physical activity (according to International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ) and sexual satisfaction (questionnaire) as well as quality of sexual life (Mell-Krat Scale) were assessed before LVAD implantation and after 6 months. Additionally, exercise tolerance was evaluated with 6 minute walk test (6-MWT). The tests were repeated after 6 months. Results After the implementation of sexual and physical activity education, a significant improvement was observed in the results of the parameters tested: 6-MWT [m]: 355.5 (131.1) vs. 465.5 (93.8), p&amp;lt;0.001, IPAQ [met / min / week]: 1.411.5 (513.4, 2.465.2) vs. 3.870.0 (983.0, 5.274.0), p&amp;lt;0.002, sexual satisfaction: 26.5 (24.2, 28.0) vs. 28.5 (27.2, 29.0), p&amp;lt;0.01. The quality of sex life in the whole group significantly decreased after LVAD implantation compared to the period before onset of the disease, Mell-Krat Scale score: 50.0 (46.0, 51.8) vs. 26.0 (9.2, 48.5), p&amp;lt;0.001. In patients who received pharmacological treatment, the quality of sexual life assessed by the Mell-Krat Scale improved significantly: before treatment 10.0 (8.0, 13.0) vs. 34.0 (6.0, 37.0) after treatment, p&amp;lt;0.006, but did not return to pre-onset levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between the assessment of sexual satisfaction and the results of 6-MWT and IPAQ score. Conclusions Sexual health education significantly improves sexual satisfaction in patients following LVAD implantation. Increasing exercise tolerance and the level of daily activity has a positive effect on the subjective assessment of sexual satisfaction. However, the quality of sexual life significantly decreases after LVAD implantation and even after pharmacological treatment it does not return to the level from before the onset of the disease. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): STRATEGMED II - RH-ROT - NATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER </jats:sec

Improvement of exercise tests and reduction of heart failure biomarkers in short term follow up after comprehensive rehabilitation program of patients with implanted LVAD

Abstract Background There is increasing recognition of the importance of rehabilitating patients after LVAD implantation. The novel method of comprehensive rehabilitation starting directly after LVAD implantation was designed for our LVAD patients population. Aim of the study The study aimed to determine, if novel rehabilitation program improves functional and biochemical parameters in patients after recent LVAD implantation. Study group 37 recent LVAD (22 Heart Mate III, 15 HeartWare) recipients (19–67, mean 58.7 years, 35 men) participated in specially designed rehabilitation program. The program included 4–5 weeks of sationary rehabilitation: supervised endurance training on cycloergometer (5 times per week), resistance training, general fitness exercises with elements of equivalent and coordination exercises (every day). It was followed by individual exercises performed at home. At the beginning and at the end of rehabilitation program the patients performed 6 minute walking test (6MWT), cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Following prognostic biomarkers of heart failure: NT-proBNP, galectin-3 and ST2 were also measured. Results See table 1. Increase of 6MWT distance, higher maximal workload, peak VO2 and upward shift of anaerobic threshold in CPET were observed in all patients. Significant reductions of NTproBNP, ST2 and galectin-3 levels were observed. There were no major adverse events during rehabilitation. Conclusions Comprehensive novel rehabilitation in LVAD recipients is safe and results in significant improvement of functional tests and biomarkers of heart failure. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Center for Research and Development: National grant - STRATEGMED II, </jats:sec

ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and endothelial injury in COVID-19

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19 is caused by the coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2, which uses angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE‐2) as a receptor for cellular entry. It is theorized that ACE inhibitors (ACE‐Is) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may increase vulnerability to SARS‐CoV‐2 by upregulating ACE‐2 expression, but ACE‐I/ARB discontinuation is associated with clinical deterioration.ObjectiveTo determine whether ACE‐I and ARB use is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI), macrovascular thrombosis and in‐hospital mortality.MethodsA retrospective, single‐centre study of 558 hospital inpatients with confirmed COVID‐19 admitted from 1 March to 30 April 2020, followed up until 24 May 2020. AKI and macrovascular thrombosis were primary end‐points, and in‐hospital mortality was a secondary end‐point.ResultsAKI occurred in 126 (23.1%) patients, 34 (6.1%) developed macrovascular thrombi, and 200 (35.9%) died. Overlap propensity score‐weighted analysis showed no significant effect of ACE‐I/ARB use on the risk of occurrence of the specified end‐points. On exploratory analysis, severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases odds of macrovascular thrombi (OR: 8.237, 95% CI: 1.689–40.181, P = 0.009). The risk of AKI increased with advancing age (OR: 1.028, 95% CI: 1.011–1.044, P = 0.001) and diabetes (OR: 1.675, 95% CI: 1.065–2.633, P = 0.025). Immunosuppression was associated with lower risk of AKI (OR: 0.160, 95% CI: 0.029–0.886, P = 0.036). Advancing age, dependence on care, male gender and eGFR < 60 mL min−1/1.73 m2 increased odds of in‐hospital mortality.ConclusionWe did not identify an association between ACE‐I/ARB use and AKI, macrovascular thrombi or mortality. This supports the recommendations of the European and American Societies of Cardiology that ACE‐Is and ARBs should not be discontinued during the COVID‐19 pandemic