The preventive effect of exogenous adenosine triphosphate on methanol-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Exposure to methanol can cause serious consequences such as permanent visual disturbances and death. The heart tissue is highly vulnerable to ATP deficiency. Our study aimed to investigate whether exogenous ATP administration may alleviate methanol-induced ATP deficiency and subsequent oxidative damage in rat heart tissue. A total of 30 rats were divided into equal five groups; Healthy Group (HG), Methotrexate (MXG), Methanol (MeOH), Methotrexate+Methanol (MXM), and Methotrexate+Methanol+ATP (MMA) groups. We inhibited tetrahydrofolate synthesis by methotrexate to induce methanol toxicity. Methotrexate was administered to MXG, MXM, and MMA group animals for seven days with a catheter directly to the stomach at a 0,3 mg/kg dose per day. At the end of this period, % 20 methanol at a dose of 3 g/kg was administered to MeOH, MMA and MXM group animals. Immediately after methanol application, MMA group animals were injected with ATP at a 4 mg/kg dose intraperitoneally. Blood samples and heart tissues were used for biochemical analysis and histopathological examination. Co-exposure to methanol and methotrexate substantially exacerbated cardiac damage, indicating the potent cardiotoxic effects of methanol. However, the administration of exogenous ATP to MMA group animals brought biochemical oxidative damage parameters and histopathological findings closer to HG

Return to Former Activities of Daily Living for Cardiovascular Patients in COVID-19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Despite all the strict precautions, the epidemic probably continues rapidly due to new mutations and negatively affects the whole world. The presence of comorbid diseases has been associated with poor clinical outcomes. We aimed to examine the return of COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular comorbidity to their former Activities of Daily Living (ADL).Methods: The research population was selected from patients who admitted to the outpatient clinic from November 2020 to January 2021. 80 consecutive patients with cardiovascular comorbidity were included in the Study Group (SG). The Control Group (CG) included 100 patients of similar age range and gender, without cardiovascular comorbidities. Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) test was performed in both groups to evaluate changes in ADL. Outpatients were visited until return to their former ADL with telecommunications at appropriate intervals.Results: Symptoms limiting ADL, such as fatigue (weakness), shortness of breath, and myalgia, were significantly higher in SG than CG (p &lt; 0.05). In contrast, anosmia and ageusia were significantly higher in CG than SG (p &lt; 0.001). Pre-COVID-19 NHP scores were similar in both groups. However, at admission, SG’s NHP scores were significantly higher than CG’s (p &lt; 0.001). Related to this, limitations in ADL (p &lt; 0.001) and recovery times (p &lt; 0.05) were higher in SG than CG.Conclusion: In this study, we observed that COVID-19 was more symptomatic in those with cardiovascular comorbidities, such as a higher limitation in ADL and a longer recovery time.</p

Functional impact of cardiac implanted devices on ipsilateral shoulder range of motion, scapular mobility, and self-reported quality of life

Purpose Shoulder disorders may occur for procedural reasons in patients fitted with a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). This study aimed to examine the effects of CIED implantation on shoulder functions and scapular dyskinesis. Materials and methods Thirty patients fitted with a CIED formed the study group (SG), whilst 30 participants without a CIED formed the control group (CG). The range of motion (ROM), grip strength, lateral scapular slide test (static), scapular dyskinesis test (dynamic), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Shoulder Score, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (Physical and Mental Component Summary [PCS and MCS]) were applied in the study. Results The shoulder’s mean flexion and abduction ROM on the implant side were found to be significantly lower in the SG than the CG (p = .016 and p = .001, respectively). Similarly, a significant grip strength loss on the implant side was detected in the SG than in the CG (p = .036). Static and dynamic scapular dyskinesis frequencies were shown to be significantly higher in the SG than in the CG (p = .002 and pConclusion The frequency of scapular dyskinesis and disability was higher, and upper limb functions, grip strength, and physical subdivision of quality of life decreased in CIED recipients. These findings suggest that such parameters should be included in physiotherapy assessment and treatment programs

Functional impact of cardiac implanted devices on ipsilateral shoulder range of motion, scapular mobility, and self-reported quality of life.

PurposeShoulder disorders may occur for procedural reasons in patients fitted with a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). This study aimed to examine the effects of CIED implantation on shoulder functions and scapular dyskinesis.Materials and methodsThirty patients fitted with a CIED formed the study group (SG), whilst 30 participants without a CIED formed the control group (CG). The range of motion (ROM), grip strength, lateral scapular slide test (static), scapular dyskinesis test (dynamic), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Shoulder Score, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (Physical and Mental Component Summary [PCS and MCS]) were applied in the study.ResultsThe shoulder's mean flexion and abduction ROM on the implant side were found to be significantly lower in the SG than the CG (p = .016 and p = .001, respectively). Similarly, a significant grip strength loss on the implant side was detected in the SG than in the CG (p = .036). Static and dynamic scapular dyskinesis frequencies were shown to be significantly higher in the SG than in the CG (p = .002 and pConclusionThe frequency of scapular dyskinesis and disability was higher, and upper limb functions, grip strength, and physical subdivision of quality of life decreased in CIED recipients. These findings suggest that such parameters should be included in physiotherapy assessment and treatment programs

The preventive effect of exogenous adenosine triphosphate on methanol-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Abstract Exposure to methanol can cause serious consequences such as permanent visual disturbances and death. The heart tissue is highly vulnerable to ATP deficiency. Our study aimed to investigate whether exogenous ATP administration may alleviate methanol-induced ATP deficiency and subsequent oxidative damage in rat heart tissue. A total of 30 rats were divided into equal five groups; Healthy Group (HG), Methotrexate (MXG), Methanol (MeOH), Methotrexate+Methanol (MXM), and Methotrexate+Methanol+ATP (MMA) groups. We inhibited tetrahydrofolate synthesis by methotrexate to induce methanol toxicity. Methotrexate was administered to MXG, MXM, and MMA group animals for seven days with a catheter directly to the stomach at a 0,3 mg/kg dose per day. At the end of this period, % 20 methanol at a dose of 3 g/kg was administered to MeOH, MMA and MXM group animals. Immediately after methanol application, MMA group animals were injected with ATP at a 4 mg/kg dose intraperitoneally. Blood samples and heart tissues were used for biochemical analysis and histopathological examination. Co-exposure to methanol and methotrexate substantially exacerbated cardiac damage, indicating the potent cardiotoxic effects of methanol. However, the administration of exogenous ATP to MMA group animals brought biochemical oxidative damage parameters and histopathological findings closer to HG

Myringosclerosis as a predictor of the requirement for a permanent pacemaker in patients with drug-related atrioventricular block

Aims. Drug-related atrioventricular block (DR-AVB) may develop in patients with underlying latent degenerative conduction disorders, especially with antiarrhythmics and antihypertensives. Although, according to the current guidelines, reversal is achieved with cessation of the inducing agent, this is not the case for nearly half of the patients. The pathophysiological processes of DR-AVB and myringosclerosis include systemic inflammation and degeneration. This study investigated the role of myringosclerosis in predicting irreversible high-grade DR-AVB despite drug cessation. Methods. This observational, non-randomized, prospective study involved 152 patients with high-grade DR-AVB, 72 of whom had reversible DR-AVB and 80 had irreversible DR-AVB and required permanent pacemakers. The patients' demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory characteristics were recorded. Otoscopic tympanic membrane examinations for myringosclerosis were performed. Results. There were no major differences in demographic, echocardiographic or laboratory characteristics between the two groups or previous medications. The median monitoring time with a temporary pacemaker was significantly longer in the irreversible than in the reversible group (5 [4-7] days vs. 2 [1-5] days; P&lt;0.001). The incidence of myringosclerosis was significantly higher in the irreversible than in the reversible group (61.3% vs. 22.2%; P=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that myringosclerosis was an independent predictor of irreversible DR-AVB (odds ratio: 1.703, 95% confidence interval: 1.194-3.058; P=0.01). Conclusion. Myringosclerosis is a readily available, inexpensive, and non-invasive assessment and is a marker of inflammation and degeneration that can predict irreversible DR-AVB